PAYDAY 2: YABCTAOSBWN – Yet Another Build Collection That’s Available On Steam, Because Why Not?

Welcome to my list of builds that I’ve crafted over the 4300h of gameplay within PAYDAY 2. In here you will find the builds that I have made, tested thoroughly, and confirmed they work on DW (with varying levels of ease of use) which may or may not also be usable on DSOD and I will not test said theory due to how much I ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ hate myself. Hooray!

Fantastic question! I couldn’t tell you the answer because I don’t know! Hooray!

For this answer to be a “yes”, three things need to be true:

• I remember this guide exists
• I make a new build that could probably be nice to play and I test it to determine that
• I bother updating this guide in the first place

While not recommended, you can absolutely shift some skillpoints around – I am not telling you how to play, just giving you the builds that I’ve used in my time.

Technically true – I am, in fact, not making another guide – for speedrunning. I’ve always liked well-written guides though, and reading about some interesting/useful things within a guide is always nice.

I made this guide over the process of several days, often forgetting how i write ♥♥♥♥ (lol) so i just end up writing something in the spirit of whatever i want to convey properly.

Nope, nope, nope, nope – this is not the place to talk and/or lament about that or remember my past (which I’m actively damning), this is where I give you builds. Now then…

Probably the most lukewarm build for Muscle that I have – 3 Shotguns designed for Crits.

Weapons:

Akimbo VD12 Shotguns (McShay Weapon Pack 2)

• 000 Buckshot Ammunition (Gage Shotgun Pack)
• No Barrel mod
• The Silent Killer Suppressor Barrel Ext. (base game)
• Concealment Boost (base game)
• Auto Fire Custom (Gage Weapon Pack #01)
• No Exclusive Set mod
• No Foregrip mod
• Compact Laser Module Gadget (Gage Mod Courier)
• Titanium Skeleton Grip Grip (Cartel Optics)

Locomotive 12G Shotgun

• AP Slug Ammunition (Gage Shotgun Pack)
• No Barrel Ext. mod
• Concealment Boost (base game)
• Compact Laser Module Gadget (Gage Mod Courier)
• Skeletonized AR Grip Grip (McShay Mod Pack)
• Ext. Magazine Magazine (base game)
• Either of the x6.25 Secondary Sights (base game, or Cartel Optics)
• Any +4 Stability, -1/-2 Concealment low-power Sight (base game, Armored Transport, Gage Mod Courier, Cartel Optics)
• Tactical Shorty Stock Stock (base game)
• No Upper Rec. mod

Skills:

A fairly aggressive build based around the VD12 Shotguns (hence the Akimbo Ace). Commons generally die in 2 taps without Crits proc’ing from both weapons while fairly up-close with this setup.

This is probably the build I use the least due to me being a complete meta-♥♥♥♥♥ and taking Leech in favor of Muscle because it’s just got better healing, so I guess this is just here as a honorable mention.

I don’t know why i bother with Rogue for dodge, Hacker is just better. Anyway…

Weapons:
Amaroq 900 Sniper Rifle (McShay Weapon Pack 4)

• Qanuk Barrel Barrel (McShay Weapon Pack 4)
• Ice Cap Suppressor Barrel Ext. (McShay Weapon Pack 4)
• Dire Speedbolt Bolt (McShay Weapon Pack 4)
• Stability or Team Boost Boost (base game)
• No Excl. Set mod
• LED Combo Gadget (Butcher Mod Pack)
• Raiju Grip Grip (McShay Weapon Pack 4)
• Akhlut Magazine Mag. (McShay Weapon Pack 4)
• Any +4 Stability, low-power Sight (base game, Armored Transport, Gage Mod Courier, Cartel Optics)
• Either of the x6.25 Secondary Sights (base game, or Cartel Optics)
• Moonlight Stock Stock (McShay Weapon Pack 4)

Crosskill Pistol (base game)

• Jungle Ninja Suppressor Barrel Ext. (Butcher Mod Pack)
• Stability or Team Boost Boost (base game)
• Medved R4 Laser Sight Gadget (base game. . . ?)
• Bling Grip Grip (base game)
• Magazine with Ameritude! Mag. (Gage Spec Ops)
• Marksman Sight Sight (base game)
• Long Vented Slide Slide (base game)

Skills:

Sniper obviously oneshots basically everything except Bulldozers, so the pistol should be used to destroy the faceplate on lower difficulties or weaken the Bulldozer on higher ones, as well as recovering ammo for the sniper.

Basically unattainable unless you use a DLC unlocker or travel to the past before October 1st, 2020, so just like last time an honorable mention. You could technically use the Ketchnov BYK-1 from Jiu Feng Smuggler Pack 2, however it’s a lot less effective due to the differences in damage (92.4 vs 168 for LF762, both base) and maximum stats.

Weapons:
Little Friend 7.62 Assault Rifle (Scarface Character Pack)

• KS12-S Long Silencer Barrel Ext. (Jiu Feng Smuggler Pack 3)
• Any Boost mod, ideally Team Boost (base game)
• Auto Fire Custom (Gage Weapon Pack #01)
• LED Combo Gadget (Butcher Mod Pack)
• Either of the x6.25 Secondary Sights (base game, or Cartel Optics)
• Any +4 Stability, low-power Sight (base game, Armored Transport, Gage Mod Courier, Cartel Optics)
• Viper Grenade Grenade (McShay Weapon Pack, but I think you can also unlock this via an achievement?)

Krinkov Submachine Gun

• The Bigger The Better Suppressor Barrel Ext. (base game)
• Accuracy Boost (base game)
• Auto Fire Custom (Gage Weapon Pack #01)
• No Charging Handle mod
• Scope Mount Extra (AK/CAR Mod Pack)
• Moscow Special Rail Foregrip (base game)
• Stealth Laser Module Gadget (McShay Mod Pack)
• Verge AK Grip Grip (McShay Weapon Pack 3)
• Speed Pull Magazine Mag. (Gage Spec Ops Pack)
• Any +4 Stability, low-power Sight (base game, Armored Transport, Gage Mod Courier, Cartel Optics)
• War-Torn Stock Stock (Gage Mod Courier)
• Taktika Railed Cover Upper Rec. (McShay Mod Pack)

Skills:

Similar to the Muscle build, this one is also very aggressive as it relies on Grinder’s healing. This one is at least at a lower skill ceiling, since you can also stun and deal DOT to enemies with LF’s grenade launcher. The LF should generally 2-Headshot a Heavy, and the Krinkov should 3-HS (assuming no Crits proc, Unseen Strike RNG hates me I guess lol).

A set I can freely modify for several constraints towards most of the achievements in PAYDAY 2 that AREN’T difficulty-completion achievements.

Weapons:
Lion’s Roar Assault Rifle (Dragan Character Pack)

• CQB Barrel Barrel (Dragan Character Pack) go figure
• Rami Suppressor Barrel Ext. (McShay Weapon Pack 4)
• Any Boost mod, ideally Team Boost (base game)
• Auto Fire Custom (Gage Weapon Pack #01)
• LED Combo Gadget (Butcher Mod Pack)

IF YOU INSTALL THE COMPACT PROFILE SIGHT (Cartel Optics Pack)

• Either of the x6.25 Secondary Sights (base game, or Cartel Optics)

The Judge Shotgun (base game)

• HE Round Ammo. (Gage Shotgun Pack)
• The Silent Killer Suppressor Barrel Ext. (base game)
• Any Boost mod, ideally Team Boost (base game)
• Compact Laser Module Gadget (Gage Mod Courier)
• No Lower Rec. mod
• No Sight or Secondary Sight mod

Skills:

Feel free to point out the several ways in which the skills I use tell you that I’m a complete psychopath, but not using Frenzy and using Hostage Taker in this set was a deliberate choice of skills. I don’t really pay attention to the weapon damage breakpoints since this set never leaves DW.

This is just a set that’s completely random, like honestly what the ♥♥♥♥ ever is this set lmao

Weapons:
Vulcan Minigun (OVERKILL Pack)

• Aerial Assault Barrel Barrel (OVERKILL Pack)
• Total Ammo Boost (base game) (although any boost except Concealment can make sense here)
• No Extra mod
• LED Combo Gadget (Butcher Mod Pack)

Basilisk 3V Grenade Launcher (McShay Weapon Pack)

• Any Boost mod, ideally Team Boost (base game)
• Venomous Mod Set Exclusive Set (McShay Weapon Pack)
• LED Combo Gadget (Butcher Mod Pack)
• Any +4 Stability, low-power Sight (base game, Armored Transport, Gage Mod Courier, Cartel Optics)

Skills:

Not even going to try and justify this set, like seriously please just don’t actually unironically play this set even though it works

A set I like to use when I just want to killwhore, objectives be damned (unless i’m playing solo).

Weapons:
AK17 Rifle (Gage Russian Weapon Pack)

• KS12-S Long Silencer Barrel Ext. (Jiu Feng Smuggler Pack 3)
• Any Boost mod, ideally Team Boost (base game)
• Auto Fire Custom (Gage Weapon Pack #01)
• Stealth Laser Module Gadget (McShay Mod Pack)
• Verge AK Grip Grip (McShay Weapon Pack 3)
• Speed Pull Magazine Mag. (Gage Spec Ops)
• Either of the x6.25 Secondary Sights (base game, or Cartel Optics)
• Any +4 Stability, low-power Sight (base game, Armored Transport, Gage Mod Courier, Cartel Optics)
• 2 Piece Stock Stock (AK/CAR Mod Pack)

CR 805B Submachine Gun (Biker Heist DLC)

• No Barrel mod
• The Bigger The Better Suppressor Barrel Ext/ (base game)
• Any Boost mod, ideally Team Boost (base game)
• Auto Fire Custom (Gage Weapon Pack #01)
• Stealth Laser Module Gadget (McShay Mod Pack)
• Speed Pull Magazine Mag. (Gage Spec Ops)
• Either of the x6.25 Secondary Sights (base game, or Cartel Optics)
• Biometric Analyzer Sight (McShay Mod Pack)

Skills:

This set is designed for pure kill counts. It could probably help you out with Robbedacop, what with the high-damage weapons and how the Biker perk deck is usually played. Kills in 3-HS with both weapons.

Just like with the Grinder LF762 set, this is basically unattainable unless you use a DLC unlocker or travel to the past before October 1st, 2020. Otherwise, this is a basic set with akimbo Shotguns and a SMG. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Weapons:
Akimbo VD12 Shotguns (McShay Weapon Pack 2)

• 000 Buckshot Ammo. (Gage Shotgun Pack)
• Long Barrel Barrel (McShay Weapon Pack 2)
• Shh! Barrel Ext. (Butcher Mod Pack)
• Stability or Team Boost Boost (base game)
• Auto Fire Custom (Gage Weapon Pack #01)
• No Excl. Set mod
• Front Mounting Rail Foregrip (McShay Weapon Pack 2)
• LED Combo Gadget (Butcher Mod Pack)
• Rubber Grip Grip (Gage Weapon Pack #01)

Mark 10 Submachine Gun (base game)

• The Bigger The Better Suppressor Barrel Ext. (base game)
• Accuracy or Team Boost Boost (base game)
• Auto Fire Custom (Gage Weapon Pack #01)
• No Extra mod
• Stealth Laser Module Gadget (McShay Mod Pack)
• Lower Rec. mod doesn’t matter, you can put it on if you want the weapon to look slightly different
• Speed Pull Magazine Mag. (Gage Spec Ops)
• No Sight or Secondary Sight mod
• Skeletal Stock Stock (base game)

Skills:

You’re mainly going to be using the VD12 Shotguns to kill since they 1-2-tap HS. The SMG is mainly to destroy the Bulldozer faceplates then switch back to the VD12’s to finish them off, and to recover some ammo when you run out.

Unless you have a DLC unlocker or have played the game before (…i THINK) September 12th, 2024 this build is unattainable, otherwise it’s a meta-♥♥♥♥♥ set featuring three SMG’s. Again, nothing out of the ordinary, but oh well.

Weapons:
Akimbo Miyaka 10 Special Submachine Guns (Jiu Feng Smuggler Pack 2)

• No Barrel mod
• The Bigger The Better Suppressor Barrel Ext. (base game)
• Any Boost EXCEPT Concealment (base game)
• Auto Fire Custom (Gage Weapon Pack #01)
• Micro Laser Gadget (base game, unlockable by following the PAYDAY 2 game page if i remember right)
• MS10 Comfort Wood Grip Grip (Jiu Feng Smuggler Pack 2)
• MS10 Speedmag Mag. (Jiu Feng Smuggler Pack 2)
• MS10 Tactical Stock Stock (Jiu Feng Smuggler Pack 2)

Heather Submachine Gun (Jimmy Character Pack)

• The Bigger The Better Suppressor Barrel Ext. (base game)
• Accuracy or Team Boost Boost (base game)
• Auto Fire Custom (Gage Weapon Pack #01)
• Stealth Laser Module Gadget (McShay Mod Pack)
• Speed Pull Magazine Mag. (Gage Spec Ops)
• Biometric Analyzer Sight (McShay Mod Pack)
• Unfolded Stock Stock (Jimmy Character Pack)

Skills:

If you’re learning how to play Leech, this would probably be my favorite set, since if you’re missing some of the newest DLC, you can 100% just drop them and don’t take a massive hit to your efficiency to play the game.

Weapons:
IZHMA 12G Shotgun (base game)

• 000 Buckshot Ammo. (Gage Shotgun Pack) (also available in base game, i think? I just list Gage Shotgun Pack since it’s what i have set up on it from this category)
• Short Barrel Barrel (Gage Spec Ops)
• The Silent Killer Suppressor Barrel Ext. (base game)
• Any Boost mod EXCEPT Concealment and -4 Accuracy (base game)
• Auto Fire Custom (Gage Weapon Pack #01)
• Taktika Charging Handle Charg. Handle (McShay Mod Pack) (you can safely drop this!)
• Hollow Handle Foregrip (Gage Spec Ops)
• Stealth Laser Module Gadget (McShay Mod Pack) (you can replace this with the Compact Laser Module (Gage Mod Courier) instead)
• AK Rubber Grip Grip (Gage Mod Courier)
• No Magazine mod
• No Sight mod
• Wide Stock Stock (Gage Mod Courier)
• Taktika Railed Cover Upper Rec. (McShay Mod Pack) (you can safely drop this!)

The Judge Shotgun (base game, unlockable by following the PAYDAY 2 game page if i remember right)

• AP Slug Ammo. (Gage Shotgun Pack)
• The Silent Killer Suppressor Barrel Ext. (base game)
• Any Boost mod EXCEPT Concealment and -4 Accuracy (base game)
• Compact Laser Module Gadget (Gage Mod Courier)
• Lower Rec. mod doesn’t matter, you can put it on if you want the weapon to look slightly different
• No Sight or Secondary Sight mod

Skills:

Fairly DLC friendly setup that is usable on DSOD, in an homage to the IZHMA setups of old. The Judge is mainly used against Shields and Bulldozer faceplates, otherwise the IZHMA is your main killing weapon. Leech is fairly hard to get into, but once you’re in it, it’s a VERY powerful deck.

So while not the most original setup (Kknowley has already made an extremely powerful Leech build with VD12’s as the main weapon), it is still very powerful and fun to play with if you like killing things more than doing objectives.

Weapons:
Akimbo VD12 Shotguns (McShay Weapon Pack 2)

• 000 Buckshot Ammo. (Gage Shotgun Pack)
• Long Barrel Barrel (McShay Weapon Pack 2)
• Donald’s Horizontal Leveller Barrel Ext. (Gage Spec Ops)
• Any Boost mod EXCEPT Concealment (base game)
• Auto Fire Custom (Gage Weapon Pack #01)
• No Excl. Set mod
• Front Mounting Rail Foregrip (McShay Weapon Pack 2)
• LED Combo Gadget (Butcher Mod Pack)
• Rubber Grip Grip (Gage Weapon Pack #01)

The Judge Shotgun (base game, unlockable by following the PAYDAY 2 game page if i remember right)

• AP Slug Ammo. (Gage Shotgun Pack)
• Shh! Barrel Ext. (Butcher Mod Pack)
• Any Boost mod EXCEPT Concealment and -4 Accuracy (base game)
• Stealth Laser Module Gadget (McShay Mod Courier)
• Lower Rec. mod doesn’t matter, you can put it on if you want the weapon to look slightly different
• Either of the x6.25 Secondary Sights (base game, or Cartel Optics)
• Any +4 Stability, low-power Sight (base game, Armored Transport, Gage Mod Courier, Cartel Optics)

Skills:

Similar to the IZHMA set, the Judge is mainly used against Shields and Bulldozer faceplates, otherwise the VD12’s are your main killing weapon. Leech is fairly hard to get into, but once you’re in it, it’s a VERY powerful deck.

I’m immediately going to curse your eyes with the fact that:

• This set is incredibly stupid and might not work on DSOD
• This set has Berserker
• This set has the Repeater 1874 and not Bernetti Rangehitter

Weapons:
Repeater 1874 Sniper Rifle (Western Weapon Pack)

• Outlaw’s Silenced Barrel Barrel (Western Weapon Pack)
• Stability or Team Boost Boost (base game)
• No Scope mod

Compact 40mm Grenade Launcher (base game)

• Viper Grenade Grenade (McShay Weapon Pack, but I think you can also unlock this via an achievement?)
• Accuracy or Team Boost Boost (base game)
• LED Combo Gadget (Butcher Mod Pack)
• Basically any Sight mod (base game, Armored Transport, Gage Mod Courier, Cartel Optics, McShay Mod Pack, Jiu Feng Smuggler Pack 3)

Skills:

I originally made this as a meme set, but ended up liking it a lot when i actually played it on DW. R1874 is a bit slow in killing Bulldozers on higher difficulties, but it can 1-2 HS every other enemy and Special unit.

(For whatever reason, half of the store pages don’t embed as clickable buttons /shrug)
Here are, in order of appearance, all of the DLC’s used in every single build listed here:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2074230/PAYDAY_2_McShay_Weapon_Pack_2/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/311050/PAYDAY_2_Gage_Shotgun_Pack/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/267380/PAYDAY_2_Gage_Weapon_Pack_01/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/259381/PAYDAY_2_Gage_Mod_Courier/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1184412/PAYDAY_2_Cartel_Optics_Mod_Pack/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2218650/PAYDAY_2_McShay_Mod_Pack/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/264610/PAYDAY_2_Armored_Transport/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2353510/PAYDAY_2_McShay_Weapon_Pack_4/

So, i’m not entirely sure about this one, but i’m pretty sure this is included in the game by default, so you should already be good to go with this. Please correct me in the comments if this isn’t the case!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/548420/PAYDAY_2_Gage_Spec_Ops_Pack/

This is no longer available after Octobet 1st, 2020.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1619070/PAYDAY_2_Jiu_Feng_Smuggler_Pack_2/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1746580/PAYDAY_2_Jiu_Feng_Smuggler_Pack_3/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1945682/PAYDAY_2_McShay_Weapon_Pack/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/351890/PAYDAY_2_The_Butchers_AKCAR_Mod_Pack/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2200970/PAYDAY_2_McShay_Weapon_Pack_3/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/344140/PAYDAY_2_Dragan_Character_Pack/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/348090/PAYDAY_2_The_OVERKILL_Pack/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/612900/PAYDAY_2_Gage_Russian_Weapon_Pack/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/487210/PAYDAY_2_The_Biker_Heist/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/349830/PAYDAY_2_The_Butchers_Western_Pack/

First of all, thanks for checking out this giant thing of a list of a guide (or words to that effect)! I spent a couple of days looking at my builds and deciding what to put in here, but it happened, and it’s done.

Unlike the last guide i made, i wrote this one entirely by myself, using my 4300h of buildmaking experience to share what I’ve learned and made with you.

If you have any questions, please ask them either here in the comments, or message me directly with them (through my Discord server[discord.gg] or charizard_delta if you don’t want to join the server).

Once again, thank you for checking this out!
– Chari