How Many Hours Does It Really Take to 100% PAYDAY 2? A Deep Dive
The burning question on every aspiring heister’s mind: how many hours will it take to reach level 100 in PAYDAY 2? While the article suggests 493 hours for 100% completion, reaching level 100 is a significant, but smaller, part of that equation. Realistically, hitting level 100 itself can take anywhere from 50 to 150 hours, depending heavily on your playstyle, difficulty settings, and the efficient use of XP-boosting strategies. This estimate considers that reaching level 100 is significantly different from achieving true 100% completion, which involves unlocking all achievements, masks, weapons, mods, and completing every heist on the highest difficulties. True 100% completion can take well over those suggested 493 hours.
The Grind is Real: Factors Affecting Leveling Speed
Several factors influence how quickly you ascend the ranks in PAYDAY 2:
- Heist Selection: Some heists are simply more efficient for XP farming than others.
- Difficulty: Higher difficulties offer substantial XP multipliers, but require skill and coordination.
- Stealth vs. Loud: Stealth heists, when executed flawlessly, can provide massive XP bonuses.
- Challenges and Objectives: Completing side objectives and daily challenges significantly boosts XP gains.
- Perk Decks and Skills: Certain perk decks and skills provide XP bonuses.
- Team Composition: A well-coordinated team can complete heists faster and more efficiently, maximizing XP gains.
- Infamy: Each Infamy level grants XP bonuses that speed up leveling.
Maximizing Your XP Gain: Pro Strategies
To drastically reduce the time it takes to reach level 100, consider these strategies:
- Focus on Efficient Heists: Prioritize heists known for their high XP yield and relatively short completion times. Cook Off and Hoxton Breakout are popular choices.
- Embrace Stealth: Perfect your stealth skills. The XP bonuses for successfully completing stealth heists can be enormous.
- Play on Overkill or Mayhem: If you’re skilled enough, playing on Overkill or Mayhem difficulty will significantly boost your XP.
- Utilize XP-Boosting Perks and Skills: Invest in perk decks and skills that offer XP bonuses.
- Complete Challenges: Regularly check and complete daily and weekly challenges for extra XP.
- Team Up: Playing with a coordinated team will make heists faster and more efficient.
Beyond Level 100: The Infamy System and True Completion
Reaching level 100 is just the beginning. The Infamy system allows you to reset your level to 0 in exchange for permanent XP bonuses and other rewards. This process is essential for unlocking all skill points and truly mastering the game.
Remember, true 100% completion in PAYDAY 2 is a monumental task. It involves:
- Unlocking all achievements.
- Acquiring all masks, patterns, and materials.
- Obtaining all weapons and modifications.
- Completing all heists on all difficulties, including Death Sentence with One Down enabled.
- Mastering all skill trees and perk decks.
This endeavor can easily take hundreds, if not thousands, of hours.
GamesLearningSociety.org acknowledges the complex nature of games and learning. PAYDAY 2 is a complex game, but its learning curve can be accelerated with the right techniques. Check out the Games Learning Society website for more insights.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the fastest heist to level up in PAYDAY 2?
Jewelry Store can be speedrun quickly for a small amount of XP, but for meaningful XP gains, Cook Off, Hoxton Breakout, and Election Day are much better options.
2. How much XP do I need to reach level 100 in PAYDAY 2?
You need a little over 23 million XP to reach level 100 from level 0.
3. Is it better to play stealth or loud for XP?
Stealth is generally better for XP if you can execute it flawlessly. However, if you frequently fail stealth attempts, loud may be more efficient.
4. What is the best difficulty to play for XP?
Overkill and Mayhem offer a good balance of XP and difficulty. If you’re highly skilled, Death Wish and Death Sentence provide even greater XP multipliers.
5. Can I reach level 100 solo in PAYDAY 2?
Yes, you can reach level 100 solo, but it will likely take longer due to the limitations of the AI teammates.
6. What are the best perk decks for leveling up fast?
Perk decks that offer XP bonuses, such as the Crew Chief and Gambler, can be helpful for leveling up quickly.
7. What skills should I prioritize for faster leveling?
Skills that boost your survivability and efficiency in heists are generally good choices, as they allow you to complete heists faster and more reliably.
8. Does Infamy affect leveling speed?
Yes, each Infamy level grants permanent XP bonuses that speed up the leveling process.
9. What are the best heists for solo players to level up?
Heists that are relatively easy to stealth solo, such as Shadow Raid and Framing Frame (Day 1), are good options.
10. Are DLC heists better for leveling up?
Some DLC heists, such as Hoxton Breakout and Hotline Miami, are excellent for leveling up, but there are also plenty of good options among the base game heists.
11. Can I get banned for using XP mods?
Yes, using XP mods can result in a ban from the community group, which locks you out of community content.
12. Is PAYDAY 2 pay-to-win?
While some DLC weapons and perk decks are considered meta, the game is not strictly pay-to-win. Skill and teamwork are still the most important factors for success.
13. How important is teamwork in PAYDAY 2?
Teamwork is extremely important in PAYDAY 2. A well-coordinated team can complete heists much faster and more efficiently, maximizing XP gains.
14. What should I do after reaching level 100?
After reaching level 100, you can become Infamous to unlock new bonuses and challenges, or continue playing heists to earn money and unlock new gear.
15. Is PAYDAY 2 still worth playing in 2024?
Absolutely! PAYDAY 2 continues to have a dedicated player base and receives updates and content. The core gameplay loop is still highly engaging and rewarding.