Complete Guide to All Payday 3 Heists and Stealth Strategies

Completing Payday 3 heists not only boosts your earnings but also enhances your criminal empire by leveling up your weapons. Below is a comprehensive guide on all the heists available in the game and strategies for completing them stealthily.

The Payday series is renowned for its intricate, cinematic heists. From looting massive bank vaults to seizing aircraft laden with cash, the gameplay offers a variety of thrilling experiences, and Payday 3 continues this tradition.

With its latest installment, Starbreeze Studios has recaptured that cinematic essence across various heist themes. Here’s a detailed list of every heist in the game, the sequence for playing them, and tips for stealth completion.

How Many Heists Are There in Payday 3?

Currently, there are 14 heists in Payday 3, all set in the vibrant urban landscape of New York City. This includes 8 main heists, 3 side hustles, and 4 additional heists included in The Bad Apple DLC.

Just like Payday 2, where new heists were introduced over time, it’s likely that Starbreeze will expand Payday 3 with more heists in the future.

All Core Heists

In Payday 3, core heists follow a designated sequence within the story mode, but you are free to tackle them in any order. This flexibility allows players to jump into the finale if they wish. Each heist is linked with cinematic stories that enhance the narrative experience.

Payday 3 Heist Selection — Starbreeze Studios

Below is the list of core heists and their order in the story:

No Rest for the Wicked
- How to stealth No Rest for the Wicked
Road Rage
- Road Rage is a loud-only heist
Dirty Ice
- How to stealth Dirty Ice
Rock the Cradle
- How to stealth Rock the Cradle
Under the Surphaze
- How to stealth Under the Surphaze
Gold & Sharke
- How to stealth Gold & Sharke
99 Boxes
- How to stealth 99 Boxes
Touch the Sky
- How to stealth Touch the Sky

All Side Hustle Heists

With the release of the 1.0.2 update in November 2023, Starbreeze introduced Side Hustles into the game. Formerly known as Legacy Heists, these smaller-scale heists can be completed in any sequence, as they don’t tie into the game’s main lore.

Some of these are remastered stages from Payday 2, now featuring modified mechanics and objectives to fit the Payday 3 gameplay. These heists are narrated by Locke, a returning character from the previous installment.

Currently, three Side Hustles are available:

Turbid Station
- How to stealth Turbid Station
Cook Off
- Cook Off is a loud-only heist
Diamond District
- How to stealth Diamond District

All The Bad Apple Heists

As of December 2023, Starbreeze has begun releasing new heists as paid DLC as part of its Year 1 content. The first year of DLC, titled The Bad Apple, will feature four heists released between Winter 2023 and Fall 2024.

This expansion continues the narrative from the conclusion of Touch The Sky, so it’s recommended to complete all core heists prior to diving into it to avoid spoilers.

The campaign within The Bad Apple contains four heists, with one currently available:

Syntax Error (released December 12th, 2023)
- How to stealth Syntax Error
Boys in Blue (scheduled for release June 27th, 2024)
- How to stealth Boys in Blue
Houston Breakout (scheduled for release August 19th, 2024)
- How to stealth Houston Breakout
Fear and Greed (scheduled for release September 16th, 2024)
- How to stealth Fear and Greed

As you explore the heist options in Payday 3, consider which ones may offer the best opportunities to rake in fast cash. And remember, if you’re preparing to execute stealth strategies during these heists, it’s essential to equip our top stealth loadout.

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