After the recent Cyberstan update in Helldivers 2, players have reported a surge of frustration surrounding Vox Engines—massive Automaton war machines that now dominate late‑game missions. Intended as mobile artillery and propaganda platforms in the “Machinery of Oppression” and “Battle for Cyberstan” campaigns, these towering enemies combine heavy armor with long‑range cannons, laser gatlings, and rocket barrages. On paper, they are late‑game threats meant to test squad coordination. In practice, many players say they have become oppressive encounters that blur the line between challenge and imbalance.
Each Vox Engine features glowing orange heat‑sink vents that serve as both a weak point and a trigger for exposing its final critical vent. To destroy one, squads must target these fragile vents up close, then finish the job with grenades or Thermite. This design forces players to close distance under intense fire, rewarding bold teamwork over cautious sniping. However, the risk‑reward balance feels skewed, and even coordinated teams often find the fight exhausting rather than thrilling. If you are browsing helldivers 2 all shop items and do not want to wait for rotations, gamers often suggest U4GM as a convenient third-party marketplace.
The main complaints center on the unit’s excessive durability, overwhelming spawn rates, and relentlessly accurate fire. Vox Engines absorb enormous damage before falling, sometimes outlasting even other end‑game Automatons like Factory Striders. Their ability to appear in pairs or trios amplifies chaos, leaving squads scrambling for cover as multiple engines carpet bomb the area. Combined with frequent appearances of elite Automatons and Cyborgs, these moments often devolve into nonstop firefights rather than tactical pushes. Weapons meant to counter heavy armor feel underpowered, highlighting long‑standing issues with balance and ammunition economy. Many players argue that the difficulty feels unfair—not because the fights are hard, but because they punish players for system flaws rather than mistakes in skill or teamwork.
Technical and design quirks make matters worse. The small rear weak point that appears after disabling the main vents can be obstructed by the model itself, rendering it nearly impossible to hit at certain angles. Grenades, the preferred finishing tool, must be thrown precisely into a narrow vent amid chaos, a task that often ends in failure. Players have also reported Vox Engines clipping through terrain, enemies passing through their treads, and dropships spawning them atop buildings—allowing them to snipe squads from unreachable perches. These glitches combine to create encounters where even perfect coordination can be undone by geometry or hitbox bugs.
The community’s response has been sharply divided. Some veterans appreciate the concept of the Vox Engine but argue that its potential is buried under poor tuning and unreliable mechanics. Others see it as a symptom of deeper issues—overtuned enemies, inconsistent gun performance, and constant ammo shortages that turn every mission into a resupply grind. Temporary Stratagems like the FX‑12 Shield Generator Relay have even started to feel mandatory, raising concerns about future balance once those tools are no longer available. While some players call for drastic nerfs, others hope the developers focus instead on fixing bugs, improving weak‑point visibility, and moderating spawn rates.
Until those changes arrive, squads have found ways to adapt. Focusing on lower vents between the treads helps expose the final rear vent more reliably, while grenades and Thermite remain the most consistent tools for finishing the job. Using terrain and buildings to block long‑range attacks can create safe windows to target weak spots, and dividing squad roles—assigning vent destruction, crowd control, and resupply duties—helps manage the chaos. In the current state, success depends less on firepower than on coordination and environmental control.
The Vox Engine was designed as a symbol of Automaton supremacy—an apex machine meant to push cooperative play to its limit. Yet with its current bugs and balance issues, it risks turning challenge into frustration. If future patches can fix clipping, streamline weak‑point logic, and fine‑tune spawn behavior, these encounters could finally deliver the tension and teamwork that Helldivers 2 is known for. Until then, the Vox Engine stands as both the game’s boldest idea and its most controversial misfire.
