For new Helldivers, the constant stream of Major Orders and shifting front lines can be confusing. You drop in, fight for a planet, and a few days later the entire sector has changed color. This isn't random; it's a persistent, evolving narrative driven by the collective efforts (or failures) of the entire player base. Based on in-game communications and the galactic map, here’s a practical breakdown of the key events that have shaped the war since deployment.

What Are These "Major Orders" and Operations?

Major Orders are global objectives set by Super Earth High Command. Their completion by the collective player community unlocks new equipment, like the EXO-45 Patriot Exosuit, or advances a larger narrative "Operation." Success or failure in these orders directly changes the galactic map, opening up new sectors for liberation or, conversely, allowing the enemy to advance. In general, most players focus their missions on planets that contribute to the active Major Order, as the rewards are usually worth it.

How Did the War Start?

Prior to February 2184, Super Earth was in a period of relative peace, farming Terminids for E-710 fuel. This stability shattered when the Terminids broke containment in the Galactic East and, simultaneously, the Automatons launched an unprovoked invasion in the Severin Sector. This forced the full mobilization of the Helldivers, splitting our forces between two fronts from day one—a reality that has defined the war's rhythm ever since.

What Were the Early Major Campaigns?

The first major campaign, Operation Valiant Enclosure, aimed to push back the Terminids and build a "Terminid Control System" on key barrier planets. We succeeded in phases, liberating planets like Heeth and Angel's Venture. However, its final phase was repeatedly delayed by severe Automaton pressure elsewhere.

That pressure came from Operation Bulwark, a grueling 12-day defensive against the Automatons in the Xzar Sector. Most players remember this as a brutal lesson in defense missions. We successfully defended seven of eight planets, but the loss of Draupnir was a strategic setback. This was followed by Operation Swift Disassembly, an ambitious plan to dismantle the Automaton war machine. A key part involved destroying a communications array on Troost, which was found to be broadcasting signals into deep space—a foreboding detail many players noted at the time.

Why Do Veterans Talk About "Malevelon Creek" and "The Ubanea Gambit"?

These locations became symbols of the war's tide. The Ubanea Gambit was a player-driven strategy to liberate Ubanea to reach the Automaton factory world Tibit. It failed when our defensive line on Draupnir collapsed, cutting off access. This failure led to a notable dip in morale. High Command's response was to issue a Major Order for Malevelon Creek, a planet that had seen 54 days of continuous fighting. The community liberated it in just five hours, leading to the unofficial "Malevelon Creek Memorial Day." This showed how player sentiment can directly influence High Command's orders.

Didn't We Almost Win the War in April?

By early April, after a successful counter-offensive, the Automaton Legion was cornered on just three planets: Maia, Durgen, and Tibit. We annihilated them. For a short time, with the western front "won," the galaxy had only one active front: the Terminids. It felt like final victory was near. This period is also when you saw a surge in players looking for efficient ways to earn in-game currency, with some searching online for cheap helldivers 2 super credits to quickly acquire new armors or boosters from the Acquisitions Center. However, the peace was short-lived.

What is "The Reclamation"?

The Reclamation was the Automaton's devastating counter-punch. A massive, previously unknown fleet—far larger than the initial vanguard we fought—jumped into the Valdis Sector and overran it within hours. This revealed our earlier victories were merely against an advance force. They shattered our defensive Menkent Line and pushed all the way to Mort, even knocking out our galactic communications arrays on Vernen Wells. The war escalated dramatically.

How Does the Community Approach These Global Events?

Most players understand that contributing to the Major Order, even with a few successful missions, is the best way to earn Requisition Slips, Medals, and unlock the narrative. There’s a shared understanding that losing a planetary defense often leads to a more challenging, but sometimes more interesting, offensive campaign to take it back. Coordination is organic; players naturally flock to the high-priority planets marked on the map. The recent joint Automaton-Terminid offensive showed that the war is becoming more complex, and diversifying your loadout to handle multiple enemy types is now essential.

What's the Takeaway for a New Helldiver?

The galactic war is a living story. Your individual missions contribute to a larger, player-driven narrative with real consequences. Defeats happen, but they often set the stage for the next major push. Pay attention to the Major Orders and the briefing text from High Command—they provide context for why you're fighting on a particular hellscape. The enemy adapts, and so must we. Now get out there and spread some Managed Democracy.