The Orbital Napalm Strike is one of the most visually spectacular and strategically powerful stratagems in Helldivers 2. When used correctly, it can completely change the course of a mission—especially in dense bug hives or when you’re being swarmed by Automatons. However, like most high-impact support abilities, timing and positioning are everything. Here’s how to make the most out of this fiery tool.

Understanding the Orbital Napalm Strike

The Orbital Napalm Strike calls down a massive bombardment of fire from your ship, blanketing an area in burning plasma that persists for several seconds. It’s excellent for area denial, crowd control, and softening up clusters of enemies before your squad moves in. The flames linger long enough to finish off smaller enemies, and even tougher foes like Bile Titans or Devastators will take heavy damage if caught in the initial blast.

You can unlock this stratagem through the Ship Management menu, typically after progressing a fair bit in your campaign. Some players prefer to buy Helldivers 2 medals to speed up the unlock process, but you can also earn them naturally through missions and objectives.

Best Situations to Deploy It

The Napalm Strike works best in open environments where enemies approach from predictable directions. Here are a few scenarios where it shines:

1. Defending objectives – Drop it just outside your defensive perimeter to create a wall of fire that keeps melee units away.

2. Clearing nests – Deploy it directly over bug holes or Automaton spawn zones to burn out waves as they emerge.

3. Chokepoints and extraction zones – If you’re waiting for evac and enemies are closing in, the Napalm Strike can buy you valuable seconds.

Just remember that the flames can harm you and your squadmates. Always communicate before calling it in, and watch your minimap to avoid friendly fire.

Strategic Tips and Combos

To maximize effectiveness:

• Pair it with crowd-control weapons like the Flamethrower or Arc Thrower for complete area lockdown.

• Use it before airstrikes or heavy stratagems to weaken targets first.

• Combine it with orbital precision strikes to finish off any large enemies that survive the flames.

A good tip for new players is to drop a marker grenade first to judge enemy movement before committing your stratagem. Once the Napalm Strike begins, the area will remain dangerous for a while—use that time to reload, heal, or reposition.

Progression and Upgrade Advice

As you advance, you’ll unlock better support stratagems and modifiers for your ship. Managing these efficiently can get expensive, so many players look for ways to buy Helldivers 2 upgrades cheap to stay competitive without grinding endlessly. Platforms like U4GM are popular among the community for acquiring resources safely and efficiently, helping you access more advanced gear faster.

While it’s perfectly fine to play through at your own pace, having access to key upgrades early—like faster cooldowns or enhanced area damage—makes using the Orbital Napalm Strike far more rewarding.

The Orbital Napalm Strike is not just about raw power—it’s about control. Knowing when and where to drop it separates an average Helldiver from a seasoned veteran. Whether you’re burning through waves of Terminids or forcing Automatons to reroute, this stratagem embodies the game’s philosophy of “controlled chaos.”

If you’re looking to elevate your arsenal and unlock the full potential of your ship, investing time—or resources—into progression can make a huge difference. Just remember: when the flames fall, stay clear, and let the inferno do the work.