Helldivers 2 has introduced two new poisonous Terminid enemies, the Noxious Scavenger and Noxious Spewer, alongside an expansion of underground bug caves across the galaxy. Developer Arrowhead Game Studios confirmed the additions in an official PlayStation Blog announcement on November 3, 2026, detailing new venom mechanics, web-based attacks and underground combat encounters.
The new enemies belong to the Noxious strain, a faster and more dangerous variation of the existing Terminid threat. Both creatures can poison players through melee attacks, while the larger Noxious Spewer introduces abilities that restrict movement and make escaping enemy encounters more difficult.
The update also expands the environments where Terminid cave networks can appear, bringing underground encounters to additional planetary biomes, including deserts and frozen tundras.
The Noxious Scavenger resembles the standard Scavenger but moves considerably faster and attacks more frequently. Its bites inflict poison, and its rapid attack pattern makes it particularly dangerous when several enemies approach simultaneously.
Despite its increased speed, the creature remains relatively fragile. Arrowhead recommends weapons capable of delivering substantial damage across an area, including shotguns, flamethrowers and grenades. These options can help eliminate groups of Noxious Scavengers without requiring precise shots against individual targets.
The Noxious Spewer presents a different challenge. Unlike conventional Spewers, which typically move slowly across the battlefield, this larger variant can advance quickly and deploy web-based attacks.
Its primary ranged ability, Web Spit, can hit players at medium distances and temporarily prevent them from sprinting. This restriction gives the creature an opportunity to close the distance and attack with its venomous bite, which delivers a stronger dose of poison than the Noxious Scavenger.
Arrowhead has also revealed a specific weakness players can exploit. Although the Noxious Spewer’s head is protected by medium armor, its abdomen is completely unarmored, making it a more vulnerable target.
However, destroying the abdomen can trigger a Web Explosion that ensnares nearby Helldivers and Terminids. Players therefore need to consider their positioning before targeting the creature’s exposed body, particularly when fighting at close range or alongside teammates.
Poison introduces an additional survival mechanic with two levels of severity. Light poisoning gradually drains health and causes visual distortion, while heavy poisoning increases damage over time, further obscures vision and disables sprinting.
A new HUD icon indicates when a Helldiver has been poisoned. Players can use stims to cure the condition, making medical supplies particularly important when facing groups of Noxious enemies.
The expanded cave system creates additional opportunities for these encounters. Previously restricted to a smaller selection of planets, Terminid caves now have a chance to appear across more environments on the Galactic map.
These underground areas feature limited visibility, narrow passages and blind corners that make it harder to identify approaching threats. Fast-moving Noxious enemies are especially dangerous in these conditions, where players have less room to retreat or maintain distance.
Arrowhead recommends bringing close-range weapons, remaining near squadmates and reserving stims for emergencies. Weapons suitable for open terrain may be less practical in confined tunnels, particularly when enemies can quickly close the distance or disable sprinting.
The November 3 additions expand Helldivers 2’s existing Terminid encounters with new enemy behaviors, additional environmental hazards and more underground combat opportunities. Players will need to manage poison exposure, avoid web attacks and exploit enemy weaknesses while navigating the expanded cave networks.
