MP83's PAYDAY 2 Builds [V-100]

Infamy V or higher required!

These are my main builds (and some extras) used for One Down/Death Wish and Mayhem/Overkill/Very Hard/Hard/Normal difficulties. They work great for me and they might also work great for you. Who knows! Give them a try, if you want and can! :) Just don't expect any builds using armors, as I'm not personally into them. There are other guides for that kind of thing, so check those out instead. That being said, if there is enough demand, I guess I could come up with an armor-based build that I find enjoyable for me, and see if you enjoy it.

DLCs used for these builds (some more optional than others):

• Gage Sniper Pack (Thanatos .50 cal Sniper Rifle and its Suppressed Barrel weapon mod)
  
• Wolf Pack (China Puff 40mm Grenade Launcher)
  
• Gage Shotgun Pack (HE Round weapon mod)
  
• Clover Character Pack (Burglar perk deck, Expert Mag weapon mod)
  
• AK/CAR Mod Pack (DRM Kit, THRUST Lower Receiver, and LW Upper Receiver weapon mods)
  
• Gage Weapon Pack #1 (Single Fire and Straight Grip weapon mods)
  
• Gage Mod Courier (Competition Foregrip and Competitor's Compensator weapon mods)
  
• Gage Chivalry Pack (Javelin throwable -- OPTIONAL)
  
• Golden Grin Casino (Buzzer melee weapon -- OPTIONAL)
  
• Armored Transport (See More Sight weapon mod -- OPTIONAL)

BONUS: Hobo with Shotguns build was made with non-DLC owners in mind. It actually works rather nicely -- even on One Down! :)

Feel free to use and modify these builds however you want, to suit your needs. These are just my personal preferences and in no way am I suggesting that these are the best builds out there. In fact, I believe that there's no such thing as the "ultimate" build. These just happen to work for me, who has played PAYDAY 2 for over 3000 hours now. Yes, I have no life. :P

Keep those helmets flying! Also, if you want to see a certain build here, please let me know! :)

---

Changelog:
* October 26th, 2017 -- Steam broke the [color] tags, so I removed them from the guide for easier reading.
* October 30th, 2016 -- Added Hobo with Shotguns build to the guide for non-DLC players.
* October 31th, 2016 -- Changed the Hobo with Shotguns build completely. It works now better on One Down difficulty.
* November 2nd, 2016 -- Added alternate versions of Loud (One Down/Death Wish) and Transporter builds.
* November 6th, 2016 -- Added alternate version of Loud (Mayhem and below) build.

Loud Build (ONE DOWN / DEATH WISH)

Alternate version:
- Change the barrel and boost mods of Thanatos to Tank Buster Barrel and Total Ammo.
- Remove Specialized Killing, The Professional, Second Wind, and Up You Go skills completely and replace them with Stable Shot BASIC, Rifleman BASIC, Aggressive Reload ACED, and Transporter BASIC.

MASTERMIND SKILLS:
 
 
Combat Medic BASIC: You gain a 30% damage reduction for 5 seconds both after and during reviving another player.
 
Quick Fix ACED: Decreases your First Aid Kit and Doctor Bag deploy time by 50%. Crew members that use your First Aid Kits or Doctor Bags take 15% less damage for 120 seconds.

Combat Doctor ACED: You can deploy 2 Doctor Bags, with 4 charges each.

Inspire ACED (a must-have skill!): You revive crew members 100% faster. Shouting at your teammates will increase their movement speed by 20% for 10 seconds. There is a 100% chance that you can revive crew members at a distance by shouting at them (cannot occur more than once every 20 seconds).

Forced Friendship BASIC: Increases your supply of cable ties by 4. You can cable tie hostages 75% faster.

Confident, Joker, and Partners in Crime ACED: The power and range of your intimidation is increased by 50%. You can convert two non-special enemies to fight on your side. Your converted enemies takes very little damage and deal 200% more damage. They also increase your movement speed by 10% and health by 30%.

Stockholm Syndrome ACED (a must-have skill!): Your hostage will not flee when they have been rescued by law enforcers. Whenever you get into custody, your hostage will trade themselves for your safe return. This effect can occur during assaults, but only 1 time during a heist.
 

ENFORCER SKILLS:
 
 
Resilience ACED: Increases your armor recovery rate by 15%. Reduces the visual effect duration of Flashbangs by 75%.

Die Hard BASIC: You take 50% less damage while nteracting with objects.
 

TECHNICIAN SKILLS:
 
 
Hardware Expert BASIC: You fix drills and saws 25% faster. Drills and saws are also silent.
 

GHOST SKILLS:
 
 
Duck and Cover ACED: Your stamina starts regenerating 25% earlier and 25% faster. You also sprint 25% faster. You have a 10% increased chance to dodge while sprinting. You gain 15% chance to dodge while ziplining.

Parkour BASIC: You gain 10% additional movement speed and 20% increased speed while climbing ladders.

Second Wind BASIC: When your armor breaks your movement speed is increased by 30% for 5 seconds.

The Professional BASIC: You gain 8 weapon stability and 100% snap to zoom speed increase with silenced weapons.

Specialized Killing ACED: You deal 30% more damage with all silenced weapons.
 

FUGITIVE SKILLS:
 
 
Nine Lives ACED (a must-have skill!): You gain a 50% increase to your bleedout health. You gain the ability to get downed 1 more time before going into custody. 

Up You Go BASIC: You take 30% less damage for 10 seconds after being revived.

Swan Song ACED (a must-have skill!): Instead of getting downed instantly, you gain the ability to keep on fighting for 9 seconds with a 60% movement penalty before going down. Ammunition won't be depleted while the effect is active. 

Feign Death ACED (a must-have skill!): When you get downed, you have 45% chance to instantly get revived. 

Messiah ACED (a must-have skill!): While in bleedout, you can revive yourself if you kill an enemy. You only have 1 charge. Your messiah charge is replenished whenever you use a doctor bag. 
 

PRIMARY WEAPON:
 

SECONDARY WEAPON:
 
NOTE: I especially use this when Swan Song is activated. Clears out rooms nicely. :)

MELEE WEAPON:
 
NOTE: You can easily take cops hostage by first tazing them, then shouting at them.

THROWABLE:
 
NOTE: Just my personal preference. Any throwable will do, really.

EQUIPMENT:
 

ARMOR:
 

PERK DECK:
 

Loud Build (MAYHEM AND BELOW)

Alternate version
- Remove Aggressive Reload, High Value Target, Rifleman, and Shotgun Impact skills completely.
- Downgrade Inspire ACE skill to BASIC version.
- Take ACED versions of Nine Lives, Swan Song and Feign Death skills.

MASTERMIND SKILLS:
 
Combat Medic BASIC: You gain a 30% damage reduction for 5 seconds both after and during reviving another player.

Quick Fix ACED: Decreases your First Aid Kit and Doctor Bag deploy time by 50%. Crew members that use your First Aid Kits or Doctor Bags take 15% less damage for 120 seconds.

Combat Doctor ACED: You can deploy 2 Doctor Bags, with 4 charges each.

Inspire ACED: You revive crew members 100% faster. Shouting at your teammates will increase their movement speed by 20% for 10 seconds. There is a 100% chance that you can revive crew members at a distance by shouting at them (cannot occur more than once every 20 seconds).

Forced Friendship BASIC: Increases your supply of cable ties by 4. You can cable tie hostages 75% faster.

Confident, Joker, and Partners in Crime ACED: The power and range of your intimidation is increased by 50%. You can convert two non-special enemies to fight on your side. Your converted enemies takes very little damage and deal 200% more damage. They also increase your movement speed by 10% and health by 30%.

Hostage Taker ACED: Having at least one of your own hostage or converted law enforcer makes you regenerate 4.5% health every 5 seconds.

Stable Shot BASIC: You gain 8 weapon stability.

Rifleman BASIC: Your snap to zoom is 100% faster with all weapons.

High Value Target BASIC: Enemies you mark take 15% more damage.

Aggressive Reload BASIC: Increases your reload speed with SMGs, Assault Rifles and Sniper Rifles by 15%.

ENFORCER SKILLS:
 
Underdog ACED: When three or more enemies are within 18 meters of you, you receive a 15% damage bonus and a 15% damage reduction that lasts for 7 seconds.

Shotgun CQB ACED: You reload Shotguns 35% faster. You gain a 125% increased steel sight zoom speed when using Shotguns.

Shotgun Impact ACED: Your weapon stability with all shotguns is increased by 8. You deal 15% more damage with Shotguns.

Resilience ACED: Increases your armor recovery rate by 15%. Reduces the visual effect duration of Flashbang by 75%.

Die Hard BASIC: You take 50% less damage while interacting with objects.

TECHNICIAN SKILLS:
 
Hardware Expert BASIC: You fix drills and saws 25% faster. Drills and saws are also silent.

Steady Grip BASIC: You gain 8 weapon accuracy.

Fire Control BASIC: You gain 12 weapon accuracy while firing from the hip.

Surefire BASIC: Your SMGs, LMGs and Assault Rifles gain 15 more bullets in their magazines. This does not affect the "Lock n' Load" Ace skill.

GHOST SKILLS:
 
Duck and Cover ACED: Your stamina starts regenerating 25% earlier and 25% faster. You also sprint 25% faster. You have a 10% increased chance to dodge while sprinting. You gain 15% chance to dodge while ziplining.

Parkour BASIC: You gain 10% additional movement speed and 20% increased speed while climbing ladders.

Second Wind BASIC: When your armor breaks your movement speed is increased by 30% for 5 seconds.

Optical Illusions BASIC: You are 45% less likely to be targeted by enemies.

The Professional BASIC: You gain 8 weapon stability and 100% snap to zoom speed increase with silenced weapons.

Specialized Killing ACED: You deal 30% more damage with all silenced weapons.

FUGITIVE SKILLS:
 

PRIMARY WEAPON:
 

SECONDARY WEAPON:
 
NOTE: I mostly use this to take out shields (thanks to HE rounds).

MELEE WEAPON:
 
NOTE: You can easily take cops hostage by first tazing them, then shouting at them.

THROWABLE:
 
NOTE: Just my personal preference. Any throwable will do, really.

EQUIPMENT:
 

ARMOR:
 

PERK DECK:
 

Stealth Build (ANY DIFFICULTY)

MASTERMIND SKILLS:
 
 
Forced Friendship BASIC: Increases your supply of cable ties by 4. You can cable tie hostages 75% faster.

Confident BASIC: The power and range of your intimidation is increased by 50%.

Stable Shot ACED: You gain 8 weapon stability. You gain 16 weapon accuracy while standing still.

ENFORCER SKILLS:
 
 
Underdog BASIC: When three or more enemies are within 18 meters of you, you receive a 15% damage bonus that lasts for 7 seconds.

Shotgun CQB ACED: You reload Shotguns 35% faster. You gain a 125% increased steel sight zoom speed when using Shotguns.

Far Away BASIC: Your accuracy bonus while aiming down sights with Shotguns is increased by 40%.

Resilience BASIC: Increases your armor recovery rate by 15%.

Transporter BASIC: You can throw bags 50% further.

TECHNICIAN SKILLS:
 
 
Third Law BASIC: The cost of deploying a sentry gun is reduced by 5%.
(Only taken to reach Jack of All Trades skill.)

Eco Sentry BASIC: The cost of deploying a sentry gun is reduced by 5%.
(Only taken to reach Jack of All Trades skill.)

Jack of All Trades ACED: You deploy and interact with all deployables 100% faster. You can now equip a secondary deployable to bring with you. If your deployable is equipped as a secondary deployable, you can only bring half of what you would bring if it was equipped as a primary deployable.

Hardware Expert ACED: You fix drills and saws 25% faster. Drills and saws are also silent. Civilians and guards must see the drill or saw in order to become alerted. Your drills and saws have a 10% chance to automatically restart after breaking.

Drill Sawgeant ACED: Your drill and saw timer is decreased by 30%.

More Firepower ACED: You gain 3 more shaped charges and 11 more trip mines.

Steady Grip BASIC: You gain 8 weapon accuracy.

GHOST SKILLS:
 
 
Chameleon ACED: Increases the time before you start getting detected by 25% while in casing mode. You can also mark enemies and pick up items while in casing mode. You gain 30% more value to items and cash that you pick up.

Cleaner ACED: You gain 1 additional body bag in your inventory. Also increases the body bag inventory space to 3. You gain the ability to place 2 body bag cases.

Sixth Sense ACED: You gain the ability to automatically mark enemies within a 10 meter redius around you after standing still for 3.5 seconds while in stealth. You gain access to all insider assets. Cleaning costs after killing a civilian is reduced by 75%.

Nimble ACED: You gain the ability to disable 1 camera from detecting you and your crew. Effect lasts for 25 seconds. You lockpick 100% faster. You also gain the ability to lockpick safes.

ECM Overdrive ACED: Your ECM jammer and feedback duration is increased by 25%. Your ECM jammer can now also be used to open certain electronic doors.

ECM Specialist ACED: You can now place 2 ECM jammers instead of just one. The ECM jammer duration is increased by an additional 25% and the ECM feedback duration lasts 25% longer. Pagers are delayed by the ECM jammer.

Duck and Cover BASIC: Your stamina starts regenerating 25% earlier and 25% faster. You also sprint 25% faster.

Parkour ACED: You gain 10% additional movement speed and 20% increased speed while climbing ladders. You gain the ability to sprint in any direction. You can reload your weapons while sprinting.

Inner Pockets BASIC: Increases the concealment of melee weapons by 2.

Second Wind BASIC: When your armor breaks your movement speed is increased by 30% for 5 seconds.

Optical Illusions ACED: You are 45% less likely to be targeted by enemies. You gain 1 concealment for each silenced weapon you equip and your concealment penalty of silencers is reduced by 2.

The Professional ACED: You gain 8 weapon stability and 12 weapon accuracy, and 100% snap to zoom speed increase with silenced weapons.

FUGITIVE SKILLS:
 

PRIMARY WEAPON:
 
NOTE: My weapon of choice when stealthing, but any high-concealment weapon will do.

SECONDARY WEAPON:
 
NOTE: Only bringing this with me due to its highest possible concealment, thanks to the combination of weapon mods and skills. Gruber Kurz pistol can also reach the same level of concealment, but I prefer the looks of Bernetti 9 more.

MELEE WEAPON:
 

THROWABLE:
 
NOTE: Insta-kills every guard -- even alarmed ones on One Down. :)

EQUIPMENT (PRIMARY):
 

EQUIPMENT (SECONDARY):
 
NOTE: Thanks to the Jack of All Trades skill, you can carry two sets of equipment. I use trip mine sensors to highlight guards.

ARMOR:
 

PERK DECK:
 
NOTE: If you don't own Burglar perk deck, then Rogue perk deck works just fine. Certain tasks will just take a bit longer then.

Transporter Build (ANY DIFFICULTY)

Alternate version
- Remove Stable Shot, Die Hard and Transporter skills completely.
- Downgrade Portable Saw skill to BASIC version.
- Take Underdog BASIC skill.
- Upgrade Messiah skill to ACED version.

MASTERMIND SKILLS:
  
 
Combat Medic BASIC: You gain a 30% damage reduction for 5 seconds both after and during reviving another player.
 
Quick Fix ACED: Decreases your First Aid Kit and Doctor Bag deploy time by 50%. Crew members that use your First Aid Kits or Doctor Bags take 15% less damage for 120 seconds.

Combat Doctor ACED: You can deploy 2 Doctor Bags, with 4 charges each.

Inspire ACED: You revive crew members 100% faster. Shouting at your teammates will increase their movement speed by 20% for 10 seconds. There is a 100% chance that you can revive crew members at a distance by shouting at them (cannot occur more than once every 20 seconds).

Forced Friendship BASIC: Increases your supply of cable ties by 4. You can cable tie hostages 75% faster.

Confident, Joker, and Partners in Crime ACED: The power and range of your intimidation is increased by 50%. You can convert two non-special enemies to fight on your side. Your converted enemies takes very little damage and deal 200% more damage. They also increase your movement speed by 10% and health by 30%.

Stable Shot BASIC: You gain 8 weapon stability.

ENFORCER SKILLS:
  
 
Resilience ACED: Increases your armor recovery rate by 15%. Reduces the visual effect duration of Flashbangs by 75%.

Die Hard BASIC: You take 50% less damage while interacting with objects.

Transporter BASIC: You can throw bags 50% further.

Scavenger BASIC: Your ammo box pick up range is increased by 50%.

Portable Saw ACED: Unlocks the OVE9000 portable saw for you to use as a secondary weapon. You gain 1 extra saw blade for the OVE9000 portable saw. You replace your saw blades with carbon blades, increasing your saw efficiency by 40%.

TECHNICIAN SKILLS:
  
 
Hardware Expert ACED: You fix drills and saws 25% faster. Gives your drills and saws a 10% chance to automatically restart after breaking.

Drill Sawgeant ACED: Your drill and saw timer is decreased by 30%.

Kickstarter BASIC: Your drills and saws gain an additional 20% chance to automatically restart after breaking.

Steady Grip BASIC: You gain 8 weapon accuracy.

Fire Control BASIC: You gain 12 weapon accuracy while firing from the hip.

Surefire BASIC: Your SMGs, LMGs and Assault Rifles gain 15 more bullets in their magazines. This does not affect the "Lock n' Load" Ace skill.

GHOST SKILLS:
  
 
Duck and Cover ACED: Your stamina starts regenerating 25% earlier and 25% faster. You also sprint 25% faster. You have a 10% increased chance to dodge while sprinting. You gain 15% chance to dodge while ziplining.

Parkour BASIC: You gain 10% additional movement speed and 20% increased speed while climbing ladders.

Second Wind BASIC: When your armor breaks your movement speed is increased by 30% for 5 seconds.

Optical Illusions BASIC: You are 45% less likely to be targeted by enemies.

FUGITIVE SKILLS:
  
 
Nine Lives ACED: You gain a 50% increase to your bleedout health. You gain the ability to get downed 1 more time before going into custody.

Swan Song ACED: Instead of getting downed instantly, you gain the ability to keep on fighting for 9 seconds with a 60% movement penalty before going down. Ammunition won't be depleted while the effect is active.

Feign Death ACED: When you get downed, you have a 45% chance to instantly get revived.

Messiah BASIC: While in bleedout, you can revive yourself if you kill an enemy. You only have 1 charge.

PRIMARY WEAPON:
  

SECONDARY WEAPON:
  

MELEE WEAPON:
  
NOTE: You can easily take cops hostage by first tazing them, then shouting at them.

THROWABLE:
  
NOTE: Just my personal preference. Any throwable will do, really.

EQUIPMENT:
  

ARMOR:
  

PERK DECK:
  

Hobo with Shotguns (ANY DIFFICULTY / NO-DLC)

MASTERMIND SKILLS:
 

ENFORCER SKILLS:
 

TECHNICIAN SKILLS:
 

GHOST SKILLS:
 

FUGITIVE SKILLS:
 

PRIMARY WEAPON:
 
NOTE: Really fun to use when Swan Song is active. :D

SECONDARY WEAPON:
 

MELEE WEAPON:
 

THROWABLE:
 

EQUIPMENT:
 

ARMOR:
 

PERK DECK:
 

[Tiny Toes]

The Loud One Down build is still viable..

[StingRay]

Dude, your build is awesome!, i just got the One Down Skull Mask because of your loud one down build, keep it up!

[hedy]

Pretty sure he put the bone material on it..

[Tag]

Can the Raven be used to replace Mosconi or no?

[nelzn]

I agree with Harvey, what did you put on your mask?

[Electric Fish]

nice build dude, i rate it and added it to my favourite so i can access it at all time

[HarvDog420™]

Dam ur One down mask looks awesome, what have u got on it?

[hedy]

okay, i rechecked. Reload speed for the M308 is 4.5 and it's 4.9 for the AMR
not very noticeable, but you were right

[hedy]

While I haven't seen these stats for myself, I remember having lower ammo pickup for the M308. It was especially noticeable after firing it in autofire mode (which i only reserved for bulldozers)
Also, the reload speed is now a stat that shows in vanilla and I'll recheck just in case but I'm almost certain the reload speed was better, if not the same.

[MP83]

In case you didn't know, there's a mod called More Weapon Stats that shows these hidden stats. It also shows hidden stats for melee weapons.