As an experienced Helldiver, you learn that your primary weapon is more than just a tool; it's an extension of your strategy. The LHO-63 'Camper' is a weapon that demands respect and understanding. It's not for everyone, but in the right hands, it can decisively control the battlefield. This guide cuts through the hype to explain how the Camper actually works in practice and how you can use it effectively.

What is the Camper, and What Role Does It Play?

The Camper is a bolt-action, magazine-fed sniper rifle. In general, it's classified as a DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle). Its core identity is built on two pillars: extreme single-shot damage and high accuracy at long range. Most players use it not for clearing hordes, but for precision elimination. Its primary job is to delete high-priority targets like Spewer Bugs, Devastators, or Scouts before they can become a real problem for the squad.

How Do the Weapon Upgrades Work?

The Camper has two standard upgrades that significantly alter its performance.

• High Power Ammunition: This upgrade exchanges standard ammunition for specialized match rounds. In practice, this means it greatly increases damage per shot. For many tougher enemies, this can be the difference between a two-shot kill and a one-shot kill, which is crucial for a slow-firing weapon. It's almost universally considered the default choice for the upgrade slot.

• Increased Rate of Fire: This modifies the receiver and gas system to significantly increase the rate of fire. While this sounds good on paper, most seasoned Camper users skip it. The weapon's strength isn't in volume of fire; it's in making each shot count. The increased fire rate can lead to wasting your very limited ammo more quickly without solving the rifle's core weakness against swarms.

What Are the Camper's Key Stats and Handling Quirks?

Understanding the numbers is non-negotiable with this weapon.

• You start with 6 magazines (48 rounds) and can carry a maximum of 12 magazines (96 rounds), plus 1 in the chamber for a total of 105 rounds.

• Each magazine holds 8 rounds. A red tracer and a warning sound will alert you when you have 2 or less rounds left in the mag.

• Reloading is critical: An empty reload takes 2.5 seconds—a lifetime in a fight. A "tactical" reload (with ammo still in the magazine) takes only 1.25 seconds and keeps a round in the chamber. This means if you reload smartly, you can fire 9 shots per cycle (8 in the mag + 1 in the chamber) instead of 8.

How Should You Actually Use the Camper in a Mission?

The gameplay loop for the Camper is methodical and deliberate.

1. Patrol Control: This is the Camper's greatest strength. An experienced player can wipe out entire patrols from ranges where they simply cannot detect you. This prevents alarms and keeps the mission clean.

2. Priority Targeting: Once an alarm is raised, your focus should shift to enemy specialists. Ignore the small fry if you can; let your team handle them. You should be scanning for Hulks, Chargers, or Berserkers and putting rounds into their weak points.

3. Ammo Discipline: You must count your shots. The recommended habit is to fire 7 shots from your first magazine, then reload. For every reload after that, fire 8 shots before performing a tactical reload. This habit minimizes your downtime and ensures you're almost never caught in a full, slow reload during combat.

4. Know Its Limits: The Camper is terrible against tightly packed groups of heavy enemies like Butchers or Brood Commanders. Don't waste your ammo. Call in a stratagem or reposition. Its limited ammo also means it pairs poorly with other ammo-hungry support weapons.

What Essential Tips and Loadout Choices Complement the Camper?

To mitigate its weaknesses, you need to build your loadout around it.

• Stratagems: Stratagem Priority is a top-tier perk for Camper users. It lets you call in your much-needed Resupply Packs or offensive stratagems more frequently. Speaking of which, always bring a Resupply Pack. It's the best way to manage your ammo economy independently.

• Perks: Aside from Stratagem Priority, All-Terrain Boots can help you maintain positioning, and Engineering Kit can let you set up sentries for area denial while you snipe.

• Aiming: The weapon deals only two-thirds damage on off-center hits. You must aim for center mass or weak points. If you're struggling, the Laser Aim Module is a valid training tool until you internalize the weapon's handling. Remember, some players looking to optimize their loadout might search for ways to buy helldivers 2 super credits cheap to unlock its upgrades faster, but patience through gameplay is a perfectly viable path.

• Team Play: Communicate with your squad. Tell them you're on long-range patrol duty. A good team will let you handle the scouts while they prepare for objective defense. You, in turn, must support them by quickly shooting enemies that are flanking or overwhelming them.

In summary, the LHO-63 'Camper' is a specialist's tool. It rewards precision, patience, and strategic thinking. It won't top the kill counts in a chaotic defense, but it might be the reason that defense never gets chaotic in the first place. If you enjoy controlling the pace of the engagement from a distance, it's an exceptionally powerful choice.