SubSilver

[RadiantPulseX]

For players looking to expand their arsenal in Helldivers 2, understanding a weapon's real-world performance is more useful than just reading its stats. This guide focuses on the Cookout, a variant of the Punisher shotgun, and explains how it functions in actual missions based on common player experiences and tactics.

What is the Cookout and How Does It Actually Work?

The Cookout is a pump-action shotgun with a unique mechanic: it ignites any target hit by even a single pellet. This sets the enemy on fire for about 3 seconds, dealing damage over time. It loads from two internal eight-round tubes for a total of 16 rounds, and thanks to its Rounds Reload trait, it never wastes ammo. You reload one shell at a time directly into the magazine.

In practice, this means you are rarely caught in a lengthy reload animation where you discard unused shells. Most players find this makes the weapon very forgiving and ammo-efficient during extended fights, as you can top it up during brief lulls in combat.

What is the Cookout's Best Role in a Squad?

The general role of the Cookout is area denial and crowd control against light infantry. Its strength isn't in raw, instant damage, but in applying the burning status effect to multiple enemies efficiently. Your primary targets should be small, numerous foes like Terminid Scavengers, Shriekers, and Automaton Voteless. A single pellet hit is enough for the burn damage to kill them completely, saving you ammunition.

The ideal tactic is to fire a shot or two into the edge of an advancing group from a medium distance, then reposition. The burning damage will kill many of them as they approach, thinning the horde before it reaches your position. Most players use it as a support tool for managing trash mobs, allowing teammates with heavier weapons to focus on larger threats.

How Does It Compare to the Standard Punisher and the Breaker Incendiary?

Compared to the standard Punisher, the Cookout trades immediate per-shot damage for wider pellet spread and the ignition effect. This gives it less raw stopping power against single, heavily armored targets. You wouldn't choose it to quickly burst down a Hive Guard's leg armor, for instance.

It's often compared to the Breaker Incendiary shotgun. Both set things on fire, but they operate differently. The Breaker Incendiary uses incendiary ammunition that deals high initial impact damage. The Cookout, however, fires many low-damage pellets that can stagger most enemies it hits. This stagger provides a crucial moment of crowd control, stopping a charging enemy in its tracks even if the initial pellet damage is low. This gives the Cookout a defensive utility that the Breaker Incendiary lacks.

What Are Its Main Limitations and How Do You Work Around Them?

The Cookout has two key limitations that players need to plan for. First, the burning damage is applied to the enemy's main health pool, not to a specific limb. This makes it ineffective for destroying specific weak points on larger enemies. You won't efficiently break a Devastator's gun arm or a Charger's leg with burn ticks.

Second, while affordable Helldivers 2 super credits at U4N store can speed up your acquisition of new gear, understanding a weapon's niche is more important. The Cookout is a specialist tool. It excels in its specific role but requires a complementary loadout. You will always need a dedicated anti-armor weapon like a recoilless rifle or orbital railcannon strike to handle heavy enemies. Trying to use the Cookout as a primary damage dealer against mixed, high-level swarms will generally lead to failure.

What Are Some Effective Field Tactics for the Cookout?

Successful use revolves around fire management. Your goal is to keep as many enemies alight as possible with minimal shots. Shoot, retreat, and let the damage over time work. If an enemy's fire goes out, you can re-ignite it with another pellet. This "shoot and scoot" method conserves ammo and keeps you mobile.

A notable technical tip involves its reload mechanic. If you reload when you have exactly 8 rounds left in the magazine, the count will go to 17 instead of 16. You can maintain this 17-round capacity with subsequent top-ups as long as you never dip below 8 rounds in the tube. Experienced players use this to maximize uptime during quieter moments.

In general, the Cookout is a strategic choice for players who prefer tactical crowd control over brute force. It supports the team by consistently wiping out the weakest links in the enemy ranks, making it easier for everyone to focus fire on the real threats.