Medals are one of the most valuable rewards in Helldivers 2, helping you unlock new stratagems, armor, and progression milestones. While you can earn them naturally through missions, smart planning and efficient strategies can significantly boost the number of medals you take home each run. Here are seven practical tips to help you maximize your medal gains per mission.

1. Choose Higher-Difficulty Missions

The simplest way to earn more medals is by tackling higher-difficulty missions. Missions rated as “Challenging” or above often provide bonus medals as part of their completion rewards. Even though they require more coordination, the payoff is worth it if your squad is prepared.

2. Prioritize Secondary Objectives

Don’t rush to extract immediately after completing the main goal. Secondary objectives scattered across the map often provide medal rewards, and finishing them can add up quickly. Whether it’s capturing outposts or destroying enemy structures, always keep an eye out for these opportunities.

3. Play With a Full Squad

Helldivers missions scale with player count, and having a full squad gives you a better chance to complete objectives quickly while covering more ground. Coordinated teams can split tasks, clear maps efficiently, and rack up medals faster than solo runs.

4. Manage Stratagems Wisely

Your stratagem loadout directly affects your efficiency. Equipping tools that can destroy large groups of enemies or help complete objectives quickly, such as orbital strikes or supply drops, can save time. Efficient stratagem use not only improves mission success but also maximizes medal rewards per hour played.

5. Focus on Survival

Medals are tied to successful mission completion, so surviving until extraction is crucial. Even if you complete objectives, failing to extract reduces your overall rewards. Make sure to balance aggression with defense and save reinforcements for critical moments.

6. Take Advantage of Limited-Time Operations

Helldivers often receive rotating operations with special conditions and bonus rewards. These events sometimes grant extra medals, making them one of the most efficient ways to build up your reserves. Check the operations menu regularly to avoid missing out.

7. Balance Time Investment With Efficiency

Spending too long in a single mission might net you more objectives, but it reduces your overall medal-per-hour efficiency. Shorter missions, done back-to-back, can sometimes yield better results than one extended run. Find a balance that works for your playstyle.

Earning medals efficiently is about playing smart rather than grinding aimlessly. By choosing the right missions, coordinating with your squad, and completing as many objectives as possible, you’ll steadily increase your medal income. And while medals remain a primary progression tool, some players also explore options like buy helldivers 2 super credits when they want to speed things up. There are even communities where you can find helldivers 2 super credits for sale, though maximizing medals in-game through solid strategies will always give you the most satisfaction.