Guns Blazing: An Overview of Payday 3's Weaponry

Payday 3 features a number of weapons to choose from and play around with. Read on to learn more about the available guns to get a better idea of what’s possible in the game.

Introduction

Payday 3 is a co-op-oriented first-person shooter and stealth game that gives players quite a lot of freedom when it comes to building their character. You can choose the weapons you’ll carry during the heist missions, you can choose your gadgets, and you can even customize active perks that will assist you during play.

To make the best use of available options and make the most efficient character build possible, you should familiarize yourself with the weapons that can be found in the game. Each weapon has its strengths and weaknesses – knowing the best use cases for each gun is essential to master the game, especially on higher difficulty levels.

Here’s an overview of Payday 3 weapons to help you get started with the game and your own builds.

Primary Weapons – Assault Rifles

CAR-4 (Unlocked by Default)

At the beginning of the game, you won’t have much choice in terms of available weapons. Until you level up your Infamy a bit, CAR-4 will be your trusty partner in crime, and the only option for a primary weapon. A surprisingly fun and powerful all-rounder for a starting gun; due to its ease of use and adaptability, you may want to stick to it even long after unlocking potentially superior alternatives.

NORTHWEST B-9 (Unlocked at 21)

A lightweight burst-fire assault rifle is exactly what you’ll need to get out of tricky situations. May be difficult to control in continuous fire scenarios due to its recoil, but a few precise bullets usually get the job done. Focus on firing short, deadly series to overcome the rifle’s weakness and you’ll quickly find B-9 to be an exceptional choice to quickly dispose of enemies at medium range.

KU-59 (Unlocked at 35)

KU-59 can be a deadly weapon in the hands of an experienced player. Highly precise, stable, and packs a punch – your enemies won’t even have time to realize what knocked them out. Can take some time to get used to its lower rate of fire, but once you master this rifle, you may find it difficult to switch to anything else.

VF-7S (Unlocked at 77)

At Infamy 77 you will finally unlock the crème de la crème of assault rifles – an elite weapon that resembles the famous SCAR. Whenever such a weapon makes an appearance in video games, it’s usually rated extremely high, and it’s exactly the same in Payday 3. The grind to get there will take a while, but it’s so well worth it.

Primary Weapons – SMGs

FIK PC9 (Unlocked at 18)

The first SMG in Payday 3 becomes available at Infamy 18, and frankly speaking, it’s a rather disappointing choice when you already have access to things like SA A144. It’s a fun weapon that can be effective at close to medium range – even more so once you add some attachments to it – but if you don’t have as much time to play as you’d like to and you must carefully choose what to unlock next, you would be better off focusing on something else.

ZIV COMMANDO (Unlocked at 29)

SMGs are in a tough spot in Payday 3 and players seem to favor heavier and harder-hitting weapons, especially considering the fact that you can only take one primary weapon with you. It can be a fun weapon to use for a change and some added diversity in gameplay, especially due to its extremely high fire rate, but shooting fast doesn’t mean much if you hit your enemies with a power equivalent to a mosquito bite.

SG COMPACT-7 (Unlocked at 65)

The peak of SMGs is reached at Infamy 65, and things don’t get particularly better here. The lowest damage in the game is somewhat compensated by higher stability and accuracy, but it still doesn’t feel right when you have to sacrifice a primary weapon slot for this. If you decide to go the SMG route, your role is somewhat akin to a close-quarter-combat brawler and medium-range support, so avoid open spaces if possible and stay close to your team.

Primary Weapons – Marksman Rifles

SA A144 (Unlocked at 15)

At Infamy 15 you will unlock potentially the best weapon in the game. This semi-automatic beauty combines extraordinary damage output with high precision to deliver the most enjoyable experience. If you’re looking for a good, long-term investment, SA A144 will allow you to achieve things you wouldn’t have thought are possible. Definitely a must-try for the loud approach.

REINFELD 900S (Unlocked at 53)

At Infamy 53 you will unlock something that appears to be an upgrade in the marksman rifle line, but is it really? Not necessarily, as it’s a bolt action rifle, as opposed to the semi-auto construction of SA A144, which means a completely different gameplay. It’s a very potent weapon at long distances, so it could be an excellent choice for those who want to try their hand at playing the role of a sniper.

Primary Weapons – Shotguns

REINFELD 880 (Unlocked at 2)

If you’re not a fan of assault rifles, there’s good news: it will take only a short while before you’ll be able to switch to your very first shotgun. Although it’s not the most effective weapon there is, it can still be extremely satisfying to use – you can almost feel the impact of every shot, and that itself can be enough of a reason to invest heavily in it. Just look out for enemy Bulldozer forces: Reinfeld 880 struggles against heavily armored units, so you better call some backup.

MOSCONI 12 CLASSIC (Unlocked at 43)

Although this shotgun is unlocked much later in the game, it shouldn’t be considered a direct upgrade from Reinfeld 880. Instead, treat it as an alternative that offers a different gameplay experience. As opposed to a pump action Reinfeld, here you have a double-barreled weapon that can be much more deadly but requires more precision. Hit your target and it’s as good as dead. Miss your target, and you may not have enough time to get a second chance.

Secondary Weapons – Pistols

SIGNATURE 40 (Unlocked by Default)

Now onto the secondary weapons – your first pistol in the game is Signature 40. The next secondary option unlocks at Infamy 10 and after that, you’ll need to get to 25. This means you’ll have to learn to use your Siggy and grow to like it, at least until you get to the later stage of the game. Thankfully, Signature 40 is a solid sidearm that will serve you well for time to come – it’s a universal weapon that can forgive many mistakes.

STRYK 7 (Unlocked at 25)

At Infamy 25 you’ll get what seems like an upgrade to your initial pistol, but the truth is that it plays completely different. It has a high rate of fire, so you could treat it as a younger cousin of SMG, but as a drawback, it comes with lower base damage when compared to Sig 40. As long as you feel confident with your aiming skills and you can accurately pack the entire magazine into your enemy’s body, it can be a worthy option to consider.

SP MODEL 11 (Unlocked at 38)

SP Model 11 is one of the weapons you should definitely give a try. It’s often considered one of the best – if not the best – secondary weapons in Payday 3, and not without a reason. Sure, it has a low rate of fire, but if you can hit your target, it will undoubtedly feel the kinetic power of the released bullet. And, as opposed to the revolvers, if you make a mistake, you will probably still have a second or two to fix it.

SIGNATURE 403 (Unlocked at 59)

At the top of the pistol tree awaits you Signature 403. At this point, you would expect a specialized weapon that would excel in particular scenarios, but instead, you get a highly versatile pistol suitable to deal with most kinds of threats. Even though it’s a solid choice, you know what they say about being a jack of all trades.

Secondary Weapons – Revolvers

J&M CASTIGO 44 (Unlocked at 10)

At Infamy 10 you’ll get an option to use your first revolver in the game. This beast can swallow your enemies whole; one bullet and they’re gone. However, with great power comes great responsibility. As for all weapons that are slow but deadly, you will have to be a master at aiming to ensure the bullets can find their targets. Value each shot and don’t engage with too many opponents at once or you’re done.

SFORZA BISON (Unlocked at 70)

A more newbie-friendly revolver alternative becomes available only after reaching Infamy 70 – you can treat it as a reward for your patience, persistence, and the will to improve in Payday 3. Although there are potentially better candidates for the secondary weapon slot, the power offered by Sforza Bison is nothing short of spectacular.

Overkill Weapons

MARCOM MAMBA MGL (Unlocked by Default)

Apart from the primary and secondary weapon slots, there is also the third one for what’s known as overkill weapons – extremely powerful additions that have very limited use but can turn a seemingly failed heist run into success. The choice here is rather limited and at the beginning, you can only pick a grenade launcher. Six chambers are more than enough to send an entire squad of cops flying, so make good use of it.

HET-5 RED FOX (Unlocked at 40)

After you reach Infamy 40, you’ll be able to switch your grenade launcher to a powerful anti-materiel sniper rifle. With its use, you’ll be able to take out enemy armored targets like they’re nothing, no matter the distance. If used smartly, the Red Fox can give your team the upper hand when things go downhill. Use it sparingly and save the bullets for the most threatening enemies.

Conclusion

Payday 3 comes with a variety of weapons for players to choose from. Finding a perfect combination of guns that will complement one’s preferred playstyle is crucial to have fun in the long run, so it’s important to know what are the options and what’s the use case for each weapon. Once you learn the differences that make each weapon unique, you’ll be able to redirect your game progression toward unlocking elements that will benefit you the most. Don’t be afraid of experimenting – play around with guns you unlock along the way and you’ll find your favorite weapons soon enough.