Best Assault Build in Payday 3

It goes without saying that, as far as devising a slick operation as a fledgling burglar goes, not every item on the itinerary will go according to plan. Fact is, though, you’ve got a higher chance of making way with the loot as an aspiring combatant than a high-level tactician — especially in a game like Payday 3. And it’s because of this that, like most games that offer an extensive range of options and play styles, you’re far better off opting for an Assault build right from the get-go.

So, how exactly do you go about obtaining that perfect  Assault build in Payday 3? Well, if you have just booted up the latest co-op shooter, and have yet to knuckle in on that ultimate loadout that’ll satisfy your bloodlust, then be sure to read on for a few quick pointers. Here’s everything you need to know about finding and unlocking the Holy Grail of Assault weapons and accessories.

Best Weapons & Items

By now, you’ve probably already decided that the best route forward in Payday 3 is to take the direct approach. Not that this is a bad choice of route, mind you, as more often than not, you’ll find that the vast majority of the game’s heists are actually won through brute force and dumb luck alone. And it’s because of this that, as far as primary and secondary weapons go, you’re far better off going with an arsenal that has more bite than bark, so to speak.

To get ahold of that perfect Assault build, you’re ideally going to want to purchase the following primary and secondary weapons for your active loadout:

• KU-59 (Assault Rifle)
• SP Model 11 (Pistol)

In addition to the core weapons mentioned above, you’ll also want to consider both Frag Grenades and an Ammunition Bag, the latter of which will keep you stocked up on all ammo types for the duration of your assault. Safe to say that, as far as tactics go, you’ll want to stick to your guns — literally. For this reason alone, you’ll want to prioritize having a wealth of bullets over anything else in the locker.

Once you’ve brought your character up to speed and caught up to Level 10, you’ll want to get your hands on some Infrasonic Mines—a throwable item that essentially stuns enemies for a brief period of time. Combined with the KU-59 and SP Model 11, you’ll have one of the best aggressive builds in Payday 3, and not to mention a winning recipe for tackling even the toughest heists in the entire campaign.

Best Assault Skills

It’s all well and good having a lofty arsenal with an infinite amount of ammunition to boot, but without a series of appropriate offensive skills to flesh out your locker, you’re pretty much dead in the water. To prevent this, you’ll want to start investing in one or two skills just as soon as you’re able to afford them.

Granted, there are more than enough skills in Payday 3 to give you an advantage in combat. That said, if you can set aside enough points to unlock the following five skills, then you’ll be on to an absolute winner.

• Ammo Specialist (Ammo Specialist)
• Suppressive Fire (Mower)
• Enforcer (Enforcer)
• Coup de Grâce (Tactician)
• Strategist (Strategist)

To expand on the above, you’ll want to work towards boosting your overall Grit and Edge—two buffs that’ll boost your damage, and also significantly reduce the amount of damage you onboard in return. To max out on these buffs, you’ll need to start unlocking skills that relate to the Mower, Enforcer, Tactician, and Sharpshooter skill types. If you have the space to spare, then it’s also worth putting the likes of the Gunslinger skill tree into the spotlight, too.

Assault or Stealth?

Try as you might, but at the end of the day, you will come to realize that most, if not all matches in Payday 3 involve more combat than opportunities to flex your stealthy muscles. And while it is important to refrain from onboarding too much attention, the truth is, open conflict is almost always in the cards. So, to answer the above question: yes, an Assault build is far better than a Stealth build.

It is worth pointing out at this moment in time that you’ll also need a good suit of armor to tackle the tougher enemies in each heist. Annoyingly, the bullet sponges have a habit of appearing only when you opt for the direct approach — so it’s always worth investing in a quality set of armor before tackling the big guns.

Assault Tips

As you’ll be taking an Ammunition Bag with you on your travels, there’s a strong chance that you’ll be without a few other items to keep you on your toes, such as health packs. Not to fret, though, as you can actually capture and trade hostages for health items and other useful tools. Ideally, you’ll want to divide your team into two groups, with the first focusing on eliminating troops around the map, and the second targeting hostages in exchange for additional cargo and health drops.

In addition to the above tip, you’ll also want to consider joining a team that’s equally as like-minded as you. In other words, you’ll want to find a team that’s all for the guns blazing approach, and not, for example, an stealthy one. It’s also worth liaising with your squad before setting out to take on the vault — even if it means plotting certain escape points or other locations to store ammunition or supplies.

Well, there you have it: find a team that’s all for blowing the front doors down, and take hostages for additional supplies and gear to help you along your route to the vault. Simple? That’s for you to decide, fledgling bank robbers.

So, what’s your take? Have you found the perfect Assault build in Payday 3 yet? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.