Tips for Mayhem

[Grimraüst]

Anyone have any tips for Mayhem difficutly? I've been trying to transition from Overkill to Mayhem but it just seems a bit much as ti seems the dudes have at least 3x the hp of Overkill. Also their damage tears through my anarchist deck like paper.

[Mayate]

- Do you go down often in overkill? Work on covering tactics.
- Know the map to avoid getting trapped.
- Figure out how many headshots are required for each enemy type in mayhem. Use that knowledge to avoid getting shot at (example: shoot, cover, wait, finish off, and repeat*).
- Bring an aoe type weapon as a backup to clear out mobs during trapped/reviving situations.
- Change skillset to adapt.

[X-SR71]

1 tip: go straight to DW

[EnforcerKiller]

Try cover? Mayhem troops have DW HP, but OVK damage. Though the spawn rates are really high, so that's hard to notice.

[Grimraüst]

Originally posted by Mayate:

- Do you go down often in overkill? Work on covering tactics.
- Know the map to avoid getting trapped.
- Figure out how many headshots are required for each enemy type in mayhem. Use that knowledge to avoid getting shot at (example: shoot, cover, wait, finish off, and repeat*).
- Bring an aoe type weapon as a backup to clear out mobs during trapped/reviving situations.
- Change skillset to adapt.

the funny thing is i rarely ever get downed on overkill. i've had games where i was the only one left and could free all my crew members after a solo hold out. usually i'm a pretty good shot too it just seems like my perks for my assault rifle are less valuable on the Mayhem difficulty and i think that's why i'm having such a hard time transitioning. by AoE you mean like a grenade launcher?

[Terminator01]

Grab a Saiga and shoot the ♥♥♥♥ out of them. (>°°)>

[Copy & Cat]

Ignore Mayhem it's pretty much pure BS

[Cyberbeni]

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=794000032

[Mezmorki]

Take a look at this massive google doc file of information I've been assembling.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cSzhCfd4hlvBo3ZkdtTxb0Nw6fOFqd8_i8B85o_84KI/edit?usp=sharing

I was in your exact shoes a few months ago. Despite over 350 hours in PD2 I really hadn't done any loud DW missions and was struggling. I started reading up and getting a better sense of not only the mechanics but how to make a build that works. Anyway, lots of my findings are in that link.

TLDR version:

#1 is to figure out how to stay alive. Perk Deck and core skills affect your suitability. Dodge+Rogue, LBV+Crook (hybrid armor/dodge), ICTV with Muscle/Armorer/Crewchied, or Anarchist (armor gating) builds all work well.

#2 is to figure out how to deal more effective damage. 255.5 is a damage breakpoint for 1-shot headshoting the armored elites. A DMR rifle with Berserker (for example) can hit that. ~127 is the breakpoint for 2-shoting armored elites.

Know these breakpoints and make sure your build and weapon loadout hits something effective and doesn't burn through ammo too quickly (or ideally is self-sustaining). A Car-4 with a DMR kit kills most things in 2 shots and picks up 3 ammo per box. You never need ammo bags.

Here's my LBV anarchist build:
http://pd2tools.com/l/188fdee01d499a23de26197287a6173e

[VaeV]

Originally posted by EnforcerKiller:

Try cover? Mayhem troops have DW HP, but OVK damage. Though the spawn rates are really high, so that's hard to notice.

Elites do the same damage as the ones in DW the only ones that do OVK damage are specials.

[Pawnstar]

The only time you should ever do MH is for Safehouse Nightmare. Promoting yourself to DW is a much better idea imo

[Grimraüst]

Originally posted by Mezmorki:

Take a look at this massive google doc file of information I've been assembling.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cSzhCfd4hlvBo3ZkdtTxb0Nw6fOFqd8_i8B85o_84KI/edit?usp=sharing

I was in your exact shoes a few months ago. Despite over 350 hours in PD2 I really hadn't done any loud DW missions and was struggling. I started reading up and getting a better sense of not only the mechanics but how to make a build that works. Anyway, lots of my findings are in that link.

TLDR version:

#1 is to figure out how to stay alive. Perk Deck and core skills affect your suitability. Dodge+Rogue, LBV+Crook (hybrid armor/dodge), ICTV with Muscle/Armorer/Crewchied, or Anarchist (armor gating) builds all work well.

#2 is to figure out how to deal more effective damage. 255.5 is a damage breakpoint for 1-shot headshoting the armored elites. A DMR rifle with Berserker (for example) can hit that. ~127 is the breakpoint for 2-shoting armored elites.

Know these breakpoints and make sure your build and weapon loadout hits something effective and doesn't burn through ammo too quickly (or ideally is self-sustaining). A Car-4 with a DMR kit kills most things in 2 shots and picks up 3 ammo per box. You never need ammo bags.

Here's my LBV anarchist build:
http://pd2tools.com/l/188fdee01d499a23de26197287a6173e

thanks!
your post helped a lot. i really appreciate the spreadsheet. it was a lot of information but it's great to be able to look at it whenever. i think i'm going to try out grinder, sociopath, and ex-president.
i've always heard that grinder is pretty solid

[Mayate]

Originally posted by Proïa:

Originally posted by Mayate:

- Do you go down often in overkill? Work on covering tactics.
- Know the map to avoid getting trapped.
- Figure out how many headshots are required for each enemy type in mayhem. Use that knowledge to avoid getting shot at (example: shoot, cover, wait, finish off, and repeat*).
- Bring an aoe type weapon as a backup to clear out mobs during trapped/reviving situations.
- Change skillset to adapt.

the funny thing is i rarely ever get downed on overkill. i've had games where i was the only one left and could free all my crew members after a solo hold out. usually i'm a pretty good shot too it just seems like my perks for my assault rifle are less valuable on the Mayhem difficulty and i think that's why i'm having such a hard time transitioning. by AoE you mean like a grenade launcher?

Ask yourself do you get damaged alot in overkill? Your usual playstyle may be too relaxed for higher difficulties which is why I suggest better covering tactics.

Difficulty levels differ in damage and enemy presence. The perk deck anarchist gets test on Mayhem, DW, and 1D. Still works, but some would say the armor regening time may not be worth it.

Focus on survival, then offense. Build a skillset to optimize your perk deck's abilities. Combine and stack benefits.

Low damage weapons are still able to take down all enemies. I personally run around mayhem and DW with a micro-uzi. It all comes down to what you're comfortable with. Can't kill something fast enough? Regroup, flank, repeat. Easy as kiting skulldozers with a melee weapon.

[Duck]

Plan your build properly. Your build should contain more offensive skills than the defensive skills, unless you are the team utilities.

GL is your bestfriend, but don't use incendiary ammo (unless it's a really small closed map).

Don't roam around too much, stick with your team. If one of your teammate roamed like an idiot, leave them (unless they're the objective runner)
If you are stuck, it's ok to camp until assault fade before you proceed on objective unless you have swan song and someone has inspire.

If you have an option to fight (and risk dying alot) or run, RUN. Learn maps so you have plan to run away. Learning map also useful to know covering spot.

In general, dodge suits better in open map, and vice versa.

Also, skip to DW because the difference is little (DW enemy does more damage, just invest more in defensive skill). OD is, however, on different little with the massive damage boost

[Debosy]

create specific build for all type of weapons, use damage skills, body expertise, better ammo for shotguns, berserker etc.

I can share some builds.

[shadowmpire]

1. armor and cover are your best friends. get ictv. (or lbv/tps if you want to try to dodge.) dodge duck dip dive dodge.
2. if you play on ovk normally and cant carry a team on your own you might want to stay on ovk till you can.
3. if you dont have the skill/gun mods to clear a room of 5 to 10 guys on ovk in a few seconds. stick with ovk till you learn to.
4. revenant skill tree is a crutch on anything but OD learn to play without them.
5. headshots matter.
6. runs out to middle of nowhere surrounded by too many cops and you know you can get to him let him die or leave him for a teammate. (unless he's host because he will most likely quit if he goes into custody)
7. you have 2 guns, switch between them and use them both so you dont run out of ammo.
8. if you see a solo cop try to have him surrender. saves ammo and one of your teammates might have joker.
9. if you cant do enough damage with normal gun skills. you could try to use berserker/frenzy.

other useful tips.
10. pistols suck without lots of investment. same with sentries.
11. akimbo pistols dont count as pistols and wont benefit from most thier skills. and do not trigger achievment for said pistols
12. faks dont reset the amount of times you go down only medic bags do.
13. use medic bags when you've gone down 3 times (cloakers and tasers downs dont count)
14. damage isnt the only stat of a gun.
15. 4 fak is a bad equipment choice. anything else but body bags/armor bag is much better.
16. bullseye will greatly increase your suvivability.
17. pick a good perk deck for the difficulty any will work on ovk and lower but lots of perk decks start to fail (or shine) on MH+
18. if you're having trouble killing enemies on MH try DW they do more damage but arent as tanky and DW+ has less enemy spawn.
19. fak are only good if you use them and are best if used before you go down. and make sure to place a few for your team.
20. always place your equipment down even if you dont need it, your team might.
21. artful dodger basic is a skill that every build should have. so is resilience aced (outside of stealth)