Helldivers 1:Proving Grounds

“

These Proving Grounds give you an opportunity to practice with some gear you might not have used otherwise. Seems tricky, but you are doing well down there!

— Ship's Scientist

Proving Grounds is a game mode released in the Dive Harder expansion that consists of unique missions with various difficulties, and includes modifiers that cannot be seen anywhere else. It is separate from the war effort and can be played at any time. It takes place in the exclusive area of an undamaged Super Earth city.

A Proving Ground mission consists of three components such as:

Challenge: A challenge is an actual objective the Helldivers are tasked to complete. These are familiar from the main game, rescue Survivors or activate SAM-sites for example.

Modifier: A modifier mixes things up and forces the Helldiver to stay sharp. For example, an unexpected orbital bombardment strikes the city, or the electricity goes out, plunging the map into darkness.

Condition: A condition primarily affects the loadout available to the Helldiver, like shotguns only, defensive stratagems only, or a new weapon upon reloading.

Black List

Each componens have hidden black list component that prohibits the appearance of certain settings on certain components. For example, Easy missions will never contain Defend Area challenge and a challenge will never appear with "UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL" condition.

Proving Grounds Difficulty

Proving Grounds contains 3 difficultie's: Easy (Difficulty 5), Medium (Difficulty 9) and Hard (Difficulty 15). They don't repeat themselves for each faction and become available in order from Easy to Hard.

Black List
Difficulty	Name	Type
Easy	Defend Area	Challenge
Medium	Defend Area	Challenge
Hard	PISTOLS ONLY, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL	Condition

Proving Grounds Challenges Types

Exterminate

Kill a specific number of enemies.

• The quantity of enemies that must be killed depends on the Difficulty of the mission, ranging from as low as 50 to as high as 180.

Black List
Name	Type
RANDOM STRATAGEMS	Condition

Escort Survivors

Escort three groups of survivors to the placed bunker.

• The number of objectives is fixed and does not change depending on the difficulty.
• Each group contains four survivors.
  • Each killed survivor adds a 20 seconds penalty to a mission timer.

Black List
Name	Type
N/a

Deploy:

Activate SAM Site

Deploy and activate three surface-to-air missile launcher turrets on three different places.

• The number of objectives is fixed and does not change depending on the difficulty.

Black List
Name	Type
N/a

Activate and Defend Launchpad

Activate and defend three missile launchpads.

• The number of objectives is fixed and does not change depending on the difficulty.
• Helldiver need to defend a launchpad for 45 seconds.
• If objective is failed, the penalty varies depending on the remaining time. Maximum penalty - 64 seconds.

Black List
Name	Type
ORBITAL BOMBARDMENTS	Modifier
ORBITAL SUPPORT	Modifier

Defuse Undetonated Shells

Helldivers must use the ME-1 Sniffer Metal Detector to find between three and five unexploded mortar shells on three different areas.

• The number of objectives is fixed and does not change depending on the difficulty.
• Detonating shells via inserting wrong imput does not add a penalty to mission timer.

Black List
Name	Type
N/a

Assassinate

Found and assasinate three targets.

• The number of objectives is fixed and does not change depending on the difficulty.
• Assassinate targets will roam around like a scout patrol, but their objective icon follows them wherever they go.

Black List
Name	Type
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL	Condition
PISTOLS ONLY	Condition
RANDOM STRATAGEMS	Condition
ONE-ARMED ANGEL	Condition

Capture Area:

Capture Areas

Secure three areas around a flag post.

• The number of objectives is fixed and does not change depending on the difficulty.

Defend Area

Enter the designated area and survive 20 waves.

• The number of waves is fixed and does not change depending on the difficulty.
• The mission timer will start after a flag is rised.
• Every 90 seconds on the timer resupply pod will be dropped near flag post. Note that it can be blocked by EMP modifier.

Black List
Name	Type
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL	Condition
FRIENDLY FIRE IS RETURNED	Modifier

Proving Grounds Modifiers Types

TIMED MODIFIERS:

ORBITAL BOMBARDMENTS

Every 15 seconds a random Mk1 Offensive Statagem will be called nearby.

ORBITAL SUPPORT

Every 20 seconds a random Mk1 Support Stratagem (except vehicles) will be called nearby.

• The Distractor Beacon are the only non-support stratagem can be called randomly.

EMP

Every 40 seconds mission map will be covered with jamming field (similar to Cyborg AA jamming) for 15 seconds.

PERMANENT MODIFIERS:

DAMAGING HITS GIVE AMMO

Damaging enemy refills ammo, but all player magazine ammo is redused by half.

RECON ARMOR

Player movement increased by 40%, but receve double damage.

FRIENDLY FIRE IS RETURNED

A map will be filled with a hologramms of a friendly Helldiver. Hitting hologramm will return full damage to player.

DOUBLE DAMAGE WEAK SPOTS ONLY

Enemies should be hit in center of mass, but player damage is doubled.

GHOST TOWN

Highly redused visibilty on mission map.

Proving Grounds Conditions Types

WEAPON EXPERTISESTRATAGEM MASTERYWILDCARD

PISTOLS ONLY
Perk	Laser Aim Module
Sidearm	Random
Primary	NONE
Stratagems	Resupply; 3 random `strike` stratagems
Additional Notes	You get to play with a randomly chosen sidearm.

ANTI-TANK AND PISTOLS ONLY
Perk	Laser Aim Module
Sidearm	Random
Primary	NONE
Stratagems	4 random `anti_tank` stratagems
Additional Notes	Randomly chosen sidearm and heavy weapon (anti-tank) stratagems.

RANDOM WEAPONS
Perk	Random
Sidearm	Random
Primary	Random (excluding, Saber, FLAM-40 Incinerator, TOX-13 Avenger, and AC-22 Dum-Dum)
Stratagems	4 Random
Additional Notes	Everything random.

AVENGING FLAMES
Perk	Laser Aim Module
Sidearm	P-2 Peacemaker
Primary	TOX-13 Avenger or FLAM-40 Incinerator
Stratagems	Resupply, 3 random `mine`/`strike` stratagems
Additional Notes	You get to play with TOX-13 Avenger or FLAM-40 Incinerator as primary.
Black List
Name	Type
DOUBLE DAMAGE WEAK SPOTS ONLY	Modifier

SHOTGUN AND GRENADES
Perk	Stun Grenades, Incendiary Grenades, Smoke Grenades
Sidearm	NONE
Primary	DBS-2 Double Freedom
Stratagems	Resupply, Static Field Conductors, Airdropped Stun Mines, Airdropped Anti-Personnel Mines or Anti-Personnel Barrier
Additional Notes	You get to play with shotgun and random grenades

SUPPORT WEAPONS ONLY
Perk	Random
Sidearm	Random
Primary	NONE
Stratagems	4 random `support_weapon` stratagems
Additional Notes	Randomly chosen perk, sidearm and 4 support weapon stratagems.
Black List
Name	Type
DOUBLE DAMAGE WEAK SPOTS ONLY	Modifier

RELOAD SURPRISE
Perk	Laser Aim Module
Sidearm	Random
Primary	Random
Stratagems	4 random `strike` stratagems
Additional Notes	Each reload changes primary and sidearm, with the possibility of using DLC weapons. Players will never run out of ammo.

LIBERTY DAY VETERAN
Perk	MD-99 Autoinjector
Sidearm	P-2 Peacemaker
Primary	M2016 Constitution
Stratagems	MGX-42 Machine Gun, Heavy Strafing Run, Thunderer Smoke Round, A/GL-8 Launcher Turret
Additional Notes	You get to play with M2016 Constitution

ONE-ARMED ANGEL
Perk	Heavy Armor
Sidearm	P-2 Peacemaker
Primary	SMG-45 Defender
Stratagems	Resupply, AD-289 Angel, Airdropped Stun Mines, Airdropped Anti-Personnel Mines
Additional Notes	You get to play with SMG-45 Defender and AD-289 Angel

NEW AND IMPROVED
Perk	Strong Arm
Sidearm	P-2 Peacemaker
Primary	AC-22 Dum-Dum
Stratagems	Resupply, AD-289 Angel or AD-334 Guard Dog, FLAM-40 Incinerator, AT-47 Anti-Tank Emplacement
Additional Notes	You get to play with "buffed" or improved weapons and perks from the Dive Harder patch.

NO PRIMARY
Perk	Laser Aim Module
Sidearm	P-2 Peacemaker
Primary	NONE
Stratagems	Resupply, Vindicator Dive Bomb, MG-94 Machine Gun, A/MG-11 Minigun Turret
Additional Notes	You get to play without primary weapon.

DEFENSIVE STRATAGEMS ONLY
Perk	Random
Sidearm	Random
Primary	NONE
Stratagems	4 random `defensive` stratagems
Additional Notes	Randomly chosen perk, sidearm and 4 defensive stratagems

RANDOM STRATAGEMS
Perk	Laser Aim Module
Sidearm	P-2 Peacemaker
Primary	AR-19 Liberator
Stratagems	4 random stratagems
Additional Notes	Default perk, sidearm, primary and 4 random stratagems.

FREEDOM ON WHEELS
Perk	Random
Sidearm	Random
Primary	NONE
Stratagems	4 random `vehicle` stratagems
Additional Notes	Loadout with random perk, sidearm and vehicles.

MINES AND MACHINEGUNS
Perk	Laser Aim Module
Sidearm	P-2 Peacemaker
Primary	AR-19 Liberator, AR-22C Patriot, AR-20L Justice or MG-105 Stalwart
Stratagems	4 random `mine` stratagems
Additional Notes	You get to play with randomly chosen mines.

POISONOUS STING
Perk	Heavy Armor
Sidearm	P-2 Peacemaker
Primary	AR-14D Paragon
Stratagems	4 random support/`strike stratagems
Additional Notes	You get to play with this loadout.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Perk	Strong Arm
Sidearm	NONE
Primary	Saber
Stratagems	SH-20 Shield Generator Pack or SH-32 Directional Kinetic Shield, 3 random non-lethal stratagems
Additional Notes	Melee only loadout with stratagems that should help to keep you alive for longer.
Black List
Name	Type
DAMAGING HITS GIVE AMMO	Modifier
DOUBLE DAMAGE WEAK SPOTS ONLY	Modifier

Proving Grounds Reward

Helldivers who climb to the top of a Proving Ground’s leaderboard at the end of the Galactic Campaign will be awarded a cape (total of 9 to collect) by Super Earth Command. Only players who achieve and remain first place at the end of a war will receive a cape. Capes are awarded according to the difficulty of a mission. For example, a tier 1 cape for Easy Bug difficulty, tier 2 for Medium Illuminate difficulty and tier 3 for Hard Cyborg difficulty. This means that to collect all 9 capes, one would have to get first place in at least 3 Wars, for different mission difficulties/factions combinations.

Proving Grounds Mission Names

Each operation contains unique key names that tied to specific difficulty, challange and condition: the first key word means the difficulty of the mission; second means the challange type for specific faction; last means the condition. For example, "Drill Crimson Tridend" name shows that "Drill" means there will be Difficuly 5; "Crimson" means that it will contain Bugs and Extermination challange; "Tridend" means there will be a loadout from Weapon Expertise condition.

Tables with all the key names will be provided below.

Difficulty Key Names
Difficulty	Key Name
Easy	Drill
Medium	Assignment
Hard	Operation

Challange Key Names
Faction	Challange	Exterminate	Escort Survivors	Deploy	Defuse Undetonated Shells	Assassinate	Capture Area
Bugs	Key Name	Crimson	Golden	Copper	Emerald	Pale	Indigo
Cybogrs		Carbon	Guided	Bloated	Scattered	Lurking	Phreaking
Illuminate		Harmonic	Symphonic	Reedy	Blaring	Monotone	Bombastic

Condition type Key Names
Condition	Challange	Exterminate	Escort Survivors	Deploy	Defuse Undetonated Shells	Assassinate	Capture Area
Weapon Expertise	Key Name	Trident	Kevlar	Morningstar	Barrel	Cestus	Gauntlet
Stratagem mastery		Comet	Eclipse	Galaxy	Nova	Meteor	Meridian
Wildcard		Gimick	Trouper	Acrobat	Juggler	Mirage	Tightrope

External links

• HELLDIVERS: Dive Harder development video Proving Grounds - Short official preview via YouTube from October 2019
  • Related blog post: https://www.arrowheadgamestudios.com/2019/10/announcing-helldivers-dive-harder/