The Penitent Crusade, known to the 9th Hellraisers as “Death Watch,” is a sacred trial for the most resolute and courageous. It’s an honor and a burden; few return unchanged. Death Watch is about atonement and endurance. Squads on this crusade are stripped of identifiers, bearing only a black armband until they earn the Death Watch badge, a symbol of survival and will. They operate as ghosts, loyal only to the cause, proving themselves through fire. These squads are sent into hostile territories with minimal support, outdated gear, and limited supplies. They must adapt and survive off the land. Missions vary but share one tenet: complete the mission or perish. Each Crusade is handpicked by Command, testing limits physically, mentally, and spiritually. They face harrowing conditions: radioactive wastelands, mega nests infestations, or near suicidal infiltrations. Endurance, not victory, is the measure of success. Survivors return with respect and the Death Watch badge, a permanent mark of their ordeal. They are living proof of unbreakable resolve. Many do not return. Those lost are remembered without grave or ceremony. Within the 9th, the meaning of a black armband and a vanished squad is well understood. Death Watch is the crucible for the purest iron. Only the unyielding return.

They dive in silence, and emerge victorious, or not at all. This is their reckoning. This is their Penitent Crusade.

The more stars you earn for each mission, the more reward options you will receive. For normal and quickplay difficulties, you will receive a maximum of 4 reward options. For super difficulties, you will receive a maximum of 3 reward options. The minimum amount of rewards options is always 1.
Only one reward option can be chosen per successful mission, so choose wisely!

After each successful mission, press the green "Mission Complete" button, and follow the prompts.

The equipment you see in the background is what you currently have unlocked. Any items you earn through mission rewards will appear there as well.

While you're in-mission, you may not use any stratagems that are available for free (e.g. experimental weapons testing, arsenal augmentations, etc). Only the stratagems you have unlocked and objective-specific stratagems (e.g. Hellbomb, SSSD, SEAF Artillery, SOS, etc.) may be used. However, you're free to pick up and use any stratagems found in your environment (such as those that can be looted at Points of Interest).

Additionally, you may share equipment with your squadmates during a mission.

If your squad fails a mission, you must start a new operation on the difficulty that you failed to complete. Furthermore, you must choose an item to be removed from your inventory.

Press the "Mission Failed" button, then choose an item to be taken from you.

Your progress is saved in your browser's local storage. If you clear your browser's local storage, your progress will be lost. If you want to start a new run, you may do so by pressing the yellow "Restart" button. Your run will be saved and accessible in the save menu.

Various difficulties are available to optimize your fun:

• Penitent Crusade: This is the default difficulty, meant for squads of 3 or 4. It begins on difficulty level 3 in-game (Normal)
• Solo/Duo Penitent Crusade: Meant for squads of 1 or 2, you start with the Orbital Precision Strike stratagem. It begins on difficulty level 3 in-game (Normal)
• Super Penitent Crusade: Meant for squads of 3 or 4, only melee weapon secondaries are available to you at the start. You being with Integrated Explosives armor and the Ballistic Shield stratagem. It begins on difficulty level 4 in-game (Challenging)
• Solo/Duo Super Penitent Crusade: Meant for squads of 1 or 2, it's the same as Super Penitent Crusade, except you start with the Orbital Precision Strike stratagem.
• Quickplay: Ideally for squads of 3 or 4, extra stratagems and boosters are available at the start. It begins on difficulty level 7 in-game (Suicide Mission)

• Q: Who was this challenge made for?

  A: Penitent Crusade was made for divers who are looking for a new way to play and progress in Helldivers 2. Penitent Crusade has rogue-like elements that many find enjoyable.

• Q: Can I share my equipment with my squadmates?

  A: Yes, as long as you're in-mission. Teamwork is encouraged!

• Q: I earned 5 stars upon completing a mission, why did I receive less than 4 reward options?

  A: Using a specialist will reduce your maximum reward options by 1. Additionally, your maximum reward options will be reduced by 1 on Super Penitent Crusade difficulty.

• Q: Why is a stratagem outlined in teal when I'm using a specialist?

  A: That means that you are required to bring that stratagem with you into the mission. You do not necessarily have to use the stratagem during the mission, however.

• Q: Why don't you run ads on this site?

  A: The intention behind making this site was to provide maximum value to Helldivers everywhere. The majority of my code is browser-based, and I only pay out-of-pocket for the domain, build time, and hosting (I use AWS). Costs are relatively small, but if you would like to reward me for my efforts, feel free to buy me a coffee using the link at the top of the page!

• Q: Can I contribute with time instead of money?

  A: Please! Feel free to join the discord and hit me up if you have any ideas/suggestions, or run into any bugs. If you're a coder, I can definitely use your help with upcoming features.