Unlocking the Overvault: A Deep Dive into Overdrill Difficulty in Payday 2
The burning question on every aspiring heister’s mind: what difficulty can Overdrill be done on? The answer, in short, is Death Wish and above, but there’s a crucial caveat: attempting it on Mayhem will allow you to complete it, but you won’t receive the associated achievement. For the full reward and the bragging rights that come with cracking the First World Bank’s ultimate secret, Death Wish (DW) is your starting point. But let’s dig deeper into the intricacies of Overdrill and how difficulty impacts the experience.
Understanding Overdrill: A Primer
Overdrill isn’t just another heist; it’s a puzzle, a challenge, and a testament to your Payday 2 prowess. It’s a hidden objective within the First World Bank heist that, when triggered, unlocks the Overvault, a heavily guarded vault containing a massive payday. The process involves teamwork, precision, and a good dose of patience.
Before we delve further into the difficulty specifics, let’s recap the key requirements for initiating Overdrill:
- Four Players Required: This is non-negotiable without mods designed to circumvent the requirement. Overdrill is a team effort.
- Loud Heist: Stealthing the initial stages of the heist is perfectly acceptable, even encouraged, but the trigger for Overdrill requires the heist to go loud.
- Specific Player Positioning: Each player must stand in a designated location within the bank’s inner lobby after the heist turns loud. These locations are critical and must be precise. A quick online search for “Payday 2 Overdrill positions” will reveal visual guides.
Difficulty and Its Impact
While Death Wish is the minimum difficulty for Overdrill to be valid for the achievement, understand that difficulty in Payday 2 significantly influences the experience:
- Enemy Count and Toughness: Higher difficulties introduce more enemies, and they become significantly more resilient to damage. This will impact your survivability during the prolonged Overdrill sequence.
- Enemy Damage: The damage enemies inflict escalates dramatically with each difficulty tier. On Death Sentence, even a few stray bullets can quickly incapacitate you.
- Special Enemy Frequency: Expect a higher spawn rate of special enemies like Cloakers, Bulldozers, and Tasers on higher difficulties, requiring coordinated takedowns.
Therefore, choosing a difficulty above Death Wish for Overdrill should be a calculated decision based on your team’s skill, gear, and communication.
Mayhem: The Tempting Trap
Mayhem difficulty presents a peculiar scenario. You can trigger and complete Overdrill on Mayhem. However, the game will not grant you the “OVERDRILL” achievement. This makes Mayhem a tempting but ultimately unsatisfying option. It’s easier than Death Wish, but the lack of reward diminishes the accomplishment.
Death Sentence (One Down): For the Truly Daring
For those seeking the ultimate challenge, Death Sentence (One Down) is the pinnacle of Payday 2 difficulty. Successfully completing Overdrill on Death Sentence is a monumental achievement that requires exceptional skill, coordination, and a well-optimized build. Be warned: One Down difficulty introduces permadeath mechanics, making mistakes incredibly punishing.
Gearing Up for Overdrill: Essential Considerations
Regardless of the chosen difficulty, proper preparation is crucial for a successful Overdrill run:
- Build Optimization: Each player should have a well-defined role and a corresponding build optimized for that role. Common roles include medic, crowd control, damage dealer, and objective specialist.
- Weapon Selection: Choose weapons that are effective against heavily armored enemies and that synergize with your build.
- Perk Decks: Select perk decks that complement your playstyle and provide valuable bonuses to your team.
- Communication: Clear and concise communication is paramount. Use voice chat to coordinate movements, call out enemy positions, and manage objectives.
- Patience: Overdrill takes time. The drill itself takes a significant duration. Don’t get discouraged by setbacks. Stay focused and work together.
- Knowing the Overdrill Locations: Every player must know the correct standing position for activating the event.
Alternatives: Mods for Solo Play
As mentioned earlier, Overdrill is designed for four players. However, mods exist that allow you to trigger and complete Overdrill solo or with fewer than four players. These mods typically bypass the player positioning requirement and allow you to initiate the process with a hotkey. Keep in mind that using such mods may disable achievements, depending on your game settings. Games Learning Society encourages ethical gameplay and awareness of modding implications.
Conclusion
Overdrill in Payday 2 is a complex and rewarding challenge. While Death Wish is the minimum difficulty required for the achievement, understanding the impact of difficulty on enemy behavior, damage, and spawn rates is crucial. Proper preparation, effective communication, and a well-optimized team are essential for success, regardless of the chosen difficulty. So, gather your crew, strategize your approach, and prepare to unlock the riches of the Overvault. Remember to also check out GamesLearningSociety.org for insightful discussions on the educational aspects of gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Overdrill Difficulty
1. Can you do Overdrill on Very Hard?
No, Overdrill cannot be done on Very Hard. The minimum difficulty required is Overkill or Death Wish, with Death Wish being the lowest difficulty for achievement eligibility.
2. Does Overdrill have to be on Death Sentence?
No, Overdrill does not have to be on Death Sentence. It can be done on Death Sentence, offering the greatest challenge and potential XP reward, but it is not a requirement. Death Wish is sufficient for the achievement.
3. Does Overdrill work on Mayhem?
Technically, yes, Overdrill can be completed on Mayhem. However, you will not receive the “OVERDRILL” achievement for doing so.
4. How long does it take to Overdrill in Payday 2?
The actual drilling process in Overdrill takes 2000 seconds (33 minutes and 20 seconds). This is the time the drill is actively running, excluding setup and any potential restarts.
5. Do you need four people for Overdrill?
Yes, Overdrill requires four players to trigger the event without the use of mods. There are mods available that allow you to activate Overdrill with fewer players or even solo.
6. What is the Overdrill achievement in Payday 2?
The “OVERDRILL” achievement requires completing the Overdrill objective on the First World Bank heist on Death Wish difficulty or higher. You must have played the heist from start to finish.
7. Is Overdrill loud only?
Yes, Overdrill requires the heist to be loud when the trigger positions are taken. You can stealth the initial part of the heist, but once you reach the point of activating Overdrill, the alarm must be raised.
8. How much money do you get from Overdrill?
The total payout from Overdrill depends on the number of bags secured. It consists of approximately 70 bags of gold and 14-16 bags of cash, on top of the default heist payout. This results in a substantial increase in your total earnings.
9. Where do you stand for Overdrill?
The precise locations for each player to stand in order to activate Overdrill are specific spots in the inner lobby after the heist goes loud. It is highly recommended to consult an online guide with visual aids for these locations.
10. Is Overdrill doable solo?
Officially, no. Overdrill requires four players without the use of mods. However, mods exist that allow you to trigger and complete Overdrill solo.
11. What is the meaning of Overdrill?
In the context of Payday 2, “Overdrill” refers to the hidden objective on the First World Bank heist that unlocks the Overvault.
12. How much XP is Overdrill?
The XP reward for Overdrill on Death Wish is substantial, typically around 1,176,410 XP, and can be further increased by perk decks, crew bonuses, and Infamy bonuses.
13. How much gold is in Overdrill?
Overdrill contains approximately 50 bags of gold in the Overvault. The exact amount may vary slightly.
14. Can Overdrill be triggered instantly?
Some mods allow you to activate Overdrill instantly, bypassing the standard requirements. However, these mods may disable achievements or be considered cheating by some players.
15. Is Overdrill worth doing?
Absolutely! Overdrill is a challenging and rewarding experience that provides a significant payout and a sense of accomplishment. For those seeking a true test of their Payday 2 skills, Overdrill is a must-try.