Is It Worth It to Shoot Down Enemy Aircraft in Helldivers?

Introduction

• Long-debated question in the Helldivers community.
• Shooting down enemy reinforcement aircraft: Should it be done?
• Hypothesis: Destroying the aircraft should remove the enemies and make it easier to fight.
• Issues: Glitches and bugs impact effectiveness.

Experiment Setup

• Conducted extensive testing by shooting down hundreds of reinforcement aircraft.
• Collected results to determine the most likely outcomes.

Possible Outcomes When Shooting Down Aircraft

1. Nothing happens - Enemies survive without any issue.
2. Glitch - Enemies stuck midair or on the ground - Harmless or free kills for the player.
3. Glitch - Enemies stuck under the aircraft - Hard to shoot but can still attack the player.
4. Successful Destruction - All enemies die on impact.

Results & Analysis

• 50-60% chance of experiencing a glitch.
  • 70-80% of these glitches are beneficial (enemies get stuck in-air/ground and become harmless).
  • 20-30% of these glitches are problematic (enemies get stuck under aircraft and can attack).
• 15-20% of the time, enemies are destroyed or damaged.
• Observations:
  • Tanks never get destroyed by falling.
  • Small chaff are most likely to be destroyed due to lower HP.
  • Rocket Devastators are very dangerous if they get stuck under aircraft.

Factors to Consider Before Shooting Down Aircraft

1. Accuracy: Can you hit the shot under stress or attack?
2. Enemy Type: What types of enemies are on the aircraft?
   • Worth it for chaff, not for tanks or hulks.
3. Resource Availability: Do you have enough ammo or cooldown availability?
4. Cool Factor: There is a satisfying visual and experiential reward.

Personal Conclusion

• Shooting down aircraft is generally beneficial.
• High probability of a positive outcome.
• Even with glitches, benefits outweigh the downsides.
• Visual appeal and satisfaction also add value.

Final Thoughts

• Data supports the decision to shoot down enemy aircraft.
• Personal recommendation to continue doing so.
• Even if you miss, the potential benefits are worth it.
• Encourages players to check out more Helldivers content on the channel.

Closing

• Thanks viewers for watching and support.
• Open invitation to check out other videos on the channel.