How to Destroy Automaton Fabricators in Helldivers 2

Put a suitable explosive into one of the front vents above the door of a standard Automaton Fabricator. If you cannot get a safe angle on the vents, use a heavy attack that can destroy the building from outside. Move away before it explodes and check that the outpost objective registered the destruction.

1. Identify the structure before choosing a weapon

At a regular Automaton outpost, look for the production building with a front door and the vent openings above it. The front matters when using a grenade or a small explosive shot. Its side walls do not offer the same opening, so hitting them with the same weapon can have a different result.

Check the rest of the base before approaching. If there are enemies near the front, take cover and choose whether to clear the approach or attack the structure from a safer angle with a heavier weapon. Some outposts have other objectives and some missions contain larger fabricator variants. The method here is for the standard building.

2. Destroy a standard Fabricator through a vent

1. Find a place where you can see the vents above the front door.
2. Take out a suitable explosive grenade or an explosive weapon such as the GP-31 Grenade Pistol.
3. Aim so the explosive reaches the vent rather than detonating against the outer wall.
4. Back away from the building and watch for the destruction blast.
5. Check the objective display or the structure before using another grenade.

If your shot hits the metal or nearby cover instead of the opening, change position before trying again. A clear view into the vent is worth moving for. If a teammate is already in front of the building, tell them before you throw so they can get clear of the blast.

3. Use a heavy attack when you cannot reach the front

A suitable heavy support weapon or demolition Stratagem can destroy the standard Fabricator from the outside. The GR-8 Recoilless Rifle and Eagle Airstrike are examples of tools used against the exterior. Check that your attack has a clear path. Small walls and other terrain around the base can block an impact or intercept part of an explosion.

If a teammate is carrying a heavy weapon, cover them while they line up the shot. Reserve a second explosive until you see whether the first attack worked. When calling in an airstrike, give teammates time to move out of the target area. If the Fabricator is close to a friendly player or a route the squad needs to use, wait until that route is clear or choose a different attack.

4. Work through an outpost with several targets

Pick a safe side of the outpost to approach from and decide which building to destroy first. If you have a clean angle on a Fabricator that is producing more enemies, closing it early reduces the time you have to spend near it. Use your strongest tool on a building you cannot reach with a normal grenade, and save smaller explosives for fronts you can see.

After a building explodes, check whether another Fabricator still needs attention. Call the position of any remaining structure and move between cover. If a teammate has already thrown a Stratagem at it, wait for that attack to land. This helps avoid spending two limited resources on one building.

5. Troubleshoot a failed attempt

If a vent shot does not work, check where it hit and whether the weapon delivers a suitable explosive. An ordinary bullet striking the vent will not behave like an explosive round. If an exterior hit did not destroy the building, confirm that you used a weapon or Stratagem capable of damaging it from outside. Check whether a wall or other obstacle caught the shot.

If the building exploded and the objective is still active, look for another target before spending more ammunition. In a larger outpost, inspect the side you have not visited yet. When the objective confirms completion, regroup away from the destroyed structure and check who still has explosives before moving to the next base.

If you are approaching from higher ground, inspect the front and the route below before dropping in. A clean line on the vents can let you finish the job without entering the outpost.