Illuminate
| Helldivers 2 | Helldivers 1 |
The 
Illuminate are one of three factions the Helldivers can fight against, with the others being the 
Terminids and the 
Automatons.
Overview
An ancient, “highly advanced” species, desperately seeking to reclaim their former galactic supremacy. These mind-controlling, xenophobic aliens cannot be reasoned with. They must all be killed.
— Playstation Store Description
The Illuminate - colloquially known as Squids - are an ancient hierarchical[1] alien species named Squ'ith who were originally aquatic in nature. Few in number, they possess exceptionally long lifespans (upwards of a thousand years[1]) and highly advanced technology - such as stealth and shielding capabilities.
Following their near-extinction[2][3] after the events of the First Galactic War, the surviving Illuminate fled outside 
Super Earth controlled space into an unknown portion of the galaxy[4]. They would eventually return to federation space 100 years later via the 
Meridian Wormhole.
In terms of gameplay, the Illuminate utilize vast hordes of Voteless and Fleshmobs to swarm the Helldivers while various types of Overseers attack from a distance.
Lore
First Galactic War
Before the First Galactic War, the Illuminate society had endured for several hundred thousands of years. They first approached Super Earth with a peace offering[5], however were falsely accused of possessing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) capable of destroying entire planets[6]. Using this supposed threat as justification, humankind waged war against the Illuminate and ultimately defeated them. After their defeat, the Illuminate were forced to surrender their technology before being almost completely exterminated by Super Earth.
While Super Earth believed them extinct, some Illuminate survivors fled into unknown space, away from the Federation's purview. This near-total eradication would drastically alter their society during this period of isolation[7], as they would begin plotting their revenge.
Second Galactic War
100 years later, the creation of the Meridian Wormhole would prompt the Illuminate to return to Federation space through it. At first, they remained hidden while abducting large amounts of colonists[8], but later revealed themselves with a massive attack on Calypso. This invasion used small squads of elite Overseers supported by swarms of Voteless: zombie-like creatures created from abducted and mutated Super Earth colonists. This brutal attack was just barely repelled thanks to the efforts of the Helldivers, but further attacks soon followed.
Throughout the months after their return, the Illuminate invaded several planets in order to generate Dark Energy to move the Meridian Wormhole - which destroyed Angel's Venture, Moradesh, and Ivis in its path towards Super Earth itself. However Federation efforts, such as a partial blockade and deployment of the Penrose Energy Siphon, slowed the Singularity; it was ultimately stopped with the activation of the Repulsive Gravity Field Generator shortly after the destruction of Ivis. The Illuminate briefly vanished from the Galactic Map after the Wormhole was halted, in preparation of their incoming invasion.
Shortly afterwards, a massive Illuminate invasion armada - presumably built over 100 years[9] - known as The Great Host would emerge from the Meridian Wormhole and begin its march towards Super Earth itself. The fleet first made landfall on Widow's Harbor, and brought with it new units to bolster the Illuminate invasion: the Stingray, Fleshmobs, and Crescent Overseers.
The Illuminate fleet reached the Solar System on May 20th, 2185. First razing Mars, then moving to Super Earth. Their forces began attacks on the seven Megacities of Super Earth, first landing on Eagleopolis in the Middle East.
List of Illuminate Units
Voteless Fodder
Crescent Overseer Medium
Elevated Overseer Medium
Overseer Medium
Fleshmob Heavy
Harvester Heavy
Leviathan Superheavy
Stingray Special
Warp Ship Special
Watcher Special
List of Illuminate Structures
| Image | Name |
|---|---|
|
Cognitive Disruptor |
|
Monolith |
|
Grounded Warp Ship |
|
Lightning Spire |
Trivia
- They were made available to fight immediately after their reveal at The Game Awards 2024 on December 13th, 2024.
- Super Earth frequently calls the Illuminate society "Autocratic" despite no evidence of this claim being present anywhere in the game.
- UFO sightings during the 21st century were actually Illuminate recon ships[10].
- Some of the Illuminate technology is seemingly biotechnological in nature. This can be observed on the Leviathan's internals being fleshy, as well as various autonomous units bleeding as they die:
A Watcher bleeding as it dies
Ditto
A Harvester bleeding as it dies
A Stingray bleeding as it dies
A Leviathan bleeding as it dies
Change History
1.003.000
2025-05-13
New units
- Added Stingray, Fleshmob and Crescent Overseer.
1.002.001
2024-12-13
Added to the game.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Democracy Officer: "According to historical texts, the Illuminate society is strictly hierarchical. Their leaders may be over a thousand years old. But ancient though they may be, their return has sealed their doom."
- ↑ Democracy Officer: "We defeated the Illuminate in the First Galactic War, but were too lenient in our cleansing of their viscous imprint. Now we pay the price."
- ↑ Strohmann News broadcast: "The advanced and highly xenophobic beings were thought exterminated in the First Galactic War (...)"
- ↑ Democracy Officer:"It seems that the black hole created by the Dark Fluid was in fact a wormhole, to some dark depths of the galaxy in which the Illuminate were hidden."
- ↑ Helldivers 1, Science Officer: "The Illuminates consider themselves enlightened, hence the name. They initially came to earth with a treacherous peace offering which later turned out to be false as they had large quantities of world-destroying devices nicknamed 'obliterator bombs'. Needless to say, the only sensible solution was to wipe them out with a preemptive strike."
- ↑ Helldivers 1, War Declared: Illuminate: " 'We have reason to believe the Illuminates have Weapons of Mass Destruction, capable of destroying entire planets' stated house representative Powley Colle. He continued 'Every statement I make today is backed up by reliable sources' "
- ↑ "💯 And the illuminates that survived probably don't have any issues with their ancestors' soft and apathetic approach to humanity that resulted in their millenia long stewardship of the galaxy being lost." Anyone else notice how Illuminate are a LOT more... brutal this time around?by Pilestdt. Published on December 24th, 2024.
- ↑ Democracy Officer: "The mystery of our vanishing colonists is at last solved. They were abducted by the Illuminate, and transfigured into the betentacled assailants with which we must now contend."
- ↑ Democracy Officer: "The Illuminate likely spent the past hundred years constructing this fleet. Its gargantuan size is a reflection of our enemy's hatred for all things Free."
- ↑ Helldivers 1: Science Officer: "The Illuminate have had settlements in this galaxy for millennia. In the late 21st century there were plenty of Illuminate recon ship sightings, but these were dismissed as folklore back then."