6 Ways to Earn Medals from Bug Extermination Missions in Helldivers 2

In Helldivers 2, bug extermination missions offer one of the most exciting ways to earn valuable Medals—crucial for unlocking gear, weapons, and cosmetic upgrades in your Warbond. As someone who has spent over 100 hours in the game since launch, I’ve found bug-focused missions to be the most intense yet rewarding. Below are six proven strategies I personally use to consistently earn Medals from these high-stakes missions.

1. Choose the Right Operation for Maximum Medal Rewards

Before deploying, always check the mission details. Operations featuring bug extermination usually indicate a higher density of enemies and may offer bonus Medals for completion. I often prioritize missions marked as "High Threat" because they tend to yield the most rewards. Even though they are more difficult, completing them with a full squad significantly boosts your chances of earning more Medals and Super Credits.

2. Play on Higher Difficulties (But Know Your Limits)

Difficulty directly affects how many Medals you can earn. While early on I stuck to medium difficulty to learn the mechanics, I found that venturing into "Challenging" or "Extreme" difficulty missions drastically improved my Medal gain. Just be sure to go in prepared—with a solid squad and the right loadout—to avoid mission failures.

3. Use a Balanced Loadout Focused on Crowd Control

Bug extermination missions throw swarms of enemies at you, and without the right weapons, you’ll get overrun quickly. I always bring a flamethrower or arc thrower alongside a reliable primary weapon. Stratagems like the Eagle Napalm Airstrike or Autocannon Turret have saved my squad more times than I can count. Staying alive and completing optional objectives ensures you walk away with more Medals.

4. Complete Side Objectives for Bonus Medals

Side objectives such as destroying bug nests or rescuing civilians add to your Medal total. These tasks are sometimes hidden until you explore the map, so I always take a few extra minutes to scout with my squad. These additional objectives have often made the difference between earning 3 Medals and 5 in a single mission.

5. Squad Up and Communicate

In my experience, Medal gains are significantly higher when you complete missions efficiently—and nothing helps more than good communication. Playing with friends or joining an active community via Discord has made a massive difference. Coordinated teams complete missions faster, handle bigger waves, and collect more Medals overall.

6. Redeem Super Credits for Warbonds Using Gift Cards

While Medals are earned through gameplay, you can supplement your progress by redeeming Super Credits. One of the most convenient ways I’ve found is to buy Helldivers 2 Super Credits using gift card balances. Whether it’s a PlayStation or Steam gift card, converting those into Super Credits lets you unlock Warbond tiers faster. I’ve used this method a few times when a limited-time cosmetic was just out of reach—and it’s helped me maintain both style and firepower on the battlefield.

Bug extermination missions in Helldivers 2 are a thrilling way to earn Medals and test your squad’s coordination. With the right strategy and loadout, they can become your go-to source for rapid progression. While grinding is part of the process, leveraging things like gift cards to buy Helldivers 2 Super Credits can ease the climb, especially if you're eyeing something in the Warbond.