Modding in Helldivers 2 exists in a "gray area" because it is not officially supported by Arrowhead Game Studios. While the developers have expressed a relaxed attitude toward certain mods, using them carries inherent risks due to the game's anti-cheat system.
Current Modding Status
Official Support: There is no official mod support. Arrowhead has stated they will not actively ban for modding, but they cannot guarantee that their anti-cheat software (GameGuard) won't flag modified files.
Client-Side Mods: Most popular mods found on Nexus Mods (like Star Wars skins or custom audio) are client-side. This means only you can see or hear the changes; other players see the standard game assets.
Bans: While reports of bans for purely cosmetic or audio mods are extremely rare, they are technically possible if the anti-cheat detects tampering.
What is Generally "Safe" vs. Forbidden
Mod Type
Risk Level
Details
Cosmetic / Audio
Low Risk
Reskins (e.g., Master Chief, Star Wars), UI tweaks, or changing music/voice lines.
Macros
Low Risk
Using keyboard or Stream Deck macros for stratagem codes is widely used and generally ignored.
Gameplay Advantage
High Risk
Mods that change weapon damage, hitboxes, health, or cooldowns are considered cheating and will likely trigger a ban.
Economy Cheats
High Risk
Anything that grants infinite Super Credits, Samples, or Medals is strictly prohibited and can lead to a permanent ban.
Important Precautions
Mod at Your Own Risk: Since modding isn't officially sanctioned, Arrowhead will not provide support or reverse bans if GameGuard flags your account.
Game Updates: Major game patches frequently break mods, often causing the game to crash on launch until the mods are updated.
Use a Manager: Community members recommend using the HD2 Mod Manager to safely deploy and "purge" mods before game updates.
