Points of Interest (or POIs) are a very important part of the game. While small, they are necessary for progression. In order to gain access to the many Warbonds, Ship Upgrades, and to fuel the new Democracy Space Station, you must search the map for points of interest.

In this guide, I, Pixelflame of the SES Lady of Starlight, will teach you how to most effectively scout out these Points of Interest for the progression of Democracy.


Every Point of Interest contains resources that will help you in some form or fashion, whether it be for the mission or being used in progression. However, their loot can vary.

Every single POI has refills. Ammo, Stims, and Grenades. These can be useful to grab if you need an extra boost whether Resupply is on cooldown or you're on your own. Highly useful.

As well, in some POIs, Support Weapons can be found. Some are unique only to POIs, such as Entrenchment Tools and Break Action Shotguns. Marginally useful, but can help from time to time. Might as well pick one up if you don't have one equipped.

Samples are a very important resource for progression. Though you can find them near Objectives, most of the Samples are relegated to POIs.

Almost every POI contains Samples, more specifically Common and Rare Samples. These are commonly used in Ship Upgrades and the DSS. Not as important as some items, but it's best to keep those in mind.

As well, on Danger Level 8 and higher missions, there is a specific POI that looks like a droplet. Around that rock are a set amount of Super Samples. These are only used for high level Ship Upgrades. There's not many, but you won't need a lot. Keep an eye out for them at least.

Currency is likely the main reason why you go scouting for POIs, and the ones you should keep an eye out for. There are many different currencies, and each has specific uses.

Requisition Slips (RQ) are used to buy Stratagems and high level Ship Upgrades, along with fueling DSS Tactical Actions. Mostly useful in the early game, marginally useful in the late game. Requisition Slips come in bundles of 100.

Warbond Medals (Medals) are a main currency used in Warbonds, the main method of getting new equipment. While mostly given by completing missions, the ones you can find lying around are a nice boost to your progression speed. Medals come in bundles of 1, 2 and 3.

Super Credits (SC), the reason why you're likely reading this guide to begin with. The premium currency of Helldivers 2, used to buy Warbonds themselves and equipment at the Super Store. Pretty much the gate to all progression. SC comes in bundles of 10, and very rarely, 100.

There are many kinds of Points of Interest, all of them having unique looks and structures. Many POIs have several variations with differing loot, but will generally be similar across variations.

Flavor Points of Interest don't really have much other than adding a bit to the world. All they might have is a few ammo boxes, a support weapon, and some of the time: a defective hellbomb. You can safely ignore these as they have nothing of value.


Supply Points only have one purpose: to give the player a bunch of supplies. They might have Support Weapons, Stims, Ammo, and Grenades, sometimes even Samples, but that's about it. Not too interesting, but a good restock while scouting away from the group.


Sample POIs are the primary supplier of samples. Keep an eye open if you need them.

Most Sample POIs contain either Common or Rare samples. These take the form of farms with flowers or mines with crystals. Around half of the samples on the map exist within these.

There is one specific POI that contains Super Samples on any high danger mission, which contains 5-7 depending on difficulty. Other than Fortresses, this is the only source of Super Samples.


Loot Chests, as I call them, are perhaps the most valuable POIs. They almost always contain something that you want for progression. All of them can contain 3 things: Currency (RQ, SC, Medals), a Rare Sample, or a random non-backpack Support Weapon.

Pods are the most common Loot Chest, they contain 1 of the above items. All you need to do to open them is to Salute while next to it.

Generally common and easier to spot, these POIs contain 2 items. To open it, you need to use an explosive weapon, grenade, or stratagem. (Laser Cannon works too for some reason.)

The least common POI out of all of them, at most you will likely find one in the entire map. Only a few times have I seen two. To open one, you require another Helldiver, so you will either have to call a squadmate over or bring them with you.

Points Of Interest have a very random and inconsistent spawn rate. In any mission, there can be from as little as 0, to as many as 18. As dictated by the map and difficulty. Though with enough observation, many Divers including I, have found patterns in their spawns.


While there are many variations in how they can spawn, there are patterns and general rules that can help you find POIs. Many of these features can even show up on the mission map before deployment.

• POIs cannot spawn close to Objectives or Bases. More concentrated objectives or less objectives, means more space for POIs.
  
  
• POIs generally don't spawn in dense areas of foliage, such as trees.
  
  
• Look for open, flat terrain. Mountainous or rugged terrain makes spawning difficult.
  
  
• Water or inaccessible terrain (shown by blank spots on the map) can reduce the overall land area, making the game spawn fewer POIs.
  
  
• "Kill Enemy Forces" and Evacuate Asset missions cannot spawn POIs. Blitz missions can, however.
  
  
• Higher difficulties spawn more POIs. Excluding 9-10, these can be a bit inconsistent. However, this information isn't too useful unless you are farming.

The biome of the planet can heavily dictate the amount of POIs that can spawn on any given mission. All of them have differences in terrain and flora density, which as stated above, will affect spawns. Here's all of them ranked from Amazing to Bad.

This list has been tested and broken down by Claysthetics in their video: Helldivers 2 - Updated Best Way to Farm Super Credits, Samples & Medals Tips & Tricks Guide. I can verify the accuracy of their data. Do watch their video if you want more overall tips on Super Credit farming, as that is not the purpose of this guide.

Taking Biome Names from the Helldivers 2 Wiki[helldivers.wiki.gg].

Always spawns the most POIs out of any of the biomes. Always go for these.

• Moon
  
• Scorched Moor
  
• Rocky Canyons
  
• Desert Dunes

Spawns an average amount of POIs, with some variability.

• Plains
  
• Tundra
  
• Ionic Crimson
  
• Desert Cliffs
  
• Ethereal Jungle
  
• Ionic Jungle
  
• Volcanic Jungle

Usually spawns fewer POIs, but still average.

• Boneyard
  
• Icy Glaciers
  
• Deadlands

Always spawns a low amount of POIs due to their terrain.

• Acidic Badlands
  
• Basic Swamp
  
• Haunted Swamp

Now that I've explained the types and where POIs are most likely to be found, we can get to the main part of this guide and what many of you are here for: the tips and methodology for scouting out POIs more effectively.


First, before we even step onto the planet, these options can really help you with more effectively finding and moving towards Points of Interest.

• Scout Armor: Armor that increases your mobility, stealth capabilities, and scanner range is great boon for any would-be scout. While not immediately obvious why improved scanner is good, it will be detailed in the next section.
  
  
• Jump Pack: A no-brainer pick for an effective way to move around. Greatly increases rugged terrain mobility, especially down slope. Its more versatile, slower cousin, the Hoverpack, can also work.
  
  
• M-102 FRV: As the only car in the game, it is very good for fast mobility across the map, granting you unparalleled mobility from POI to POI. You can even bring your friends for Bunkers. However, it is really bad on rugged terrain.
  
  
• An Anti-Tank Option: When going off on your own, usually away from the front lines, crowd control usually isn't as important. It is highly recommended that you bring an anti-tank weapon or stratagem, as Hulks and Chargers can become common on higher difficulties.

Now that you have a good loadout for scouting, it's time to get down to business. There are several methods to find POIs, listed below from easiest to hardest. Ultimately, none of these techniques are terribly difficult when you learn them.

The easiest and most effective method of POI hunting. This objective automatically marks every single Point of Interest and Objective on the map, making it really easy to run over and grab them. Its main downside is the fact that some missions do not have these objectives.
Can easily be spotted from a distance as a wide radio tower with a yellow blinking light at the top.

The most simple way to find POIs, looking at the landscape itself for anything odd. While some are hard to spot, the most important ones (aka the ones with good stuff) are usually the easiest to spot. It mostly takes knowhow to spot them, here's a few pointers to find good POIs.

Do you see a yellow beacon in the distance? Follow it, there will always be a pod at the end of it with either 1 random currency, a rare sample, or a support weapon.

If you find this droplet shaped rock, that is a Super Sample POI. Easy to spot.







Sometimes different enemy factions can have different looks for the same POI. There are specific visual signs for a POI that can have 3 or more Rare Samples or 2 item pickups.


On the bot side, there are standalone turret towers with red banners. On the bug side, there are these 2 rock structures held together by sinew.

Keeping an eye out for visual indicators like these are an easy way to find them quickly. However, it can be limiting based on the terrain. So, you can use other methods, like on the map.

A lot of POIs have a visual signature on the minimap that can be detected. While sometimes hard to spot when zoomed out, they are easy to know when you see them. Some take the shape of odd dips or bumps in the topography, or sometimes a building on the map. Once you know what to look for, they're quite easy to spot.


Here are a few examples. Note the square structure on the top, that is a Point of Interest as well.

Now we're getting to some of the more lesser known tricks. This is one that I learned early on in my Helldiving career.

Even when a Point of Interest is currently undiscovered, they can still pop up on the cursor. Using this method can allow you to find POIs anywhere on the map without much effort. The main downside is that the cursor can only highlight a small area at a time.

However, there's a trick to it. Using your knowledge of where POIs are more likely to spawn, and scanning your map out all the way. You can narrow the amount of map you need to scan to find the unmarked POIs.

This method can require some memorization, only being able to pin or keep a mental note of where it is. As well, it can be hard to find the exact spot. This is where visual and map scouting can help you find its location easier.

Now, here's one I haven't found anywhere else and found out on my own.
I call it the Predictive Interloping Xeno Scanning (PIXS) method, or I guess the Radar Scanner Method.

While question marks show up on your radar scanner when you are nearby an objective or encampment, this doesn't happen for Points Of Interest. However, there is a way to find POIs or even Objectives with your radar scanner at a glance.

Let me teach you a bit about enemy mechanics. When an enemy spawns in an Outpost or Objective, they stay in a defensive state. These enemies don't move unless provoked, so they can defend the spot they were placed in. This also applies to Points of Interest.

So, lets say you find a group of enemies in a completely random spot while trying to look out for patrols. They aren't moving at all, unlike a patrol. What can you infer about what they are doing? That's right! They are in defensive mode, meaning there is most likely something there.

Now you see why I made a big point about Scout Armor. By placing map pins in select areas around you or your squad's location, you can sometimes spot such groupings from far away using the armor's Radar Ability. Not too far away though, as some spots in the distance haven't spawned enemies yet.

This method isn't foolproof; groups of enemies can appear around the border of certain Objectives without the presence of a Point of Interest. Remember that POIs cannot spawn near Objectives. Also note that some POIs might not have enemy spawns.

Remember, this is just one method, a good scout uses all of the methods to their advantage.

Urban Points of Interest only spawn within cities on planets. While some Urban POIs contain loot, some are only entrances to the city.

Most of these locations only have Support Weapons, Common Samples, and Supplies. However, some POIs such as Bunkers, Shipping Containers, and Pods do spawn within the city borders. Keep an eye out for those.


Urban Points of Interest are a lot easier to come across than overworld POIs, they are usually clumped up together and can be spotted from far away.

Simply walk up and down the streets of a city, staying within the centers in order to find the most important POIs. The common use of Pods allows for easy tracking of them and the Bunkers are out in the open most of the time.

There is one often-misleading Urban POI: Shipping Containers. Many stacks of shipping containers can be found around cities, all of them only contain around 2 ammo boxes. However, some of them are denoted by a POI marker. Always check these stacks of crates! There might be an actual loot bearing Shipping Container.