How to Emote in Helldivers 2 – How to Unlock, Select and Use Emotes

As with most shooters, Emotes are a cool way to lighten things up during tense moments. So, let’s see how to Emote in Helldivers 2. Read on.

Helldivers 2 is an action-packed co-op shooter, set in the futuristic Super Earth. You play as Helldivers, an elite fighting force, tasked with defending Freedom and Democracy, by invading infested planets. From handheld weapons to airstrikes, there are many ways you can dispense Freedom to every corner of the galaxy. You’ll be facing bug-like Terminids, or The Automaton Collective, a faction of bloodthirsty robots. During all these high-danger missions, communication is key. But, not all communication has to be serious, and that’s why we have Emotes. From salutes to high-fives, using an Emote in the right situation can make an already fun game hilarious. Here’s how to Emote in Helldivers 2.

How to Emote in Helldivers 2

To Emote in Helldivers 2, you just need to press the associated button. Simple as that. The default buttons for emoting are B on the keyboard, and Left on the D-Pad, for the controller users. Pressing the associated button will make your Helldiver perform the Emote you selected.

How to Select Emotes

To “equip” an Emote, you need to access the Armory panel. Look for the Character tab and select it. Once there, the third tab from the left is Emote. Open it and you will see a selection of Emotes you have unlocked. Select the one you prefer, and that will be the Emote you perform in-game from now on.

You can only have one Emote selected.

Is There an Emote Wheel?

No, at the moment, there is nothing like an Emote Wheel in Helldivers 2. This feature recently became highly sought-after, and we understand why. There are a lot of great Emotes in HD2, and being limited to using only a single one during a game is far from ideal. Sometimes you want to hug your squadmates, other times you want to salute the flag (or a launching ICBM), all during the same game. And not to mention other quirky Emotes, like Rock, Paper, Scissors or the Scout Handshake.

We truly hope Arrowhead will add an Emote wheel, as at the moment, a lot of Emotes are going to waste. Or at least add the “Random” option, just like Victory Poses have.

How to Emote with a Friend

A lot of Emotes in Helldivers 2 require a buddy to work properly, like Hug, High Five, or Rock, Paper, Scissors. When you press the Emote button, you’ll enter the Emote “waiting stance”. Now, a squad member should approach you and press the prompted button (usually E on the keyboard) to Emote with you. This will initiate a hug, or a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors, or something else, depending on the Emote you selected.

How to Unlock Emotes in Helldivers 2

Every new Helldiver starts the game with the Casual Salute Emote unlocked. If you want some new ones, you have to unlock them via Warbonds. As with everything in Warbonds, you have to pay a certain amount of Medals to unlock it. For example, the aforementioned High-Five Emote is located on the fifth page of the Helldivers Mobilize! Warbond, and it costs 20 Medals to unlock.