Weapons are everything in the co-op shooter Payday 2. In order to pull off a successful heist, it’s important to have the right tools for the job. Each scenario requires a different strategy in order to succeed. Combined with the fact that each build will have its own ideal weapon, and there is effectively no best or worst weapon in this game.
That said, there are some weapons that commonly rise to the top in a variety of circ*mstances. They may not be the definitive best based on heist-type and character builds, but they’ll serve a player well regardless. Here are arguably the best weapons you can take into any heist and come out successful.
RELATED:The Best Looter Shooter Games Out Now
Updated on September 30, 2021, by Ben Baker:Many players tend to hyper-focus on primary weapon choices and don’t give enough thought to secondaries as the best Payday 2 weapons. This is often a mistake as many secondaries are powerful weapons that can rival the primaries under the right circ*mstances. In light of this common mistake, this article has been updated to give players another look at some strong secondaries that make for powerful weapons. There are also some capable launchers and quirky weapons that didn’t make the cut the first time around, but certainly need to be mentioned. Again as stated originally, these aren’t the best Payday 2 weapons for the best build meta, these are the best weapons for just about any build.
15 AK5
When the heat is on and bullets are flying you’ll want a reliable gun that can get you out with the money. The AK5 is frequently cited by players as being one of the best guns in Payday 2. It has great damage, phenomenal accuracy, and a large enough magazine size that you won’t worry as much about running out of ammo.
RELATED:Payday 2: Everything You Need To Know About VR
Admittedly its fire rate is rather slow which is why it isn’t more favored. This also places a strong emphasis on making every shot count. But for those with good accuracy that can keep their cool under pressure, this is a great weapon.
14 China Puff
For those familiar with the China Lake from the first Payday, the China Puff is an homage to that great gun. The China Puff is a grenade launcher that’s sole purpose is to clear rooms as quickly as possible. It has a radius of about 3.5 meters which is more than enough to open up paths for escape or progress.
It does have a small magazine that can only hold three rounds and replacing those rounds is tough as the ammo for this weapon is not common. But with a damage output of 960 per shot and the ability to clear entire groups in one volley, this shouldn’t be a problem.
13 Compact 40
The Compact 40 is an interesting weapon. It has great damage potential for a secondary weapon and a nice reload time. Being a secondary it can also be more easily concealed than primary weapons, despite behaving like a primary weapon itself.
RELATED:Payday 2: Everything You Need To Know About Infamy
Granted when everything hits the fan and you need to bring down enemies quickly this isn’t the best gun in Payday 2. But if you’re trying to go stealthy, avoid notice as long as possible, and then have something viable when the worst happens this is a good gun to have.
12 Akimbo Krinkovs
Akimbo Krinkovs are a go-to for beginners and those returning to Payday 2 after some time away. They have a blistering fire rate of 822 rounds per minute and decent damage over time. This isn’t the kind of gun you fire carefully, this is something you spray into the enemy and try to make each bullet count.
The other major perk is that it's easy to find ammo for these weapons. Ammo management is still a concern mind you, but plenty of bodies will be on the floor before you run out. If you’re unsure how to build your character then grab these weapons and go to town.
11 Pistol Crossbow
Crossbows may seem like a strange weapon to wield in Payday 2, but the Pistol Crossbow is a beast. Many players consider it one of the best weapons in Payday 2 and depending on the build you’re using it just might be.
RELATED:
Payday 2: The Best Heists, Ranked
Each bolt is strong enough to take down most enemies in one shot. If you find this isn’t doing the trick you can utilize poisonous or explosive bolts to bring opponents down. It’s a secondary weapon and should be treated as such, but its versatility and decent fire rate make it a fun and useful weapon to have.
10 Galante
Assault rifles were considered the best gun class in Payday 2 until recent updates knocked them down a few pegs. Still, the Galante is one of the most useful guns in this co-op game even if it isn’t the best. It does the most damage out of all the assault rifles and has amazing accuracy. It also comes with a large magazine to hold plenty of ammo.
The downside is that it’s semi-automatic with no option for full auto. The large magazine is offset by a low ammo pickup. It’s great for brutal headshots and putting holes in single targets.
9 CAR-4
The CAR-4 is probably the most adaptable assault rifle in this first-person shooter. This weapon can be customized with all kinds of mods. Without mods, it boasts a large ammo capacity and offers the best concealment a player can get in a primary.
Aside from being handy for initial scouting and stealth builds in general, the CAR-4 does have some downsides. Begin good at everything means it’s not great at any one thing. The modding can get it close, but this almost always introduces flaws. If the player is unsure what to pick, what their role is, or needs to be adaptable, the CAR-4 is a great gun, otherwise, it can be a liability in this first-person shooter.
8 Union 5.56
Perhaps the best assault rifle in Payday 2 is the Union 5.56. It has great damage, is obtained early on making it great for F2P, and has an amazing fire rate. It can be modded to function well in close quarters or operate at range.
The high rate of fire comes with the downside of burning through the magazine. While the ammo pickup rate is okay, players will find themselves conserving shots or relying on secondaries often. Still, the Union 5.56 is a solid choice that serves the player well early to late game of this shooter.
7 RPK
The RPK is a very versatile LMG. The player gets it early on and it works well long after. It has a crazy damage output, a good fire rate, the fastest reload speed of any LMG, and lots of ammo pickups. With mods, this weapon can get good accuracy making it very dangerous.
RELATED: The Best Crime Video Games Ever, Ranked
Unfortunately, the RPK suffers from a small magazine, meaning you will be gathering ammo quite a bit. It also does you zero favors in terms of concealment, which may or may not be an issue. If the player can overcome the accuracy issues with mods, the RPK is a fantastic primary in this first-person shooter.
6 Buzzsaw 42
Introduced with the Gage Historical Pack DLC, the Buzzsaw 42 is terrifying in close quarters. The rate of fire is absolutely absurd and combined with its high damage will chew through even the toughest of enemies and take out their friends. It also comes with a stealth barrel that has zero impact on damage output.
While the Buzzsaw 42 does have plenty of pickups, players will frequently find themselves running out of ammo in battle. This is especially a problem in long standoffs. The recoil is pretty atrocious and requires the player to compensate for it, which can take a bit of a learning curve. The Buzzsaw 42 also has zero long-range potential so it’s exclusively a close-quarters weapon.
5 KSP 58
The KSP 58 from the CrimeFest 2015 update is essentially the little brother of the KSP in the Gage Weapon Pack 02. It is a bit more accurate and doesn’t require owning any DLCs to obtain. It has a great fire rate, damage, and a whopping 200 round magazine. This is the weapon of choice against Bulldozers.
The reason the KSP 58 isn’t as good as the KSP is that it has a rough reload time. Even with the large magazine, the weapon will chew through ammo, requiring it to be fired in short bursts or for players to go after ammo drops. The lack of mod potential is also a downside.
4 KSP
The KSP is perhaps the best LMG in the entire game. With a high fire rate, high damage, and gargantuan 500 magazine with full upgrades and perks, it can clear rooms quickly. This is a fantastic weapon to have for long jobs where limited ammo is going to be a problem as well.
It should be noted that this gun has a painful reload time of a little over five seconds once that large magazine is empty. Ammo pickups shouldn’t be too much of a problem given the aforementioned room-clearing abilities, but it’s still something to consider. The KSP is also incredibly expensive at a whopping $920 thousand.
3 Akimbo Goliath 12G
Shotguns are king in this RPG shooter and they’ve been popular for some time. The Akimbo Goliath 12G is frequently used by players and for good reason. It has great damage, a decent rate of fire for a shotgun, and a fast reload. It can also be dual-wielded.
RELATED: The Best Co-Op Games Of The Generation According To Metacritic
The only downside is that both shotguns are fired with each shot, wasting ammo in the process. This is a problem considering the Akimbo Goliath 12G's ammo capacity isn’t all that great. It also operates in a strange middle ground between mid-range and close quarters. Still, if players can afford the $714 thousand, the Akimbo Goliath 12G is a great choice.
2 Brothers Grimm 12G
Brothers Grimm 12G is also a popular shotgun that’s dual-wielded. It has an incredible spread, making it hard to not hit targets, and has the second-largest ammo capacity and pickup rate of any shotgun. It also boasts a high rate of fire and a fast reload speed.
This is offset by the fact that the Brothers Grimm 12G has the lowest damage output of all shotguns. However, this is more than made up for by having a solid build that boosts their damage. The Brothers Grimm 12G can outpace other shotguns in terms of damage output, but only when used correctly.
1 IZHMA 12G
Perhaps the best gun in the game when players ignore build considerations and heist type is the IZHMA 12G. It admittedly doesn’t do the best damage, but this weapon makes up for this by being highly customizable to support just about any build. It also has lightning-fast reloads for a shotgun.
Again, players looking for strictly damage potential will probably look elsewhere. But the damage an IZHMA 12G can throw out is enough to kill just about anyone with a headshot. If one shot doesn’t do it, then the gun's rapid fire rate will make sure the second shot gets it done. The perk of the IZHMA 12G is the ability to tailor it to anything the player wants or needs.
More:Console Games You Forgot Got Announced
