AR-23A Liberator Carbine

Helldivers 2

Helldivers 1

Last updated: 1.002.201
Current patch: 1.003.001

Weapons

Primary Weapons

Assault Rifles

AR-23A Liberator Carbine

“

A compact version of the Liberator designed for increased viability in close quarters. Has an increased fire rate at the cost of higher spread.

— Armory Description

The Liberator Carbine is a Primary Weapon. It is a carbine variant of the standard Liberator, featuring a much faster fire rate in return for increased recoil.

Procurement

The Liberator Carbine is unlocked on the first page of the Viper Commandos Premium Warbond for 20 Medals.

Detailed Weapon Statistics

AR-23A Liberator Carbine
Fire Rate	920 rpm
Recoil	26
Capacity	45
Reload Time	2.5 s
Tactical Reload	1.6 s
Spare Magazines	8
Starting Magazines	6
Mags from Supply	8
Mags from Ammo Box	4
Attacks
Rifle 5.5x50mm Full Metal Jacket	Projectile

Rifle 5.5x50mm Full Metal Jacket
Projectile
Caliber	5.5 mm
Mass	4.5 g
Initial Velocity	900 m/s
Drag Factor	30%
Gravity Factor	100%
Penetration Slowdown	25%
Damage
Standard	80
vs. Durable	15
Penetration
Direct	Light
Slight Angle	Light
Large Angle	Light
Extreme Angle	Unarmored I
Special Effects
Demolition Force	10
Stagger Force	15
Push Force	10

Attachments

Attachment Name	Category	Unlock Level	Unlock Cost	Effect	Notes
Laser Sight Angled Foregrip	Underbarrel	Weapon Level 22	ENTER COST	ERGONOMICS 8, VERTICAL RECOIL 9
Reflex Sight	Optics	Weapon Level 4	ENTER COST
1.5x Tube Red Dot	Optics	Weapon Level 14	ENTER COST
No Underbarrel	Underbarrel	Weapon Level Missing data	ENTER COST	ERGONOMICS 5
Reflex Sight Mk2	Optics	Weapon Level Missing data	ENTER COST
4x Combat Scope	Optics	Weapon Level 23	ENTER COST	ERGONOMICS -6
Drum Magazine	Magazine	Weapon Level 24	ENTER COST	ERGONOMICS -15, CAPACITY 15, RELOAD TIME 1, MAGAZINES -2
Muzzle Brake	Muzzle	Weapon Level 13	ENTER COST	ERGONOMICS -5, HORIZONTAL RECOIL -5
Flashlight Vertical Foregrip	Underbarrel	Weapon Level 17	ENTER COST	ERGONOMICS -2, VERTICAL RECOIL 8
Extended Magazine	Magazine	Weapon Level Missing data	ENTER COST
Laser Sight W/ Flashlight	Underbarrel	Weapon Level Missing data	ENTER COST
Holographic Sight	Optics	Weapon Level 8	ENTER COST
Flash Hider	Muzzle	Weapon Level 2	ENTER COST	ERGONOMICS -3, HORIZONTAL RECOIL 2, VERTICAL RECOIL 4
No Attachment	Muzzle	Weapon Level Missing data	ENTER COST
Vertical Foregrip	Underbarrel	Weapon Level 3	ENTER COST	VERTICAL RECOIL 8
Short Magazine	Magazine	Weapon Level 11	ENTER COST	ERGONOMICS 10, CAPACITY -15, RELOAD TIME -1, MAGAZINES 4
Angled Foregrip	Underbarrel	Weapon Level 7	ENTER COST	ERGONOMICS 10, VERTICAL RECOIL 9
Compensator	Muzzle	Weapon Level 21	ENTER COST	ERGONOMICS -5, VERTICAL RECOIL -11

Tactical Information

The key advantage that the Liberator Carbine has over the standard Liberator is its extremely high rate of fire. At 920 RPM, it can put over 40% more fire downrange in the same amount of time. This gives it a damage output comparable to the M-105 Stalwart's, provided the bearer can manage its extreme recoil and fast ammo consumption.

• The Liberator Carbine shines in mid to close range encounters, quickly dispatching of enemies before they can get into melee range. As such, it excels against the Terminids, but struggles more against the Automatons or Illuminate, who demand better accuracy and/or armor penetration.
  • As it uses the same caliber as the default Liberator's, it has comparable bullet velocity and damage falloff values, giving it an edge over Shotguns or Submachine Guns at longer ranges.
  • Though advertised through its woodland camouflage and associated Warbond to perform well in a swamp or jungle setting, the Liberator Carbine performs just as well, if not better, in the concrete jungle. Cities offer much more mid range encounters and are generally more predictable terrain-wise than the aforementioned biomes, giving Helldivers space to reload and fire from a safe distance.
  • The Siege Ready Armor Passive pairs well with this weapon, as it not only provides more reserve ammo to burn through when needed, but also further lowers the Carbine's already reduced reload speed relative to the Liberator.
• The drawback of the weapon's higher rate of fire is that it also creates a proportionally higher amount of recoil, making it harder to maintain aim at targets. This can be mitigated by crouching, laying prone, equipping an armor set that reduces recoil, or simply attaching a Vertical Foregrip.
• Though it possesses a slightly faster reload than the traditional Liberator, it's important to be wary of when and where to reload the Liberator Carbine.
  • Its high rate of fire and resultant recoil means running out of ammo faster and a higher likelihood of wasting bullets, even if both weapons carry the same combat load. This makes it easier to be caught with an empty magazine mid-combat. It's important to take advantage of its mid-range capabilities to dispatch of enemies before they can get close enough to deal damage. Be mindful of nearby enemies so that they do not get an opportunity to attack while reloading, and be ready to retreat to a safer position to reload if the situation calls for it.
  • Be ready to call down a Resupply when needed or to look for Ammo Boxes at Minor Places of Interest.
  • Because it does not carry more magazines to compensate for its high rate of fire, each magazine becomes even more precious. While tactical reloading is still helpful to avoid running empty in the middle of a subsequent engagement, care should be taken to deplete a magazine as much as possible before discarding it.
• The selection of a reliable Secondary Weapon may matter more when using the Liberator Carbine, as it can become the fallback weapon more frequently than with other Primary Weapons. As such, weapons like the Talon, Senator, or Redeemer may be preferred over more utility-oriented secondaries like the Grenade Pistol or Stim Pistol.

Media

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  Weapon wheel
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  Third person
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  First person
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  Marketing image

Change History

Patch

Description

1.003.000
2025-05-13

Change

• Spread reduced from 4 to 3

1.002.200
2025-03-18

Undocumented Change

• Damage increased from 70 to 80

1.001.201
2024-10-29

Fixes

• The AR-23A Liberator Carbine now has the 0.5 second shorter reload duration properly implemented, from 3 to 2.5 seconds.
  • It also now has the correct magazine unit.

1.001.104
2024-10-15

Changes

• Horizontal recoil reduced by 30%.
• Ergonomics increased from 65 to 70.
• Reload duration decreased from 3 to 2.5 seconds.

1.001.100
2024-09-17

Changes

• Damage is increased from 60 to 70.
• Durable damage increased from 14 to 17.
• Stagger force increased from 10 to 15.
• Max spare magazines increased from 7 to 8.
• Starting spare magazines increased from 5 to 6.

Undocumented Changes

• Real durable damage value is 15 instead of 17.

1.000.400
2024-06-13

Added to the game.

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Weapons

Primaries

CB-9 Exploding Crossbow  •  JAR-5 Dominator  •  R-36 Eruptor  •  SG-8P Punisher Plasma  •  ARC-12 Blitzer  •  LAS-5 Scythe  •  LAS-16 Sickle  •  PLAS-1 Scorcher  •  PLAS-101 Purifier  •  AR-23P Liberator Penetrator  •  AR-23C Liberator Concussive  •  AR-23A Liberator Carbine  •  AR-61 Tenderizer  •  BR-14 Adjudicator  •  R-63 Diligence  •  R-63CS Diligence Counter Sniper  •  MP-98 Knight  •  SMG-37 Defender  •  SMG-72 Pummeler  •  SG-8 Punisher  •  SG-8S Slugger  •  SG-225 Breaker  •  SG-225SP Breaker Spray&Pray  •  SG-225IE Breaker Incendiary  •  SG-451 Cookout  •  FLAM-66 Torcher  •  R-2124 Constitution  •  SMG-32 Reprimand  •  SG-20 Halt  •  PLAS-39 Accelerator Rifle  •  StA-52 Assault Rifle  •  StA-11 SMG  •  AR-23 Liberator  •  LAS-17 Double-Edge Sickle  •  R-6 Deadeye  •  R-2 Amendment

Secondaries

P-19 Redeemer  •  GP-31 Grenade Pistol  •  LAS-7 Dagger  •  P-113 Verdict  •  P-4 Senator  •  SG-22 Bushwhacker  •  P-72 Crisper  •  P-11 Stim Pistol  •  PLAS-15 Loyalist  •  CQC-30 Stun Baton  •  CQC-19 Stun Lance  •  P-2 Peacemaker  •  GP-31 Ultimatum  •  CQC-5 Combat Hatchet  •  LAS-58 Talon  •  CQC-2 Saber

Support

MG-43 Machine Gun  •  APW-1 Anti-Materiel Rifle  •  M-105 Stalwart  •  EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank  •  GR-8 Recoilless Rifle  •  FLAM-40 Flamethrower  •  AC-8 Autocannon  •  MG-206 Heavy Machine Gun  •  RL-77 Airburst Rocket Launcher  •  RS-422 Railgun  •  FAF-14 Spear  •  GL-21 Grenade Launcher  •  LAS-98 Laser Cannon  •  ARC-3 Arc Thrower  •  LAS-99 Quasar Cannon  •  SG-88 Break-Action Shotgun  •  MLS-4X Commando  •  TX-41 Sterilizer  •  StA-X3 W.A.S.P. Launcher  •  Entrenchment Tool  •  CQC-1 One True Flag

Attachments

2x Tube Red Dot  •  Reflex Sight  •  Holographic Sight  •  4x Combat Scope  •  10x Sniper Scope  •  No Underbarrel  •  Laser Sight W/ Flashlight  •  Vertical Foregrip  •  Angled Foregrip  •  Flashlight Vertical Foregrip  •  Laser Sight Angled Foregrip  •  No Attachment  •  Muzzle Brake  •  Flash Hider  •  Compensator  •  Iron Sight  •  1.5x Tube Red Dot  •  No Choke  •  Reflex Sight Mk2  •  Full Choke  •  Half Choke  •  Extended Magazine  •  High Dissipation Heatsink  •  Duckbill  •  Standard Heatsink  •  High Capacity Heatsink  •  Drum Magazine  •  Short Magazine