¶ Overview
¶ How it works
Any% is the fastest yet most counter-intuitive speedrun category for Helldivers 2.
Since it's not a story driven game with end credits, Any% is all about completing the main objective and triggering the end of the mission by all means. In most cases, the fastest way to do so is to deplete all your reinforcements while/after completing the mission.
¶ Glitches/exploits/skips
Any% allows the use of glitches, skips, and exploits of all kinds - along with the Extract% and 100% Unrestricted categories.
Anything goes in the name of speed!
¶ Optional objectives to avoid
Any% is the most "lightweight" speedrun category, since the extraction location and optional objectives are completely irrelevant in terms of completion. However, some of them can still be run killers since you can't afford the time to clear them.
¶ Not run killer
These optional objectives are not instant run killers but can be annoying if you need to hold a position (Retrieve Valuable Data, Launch ICBM, Spread Democracy, etc.) and are likely to catch its attention.
¶ Run killer
These optional objectives are run killers if you need to call in a stratagem.
¶ Mission types
As the main objectives of the missions vary greatly in terms of completion time, they have been divided into 5 categories:
Regardless of the category (Instant Pelican is the exception), the prime goal of Any% is always the same: finding the right balance between depleting all the reinforcements and completing the main objective.
Dying and repoding lasts around 10s/12s. Not a single death should slow down the main objective completion and if one of them does, the time loss should never be longer than these 10s/12s.
¶ Burn em All
These missions have the longest main objective completion time.
They contain steps with an incompressible progression time which are usually key moments where you deplete reinforcements.
This way, you can burn them all before finishing the last step of the main objective and end the mission right as the message box "Mission Complete" appears.
¶ Fullpod
See the Fullpod detailed page.
Fullpod missions are the fastest ones to complete.
The destructive force of the Hellpod combined with others means such as the Firebomb Hellpods booster or primary/secondary weapons is enough to complete the main objective.
These missions heavily rely on repod RNG since the only way of moving is by steering the Hellpod.
Reading the pages Death and Direction and Death Optimization is recommended.
¶ Instant Pelican
See the Instant Pelican detailed page.
Very few missions fall into this category.
These are rare exceptions where (with current strategies) extracting is faster than depleting reinforcements.
Unlike the Extract% and 100% categories, not all Helldivers need to extract alive, which can speed up the boarding.
¶ One and Out
These missions also rely on repod RNG.
They differ from Fullpod missions for you have to throw a stratagem immediately after exiting the Hellpod (usually without moving), before killing yourself straight away.
The name can be changed to Two and Out, Thee and Out or Four and Out as up to 4 stratagems can be called in.
¶ Run and Burn
Unlike One and Out missions, Run and Burn missions require more than just calling in stratagems to complete the main objective.
However, the objective will be completed before all reinforcements have been depleted.
You will therefore need to die several times afterwards to trigger the end of the mission.