Ah, PAYDAY 2. This game turns bank robbery into a routine event. Cops serve more as an enthusiastic crowd than a threat. If you’re venturing into this chaotic mix of money, bullets, and clown masks, you’re in the right spot. Let’s explore the best tips for survival and prosperity in PAYDAY.
Cloakers: The Bane of Every Wannabe Heister
Now, let’s discuss the Cloaker. This enemy stands as the ultimate nightmare in PAYDAY 2. They are parkour experts minus any calm. Imagine a SWAT team tossing tasers away for pure, unhinged kicks. That is your Cloaker.
What Exactly Do Cloakers Do?
Cloakers are special units. You’ll know them by their eerie bone masks. Forget ranged weapons; they rely on melee attacks. Their main tool? A knife, along with a surprise flying knee to your face. They play ninja, albeit in heavy gear while yelling a lot. Expect them to accompany standard Infantry units from wave 1 through wave 10.
Here’s where they make it personal. If a Cloaker ambushes you, it gets intense fast. They latch onto your head like an overzealous parasite. Suddenly, your sight dims. Breathing becomes tough with a maniac on your skull. You transition into a confused, defenseless target. While up close, they stab you with their knife. Their position ensures those hits land easily. This is not combat; it’s an execution.
How to Turn the Tables on a Cloaker
How do you counter these masked foes? Your best tool is awareness. Cloakers may imagine they’re stealthy, but they’re not.
- Listen Up: Cloakers have a signature sound. That garbled radio chatter you hear? It’s a sign. That noise signals their approach and gets louder as they near you. If you hear static, it’s time to get cautious.
- Keep Your Eyes Peeled: These foes love to hide. They could be behind doors or in ventilation shafts. Any dark corner might serve as a perfect ambush place. Being vigilant about your surroundings is vital. Treat every shadowy entry as a possible Cloaker trap.
- Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: This isn’t meant for solo play unless you possess exceptional skills. Stick with your crew. Someone monitoring your back can lead to successful heists. Notify your teammates about Cloaker sightings; a quick warning can save lives.
- Bring the Right Tools: Opt for shotguns. A good blast can send Cloakers packing (hopefully for good). Anything with solid stopping power is useful. Imagine pest control, but for armored enemies.
- Don’t Panic (Too Much): Easier said than done when a Cloaker charges you. Keep calm. See one coming? Try to dodge and reload before they close in. Frantic shooting wastes ammo and makes you an easy target.
When Do These Guys Show Up?
Cloakers aren’t freebies; they appear on higher difficulty settings. You’ll notice them on Very Hard and Overkill levels. Thus, if you excel at Normal difficulty, brace for a shock when you ramp up difficulty. They serve to penalize carelessness and maintain pressure.
The Mystery of the Cloaker Sound
Ever question that unique Cloaker sound? It serves more than chills. As mentioned, it stems from disrupted radio chatter. Their encrypted signals leak into your comms equipment. The nearer they approach, the louder the reception grows. This mechanic enhances both atmosphere and strategy for alert players.
Cloaker SAN: A Mask Worth Earning (and a Bit of Grind)
Do you want to flaunt your skill against Cloakers? Unlock the “Cloaker-san” mask and the “Rusty” material along with the “Rebel” pattern. How do you secure this sought-after prize? Finish the “Murky Station” job in under 7 minutes. Yes, just 7 minutes! Sounds tough? It can be, but it’s doable in multiplayer. Grab both bomb parts and escape. Difficulty does not affect this achievement; you may complete it on Normal. Prioritize speed and efficiency over raw power for this badge of honor.
Breaking the Fourth Wall: Cloakers Get Meta
Fun fact: the Cloaker is the sole PAYDAY 2 enemy who occasionally breaks the fourth wall. You might hear them speak directly to you, not your character. It’s a quirky nuance that deepens their unsettling persona. They seem aware they’re part of a game and enjoy messing with you.
PAYDAY 2 Gameplay: Deeper Dive
Beyond just surviving Cloakers, PAYDAY 2 offers layered gameplay mechanics to master. Let’s unveil some key aspects.
Downs: How Many Chances Do You Get?
In PAYDAY 2, getting downed doesn’t guarantee failure, but it is a setback. You possess a limited number of “downs” before entering custody. The number varies by difficulty and skills but expect a few opportunities to revive with teammate assistance. Each fall weakens your resistance; multiple quick downs land you in jail no questions asked. Play wisely and take cover; don’t turn falling into a routine.
Difficulty Levels: Choose Your Level of Chaos
PAYDAY 2 presents various difficulty levels, ranging from chill Normal to chaotic Death Sentence. Each setting amplifies enemy count, damage, accuracy, and introduces new foes (like Cloakers). Higher levels demand stricter objectives with fewer resources. Newcomers should start with Normal or Hard to learn the basics. Feeling bold? Consider Overkill or Mayhem. Ready for real stress? Death Wish or Death Sentence awaits. Just remember: higher difficulty leads to greater rewards… and noise.
Perk Decks: Customize Your Heisting Style
Perk Decks function like character classes, providing passive bonuses to alter your playstyle. Let’s glance at a few notable ones:
- Stoic: The Stoic serves as the tank class. It emphasizes damage reduction and withstanding hits. The “Stoic’s Hip Flask” activates to reduce incoming damage dramatically, converting some into dollops over time. Managing delayed damage is essential to stay engaged.
- Leech: If you thrive on risks (and recovering from them), Leech suits you. It elevates your base health significantly, making you tougher. Its healing mechanic impresses; dealing damage regains health. The bolder you are, the better you heal. It encourages aggressive strategies.
- Burglar: Stealth-loving players will find Burglar appealing. This deck transforms you into a ghost.
- Burglar speeds up every stealth action – body bagging, lockpicking, loot movement, and more. Ghost through heists undetected. Keep in mind, it’s tied to Clover Character Pack. You’ll need the DLC to access it.
- Sociopath: This deck suits a direct approach. It focuses on close combat, generating health and armor through aggression. Killing nearby enemies triggers buffs, restoring health and increasing damage resistance. Get close and thrive in chaos. It links to the Jacket Character Pack and needs Hotline Miami 2 Digital Special Edition on Steam.
Infamy: Prestige with a Twist
Hit level 100 and think you have completed everything? Think again. Infamy is PAYDAY 2’s prestige system. Reset your level back to 1 and gain an Infamy level shown next to your in-game level. There are five hundred Infamy levels to grind through. Why bother? Infamy gives skill bonuses and cosmetic rewards to customize your heister. Show off your dedication or addiction. Keep progressing long after maxing out your level with heisting life.
Anti-Cheat: The Honor System (Mostly)
Honestly, anti-cheat in PAYDAY 2 is minimal. The game relies on player-hosted lobbies and a soft stance on modifications. A mod called “PD-AntiCheat” detects some blatant cheats, but in-game detection is basic. The main anti-cheat is an auto-kick feature in lobbies. If a host suspects cheating, they can boot you out. PAYDAY 2 largely runs under the honor system. Cheating is not sanctioned or policed heavily. Play fair, or at least don’t get caught.
Cheating: The Unspoken Rules
Piggybacking on anti-cheat, PAYDAY 2 does not ban players for cheating. Wild, right? The only real consequence is getting kicked from lobbies by hosts unhappy with your enhanced gameplay. This leniency creates a gray area in the community. Some players oppose cheating, while others see it as fun in non-competitive PvE. Be aware of the unusual approach to cheat enforcement.
Enemies and Handling Them (Beyond Cloakers)
PAYDAY 2 throws a colorful array of enemies at you, each with quirks and weaknesses. Let’s talk about one heavy hitter:
Bulldozers: Armored Walls of Fury
Bulldozers serve as the tanks in PAYDAY 2. Heavily armored, wielding powerful shotguns, they are unpleasant to deal with. Slow but relentless, they absorb massive amounts of damage. When do these armored walls show up? You’ll find them on Overkill difficulty and more frequently on higher difficulties. On Death Sentence, expect three Bulldozers in regular spawns; scripted spawns can throw even more at you. They pose a significant threat, forcing teamwork and focus fire to defeat them. Ignoring a Dozer can lead to disaster, unless you enjoy being shot up.
Handling Bulldozers? Aim for the faceplate, their weak point. High-damage weapons like sniper rifles and grenade launchers are effective. Stun grenades or flashbangs provide precious seconds to attack. Teamwork is key. Soloing a Dozer is risky. Coordinate with your team, aim for weak spots, and bring them down before they do.
General PAYDAY 2 Tidbits
Let’s conclude with general information that may help your heisting journey.
100% Completion: Are You a Completionist?
Want to explore all PAYDAY 2 offers? Buckle up. Aim for 100% completion? Prepare for around 533 hours of playtime. This is not a typo. PAYDAY 2 offers lots of content, achievements, and challenges. It’s a completionist’s dream… or nightmare. Dedicate hours to robbing virtual banks.
Crashing Issues: Troubleshooting Tips
PAYDAY 2 can crash occasionally due to various reasons. Common culprits are mods, outdated drivers, and Steam overlay issues (try turning it off). If crashes occur, try these steps:
- Disable Mods: Start by disabling all mods. If crashing stops, re-enable them one at a time to find the culprit.
- Disable Steam Overlay: Right-click PAYDAY 2 in your Steam library, select Properties, and uncheck “Enable Steam Overlay while in-game.”
- Update Drivers: Ensure graphics drivers are up to date from Nvidia, AMD, or Intel websites.
- Verify Game Files: Right-click PAYDAY 2, select Properties, then Local Files, and click “Verify integrity of game files.” This checks for any corrupted files.
Hopefully, one of these will resolve your crashes.
Swearing: A Touch of Realism
Does PAYDAY 2 feature swearing? Yes. Characters, including playable heisters and some enemies, use strong language occasionally. It adds gritty realism during chaotic heists. It’s not excessive but present. If you’re sensitive to swearing, be aware of this fact.
Replayability: Heist Again, Heist Harder
PAYDAY 2 shines in its replayability. Replay story missions as often as desired, even after completion. This helps grind experience, test strategies, complete challenges, or enjoy favorite heists again. Randomized elements in heists ensure no two runs are alike. No need to worry about running out of activities – PAYDAY 2 invites you back for more heists time and again.
There you have it: an overview of key aspects in PAYDAY 2, from Cloakers to Perk Decks intricacies and more. Now get going, mask up, and make payday history. Try not to get dropkicked too often.
