Helldivers 2 Void Missions: Spires, Gateways, Extraction

Void missions are the new objective type Arrowhead added with the Devoid of Liberty update, and the short version is this: targets now sit inside Illuminate structures instead of open ground, so the usual land, run, call extraction routine stops working. This guide covers what a squad actually does inside a Void mission — spire and gateway demolition, data reconnaissance, structure infiltration, the two secondary tasks, and the one decision that separates a clean extraction from a wipe: whether to bother opening the second evacuation zone.

Void missions are the objective set tied to the Devoid of Liberty update and its narrative arc, Battle for the Gateway Planet. Super Earth forces are ordered into the unknown, toward worlds scarred by the mysterious influence of the Void. Instead of dropping near an open objective marker, squads get new objectives to conquer: destroy Illuminate spires and gateways, complete data reconnaissance, and infiltrate Illuminate structures with the team. On top of those, new secondary objectives also become available, from eradicating Void mutations to extracting materials for research, as well as the opportunity to open a secondary extraction zone on the map to potentially evacuate the squad faster.

The Void is a cosmic anomaly discovered by the Illuminate that possesses the power to consume surrounding planets and even entire star systems. It shouldn’t be confused with a single open-world map — instead the Void represents a new battlefield environment within the ongoing Galactic War, spread across several frontline planets rather than one location. The update also introduces entirely new Void Source Worlds, planets that appear to have been consumed by the Void and are becoming a vital source for its expansion. Some of these frontline pushes have a named focal point — at the time of the update’s launch, the Illuminate are trying to take Rirga Bay, described as a massive city, meaning close-quarters fighting. Several of these planets also carry the SEAF modifier, which is covered in detail in the SEAF support troops guide rather than here.

Each Gazer Spire is heavily guarded by sentries and Warp Gateways that spawn Illuminate enemies, on top of the spire itself attacking Helldivers once alerted. After spotting a Helldiver within its detection range, it visibly charges up before firing a laser, and evasive action is recommended since the beam is highly lethal. The fix is straightforward on paper — the beam can be outmaneuvered by walking to the side or taking cover — but doing that while gateways keep pumping out fresh enemies is where squads lose time and lives.

Data reconnaissance objectives exist because High Command has ordered reconnaissance missions to gather as much intel as possible in order to give the war effort an advantage, which plays out as an intel-gathering task rather than a straight kill objective. Infiltration is the bigger departure from normal Illuminate missions: instead of approaching and holding a point in the open, the squad has to physically enter and clear a structure. That distinction matters on Void Source Worlds specifically, since these planets are shrouded in darkness for extended periods, with erratic weather, and also feature temporal anomalies and space-time fluctuations, which makes clearing a structure from the inside noticeably harder to read than a normal outdoor firefight.

Alongside the primary tasks, squads can also take on eradicating Void mutations and extracting materials for research as optional side work. Both are quick add-ons rather than mission-defining tasks, and the update also lets squads scavenge for loot and locate additional extraction points to facilitate future battles while they’re at it. The mutated enemies you’re clearing in these objectives are the same new threats covered separately in the Crusher and Wretch weak points guide, so this piece won’t repeat their behavior here.

The secondary extraction zone is particularly useful during longer operations, and completing the corresponding objective gives a squad another location from which it may evacuate, potentially shortening the journey to extraction. That said, this is an optional objective rather than a permanent rule, and not every mission automatically provides two extraction zones. Players have to find and complete the relevant objective before gaining access to the alternative evacuation point, which is exactly why it’s a judgment call and not a checklist item.

The honest math on that last row: unlocking the second zone means detouring for an extra side objective, which costs real time before the squad can even call extraction. Based on how these objectives are laid out on the map, expect that detour to run somewhere around two to four minutes of extra clearing and travel. What it buys back is a shorter sprint if the primary zone ends up on the far side of the level or gets swarmed by reinforcements — a save that can easily be worth more than the two to four minutes spent, but only if the primary zone was genuinely going to be a problem. If it’s already close and clear, that time is better spent finishing the mission outright.

Planets within the Void’s reach have been permanently altered, with intelligence reports suggesting the changes get more significant the closer a planet sits to the Void itself. In practice that means the same mission type feels progressively rougher the deeper the campaign pushes: standard frontline planets carry mild warping, while Void Source Worlds — planets that appear to have been consumed by the Void and are becoming a source for its expansion — carry the heaviest version of it, with the darkness and anomalies described earlier stacking on top of the usual Illuminate resistance. For loadout planning against that kind of environmental pressure, the ship module priority guide covers which stratagem cooldown upgrades pay off fastest when a mission calls for repeated demolition charges or extended firefights.

Myth: Void Missions Are Just Reskinned Illuminate Maps

They aren’t a visual reskin — the objectives themselves are structural. Spires and gateways don’t exist in standard Illuminate missions, and infiltration specifically requires entering a building rather than standing near a marker.

Myth: You Should Always Open the Second Extraction Zone

It’s an optional objective rather than a permanent rule, and not every mission automatically provides two extraction zones, so treating it as a default step wastes time on missions where the primary zone was never going to be a problem.

Myth: Ignoring the Gateway Is Fine as Long as the Spire Dies

Warp Gateways constantly spawn enemy units unless destroyed, so leaving one standing while focusing the spire just means fighting an unbroken stream of reinforcements during the demolition timer.