Helldivers 2’s Noxious Terminid Update Adds Poison Enemies and More Bug Caves Across the Galaxy
Arrowhead Game Studios has deployed a fresh threat into the galactic war: the Noxious Terminid update for Helldivers 2 brings poison-spewing bugs and a wider spread of underground cave networks. The patch went live November 3 and is already changing how squads approach bug-heavy operations. Full details are on the official Helldivers 2 Steam page.
Meet the Noxious Scavenger and Noxious Spewer
Two new Terminid variants lead the update. The Noxious Scavenger is faster than a standard Scavenger and poisons Helldivers with every bite — it’s fragile, so shotguns, flamethrowers, and grenades put it down quickly, but its rapid bite means keeping distance or using area-of-effect weapons is the safer play.
The Noxious Spewer is a larger, fast-moving threat that uses a ‘Web Spit’ attack to stop players from sprinting. Its head carries medium armor, but the unarmored abdomen is the real weak point — destroying it triggers a ‘Web Explosion’ that snares nearby Terminids and Helldivers alike, so timing your shot matters.
A New Poison Status Effect
A new HUD icon now tracks poison exposure. Lightly poisoned hazes your vision and applies damage over time; heavily poisoned increases that damage, disables sprinting, and worsens the visual haze. Stims remain the primary cure, and squadmates may need to step in to help a heavily poisoned Helldiver reach safety.
Cave Networks Are Spreading
Terminid cave networks are now more common and can spawn across a much wider range of biomes — from deserts to tundras — rather than being confined to a handful of planet types. Arrowhead’s guidance for clearing them is simple: bring close-range firepower and stay tight as a squad, since caves favor ambushes over open-field tactics.
Gear Up for the Bug Front
New to the fight or restocking your Warbond progress? A HELLDIVERS 2 PC key gets you into the galactic war on PC, and a Steam Wallet Code (Global) covers Super Credits and Premium Warbonds without a card. PS5 players can top up through PlayStation Network gift cards for the same purchases on console.
Expect balance follow-ups as players push the Noxious strain through the higher difficulty tiers in the coming weeks — Arrowhead has historically adjusted new enemy types within a patch or two of release.
