If you're diving into Helldivers 2, one of the key goals beyond surviving the alien onslaught is collecting as many medals as possible. Medals not only show off your achievements but also help you unlock better gear and demonstrate your skill to the community. However, not all missions are created equal when it comes to medal farming. Here’s a breakdown of the
Best Missions to Get Medals in Helldivers 2, based on efficiency, difficulty, and reward potential.
Understanding Medals and Mission Types Before we jump into specific missions, it’s important to understand how medals are earned. Medals in Helldivers 2 are primarily awarded for completing objectives, achieving high performance scores, and finishing missions without dying or failing secondary objectives. Missions vary widely in their medal potential: some are fast but low-yield, while others are harder but give a ton of medals if executed correctly.
There are generally three mission types worth focusing on for medal farming:
- Defense Missions – Protecting objectives or areas from waves of enemies.
- Assault Missions – Offensive operations where you eliminate high-value targets.
- Collection/Rescue Missions – Gathering resources or saving civilians under hostile conditions.
Each type has its own risk-reward profile, so picking the right mission depends on your playstyle and team coordination.
Top Missions for Medal Farming 1. High-Level Defense Missions Defense missions, especially on higher difficulty tiers, are a goldmine for medals. The key is to stick together and manage crowd control effectively. High-level waves give more enemies and tougher bosses, which translate directly into more medals upon completion.
Tip: Focus on missions where you defend multiple objectives simultaneously. Even if one objective is lost, you can still earn significant medals for the others. Using area-of-effect weapons like turrets or grenades can make a huge difference.
2. Escort and Rescue Missions Escort missions, where you protect VIPs or civilians through enemy territory, are surprisingly rewarding for medals. The challenge lies in keeping the escorted units alive while fending off attacks. Success here requires teamwork, positioning, and prioritizing threats efficiently.
My experience: I usually take the faster routes through the map, clearing choke points quickly. You earn medals both for completing the mission and for minimizing civilian losses.
3. Assault Missions Against High-Value Targets If you’re confident in your loadout and reflexes, assault missions against heavily armored enemy leaders are a top choice. These missions are shorter but pack a punch in medal rewards because bosses and high-tier enemies grant substantial points.
Tip: Don’t rush head-on. Use cover and plan your attacks. Even a few missed shots can cost you medal potential, but careful play can lead to near-perfect runs.
4. Mixed Objective Missions Some missions combine defending, collecting, and assault objectives. These are ideal for medal farming if your team communicates well. Completing multiple objectives in a single mission maximizes your medal haul, often outperforming single-focus missions.
Advice: Assign roles before starting the mission—some players focus on defense, others on collection or high-value enemy elimination. This coordination dramatically improves medal gains.
Strategies to Maximize Medal Rewards
- Play with a Consistent Team: Medals are easier to farm when everyone knows their role and can anticipate each other’s moves. Random squads often fail secondary objectives, reducing medal rewards.
- Optimize Loadouts: Use weapons and gear that match the mission type. For example, defensive turrets in defense missions or high-damage explosives in assault missions.
- Aim for High-Performance Scores: Medals aren’t just about survival—they’re about excellence. Avoid dying, complete optional objectives, and finish efficiently.
- Replay Familiar Maps: Farming medals is often easier on maps you know well. Familiarity allows you to anticipate enemy spawns and optimize your route.
My Take on the Best Medal Runs From my experience in Helldivers 2, missions that combine high enemy density with multiple objectives give the best long-term medal returns. Short, low-risk missions are fine for casual play but won’t get you the medal count competitive players aim for.
Personally, I prioritize high-level defense missions during peak play sessions for steady medal farming. Then, when I have a skilled team, I switch to assault and mixed-objective missions for massive medal gains in fewer runs.
Medal farming in Helldivers 2 is all about balancing risk and reward. The Best Missions to Get Medals in Helldivers 2 aren’t necessarily the easiest—they’re the ones where careful planning, teamwork, and execution pay off the most. Focus on high-level defense, strategic escort runs, and high-value assault missions to steadily rack up your medal collection.
Remember, medals are a reflection of skill and consistency, not just luck. Take your time, coordinate with your squad, and approach each mission with a clear strategy. With the right approach, you’ll see your medal count climb steadily while enjoying the full range of challenges Helldivers 2 has to offer.
