Looking for some general information on Payday 2 weapons? You may find what you are after, right here. Payday 2 has a decent selection of different weapons. Shotguns, rifles and one semi-automatics (as well as saw) from your primary weapons. Pistols, SMGs and shotguns from your secondaries. We will try to discuss each of the weapons available to you (including the saw) so that you may decide what you prefer using. Each weapons has its strengths and weaknesses, so if you were hoping for “Super Guns” there are a few good guns, but nothing without some type of flaw. Looking for a general Payday 2 guide? Look no further. We also recently released this Fiction-Guide which has a lot of fluff. None of this is official information, just a bit of creative improvisation. We now also have a Payday 2 DLC Weapon Guide where we strive to write about the different weapons you can obtain through DLCs.
Your primary weapons will do most of the talking. When it comes to mowing down large groups of cops or gangsters you will want the best rifle possible. Maybe when you will meet a bulldozer you will want to have that feeling that shotgun you hold in your hand will take it down (and not the other way around). Let’s talk about the big guns.
Your default AMCAR. Note the vintage clip that holds only 20 bullets.
The Amcar is your default starting weapon. It is good at taking out lightly armored cops and SWAT. Its strengths include low visibility and a relatively high ammo reserve. It’s default magazine will hold only 20 bullets however, so you should invest in a larger magazine (standard or tactical) or buy a better weapon. The AMCAR lacks the punch or usefulness of all the other guns. Even the next in line, the AK, is far more versatile due to its higher damage. The Car-4 is a variant of the AMCAR, superior in every way (and the second primary gun you unlock after the AK). As soon as possible you should swap your AMCAR for the Car-4. In general, the AMCAR looses a lot of its charm on difficult heists, where packing a punch will be far more important than low visibility. While the AMCAR will find its uses on standard and hard heists it should not be your weapon of choice for an overkill heist.
The AKs might be a bit hard to tell apart. Their stocks are the key feature that helps you identify them.
The AK is the very first primary weapon you unlock. It is cheap yet powerful. As a beginner you will find it very practical against most cops, even heavily armored swat. The only exception is the bulldozer who will shrug off most of your bullets unless you aim directly at its face mask. Upgrading your AK is not a bad idea. Out of the entire AK family it is the “middle” one. It deals decent damage yet does not over do it with recoil, and still maintains o.k. accuracy. While professionals might use far more expensive and higher level guns there is no shame in using the good ol’ AK.
The Car-4 looks a lot like the AMCAR. Even further along the line you will see that the AMR-16 looks like an AMCAR, but it will be better in every way.
The Car-4 is, in many ways, an improved version of the AMCAR. If you liked using the AMCAR then the Car-4 is the thing you should buy for harder heists. With its standard magazine (30 bullets), higher accuracy and damage, while maintaining the same noise and visibility, it is a good early rifle choice. Compared to the AK it will do less damage but it can still get the job done, thanks to its accuracy.
The Default UAR. While the magazine might be white (usually denoting custom mods) this is what looks like by default.
One of your first proper guns. Powerful, accurate, but with high recoil. This gun calls for short, controlled bursts. On the other hand I had some good results firing it from the hip and hitting enemies at up to medium ranges without wasting too many bullets. Still, going full-auto will make you run out of bullets very quickly. It still has a big ammo capacity overall, and some upgrades will help you reduce recoil, increase damage and make the UAR even more accurate. Overall a good gun for close to medium ranges (perhaps even long ranges, if you fire short bursts).
The good ol’ Reinfield.
This is the shotgun of choice for people who mean business. The Reinfield when fired at close targets will most likely kill them instantly, especially if you aim for headshots. It does have a few weaknesses however. First of all, lower reload rate, small magazine capacity and in general low ammo (especially when you get trigger happy). Smart Reinfield users will tend to wait for cops to come up close to take them out. This lets them get back any used up buckshot, making it possible to hold a door indefinitely. Somebody thought it would be a good idea to put a silencer on the Reinfield, so yes, you can use the Reinfield on stealth heists, if you need some good firepower combined with adequate stealth.
The Redinfield can be extensively modified, turning it into a very dangerous weapon indeed.
It might look a little odd, compared to all the other rifles, but it’s a very effective weapons.
It is like a younger version of the AK-7. The JP36 is an accurate, low-damage, low-recoil hip-shooter. While more accurate when aimed down the sights, its high ammo capacity combined with favorable stats will let you use it freely, although care should be taken not to go completely Rambo. It is still a weapon that can run out of ammo, and since it deals less damage than most other weapons you will have to aim for heads, rather than just chests (especially on very hard and overkill difficulties). Its default sights are better suited for medium to close combat.
As you can see here, the AK-762 is very similar to the AK. The only two clear differences it the skeletal stock and different magazine (ammo wise the capacity is the same).
This is the toughest and meanest AK you can get your hands on. Its clear problem is a higher recoil and lower accuracy. This is the sort of gun you want to have with you when you find a corridor filled with SWAT and you want to quickly kill all of them. It is deadly up close, but due to its lower accuracy and higher recoil you will have a hard time fighting at longer ranges. While certain mods fix this issue the default AK-762 should be taken for heists inside buildings or in dense urban areas, rather than open spaces.
My lovely M308. While I am still working on improving it further (such as adding a custom stock) it can already kill most foes accurately.
This is the only semi-automatic rifle in the game. I call it a sniper rifle, since a mounted military red dot lets you take down enemies at extremely long ranges. Installing further upgrades to increase its damage and accuracy will allow you to use it as a one-shot problem solver against all but the hardiest cops (such as the bulldozer). Its problem is high recoil, which means rapid firing, without aiming down the sights, could leave you with a lot of wasted bullets and not a single kill. While up close you could kill single opponents you still have to remember to aim down the sights. Here the problem might arise that you have a scope mounted and using it up close will make the M308 impossible to use. For that reason carry a sidearm you can rely on.
While it might look like a rifle it is in fact a shotgun.
Unlike the Reinfield, the Izhma-12G is a semi-automatic shotgun, capable rapidly firing all its seven shots rapidly. It is weaker, in terms of damage, when compared to the Reinfield and Mosconi. It also has terrifying recoil, which combined with its rate of fire makes it a very difficult weapon to use. I have very mixed experiences with the Izhma. I find it near worthless when fighting enemies at medium to long distances. Even when you hit the chance of killing somebody is very low (the Reinfield and Mosconi have a better chance of long-distance kills). Even in tight spaces the ungodly recoil might result in you missing all of your shots, instead turning the nearby wall or ceiling into Swiss cheese. On the other hand, when it comes to accurate shots, especially headshots, at close range you can take out most cops with single shots. The Izhma is in essence a close combat weapon. It’s rate of fire is penalized by lower damage and high recoil but if you practice a bit with this weapon you will have much less problems with it. Just like the AK 762 this weapon is best suited for close quarters combat, rather than long distance fights. Another one of its strengths is a higher overall ammo capacity. Furthermore, since it is loaded by clips, not individual shells, you can quickly reload an empty Izhma.
A slightly modified AK-5 with a Caesar stock (much higher mobility).
I have yet to make up my mind about the AK5. It is a surprisingly efficient, accurate and deadly weapon, despite what the stats might suggest. Its high ammo capacity allows you to expend a bit more ammunition, but I found that it can perform fairly well when shot accurately. Is it worth the $500,000? I would argue that that the AK and AK 762 are better damage dealers, however the AK5 is better suited for accurate hip firing. The JP36 is similar in many respects, when you compare their stats you will see that while certain stats are greater or smaller between them overall they are very similar. Unless you have a lot of spare cash lying around do not buy an AK5 straight away. Other weapons can perform equally well, if not better under certain circumstances.
A modified AMR-16, with a tactical magazine, tactical handguard, Ergo grip and Exotique receiver.
The final of the AMCAR series, this is the deadliest, the most accurate… let’s just say it’s the best, when compared to the rest of the AMCARs. It’s main weakness is a high rate of fire. This, combined with a relatively low ammo supply, means you can run out of ammo very quickly. Compared to other rifles the AMR-16 is good, but if you cannot control your trigger finger, or if have a poor aim you might prefer a cheaper option. Is it worth the money? The answer is similar to what we had with the AK5. It is a good gun, but other guns might perform better, under different circumstances. We could say the AMR-16 is a generalist, since it suits almost any occasion, but the low ammo capacity will bite you back when you least expect it.
A very unassuming shotgun, but trust me it’s deadly.
Usually the more powerful the weapon the less ammo you carry for it. This is the case with the M308 (40 bullets) and the Reinfield (48 shells). The Mosconi has only 26 shells. What does this mean? I will tell you what happens when it hits somebody, there is a brief ragdoll show. Sometimes the ragdoll will fly a short or impressive distance (depends where you hit) and you can easily, under correct circumstances, kill a few cops with a single shell (the most I got was three, because their heads were perfectly aligned one next to the other). The Mosconi is a monster. However, the monster is kept at bay by very small capacity (only two shells may be loaded at a time) and very low overall ammo capacity (26 shells). You have to make every shot count, which is usually not a problem. Getting ammo back will be quick, since each box should give you at least one shell. While you will be forced to constantly reload the Mosconi it does not take long, and unless you are under heavy pressure (such as ten Spec Ops standing right in front of you) it should serve you well under any circumstances. It is so powerful and accurate you can even use it to take down snipers. Of course, the further away the target the harder the killshot, but it is still one of the deadliest (if not the deadliest) weapons in the game.
OVE9000 Saw
While not really a weapon it can be used to quickly kill cops, through slicing off their heads (there is no special death animation for that, you simply slice their heads). The problem with the saw is that its blades dull very quickly. Thankfully the enforcer’s skills allow him to carry a surplus of blades, thus having to rely on ammo bags slightly less. Still, the saw can get used up very quickly, and while deadly up close it might be riskier for you, than the cop. You should take a strong sidearm, and only use the saw in combat when it is absolutely necessary.
Sidearms are just as important as your main weapons. A good sidearm will save you when you are downed, or help you push through some annoying cops, when you are low on ammo for your primary gun. There are, in general, three types of sidearms. A single shotgun, SMGs and pistols. Which one should you choose?
It looks almost exactly like a Stryk.
Your default and cheapest pistol. In many ways it feels like the AMCAR. Good for humble beginnings but you should buy the next best thing, as soon as possible. It is not a powerful sidearm, but it will get the job done, at least on lower difficulty levels.
A Crosskill with a silencer.
The Crosskill is one of my top choices, when it comes to early heists. It can pack a decent punch, has average ammo capacity but most importantly it can perform both as an adequate stealth weapon and “all out” gun. I have used two separate Crosskills, depending on the heist type, and each time they did not disappoint me. You may choose not to buy two variants, and instead focus on either a stealthy or loud variant but know that both will be equally practical.
It is a very unassuming and boxy looking thing.
Rapid fire, little accuracy, low damage. This is the first SMG you can get your hands on (at a decent price too). The Mark 10 is usually for those who need the extra firepower, when their main gun is low on ammo. It will have a bit of a hard time taking out armored cops, but releasing a quick burst into somebody’s face is oh so satisfying.
A Bronco with a (Over)Compensator.
The Bronco (nicknamed Magnum by myself) is one of the best damage-dealing sidearms in the game. It has a low rate of fire and small capacity but if you treat it well, feed it some good mods, and actually aim with it, you will be able to take down Spec Ops with single well placed shots (I may be biased here, since the Technician has a headshot damage bonus). The Compensator mod is useful when you want to turn your Bronco into something akin of a sniper rifle. Do not be fooled by its low rate of fire. In a tight corner, surrounded by cops, the Bronco will show its horns.
The classy Bernetti 9, with the Professional mod.
I was skeptical of the Bernetti, because of my experience with the Crosskill and Bronco. Turns out the Bernetti is a decent higher level gun, on the level, or slightly above, of the Crosskill. It has a higher magazine capacity and MUCH higher overall ammo capacity. While you could just waste all those bullets blindly well placed headshots are efficient in taking down most armored cops (you will need a few shots though). However, its low recoil and decent accuracy make this one of the best sidearms in your arsenal, and just like the Crosskill it may be customized in a number of possible ways, depending on your play style. It deals only a bit more damage than the Compact-5 per shot, which might mean that the Compact-5 is a better choice (higher rate of fire, similar ammo reserve). On the other hand, if you care about accuracy per shot then the Bernetti will be a better choice.
The standard Locomotive 12G.
Need a smaller shotgun to come together with your bigger shotgun? Maybe you just need something with a bigger punch? Look no further. The Locomotive 12G is a surprisingly powerful weapon, despite its size. It is best suited for close combat. It is similar in feel to the Reinfield, although the Locomotive has a much shorter range. Still, you do not want to be a cop meeting face to face with this monster.
The highly mod-able Compact.
Who would not want a Compact 5? Add a silencer, laser, scope, and you can feel like a Spec Ops. It might not be the most powerful weapon but a large ammo supply, rate of fire and accuracy make it one of the most popular sidearm choices. During the Beta few would not agree that the Compact-5 was one of the most “OP” weapons in the game. Now that reputation died down a bit but it is still a very popular weapon. While on the level of the Bernetti you might find it more suitable for holding corridors or pinning down cops, rather than sniping.
It might look like the AMCAR’s ugly cousin, but looks can be deceiving.
If you need a mini-AMCAR you found one. It might not be as powerful as its cousins but it is still a weapon to be reckoned with. Good damage and good accuracy. Even the clip size is decent (25 bullets) and you have four clips worth of it (100 total). If you need something to watch your back then this is not a bad choice. You might even forget you have a main weapon, as use the Para. On the other hand, tougher cops will pose a far bigger challenge, unless you aim for their heads.
It looks much nicer than the Mak-10, and in many ways is an improvement over it.
Fast rate of fire, too fast perhaps. The good news is that you have four clips for it, which in a way permits you to waste its ammo rapidly. On the other hand you could be quickly plowing through your ammo reserve until there is nothing left. This is one of the guns that you must use in close combat, otherwise you will not negate its weaknesses (recoil and low accuracy) and instead waste a lot of your ammo.
My least used gun, ever. It does look nice though.
Just no. You will have only two clips worth of this miniature AK and they will be gone before you can say “Ammo Bag!”. While it deals a lot of damage its recoil and low accuracy make it a very impractical weapon to use. The CMP at least has more ammo, so you can spray and pray. With the Krinkov you cannot afford such a luxury because you only have 60 bullets total. Use it only in close combat, as hitting targets at a medium range will be difficult.
Looks almost like the Chimano.
One of the biggest problems with the Stryk is also its greatest strength, an insane rate of fire. The Stryk is only, and purely, a close combat weapon. You can run through its clip in mere seconds (if not just two seconds) but the recoil will be so bad you will have a very hard time hitting anything that is not directly in front of you. Even then I found it very hard to control the Stryk. For its price there are other more accurate and easier to control weapons, so why use the Stryk? With mods you could extend its clip and add a bit more control, to make it easier to use in close combat, or even medium ranges. Because of its fast rate of fire it could be considered an emergency “KILL EVERYTHING THAT MOVES” gun. Assuming you hit what you were aiming at there is a good chance it will be dead once your clip is empty.
… how the hell do you hold it?
While it has only two clips they are sizable (fifty bullets each) and it has surprisingly good control at close to medium ranges. I do not even bother looking down its sights, mainly using it for close combat (much like the Stryk) when I have to quickly fire a lot of bullets at nearby enemies. Unlike the Stryk though it is much easier to manage. You could eat through its ammo quickly though, leaving you with an empty sidearm.
My customized Deagle. With Bling and Overkill (barrel exit).
In theory the Deagle deals less damage than the Bronco. From personal experience it can kill tougher cops with single shots, just like the Bronco, although it is true it is overall weaker. Why use the Deagle then? Higher rate of fire, larger magazine, accurate at even long ranges. In many ways it is like the Bronco, only better. I did find one problem with it, that makes me stick to the Bronco more than the Deagle. The Deagle is Semi-Automatic. What’s the problem with that? Since you have only three clips, each one with ten bullets, you could get carried away and empty two entire clips, by using your Deagle like a Crosskill. You do not have the same feeling with the Bronco, because it has a lower rate of fire and it feels heavier. I found that while I would have less kills and no ammo with the Deagle I would have way more kills with the Bronco, and still have plenty of ammo on me. Still, the Deagle is good for those who can keep their trigger fingers pacified. There is nothing wrong with a cannon that can fire rapidly, especially when you need to fire it rapidly. It is the most expensive sidearm you can get your hands on, so I suggest trying the Bronco before you jump for the Deagle.
A lot of guns share modifications. Rifles and shotguns share their own barrel ends, sights and gadgets. Each weapon will tend to have a handful of personal mods that you can use for it. Among the AMCARs you will find that you can share certain magazines and stocks. The Vintage magazine reduces your ammo capacity to 20 bullets, the standard will give you 30, the tactical 34. In general if you get a modification you should not completely give up on it. You could find that it can fit most of your weapons, you just have to decide to which one you should apply it. Modifications can be taken off weapons, and applied to a different one. REMEMBER you have to pay for putting a modification on a weapon every time, even if you removed it from the same weapon you are putting it on again. Some modifications are very expensive, and it is hard to tell how useful they are. Some modifications mention suppression and one of my friend observed that, it would seem, cops lose some of their accuracy, and fire less frequently, when a gun with a “high suppression” mod is fired at them. The Fire Breather and Stubby are two such rifle modifications that are meant to increase suppression. I would not take it for granted that cops will stop firing at you, but if this is the case maybe you can have an easier time escaping, by keeping the cops pinned down. The shotgun equivalent of a “high suppressor” is the Shark Teeth. The Enforcer has numerous skills that increase suppression, so if you want to force the enemy on the defensive you should play as an Enforcer (the Enforcer also specializes in shotguns).
Each class specializes in slightly different weapons. Some skills will benefit all your weapons but most will focus on specific weapons. Enforcers focus on shotguns and their saw. They can have a quicker reload, better suppression, improved accuracy and lower recoil. The Saw is a unique Enforcer weapon, and you can upgrade it to do more damage and be more durable. Combine shotguns with the heaviest suit of armor in the game, available only to the enforcer, and you will be undefeated (at least in close combat). The Mastermind specializes in pistols. While it is clear that you cannot use only pistols (although the Bronco and Deagle might not agree with me) you have skills that benefit not only your pistol use but also your entire team’s. Technicians focus on rifles. This might make it the most attractive class, since you will usually use rifles. There are also many more rifles than there are shotguns. Increased damage, especially headshot damage, improved accuracy. Technicians are all about efficiency. Ghosts focus on SMGs and also silenced weapons. Since you can put a silencer on almost any weapon the Ghost would most likely put a silencer on anything he can. However, I am not certain whether the benefits of having improved stealth weapon damage compensates the whole drop in damage that silencers cause, or only part. Still, especially powerful weapons retain most of their damage dealing capacity when a silencer is put on them.
Each weapon suits a different class and play style differently. I experimented with being a sniper with a Bronco, then a “Breacher” with a shotgun and MSG. Currently I am trying the different rifles, to be a generalist. Experimentation is the way to go in Payday 2, modifying weapons in many different ways. In the end you also have to earn money to experiment but that will come together with levels, better equipments, skills and when you find a good crew to work with. Then, through completing some harder heists, you will obtain enough money to buy many different weapons. Still, it will be an expensive journey, and one of the most attractive classes because of this is again the Technician, who can buy and mod weapons at a lower price. Where I currently stand with my Technician I cut all weapon mod costs and purchases by a fifth. It might not sound like much with lower level weapons but when you buy an AMR-16 for $400,000 instead of $500,000 you begin to see a clear benefit to playing as a Technician. That is not to say other classes do not have their own benefits, but when it comes to buying equipment for yourself a Technician is the cheapest way to go.
