Gunslinger Cowboy Build

[Not DSOD tested] Howdy there. Do you crave wielding six chambers of absolute stopping power in each of your hands? Do you yearn for a change of pace from your usual Anarchist-Bezerker or Leech-Rifle build? Do you yearn for a build based on a Wild Wild Wild West Desperado? This revolver based build might be for you! Comfortable for use in Mayhem and such.

Questions & Answers

Some answers to questions that you might have regarding this build, before we get into the nitty gritty about the weapons & such.

Do I need Infamy for this build?
This build was made assuming that you've gotten at least one level of Infamy, as that will allow you to spread out points more. That, and being fully leveled, is the only requirement to make full use of this build.

Is this build DSOD viable?
This build has not been hard tested for Death Sentence One Down. However, most of the skills within the build cover most bases for a DSOD build, such as Inspire Aced and Nine Lives Aced. The revolvers should also be able to comfortably 1-Tap headshot Heavy Swats once Trigger Happy has been, well, triggered. Theoretically, this build is DSOD viable, but take this with a generous grain of salt.

Do I need to have this DLC?
While having some DLC would be nice, it is understandable if the price tags of most of the DLC deter you. Thankfully, there are non-DLC alternatives within this build which I have listed. As such, DLC is highly optional.

Why not use Akimbo ____s instead of revolvers?
The general idea of this build is to be a Wild West gunslinger, using revolvers to make a getaway with the money bags. So while mag-fed pistols would be nice and be able to benefit from perks like Gun Nut, or akimbo SMGs with Body Expertise can shred through normal cops with less regard to aiming, those are not what this build is focusing on.

Skills

The armored cowboy build, made with perk decks that still involve armor like Leech & Kingpin in mind. For perk decks like those, the main thing to focus on is Bullseye, since those 5 points of armor gained from it lets you "armor gate," meaning those 5 points can eat up and mitigate damage from a shot that would have otherwise hurt your health. Should be able to take most akimbo revolvers well, and takes the 5/7 AP Pistol or RUS-12 Angry Tiger Revolver (as per the earlier recommended modifications). Salt, pepper, and re-allocated skill points to taste.


An alternate, "healthy" gunslinger build, adjusted for use with Stoic in mind. For Stoic, the main thing to focus on is Die Hard Aced, as with that perk deck Bullseye is rendered useless due to a lack of armor (which has all been converted to health). We use Inner Pockets Aced to preserve our low concealment with the Light Ballistic Vest [LBV].

Primaries

Akimbo Frenchman Model 87 Revolvers
A true set of cowboy revolvers. Based on the Smith & Wesson Model 3, these Akimbo revolvers offer the healthiest ammo economy out of all of the other options and a neat reloading animation. These are my preferred primaries for a gunslinger build, but they are locked behind the Gunslinger Weapon Pack DLC, which is not included with the Legacy Collection Bundle.

Modification Type	Modification
Barrel	Opera Long Barrel None if Angry Tiger is equipped
Boost	Concealment
Grip	Mule Bone Grip

Akimbo Castigo .44 Revolvers
Sangres' beloved revolver, now in twos. Because good things come in pairs, for sure. These revolvers offer slightly better concealment & higher damage, at the cost of some stability & a hit to ammo capacity and economy. Aside from the Frenchman Revolvers, the Castigos are the best akimbo revolvers you can use. And what's better, they're free.

Modification Type	Modification
Barrel	Diablo Barrel
Boost	Concealment
Grip	Carnival/Cruz Grip

Secondaries

5/7 AP Pistol
The good ol' Shield popper. A versatile pistol that boasts decent overall stats, with the selling point being its ability to pierce Shields, body armor, enemies, and thin walls. It also has the ability to equip a silencer, if that is to your fancy. While it isn't a nice cowboy revolver, having a reliable sidearm to deal with those pesky Shields is much appreciated. And best of all, its free.

Modification Type	Modification
Barrel	TiN Treated Barrel
Barrel Ext.	Flash Hider
Boost	Concealment
Gadget	Micro Laser
Magazine	Extended Magazine
Sight	None

[WIP] RUS12 Angry Tiger Revolver
As a wise man once said, "Six rounds. No compromise. Any questions? Didn't think so." Difference in bullet count aside, the Angry Tiger Revolver is a powerhouse of a revolver, offering the 2nd highest base damage of any revolver in the game, losing only to the Peacemaker. More importantly, it also has the ability to pierce Shields and body armor like the 5/7. However, the practicality of this revolver is a bit questionable when compared to its mag-feed predecessor. The damage is more than enough, even wasted, on the run of the mill Shield, and the ammo economy isn't as generous as the 5/7. Attempting to use it as a Dozer buster by dumping a cylinder into their faceplate yields mixed results, as you run the risk of not doing quite enough damage for a proper kill. Not to mention, it wastes those precious few bullets you have. So why use it? Because it aesthetically is gratifying to use. Plus, its one step closer to a traditional cowboy six shooter compared to the mag-feed 5/7.

Modification Type	Modification
Barrel	RUS-K Tactical Short Barrel
Barrel Ext.	Flash Hider
Boost	Concealment
Gadget	Micro Laser
Grip	RUS Custom Wood Grip
Sight	None

Perk Decks

Stoic: Pass the whiskey! In all honesty, any of the "health" related perk decks such as Leech or Hacker could go on here with points re-allocated towards Bullseye. However, Stoic seemed to be the most fitting for a cowboy themed build. What's better to calm one's nerves after a shootout than a nice swig of good ol' firewater? With this perk deck, you have a bit more of a buffer to react to heavy fire or even those annoying unseen Snipers that deck you the moment you peek out for a moment. Just be sure to pack First Aid Kits (FAKs) to top off your health when you can't afford to sit around waiting for Hostage Taker to refill it.

Leech: Hurt me plenty. The newest, shiniest perk deck (at the time of writing this), this health-centric build quickly propelled itself to the top of the tier list at its introduction. Simply pop the Leech Ampule when expecting to take lots of damage, and rack up lots of kills. Don't over-extend yourself, or you might find yourself significantly slowed before being able to find cover to retain those precious last Leech segments. Despite the (recent) nerf that affected the perk's healing capabilities with multiple users, and its ability to tank sources of high damage, Leech still is useful even though you need to be ultra aggressive.

Kingpin: Hail to the king, baby. If you were lucky enough to have snagged the Scarface Character pack before it was taken off shelves, or have access to this perk deck through other means, then congrats! This perk deck grants you additional health and a throwable that renders you harder to kill when activated. Ideal when having to deal with objectives out in the open, or when you need to manually revive a teammate when Inspire Aced isn't an option. In fact, with this perk deck equipped you can forego Inspire Aced and distribute those points elsewhere, using Kingpin as a safety net as you pick them up yourself. If you find yourself in need of health and can't wait for Hostage Taker to heal you, you can attempt to heal yourself similar to how the video below details. Essentially, activate Kingpin with armor up and also use Bullseye to get armor gating while Kingpin's damage to health conversion is active. Be careful, as high damage enemies can potentially deal more damage than the perk can handle. Looking at you, Green Bulldozers! Also below is a more in depth guide on how to use, and master, Kingpin.

Equipment

Armor
Lightweight Ballistic Vest [LBV] if Stoic
OR
Two Piece Suit if using others

Deployable
Doctor Bag
OR
First Aid Kits [FAKs] - more important in solo play, or more objective based or wide open heists where you'll need to interact with something at the risk of enemy fire. Best paired with Leech & Stoic.

Throwable
Flask or other perk deck dependent throwable OR
Concussion Grenades if perk deck doesn't override it

Melee
Buzzer/Electrical Brass Knuckles

DLC (optional)

Gunslinger Weapon Pack: For the (Akimbo) Frenchman Model 87 Revolver. Not included with the Legacy Collection bundle
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1449441/PAYDAY_2_Gunslinger_Weapon_Pack/?curator_clanid=4458711

Jiu Feng Smuggler Pack 3: For the RUS12 Angry Tiger Revolver. As implied by its respective description in the Secondaries section, is highly optional. Not included with the Legacy Collection bundle
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1746580/PAYDAY_2_Jiu_Feng_Smuggler_Pack_3/

The Butcher's Western Pack: Mostly for the Western themed masks. Comes with the Legacy Collection bundle
https://store.steampowered.com/app/349830/PAYDAY_2_The_Butchers_Western_Pack/?curator_clanid=4458711

Mods (optional)

If you don't know how to install mods for Payday 2, there are several guides that you can look up. However, here's a real quick one:

Akimbo Firemode Toggle: https://modworkshop.net/mod/20268
A handy mod that I would highly recommend for akimbo weapon use is the Akimbo Firemode Toggle mod. You know how when you fire a semi-auto akimbo weapon such as two pistols, or tap with a full auto set of akimbos, it results in you shooting two weapons at once? While this is nice for doubling your damage, it tends to result in wasted shots, especially for revolvers where 1 shot to the head is enough to kill your usual Heavy Swat. Just find a button to use to toggle between x1 and x2 shots, and integrate it into your gameplay!

VanillaHUD Plus: https://modworkshop.net/mod/25629
HUD Mods are highly subjective, but what isn't is having access to information that could help your gameplay. VanillaHUD Plus lets you see information that the base game might not otherwise tell you, such as how long your Trigger Happy skill is lasting, and if the skill is even active at all! What is extra handy is the fact that this mod can also be used alongside other HUD mods!

General Tips

Some general tips for this build:

• Your revolvers are loud. Specifically, they aren’t silenced in any manner. As a result, enemies are more likely to turn towards your direction and begin shooting at you. Keep this in mind and expect more bullets to head your way.
  
  • You could go with other high powered pistols that can accept suppressors instead of revolvers, if you're a stickler for such things. However, putting a suppressor on the 5/7 runs the risk of putting it below the threshold you need to 1-shot headshot DSOD Shields.
• The right fire mode for the right occasion. Assuming you are using the Akimbo Firemode Toggle mod, you should use certain fire modes for certain enemies to ensure bullets aren’t wasted.
  
  • Generally, I use x1 fire mode for the general cops, Snipers, and Shields, and while being tased, for better ammo efficiency
    
  • I use x2 for Medics, Tasers, and Cloakers, as a two tap to the head is sufficient enough, especially with Trigger Happy.
    
  • For SWAT Turrets, Dozers, and the occasional boss enemy, I use whatever, although you can use x1 to ensure you don’t go a shot over.
• Guess-timating ain't good enough! If you'd prefer your aiming with laser-less akimbos to be exact, and don't mind a bit of assistance, the (newly added) motion sickness dot can help! While not exactly its intended use, it does act as a makeshift crosshair you can use.
  
  • Options > Accessibility > Motion Sickness Dot (feel free to adjust according to personal tastes)