In today's article we answer the oh-so-important question, What are the strongest and weakest Perk Decks in Payday 2? After days of researching the Payday Wiki, This Tier List is based on survivability and overall Perk Deck effectiveness on all the difficulties Payday 2 has to offer,, ranked strongest to weakest.
S Tier : These Perk Decks are the Best of the Best. No matter what difficulty or cops that stand between you and your goal, these Decks will be the reason you lived long enough to get inside the escape van.
Hacker: 1/21
Leech: 2/21
Stoic:3/21
Anarchist:4/21
Kingpin:5/21
A Tier: Reliable and still powerful but simpler Perk Decks. If you’re new to the game, these Perk Decks offer powerful and consistent buffs without much learning.
Sicario: 6/21
Armorer :7/21
Rogue:8/21
Sociopath:9/21
B Tier: Although these Perk Decks fill in specific niches, they’re not all that powerful perk decks. Great for learning the game but not very great when trying to do the higher difficulties Payday 2 offers.
Crew Chief:10/21
Ex President:11/21
Grinder:12/21
Burglar:13/21
Crook:14/21
C Tier : These Perk Decks are gimmicky, not that reliable and underpowered. If you want to change up your playstyle or want a perspective on how powerful your character really is, these perks can be eye opening.
Maniac:15/21
Infiltrator:16/21
Gambler: 17/21
Hitman:18/21
D Tier :These Perk Decks are bottom of the barrel. I am sure they had good intentions when making these but even in their niches they get outclassed by other Perk Decks or they just straight up fail, if you ever thought the “Very Hard” difficulty was hard, you probably had one of these Decks equipped or was blindfolded.
Biker: 19/21
Tag Team: 20/21
Yakuza: 21/21
Hacker (S Tier 1/22)
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The Hacker Perk Deck is a highly versatile and useful perk deck for both Loud and Stealth on Death Sentence.
The Hacker skill tree unlocks the ECM Jammer, a very useful Stealth tool and a powerful, run-saving deployable on Loud. During stealth, the ECM Jammer is able to disable cameras and cellphones throughout its duration, as well as delaying pagers when the perk tree is maxed out. The ECM Jammer can also open ATM’s silently and any doors that need a keycard. The ECM Jammer is also an incredibly powerful deployable on Loud, when interacted with all enemies in its radius will be stunned for the next 6 seconds (The only exception being the Bulldozer and Cloaker). Afterwards, it cannot be picked up but will be usable again every 4 mins.
Why Hacker is S-Tier
- disable cameras and cellphones
- delays pagers
- Open ATM’s silently
- Open’s doors that need a keycard
- Reusable 6 second stun
- Special’s will take off their helmets during ECM Feedback (Except Bulldozers and Cloakers
2. (S Tier 2/22) Leech
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The Leech Perk Deck is great on Death Sentence Loud runs because of its constant rewards for applying pressure with its ability to heal the user and their teammates.
The Leech Perk Deck unlocks and automatically equips the Leech Ampule for your throwable slot. When activated, the Leech Ampule will immediately heal you of 40% of your health. Then for the next 6 seconds (10 seconds when perk tree is maxed out), the Leech Ampule disables your armor and splits your health into 5 parts (10 when the perk tree is maxed out). Any and all damage will take away 1 part of your health (blocks all damage for a second after taking damage) but every 2 kills you will gain 1 part back. When all your health is gone while Leech Ampule is activated, you will become very slow and enter a state similar to the skill Swan Song. All damage taken during its duration will heal teammates for 5% of damage taken (10% when perk tree is maxed out). As a little cherry on top, the leech ampule can ALSO be used as a self revive when downed.
Why Leech is S Tier:
- heals teammates 5% of damage taken (10% when Perk Tree is maxed out)
- Incredibly powerful on Death Wish
- rewards constant pressure with health and invulnerability for yourself and teammates
- Self Revive ability
- 1 second of invulnerability after damage is taken
- Immediately heal 40% of health after activation
3.Stoic (S Tier 3/22)
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The Stoic Perk Deck is very effective and reliable on the higher difficulties. This perk deck makes use of your health bar as a timer, constantly dwindling and rising in a fun and stressful playstyle.
The Stoic Perk Deck unlocks and equips the Stoic’s Hip Flask in the “throwable weapons” section. When the perk deck is equipped, you will only receive 25% of all damage upfront whilst the remaining 75% becomes Damage-Over-Time over a 12 second duration, drinking the flask (using your throwable ability) will cancel out all the damage over time. After use, the Stoic’s Hip Flask is on a 10 second cool down that goes down per second per kill (2 seconds when under 35% health and Perk Deck is maxed out). After the perk deck is maxed out, drinking from the flask will convert 50% of the remaining Damage-Over-Time into health upon activation.
Why Stoic is S-Tier
- Unlocks and equips the Stoic’s Hip Flask
- Take 25% of all damage upfront whilst the remaining 75% becomes Damage-Over-Time over a 12 second duration
- 10 second cool down, goes down per second per kill (2 seconds when under 35% health and Perk Deck is maxed out)
- When Perk Deck is maxed out, flask will convert 50% of the remaining Damage-Over-Time into health upon activation
- Fun playstyle that is dependant on the players skill and timing
4.Anarchist (S Tier 4/22)
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When the Anarchist Perk Deck is equipped, instead of regenerating armor all at once, it regenerates in portions. This seemingly simple change can allow you to become invincible if you watch your timers correctly.
The Anarchist perk deck takes advantage of a mechanic in Payday 2 called Armor-Gating. In Payday 2, even if you have 1 point of armor left on your character any damage taken will not passover to your health (unless shot by a sniper). When the Anarchist Perk Deck is equipped you regenerate armor in small, uninterrupted, increments. When the perk deck is maxed out you gain the ability to gain 10 armor when dealing damage every 1.5 seconds. Along with the Armor-Gating mechanic, the perk deck also comes with 2 seconds of invulnerability whenever your armor breaks(15 second cooldown). This Perk Deck becomes even more powerful with the skill Bullseye, for a total of three separate timers that constantly regenerate your armor or in other words, three separate timers that make you nearly invincible.
Why Anarchist is S-Tier
- converts half of health into 120% armor
- Armor Regen every 2 seconds
- 2 Seconds on Invulnerability when armor breaks(on a 12 seconds cooldown)
- regen armor in slow and consistent increments (amount varies on what armor you have equipped)
- dealing damage Gains 10 armor every 1.5 secs
- Great in tandem with the skill Bullseye
- Abuses the Armor-Gating mechanic
5. Kingpin (S Tier 5/22)
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The Kingpin Perk Deck makes use of the Injector, when activated you forcefully gain the attention of all the cops in the area and heal from all the damage taken. Unfortunately, the Kingpin Perk Deck is no longer available for sale on the Steam Store due to licensing issues.
This Perk Deck unlocks and equips the Kingpin Injector in the throwable slot. When activated, the Injector will convert every 4 points of damage done to the player into 3 health (4 health when under 50%) as well as gain aggro (enemy priority) to distract all the cops from your teammates. The injector has a 30 second cooldown that starts immediately from its activation, every 5 health healed will drop the cooldown by 1 second (when the perk is fully upgraded). The Kingpin Perk Deck works wonderfully in tandem with the Bullseye skill to continuously gain armor from headshot you hit.
Why Kingpin is S-Tier:
- gain total of 440 health
- when injector is active you gain Aggro (priority)
- when active you heal for all damage you're taking (When above half health heal for 75%, when under half health heal for 100% of damage taken)
- when armor is up heal for all damage you take,
- injector has 30 second cooldown every 5 health you heal the cooldown goes down by 1
- Bullseye skill recommended for this Perk Deck build
6. Sicario (A Tier 6/22)
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The Sicario Perk Deck unlocks and equips the run-saving Smoke Bomb in the throwable weapons slot. The Smoke Bomb is the perfect support item, saving yourself and friends from damage wherever thrown.
The Sicario Perk Deck unlocks and equips the Smoke Bomb in the throwable weapons slot. The Smoke Bomb has infinite uses but a cooldown of 60 seconds (starts immediately after activation) and will drop by a second per kill. When active, standing inside the smoke will dodge 50% of all bullets, when enemies are inside the smoke they lose 50% accuracy. The Sicario also has 35% dodge (when Perk Deck is maxed out). After dodging, your armor will replenish but you’ll lose the 35% dodge chance for the next 4 seconds. The Smoke Bomb is extremely effective and useful on objective based Heist’s where you have to stay in one area for minutes at a time.
Why Sicario is A-Tier
- Smoke Bomb has infinite uses
- 60 second cooldown (1 second drop per kill, starts immediately after activation)
- Dodge 50% of all bullets when inside
- Enemies lose 50% accuracy when inside
- Gain 35% dodge
- Replenish Armor after dodging every 4 seconds.
7. Armorer (A Tier 7/22)
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The armorer deck focuses on raising the amount of armor you have as well as its recovery time. A very simple but effective Perk Deck. Paired best with the Improved Combined Tactical Vest.
The Armorer Perk Deck is a very straightforward and simple one. When the Perk Tree is maxed out you gain a total of 35% armor and 2 seconds of invulnerability when it's broken. Since this Perk Deck is percentage based it works amazingly with the Skill, Iron Man. When Iron Man is aced, you unlock the best Armor in the game, The Improved Combined Tactical Vest.
- Why Armorer is A-Tier
- Increases Armor by 35%
- 2 Seconds of invul\nerability when armor is broken,
- reduces armor recovery time for yourself and team by 10%
- Is most effective with the Improved Combined Tactical Vest
- Very simple and easy to use Perk Deck that doesn't need much learning or adjusting.
8. Ex President(A Tier 8/22)
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The Ex-President Perk Deck allows you to heal for murdering cops, only gaining health after your armor is broken.
The Ex President Perk Deck is a really fun and simple Perk Deck that doesn’t require much thought. Simply kill enemies and a bar next to your health will rise, after losing armor that bar will deplete into your health. Your teammates' kills also contribute to the Ex-President’s bar but they will not get any of the healing benefits. This Perk Deck allows for a fun and constant pressure playstyle on higher difficulties at your own pace without relying on cooldowns or timing.
Why Ex-President is A-Tier
- Gain Health from killing enemies/
- Store 12 health for every kill (when Perk Deck is maxed out)
- Gain 40% total health
- Killing an enemy will speed up armor recovery time
- Increases dodge chance by 15%
- Allows the player to apply constant pressure at their own pace
9.Sociopath (A Tier 9/22)
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The Sociopath Perk Deck is a close quarters, melee focused Perk Deck that regenerates armor and causes nearby enemies to panic.
The Sociopath Perk Deck is focused on being up close with your enemies. When surrounded by 3 or more enemies, you gain a 12% damage reduction. This Perk Deck allows you to gain 10% health after every melee kill (1 second cooldown) and 30 armor for every kill at medium range (under 18 meters, 1 second cooldown). When the Perk Deck is fully upgraded, killing an enemy at medium range (18 meters or under) you will have a 75% chance to spread panic among your enemies (Make enemies go into short bursts of uncontrollable fear, cooldown 1 sec) giving you a chance to take advantage of the 10x damage on each consecutive hit.
Why Sociopath is A-Tier
- when surrounded by 3 or more enemies, take 12% less damage,
- When in medium range of an enemy gain 8% damage reduction
- your second and each consecutive melee hit will do 10x damage
- killing an enemy under 18 meters grants 30 armor (1 sec cooldown)
- Melee kills grant 10% health
- killing an enemy in medium range has a 75% chance of spreading panic to other enemies.
10. Muscle(A Tier 10/22)
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The Muscle Perk Deck focuses on survivability, granting +100% health and the ability to spread panic.
The Muscle Perk Deck is great for survivability for its ability to induce panic onto the masses when using the majority of weapons. When the Perk Deck is maxed out, you gain a total of 100% more health and regenerate 3% of your health every 5 seconds. Muscle also comes with the perk Meat Shield, when standing next to your allies you are 15% more likely to be targeted. Alongside the perk, Disturbing the peace, your character becomes a terrifying bullet sponge that takes the brunt of the damage so that your teammates can finish the objective.
- Why Muscle is A-Tier
- All firearms have the ability to cause Panic
- 100% more health
- Regenerate 3% percent of health every 5 seconds
- 15% more likely to be targeted when next to allies
- Bullet Sponge/Tank Perk Deck
Crew Chief: (B Tier 11/22)
You can’t go wrong equipping the Crew Chief Perk Deck. Alongside health, armor and damage reduction for your crew, the crew chief pairs amazingly well with the controller tree. Granting a 6% health buff and 12% more stamina for every hostage you have.
Rogue: (B Tier 12/22)
The Rogue Perk Deck focuses on Dodge Chance. When fully upgraded you gain a total of 45% dodge chance as well as neat bonuses like 25% chance for weapons to pierce enemy armor and reducing weapon swap speed by 80%. The Rogue Perk Deck allows for a very fun and fast playstyle.
Grinder: (B Tier 13/22)
The Grinder Perk Deck is similar to the Ex-President perk deck in the sense it rewards constant damage with health. Whereas Ex-President is focused on killing them and gaining health after the armor is broken, Grinder’s self heal works continuously and best with Damage-Over-Time weapons and with either the Two-Piece Suit or Lightweight Ballistic Vest equipped.
Burglar: (B Tier 14/22)
The Burglar Perk Deck is a Fully-Stealth Centered Perk Deck that gives buffs for Lockpicking, bagging bodies and answering pagers. Although stealth centered, The Burglars lockpicking and aggro reduction can make for helpful but still weak teammates on Loud. This Perk is a must have for Stealth.
Crook: (B Tier 15/22)
The Crook Perk Deck focuses on giving dodge and armor buffs for the ballistic vest as well as faster armor recovery. Do not be fooled however, the ballistic vest has a dodge rating of -25 so when the perk deck is fully upgraded you only gain 5% dodge chance but the armor buff makes the ballistic vest a significantly higher armor rating than the Combined Tactical Vest.
Maniac: (C Tier 16/22)
The Maniac Perk gives damage reduction for the amount of kills the Maniac gets. Every kill will stack “Hysteria” and when the perk deck is fully upgraded, the Maniacs teammates will also get the damage reduction (Max Damage reduction is 48, Hysteria does not stack with multiple Maniacs). Although very useful, this Perk Deck is weak on higher difficulties because the mass amount of damage being thrown around makes the damage reduction obsolete.
Infiltrator: (C Tier 17/22)
The Infiltrator Perk Deck is similar to the Sociopath Perk Deck in the sense that it thrives in close-quarters combat scenarios and gives a melee damage buff for consecutive melee hits. . When the Perk Deck is maxed out, you gain 33% damage reduction when 3 or more enemies are in medium range (18 or under meters), and 20% healing when striking an enemy with a melee (10 second cooldown). Although powerful, this Perk Deck is outclassed by Sociopath in every way.
Hitman: (C Tier 18/22)
The Hitman Perk Deck focuses on armor recovery and akimbo weapons. When the Perk Deck is fully upgraded, Armor will always regenerate after 1.5 seconds and akimbo weapons will have -16 stability and 50% more ammo. This Perk Deck is at its best with the skills: Shock and Awe and Aced Akimbo.
Gamble: (C Tier 19/22)
The Gambler Perk Deck is a support deck that gives the Gambler and their teammates health when the Gambler picks up ammo. The Gambler Perk Deck grants 40% more health and consistent healing but becomes outclassed when compared to other support Perk Decks like Leech and Crew Chief.
Tag Team: (D Tier 20/22)
The Tag Team Perk Deck is a support deck that unlocks and equips the Gas Dispenser. You must have direct line of sight of a teammate to activate, when activated you will gain 15 health and your teammate will gain 7.5 health for each enemy killed. Each kill will extend the duration by l.3 seconds and reduce the timer by 2 seconds. (12 second duration and 60 second cooldown)
Biker: (D Tier 21/22)
The Biker Deck gives health and armor for every kill the Biker gets. For every 10% of armor is gone gain 1 extra health for every kill, for every 10% of health is gone gain 1 more armor for every kill. This Perk Deck works wonderfully with a full offensive team on Loud.
Yakuza: (D Tier 22/22)
The Yakuza Perk Deck is a very high risk/ high reward playstyle. When the Perk Deck is fully upgraded, you gain 60% armor recovery rate and 20% movement speed when your health is below 25% (50% when fully upgraded). This deck was made to be used in tandem with the skill Berserk.
