Payday 2 is the definitive cooperative heist FPS where 4 players plan and execute robberies ranging from bank vaults to art gallery heists. The game offers two distinct approaches to every heist. Stealth (ghost through security, avoid cameras, silently bag loot) and loud (fight waves of police while completing objectives). The perk deck and skill tree systems create specialized builds for each approach. With over 80 heists and hundreds of weapons, Payday 2 has more content than most entire franchises. The game's community remains strong with regular events and the endgame difficulty levels (Death Sentence One Down) providing challenges for even veteran players.
Your choice of weapons defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Weapons Rankings
| Weapon | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Raven Shotgun | Enforcer, Ghost (stealth) | A pump-action shotgun with excellent damage per shot and good concealment. |
| Car-4 Rifle | All builds | The most customizable assault rifle with the best mod selection. |
| Thanatos Sniper | Sniper builds, Bulldozer killing | A . |
| Akimbo Pistols | Fugitive | Dual-wielded pistols providing high fire rate and decent damage. |
| Minigun | Fun/Enforcer (situational) | A high-fire-rate weapon that suppresses entire corridors. |
S-Tier: Raven Shotgun
A pump-action shotgun with excellent damage per shot and good concealment. Modded with a silent barrel, it works for stealth. Modded for damage, it one-shots most enemies on Overkill difficulty. The most versatile weapon in the game.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Best For | Enforcer, Ghost (stealth) |
| Key Mechanic | stealth heists |
| Recommended Role | Mastermind |
See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Raven Shotgun: Pairs naturally with Mastermind thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Car-4 Rifle
The most customizable assault rifle with the best mod selection. Can be built for maximum concealment (stealth) or maximum damage (loud). The Car-4 is the default recommendation because it does everything well with the right mods.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Best For | All builds |
| Key Mechanic | loud combat |
| Recommended Role | Enforcer |
Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Car-4 Rifle: Pairs naturally with Enforcer thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Thanatos Sniper
A .50 caliber sniper rifle that one-shots every enemy type including Bulldozers on most difficulties. The extreme damage comes at the cost of low magazine size (5 rounds), slow fire rate, and zero concealment. A specialist weapon for specific situations.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Best For | Sniper builds, Bulldozer killing |
| Key Mechanic | perk deck system |
| Recommended Role | Technician |
Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Thanatos Sniper: Pairs naturally with Technician thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Akimbo Pistols
Dual-wielded pistols providing high fire rate and decent damage. The Akimbo skill tree in Fugitive boosts their effectiveness. Bernetti akimbo with the right skills can reach critical hit breakpoints. Fun and effective on most difficulties.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Best For | Fugitive |
| Key Mechanic | weapon modding |
| Recommended Role | Ghost |
Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Akimbo Pistols: Pairs naturally with Ghost thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Minigun
A high-fire-rate weapon that suppresses entire corridors. Enormous ammo pool (750 rounds) but terrible accuracy beyond close range. The Minigun is less effective than targeted weapons but incredibly fun and viable on lower difficulties.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Best For | Fun/Enforcer (situational) |
| Key Mechanic | skill tree builds |
| Recommended Role | Fugitive |
Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Minigun: Pairs naturally with Fugitive thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Weapons Progression Path
The order you should acquire weapons as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Bank Heist
- Car-4 Rifle → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Thanatos Sniper → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Raven Shotgun → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Weapons Tips
- Always upgrade your primary weapon before diversifying.
- Match your weapons to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Inspire Aced is the most important skill in the game for loud heists. Shouting at a downed teammate from 10 meters away to revive them saves runs constantly. Every loud build should have it.
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
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