Best Weapons in Payday 3

Contrary to popular belief, there’s far more to robbing a bank than just looking the part. Safe to say that the most successful thieves are those who bring a gun to a knife fight, and not, for example, a water balloon to a bullet storm. Knowing this, and how success often comes from being in possession of a sturdy arsenal, will definitely raise your chances of surviving the toughest of heists that Payday 3 has to offer.

So, which of the many weapons are actually worth forking over a bit of dough for? Well, if you’ve just started out, and are looking to spend that first paycheck on a loadout that’ll boost your odds of making it through the finite number of rounds, then be sure to read on. Here are the best loadouts in Payday 3.

SP Model 11

While you could argue that the Signature 40 starter pistol is a worthy sidearm in its own right, there’s a good chance that it won’t be able to assist you during tougher takeovers or escapes. Sure, it packs a punch — but is often reliant on the player’s ability to pull off a clean headshot over anything else. A quality alternative that you might want to consider is the SP Model 40, a high-level pistol that can deal thrice as much damage on impact, and even handle stealthy situations equally as well, too.

It goes without saying that, if you’re going to throw caution to the wind and go in all guns blazing, then you’re going to want a sidearm that’ll serve you well in both tactical and offensive combat situations. For this reason alone, you’re far better off with the SP Model 11 over the Signature 40.

KU-59

Essentially an AK, and with all the assault-centric bells and whistles to boot. Sure it’s a little rowdy, and not to mention a bit of a dead giveaway that you’re up to no good, but boy, if you’re all for the loud approach — then you needn’t look any further than the KU-59. As far as primary weapons go, it’s an absolute beast of a tool, and arguably one of the greatest of the assault rifle range. And that’s putting it lightly.

Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of worthy candidates in the assault rifle range, but the KU-59 just hits a little different. It’s rapid, hard-hitting, and an absolute monster when fired from the hip. Forget stealth when it comes to this adding this one to your inventory, because honestly, you’re not going to need it.

Porch King

Again, if you have next to no interest in taking the stealthy route towards the vault, then you might as well go the whole hog, so to speak, and bolt on the Porch King to your inventory. As a pump action weapon with minimal recoil and a graceful amount of ammunition, it certainly makes for one of the best and most powerful primary weapons in all of Payday 3.

Sure enough, it all boils down to a matter of preference in most cases. And while a quality assault rifle will likely have a similar effect during most battles, a shotgun will definitely clean house a lot quicker in enclosed spaces. So, if you’ve got yourself a team that’s well equipped for taking on open conflict, then perhaps consider a shotgun for mopping up the tighter spots in and around the vault.

SA A144

While it isn’t exactly mandatory, having a trained marksman in a team will definitely boost your chances of bagging the score and making way with the loot. If you happen to fit the bill, and even consider yourself a top-shelf marksman who’s able to amass multiple headshots, then your best bet would be to claim the SA A144.

Of course, something as hefty as an SA A144 won’t be of any use in sticky situations with countless targets, but for tactical approaches and areas with a good amount of camping spots, it’s an absolute necessity. So, if you’re something of an elite sniper with a history of being bang on the money when it comes to quick kills, then you’ll definitely want to pick this one up.

Frag Grenades

While it’s no secret that Payday 3 has a limited amount of throwable items in its locker, it does offer one of the most effective weapons that nearly everyone has the ability to use — and that’s a Frag Grenade. Safe to say that Frag Grenades have the potential to blow an entire room of enemies to smithereens, and quite possibly eliminate an entire wave of troops in one fell swoop if aimed correctly.

Of course, you’ll only want to make use of your Frag Grenades in dire circumstances, such as the final battle against the enemy soldiers and other specialist units. If you can help it, aim to save these valuable tools until the very end of each match, as they’ll pull you out of sticky situations and give you a clear path forward.

Marcom Mamba MGL

When it comes to Overkill Weapons in Payday 3, you only have the two options: Marcom Mamba MGL, and the HET-5 Red Fox. The former, which is a hard-hitting grenade launcher with six volatile rounds, is an obvious choice for most, as it can single-handedly clean house with just a single magazine, whereas the Red Fox sniper can only be used in certain long-range combat scenarios. A matter of preference, for sure — but you can’t really go wrong with a grenade launcher at the end of the day.

For the perfect loadout, you should aim to form a well-balanced deck, which should include an assault weapon, pistol, and throwable. In other words, try not to put a sniper as your primary weapon with yet another sniper as your Overkill Weapon. In most cases, you’ll find that a diverse array of weapons and skills will give your team the greater advantage.

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