There are 20 Perk Decks in PAYDAY 2, and each of them provide a bunch of passive bonuses that help customise your character in your own play style.
This guide takes a good look at Perk Decks to help you understand the system. We'll also include all perks in the game to help you decide which deck is for you.
How do Perk Decks work in Payday 2?
Each Perk Deck has nine different perks to unlock, though eight of them remain consistent across all decks. That means only five perks are unique to each deck.
You unlock perks using Perk Points, which you earn by earning XP. Given that you can earn an unlimited supply of Perk Points, you can realistically unlock all perks and Perk Decks in the game.
Bear in mind that you can only have a single PerkDeck active at any one moment though, so you still have to choose which is best for you.
How many Perk Points do I need to fully unlock a Perk Deck?
It costs 13,700 Perk Points to unlock all nine perks in a deck, and 274,000 points to unlock every perk in all 20 decks.
Mutual Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helmet Popping | Increases headshot damage by 25%. | 2 | 300 |
| Blending In | You get one more concealment, and your movement speed is 15% less affected by wearing armour. You also get 45% more experience for completing jobs. | 4 | 600 |
| Walk-in Closet | You can now use armour bags, allowing you to change armour during a heist. This perk also increases the ammo you pick up by 135%. | 6 | 1,600 |
| Fast and Furious | You deal 5% more damage and you can interact with doctor bags 20% faster. | 8 | 3,200 |
| Deck Completion | You have a 10% increased chance fo getting a higher quality item during a PAYDAY. | 9 | 4,000 |
Crew Chief Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brute Strength | You and your crew have 8% damage reduction. This is doubled for you when your health is lower than 50%. | 1 | 200 |
| Marathon Man | You and your crew have 50% more stamina, you can shout 25%further, and you receive 6% less damage from enemies while within medium range. | 3 | 400 |
| Wolf Pack | You have 20% more health and your crew has 10% more. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Testudo | You have 10% more armour and your crew has 5% more. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Hostage Situation | You and your crew have 6% more health and 12% more stamina for every hostage you have up to four times. You and your crew take 8% less damage while you have one or more hostages. | 9 | 4,000 |
Muscle Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brute Strength | You have 10% more health. | 1 | 200 |
| Meat Shield | You are 15% more likely to be targeted while close to crew members, and have 10% more health. | 3 | 400 |
| Giant Strength | You have an additional 20% more health. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Disturbing the Peace | All firearms have a chance to spread panic among enemies. | 7 | 2,400 |
| 800-pound Gorilla | You have an additional 40% more health and regenerate 3% of your total health every five seconds. | 9 | 4,000 |
Armourer Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type I Armour | You have 10% more armour. | 1 | 200 |
| Type II Armour | You have an additional 10% more armour. | 3 | 400 |
| Type III Armour | You have an additional 10% more armour. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Reinforced Armour | Your armour recovers 10% faster, and you are immune to health damage for two seconds after losing armour. This can only happen every 15 seconds. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Liquid Armour | You have an additional 5% more armour, and you and your crew recover armour 10% faster. | 9 | 4,000 |
Rogue Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subtle | You have a 15% higher chance to dodge. | 1 | 200 |
| Elusive | You are 15% less likely to be targeted while close to crew members. | 3 | 400 |
| Evasive | You have an additional 15% higher chance to dodge. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Shadow Warrior | You have an additional 15% higher chance to dodge. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Killer Instinct | All of your weapons have a 25%chance to pierce enemy armour, and you can swap weapons 80% faster. | 9 | 4,000 |
Crook Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subtle | You have a 15% higher chance to dodge. | 1 | 200 |
| Basic Composure | You have a 5% higher chance to dodge while wearing ballistic vests, and their armour is increased by 20%. | 3 | 400 |
| Advanced Composure | Your chance to dodge is increased by an additional 10% while wearing ballistic vests, and your armour is increased by an additional 20%. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Expert Composure | Your chance to dodge is increased by an additional 10% while wearing ballistic vests, and your armour is increased by an additional 25%. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Master Recovery | You recover armour 10% faster. | 9 | 4,000 |
Hitman Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Recovery | Your armour recovers 5% faster. | 1 | 200 |
| Ambidexterity | The stability penalty for dual wielding is reduced by 16, and your armour recovers an additional 10% faster. Your ammo capacity for going akimbo is increased by 50%. | 3 | 400 |
| Advanced Recovery | Your armour recovers an additional 10% faster. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Expert Recovery | Your armour recovers an additional 10% faster. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Tooth and Claw | Your armour recovers an additional 10% faster, and will recover 1.5 seconds after breaking. | 9 | 4,000 |
Burglar Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sneaky | You have a 20% higher chance to dodge. | 1 | 200 |
| Bag of Tricks | While standing still and crouching, you can bag corpses 20%faster and have a 10% less chance of being targeted. | 3 | 400 |
| Luck of the Irish | You have a 5%additional chance to dodge, and a further 5% additional chance while standing still and crouching. You also pick locks 20% faster. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Dutch Courage | You have a 5% higher chance to dodge,and a further 5% additional chance while standing still and crouching. You answer pagers 10% faster. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Breath of Fresh Air | Your armour recovers 20% faster while standing still and crouching, and you move 10% faster while crouching. | 9 | 4,000 |
Infiltrator Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| OVERDOG | You take 12% less damage while surrounded by three or more enemies. Your second and each consecutive melee hit within seven seconds of the last will deal 10 times more damage than normal. | 1 | 200 |
| Basic Close Combat | While within medium range of an enemy, you take 8% less damage. | 3 | 400 |
| Advanced Close Combat | While within medium range of an enemy, you take an additional 8% less damage. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Expert Close Combat | While within medium range of an enemy, you take an additional 8% less damage. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Life Drain | You regenerate 20% of your health when striking an enemy with your weapon. This can only happen once every 10 seconds. | 9 | 4,000 |
Sociopath Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| OVERDOG | You take 12% less damage while surrounded by three or more enemies. Your second and each consecutive melee hit within seven seconds of the last will deal 10 times more damage than normal. | 1 | 200 |
| Tension | You regenerate 30 armour when killing an enemy. This can't occur more than once every second. You also gain an additional 10% armour. | 3 | 400 |
| Clean Hit | You regenerate 10% health when killing an enemy. This can't occur more than once every second. While within medium range of an enemy you receive 8% less damage. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Overdose | You recover 30 armour when killing an enemy at medium range. This can't occur more than once every second. You also gain an additional 10% armour. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Showdown | You have a 75%chance to spread panic among enemies when killing them at medium range. This can't occur more than once every second. | 9 | 4,000 |
Gambler Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Supplies | You get medical supplies from ammo packs and recover between 16 and 24 health. This can't occur more than once every three seconds. If your health is lower than another player's, you recover 20% more health. This can stack up to three times. | 1 | 200 |
| Ammo Give Out | When you pick up ammo, you trigger an ammo pickup for 50%of normal pickup to other players in your crew. This can't occur more than once every five seconds. You also have 20% more health. | 3 | 400 |
| Sharing Is Caring | Your teammates also get healed for 50% of the amount you're healed when picking ammo up from packs. You also have 20% more health. | 5 | 1,000 |
| More Healing 1 | You gain an additional eight more health from ammo packs. | 7 | 2,400 |
| More Healing 2 | You gain an additional eight more health from ammo packs. | 9 | 4,000 |
Grinder Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Histamine | You recover a life point every 0.3 seconds for three seconds after damaging an enemy. This effect stacks but can't occur more than once every 1.5 seconds. | 1 | 200 |
| Adrenaline | You now recover two life points and have 20% more health. | 3 | 400 |
| Endorphins | You now recover three life points, and you have a 10%higher chance to pierce enemy armour. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Dopamine | You now recover four life points and have 20% more health. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Euphoria | You now recover health every 0.3 seconds for 4.2 seconds. You also have a 20% higher chance to pierce enemy armour. | 9 | 4,000 |
Yakuza Perks
| Skill | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koi Irezumi | Your armour recovers faster the lower health you have. While below 50%health, you'll regain armour 20% faster. | 1 | 200 |
| Hebi Irezumi | You move faster the lower health you have. While below 50% health, you'll move 20% faster. | 3 | 400 |
| Tora Irezumi | You have an additional 20% armour recovery rate while your health is below 50%. | 5 | 1,000 |
| RyuIrezumi | You have an additional 20% armour recovery rate while your health is below 50%. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Oni Irezumi | All of the effects in this perk deck now start at 100% health instead of 50%. | 9 | 4,000 |
Ex-President Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point Break | You store four health for every enemy your crew kills while you have armour, and gain the total health stored when your armour is destroyed. The maximum amount of health gained depends on your equipped armour. | 1 | 200 |
| The Emerging Force | You now store four more health per kill and have 10%more health. | 3 | 400 |
| Life of Ice | You can store 50% more health, have 10% more health, and have a 10% higher chance to dodge. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Awakening Earth | You can now store four more health per kill, and have 20%more health. | 7 | 2,400 |
| The Perfect Line | Your armour recovers faster after killing an enemy depending on how much armour you have at the time of the kill. This buff resets when your armour recovers. | 9 | 4,000 |
Maniac Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excitement | All of the damage you deal is converted into hysteria stacks, up to 240 every four seconds. You can only hold 600 hysteria stacks in total. You have one damage absorption for every 30 stacks of hysteria, but this decays at a rate of 60% + 80 every eight seconds. | 1 | 200 |
| Outburst | Your crew members now gain the effect of hysteria stacks. | 3 | 400 |
| Fervor | Your hysteria stacks now decay at a rate of 60% + 40 every eight seconds. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Recklessness | Your hysteria stacks now grant one damage absorption per 25 stacks. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Insanity | You have 100% more damage absorption from hysteria stacks. | 9 | 4,000 |
Anarchist Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blitzkrieg Bop | You can now regenerate armour during combat, and are immune to health damage for two seconds when your armour depletes. This can only happen every 15 seconds. | 1 | 200 |
| Straight Edge | 50% of your health is converted into 100%armour. | 3 | 400 |
| Death or Glory | 50% of your health is converted into 110%armour. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Rise Above | 50% of your health is converted into 120%armour. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Lust for Life | You get 10 armour each time you deal damage. This can only happen every 1.5 seconds. | 9 | 4,000 |
Biker Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prospect | You get five health and armour each time you or your crew performs a kill. This can't happen more than four times every four seconds. | 1 | 200 |
| Tail Gunner | For every 10% of health you're missing, you'll get one more armour per kills. | 3 | 400 |
| Road Captain | For every 10% of health you're missing, the four second cool down is reduced by 0.1 seconds. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Sgt-at-Arms | For every 10% of armour you're missing, you'll get one more health per kills. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Prez | For every 10% of armour you're missing, the four second cool down is reduced by 0.1 seconds. | 9 | 4,000 |
Kingpin Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad Guy Coming Through | You have the kingpin injector, which heals you for 75%of all damage you take for six seconds. It has a 30 second cooldown. | 1 | 200 |
| Play Rough | You have 10% more health. | 3 | 400 |
| Public Enemy No.1 | You have 10% more health, and enemies will target you whenever possible while the injector effect is active. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Balls vs. Bullets | You have 20% more health, and you receive 25%more health from the injector while below 50% health. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Right to the Top | You have 40% more health. The injector now recharges one second faster for every five points of health you recover while using it. | 9 | 4,000 |
Sicario Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoker | You have a throwable smoke bomb, which creates a smoke screen that lasts for 10 seconds. While standing inside of this, you and your crew automatically avoid 50% of all bullets but have 50% less accuracy. The smoke bomb has a 60 second cool down, which you can reduce by a second per kill. | 1 | 200 |
| Twitch | You have a 20%higher chance to dodge each time you're shot until you dodge. At this point the buff is reset and has a four second cool down. | 3 | 400 |
| Subtle | You have a 15%higher chance to dodge. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Agility Shield | Dodging replenishes your armour. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Unseen Shadow | All of your perk deck effects are increased by 100% while standing in smoke. Your allies also gain a 10%chance to dodge while standing in it. | 9 | 4,000 |
Stoic Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtue | You have the hip flast, which reduces damage by 75% but applies the reduced damage over 12 seconds instead. You can activate the flask to negate any pending damage, which triggers a 10 second cooldown. You can reduce this by a second per kill. | 1 | 200 |
| Un-moved | All of your armour is converted into health. | 3 | 400 |
| Calm | If you don't take damage for four seconds, your hip flask damage over time effects are negated. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Imperturbable | Your flask recharges two seconds faster for every kill while your health is below 35%. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Enduring | When damage over time is removed, you're healed for 50% of the total damage over time remaining. | 9 | 4,000 |
Tag Team Perks
| Perk | Effects | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soul Mates | You have the gas dispenser, which you can use to tag a nearby crew member. You now recover 15 health, and your tagged unit 7.5 health per kill. This lasts for 12 seconds, and has a cool down of 60 seconds. You can extend the duration by 1.3 seconds and reduce the cool down by two seconds per kill. | 1 | 200 |
| Scent | You have 20% more health. | 3 | 400 |
| Synergy | You now have two more absorption per kill you or your tagged unit performs. This has a cap of 20, and lasts until the gas dispenser goes out of cool down. | 5 | 1,000 |
| Inhale | You have 20% more health. | 7 | 2,400 |
| Harmony | Your tagged unit kills now reduce the gas dispenser cool down timer by two seconds until the tag runs out. | 9 | 4,000 |
