PAYDAY 2 DLC Overview
PAYDAY 2 has one of the largest DLC libraries of any game, with over 30 content packs released since launch. These payday 2 dlc packs add new heists, weapons, characters, masks, and gameplay mechanics. While the base game is substantial, DLC significantly expands the experience.
Buy on Sale
PAYDAY 2 DLC goes on sale frequently on Steam (often 50-85% off during seasonal sales). The base game is frequently free on Epic Games Store. Wait for sales if you want to save money — the full DLC collection can be expensive at full price.
DLC Categories
| Category | What It Adds | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|
| Heist Packs | New heists/maps, sometimes new mechanics | $4.99 - $9.99 |
| Weapon Packs | New firearms, melee weapons, mods | $2.99 - $6.99 |
| Character Packs | New playable heister + signature items | $4.99 - $6.99 |
| Skin Packs | Weapon skins, masks, patterns | $1.99 - $4.99 |
| Soundtrack Packs | Additional music tracks | $2.99 - $4.99 |
Major Heist DLC Packs
These are the most substantial DLC packs, adding entirely new heists with unique settings and mechanics. The payday 2 hotline miami DLC is one of the most popular crossover packs.
| DLC Pack | Heists Added | Notable Features | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Big Bank Heist | The Big Bank (1 day) | Large bank heist with pre-planning, new mechanic | S |
| Hotline Miami | Hotline Miami (2 days) | Crossover with Hotline Miami, Jacket character, loud-focused, iconic soundtrack | S |
| The Bomb Heists | The Bomb: Dockyard, The Bomb: Forest (2 heists) | Dragan character, bomb defusal mechanic | A |
| The Diamond Store | The Diamond Store (1 day) | Clover character, jewelry store stealth | A |
| The Alesso Heist | The Alesso Heist (1 day) | Concert venue, Bonnie character, unique stealth/loud hybrid | A |
| The Goat Simulator Heist | Goat Simulator (2 days) | Comedy crossover, Sokol character, goat-themed chaos | B |
| Point Break Heists | Beneath the Mountain, Birth of Sky (2 heists) | Point Break movie crossover, Bodhi character, skydiving | A |
| The Biker Heist | Border Crystals, The Biker Heist (2 heists) | Rust character, biker gang theme, desert setting | B |
| Scarface Mansion | Scarface Mansion (1 day) | Scarface character, Tony Montana's mansion, iconic location | A |
| Reservoir Dogs Heist | Reservoir Dogs (2 days, played in reverse) | Movie crossover, Joy character, unique reverse-chronological order | S |
| Henry's Rock | Henry's Rock (1 day) | Duke character, secret military base, large multi-area map | A |
| Breakfast in Tijuana | Breakfast in Tijuana Heist (1 day) | Cartel theme, Mexican setting, new mechanics | B |
| San Martín Bank | San Martín Bank Heist (1 day) | South American bank, new stealth mechanics | B |
| Midland Ranch | Midland Ranch Heist (1 day) | Ranch/farm setting, unique objectives | B |
Weapon DLC Packs
Weapon packs add new firearms, melee weapons, and weapon modifications. Some of the strongest weapons in the game come from DLC.
| Weapon Pack | Notable Weapons | Meta Status |
|---|---|---|
| Gage Weapon Pack #01 | AK.762, STRYK 18c, Locomotive 12G | Essential — AK.762 is top-tier rifle |
| Gage Weapon Pack #02 | Clarion, Kobus 90, Gruber Kurz | Good — Clarion is solid rifle |
| Gage Sniper Pack | Rattlesnake, Thanatos .50 cal, Lebensauger | Essential for sniper builds |
| Gage Shotgun Pack | Reinfeld 880, Raven, Locomotive | Strong — Reinfeld is best shotgun |
| Gage Historical Pack | AMR-16, Gewehr 43, Mosconi | Good variety |
| Gage Ninja Pack | Mark 10, Katar, Shuriken | Good — Mark 10 is strong SMG |
| Gage Spec Ops Pack | Union 5.56, Valkyria, Model 11 | Essential — Union 5.56 is meta rifle |
| Gage Mod Courier Pack | Weapon modifications (not weapons) | Useful mods for existing weapons |
| John Wick Weapon Pack | Gruber Kurz, Chimano Compact, Contractor | Good — Contractor is top-tier pistol |
| Yakuza Character Pack | Subrosa katana, Kobus 90 | Melee-focused |
| Bootleg Weapon Pack | Bootleg rifle, Bootleg SMG | Decent but not meta |
Character DLC Packs
Character packs add new playable heisters with unique voice lines, masks, and often signature weapons. See our heisters guide for full character details.
- John Wick Weapon Pack — John Wick character
- The Diamond Store Heist — Clover character
- The Bomb Heists — Dragan character
- Hotline Miami — Jacket character
- The Alesso Heist — Bonnie character
- The Goat Simulator Heist — Sokol character
- Yakuza Character Pack — Jiro character
- Point Break Heists — Bodhi character
- Hardcore Henry — Jimmy character
- Sydney Character Pack — Sydney character
- The Biker Heist — Rust character
- Scarface Character Pack — Scarface character
- Reservoir Dogs Heist — Joy character
- Henry's Rock — Duke character
Which PAYDAY 2 DLC Are Worth Buying?
With so many DLC options, it can be overwhelming. Here are our recommendations based on what you want from the game.
Essential DLC (Buy First)
| DLC | Why Essential |
|---|---|
| Gage Weapon Pack #01 | Adds the AK.762 (one of the best rifles), STRYK 18c (best akimbo), and Locomotive shotgun. Core weapons for any build. |
| Gage Spec Ops Pack | Union 5.56 rifle is currently meta for DS/OD. Valkyria SMG is also strong. Must-have for loud builds. |
| Gage Sniper Pack | If you enjoy sniping, this adds the best sniper weapons including the Thanatos .50 cal and Rattlesnake. |
| The Big Bank Heist | One of the best heists in the game, with pre-planning mechanics and a fantastic stealth/loud design. |
| Hotline Miami | Iconic heist with great music, Jacket character, and some of the best loud action in the game. |
Great Value DLC (Buy Second)
- Reservoir Dogs Heist — Unique reverse-order heist, Joy character, great level design
- Point Break Heists — Two solid heists, Bodhi character, skydiving sequence
- Gage Shotgun Pack — Reinfeld 880 is the best shotgun in the game
- Gage Ninja Pack — Mark 10 SMG is strong, fun melee weapons
- Scarface Mansion — Iconic location, Scarface character, good heist
Skip Unless on Deep Sale
- The Goat Simulator Heist — Comedy gimmick, not for everyone
- Bootleg Weapon Pack — Weapons are outclassed by other packs
- Soundtrack packs — Only if you really want the music
- Skin packs — Purely cosmetic, not gameplay-relevant
Ultimate Edition / Legacy Collection
If you're buying a lot of DLC, check if the "PAYDAY 2: Legacy Collection" or ultimate bundle is on sale. These bundles include most DLC at a significant discount compared to buying individually. The base game is often free on Epic Games Store.
DLC FAQ
No. The base game includes a substantial amount of content — multiple heists, weapons, perk decks, and characters. DLC expands the experience but isn't required. Many players put hundreds of hours into the base game alone.
Yes! If the host of a lobby owns a DLC heist, all players in the lobby can play it regardless of whether they own the DLC. However, you can only host DLC heists you own, and DLC weapons/characters are locked to owners only.
A DLC unlocker is a cheating mod that illegally unlocks paid DLC content without purchasing it. We do not recommend or support this — it can trigger cheater tags, get you banned from public lobbies, and deprives developers of revenue. If you want DLC content, purchase it legitimately, especially when on sale.
Yes. All existing DLC content is fully compatible with the Diesel 3.0 engine upgrade. Overkill has ensured backward compatibility for all paid content. See our engine guide for more details on compatibility.