The B-100 Portable Hellbomb is one of the most unusual backpack stratagems in Helldivers 2. Unlike most explosives, it lets players carry a full Hellbomb anywhere on the map and decide exactly where it goes off. In practice, this makes it extremely powerful, but also very risky.

This guide explains how the Portable Hellbomb actually works during real missions, what most players use it for, and when it is worth bringing compared to other options.

What Is the B-100 Portable Hellbomb in Helldivers 2?

The B-100 Portable Hellbomb is a backpack stratagem unlocked through the Servants of Freedom Premium Warbond. Once equipped, it takes up your backpack slot and does nothing by default.

In general, most players think of it as a carryable NUX-223 Hellbomb. It has the same explosion power as the standard Hellbomb, but without the limitation of needing a specific objective location to arm it.

The trade-off is simple:

  • You gain full control over where the explosion happens.

  • You also carry the risk of detonating yourself and nearby teammates.

How Do You Unlock the Portable Hellbomb?

To unlock the B-100 Portable Hellbomb:

  • Go to Page 3 of the Servants of Freedom Premium Warbond.

  • Spend 110 Medals.

It counts as a backpack stratagem, so it benefits from ship modules that reduce backpack cooldowns. The stratagem has unlimited uses, but the cooldown is long.

In general, this is not something most players unlock early. It is usually picked up later, once players already understand blast radii and friendly fire behavior.

How Does the Portable Hellbomb Work in Practice?

When you call in the B-100 Portable Hellbomb:

  • It drops like a normal backpack.

  • While inactive, it provides no passive benefit.

To activate it, there are two options:

  1. The wearer activates it using the backpack function button.

  2. A nearby teammate activates it by interacting with the backpack.

Once activated:

  • A loud alarm starts.

  • A 10-second countdown begins.

  • The countdown cannot be canceled or paused.

  • The bomb explodes when the timer reaches zero, whether it is being worn or not.

Usually, players activate it, drop it immediately, and sprint away. Forgetting to remove it is one of the most common ways people die with this stratagem.

How Big Is the Explosion?

The explosion radius is massive and comparable to a standard Hellbomb.

Damage and radius in general terms:

  • Inner kill radius: around 17 meters

  • Outer damage radius: up to 25 meters

  • Shockwave push radius: roughly 45 meters

Anything inside the inner radius is usually destroyed instantly, including most enemies and mission structures. Even outside the core blast, the push force can throw players into terrain hard enough to kill them.

The only enemy that can survive a direct Hellbomb blast at the center is a Hive Lord.

Can You Survive Your Own Portable Hellbomb?

Usually, no.

If you are still wearing the backpack when it detonates, death is the expected outcome. There is one exception:

  • Armor with the Democracy Protects passive gives a 50% chance to survive.

Even then, surviving the explosion does not guarantee safety. The push force can launch you into rocks, walls, or cliffs, which often results in death anyway.

In general, most experienced players treat the Portable Hellbomb as a guaranteed suicide if handled incorrectly.

What Is the Portable Hellbomb Best Used For?

The B-100 Portable Hellbomb shines in very specific situations.

Destroying Mission Structures Quickly

Most players use it to destroy objectives like:

  • Automaton Orbital Cannons

  • Illuminate Monoliths

  • Other high-durability mission targets

Instead of calling in a standard Hellbomb, waiting for the drop, and arming it on site, you can carry the explosion directly to the target.

This saves time, especially in high-pressure missions.

Emergency Area Denial

Sometimes teams get overwhelmed. In these cases, the Portable Hellbomb can be used as a last-resort clear.

Usually, one player sacrifices themselves to:

  • Wipe out a large enemy wave

  • Clear space for teammates to recover objectives or extract

This is not efficient in terms of lives, but it can save a mission.

Special Objective Interactions

During missions with a Destroy Spore Lung objective:

  • One Portable Hellbomb is provided for free.

  • Once the objective is destroyed, it is no longer available.

Most players use this free bomb immediately and do not build loadouts around it.

What Are the Main Risks and Mistakes?

The Portable Hellbomb punishes mistakes harder than almost any other stratagem.

Common issues include:

  • Activating it too early and not having space to escape.

  • Forgetting to drop the backpack after arming it.

  • Teammates triggering it without warning.

  • Underestimating the push force, not just the damage.

Because of this, many squads only let one designated player handle it and clearly call out before activation.

Cooldown and Ship Module Effects

The base cooldown is 300 seconds, which is long.

However, ship modules can reduce this:

  • Morale Augmentation reduces all stratagem cooldowns.

  • Hand Carts reduces backpack stratagem cooldowns.

With all relevant upgrades, the cooldown drops to about 256.5 seconds. Even then, it is not something you can spam.

Is the Portable Hellbomb Worth Using?

In general, most players do not run the B-100 Portable Hellbomb in regular missions. It is too risky and takes up the backpack slot, which competes with safer utility options.

That said, it has clear value when:

  • You know the mission structure locations.

  • The team communicates well.

  • You want the fastest possible objective destruction.

It is a niche tool, but a very powerful one in the right hands.

Some players also mention it when talking about progression planning, loadout efficiency, or resource management, especially when discussions drift toward things like cheap helldivers 2 super credits and how fast you can unlock premium Warbond items. Even then, unlocking it does not mean you should use it every mission.

Patch History and Current State

The Portable Hellbomb was added in patch 1.002.101 and later received a fix in 1.002.103 that prevented accidental activation when entering vehicles.

As of patch 1.005.001, its behavior is stable and unchanged. No major balance adjustments have been made since release.

The B-100 Portable Hellbomb is not a beginner-friendly stratagem. It demands awareness, timing, and coordination.

Most players either love it for its raw power or avoid it entirely because of how unforgiving it is. If you enjoy high-risk tools and understand blast mechanics well, it can be one of the fastest ways to finish certain objectives.