Once again, a familiar face makes an appearance in Payday 3 as the Houston Breakout heist takes the gang to a New York courthouse to rescue their old comrade. Follow these steps to successfully complete the level without detection.
The third DLC for Payday 3, titled The Land of the Free and part of its Year 1 roadmap, was initially released as Houston Breakout. This heist marks the second-to-last DLC in Starbreeze’s first-year plan, with only one remaining.
This heist serves as a spiritual successor to the Hoxton Breakout mission in Payday 2, featuring distinct objectives for both loud and stealth tactics. Here are the steps to successfully complete it while remaining undetected.
Houston Breakout begins in the courthouse lobby.
Guard placements
To ensure success in the latest patch, it is important to use our recommended Payday 3 stealth loadout. This loadout has been optimized and incorporates the crucial Grifter and Hacker skill lines, as you will be unmasked for a significant portion of the heist.
These are all the guard locations we have discovered up to this point, although it is important to note that the total number may vary depending on the difficulty level you are playing.
- Four guards in the lobby, two by the metal detectors and two patrolling
- One guard in the underground parking lot in the gate control room
- Three guards in the underground holding cell, two in the surveillance room, and one by the metal detector
- Three guards patrolling upstairs wings of the courthouse, plus one who moves between floors
- Two guards near the courtroom entrance
- Two guards inside the courtroom
- One guard in the court clerk’s office near the conference room
- If Lead Guard is active, a Lead Guard will spawn in the lobby and patrol the entire map
To avoid any unnecessary complications, we suggest remaining unmasked for as long as possible on this map due to the high number of guards. It is even possible to successfully complete the entire heist without having to mask up at all.
Disable the metal detectors
As the heist begins, you will find yourself in the courthouse’s lobby area. Due to Houston’s ongoing trial, he is currently being held in the courtroom, which is on recess.
Make sure to observe the metal detectors in the lobby and deactivate them before proceeding. Locate the circuit breaker on the left wall and take note of the four switchboxes that must be flipped.
Each switch box contains four switches of different colors. The color displayed on the circuit breaker indicates the next switch that needs to be flipped. You are free to change the switches in any order, but they must be flipped in the correct color sequence as indicated on the breaker.
If the initial color is Blue, simply flip the Blue switch on any of the four switch boxes to begin. Afterwards, return to the breaker and continue with the remaining colors in the designated sequence. A visual symbol is also provided for colorblind players.
In the lobby, there are two switch boxes available, and two more located in the underground parking lot. As the parking lot is considered a Private Area, it is important to avoid being detected by any cameras while down there.
After flipping all switches, return to the circuit breaker and disable the metal detectors. Proceed to the rotunda where the entrance to the courtroom can be found on the right.
To enter the courtroom, a Press Badge is required. They can be found on the backs of two NPCs located in the main rotunda area. It is important to avoid being seen when pickpocketing one. Once you have obtained the Press Badge, return to the courtroom entrance and proceed to enter the room.
Because of Houston’s aggressive behavior, he can be located in a secured room to the left during the trial. From this location, the heist can take two different routes depending on the type of evidence being presented: Digital Evidence or Physical Evidence.
Before retrieving any evidence, make sure to check the board at the front of the courtroom to determine which items you will need to collect. Additionally, it is important to first ask the Judge to send Houston back to the holding cells before proceeding with the evidence collection.
Change the heading to How to Blackmail a Judge
In order to initiate blackmail against the Judge, you will require a QR Code. You can locate one by searching through the scattered phones. An additional QR code can be discovered upstairs in the viewing balcony above the courtroom, and at least two more can be found at a later time – one in Judge Green’s safe and another in the clerk’s office.
To access the upper floor, there are sets of stairs located at the end of each hallway. After obtaining the QR code, proceed downstairs and locate the Judge’s office. It can be found down a hallway behind the courtroom. Remember to disable the camera by looping it, so as not to be detected.
Access the Judge’s office by using the code and gain unauthorized access to his PC. As this process may take some time, simultaneously unlock the safe embedded in the wall to obtain a second QR code and a USB drive.
The safe in Judge Green’s office has what you need.
After successfully hacking the PC, Shade will request that you insert the USB drive to gather incriminating evidence on the Judge. Then, you must make your way to the clerk’s office, which can be found near the metal detectors from earlier.
There are two available entrances in this area. It is advised to use the right-hand entrance located behind the clerks. By successfully triggering Rush with Grifter Basic and combining it with Social Engineering, you will be able to pass through this area without being noticed, as long as you steer clear of the guard.
Locate the desk assigned to the employee and gain unauthorized access to their PC. This particular computer contains the incriminating evidence Shade requires. Be vigilant for any security personnel patrolling the area and remember to reactivate the Rush ability by approaching the employee who is constantly on the move.
Hack the PC to get the blackmail.
After completing your work on the PC, exit the office and return to the section where the desk clerks are located. If you are collecting Digital Evidence, continue reading. Otherwise, scroll down to Physical Evidence.
Digital Evidence
Hide behind the central island counter and unlock the two safes positioned against the wall. Inside, you will find a code that will grant you access to the server room where the Digital Evidence is stored.
Using the code, return to the rotunda and proceed to the upper level. In the main upstairs section, there is a room that is protected by a keypad lock. Input the code when there are no guards present to open the door.
The room contains two rows of server racks. You will find four servers here, one of which holds Houston’s evidence. Carry each server to the PC located in the corner of the room. The computer will decrypt them one by one. Continue until you have successfully decrypted Houston’s evidence.
Physical Evidence
If you choose to pursue Physical Evidence, you will need to locate the Evidence Room. This room can be found on the first floor, directly across from the clerk’s office. A notepad placed by the door will provide the code for the keypad.
The code can be found in a meeting room on the second floor. Simply go upstairs and look for the room with a whiteboard to locate it. Remember or write down the code, then return to the Evidence Room and enter it to gain access.
After that, there will be rows of shelves containing physical evidence. Among these boxes is Houston’s, thus we will need to narrow down our search to locate the right one.
Make sure to take note of the calendar hanging next to the computer. Each day of the week is designated with a specific letter, and one of those letters will be encircled. This is where all of Houston’s evidence can be found. Locate the shelf that corresponds with the circled letter and retrieve the evidence box.
As each shelf contains multiple boxes, further narrowing down is necessary. Simply grab any piece of evidence and scan its barcode. After the computer has worked its magic, it will determine if this is Houston’s evidence.
If it is not, you will need to keep scanning evidence boxes until you find the correct one in order to continue with the heist.
Free Houston
After obtaining the necessary evidence, make sure to retrieve it and store it in a secure location within the room. We will need to retrieve it later on. However, for the time being, our priority is to rescue Houston.
Shade will utilize the blackmail effectively by following the objective marker to the nearby office. Once there, she will use a phone to call the Judge, resulting in the suspension of the court proceedings. The Judge will then leave the room, and Houston will be escorted back to the underground holding cells.
To access the underground, it is necessary to have two items: a Blue Keycard and a Box of Donuts.
Blue Keycard location
The Blue Keycard is located on a guard in the upper east wing of the rotunda. Ensure to interact with the correct guard, who will be highlighted for you. Be cautious not to attract attention from other guards while obtaining the keycard.
Box of Donuts location
The clerk’s office is where you can locate the Box of Donuts. It is situated on a desk in the conference room. Caution should be exercised in this location, as it is considered a Secure Area that is regularly patrolled by a guard. If caught, you will need to wear a mask and eliminate the guard before he can apprehend you.
With the Blue Keycard and Box of Donuts in hand, return to the hallway near the entrance of the courtroom and proceed to the basement stairwell on the right.
Holding Cells
In the basement, it is recommended to manipulate the different cameras and set them on a secure loop to avoid detection. Proceed down the first hallway in front of you and utilize the Blue Keycard to unlock the door on your left.
Within this area, you will encounter two guards facing away from you. Proceed ahead and pass the wall, then turn left. You will find a designated spot to leave the Box of Donuts. Place them there and exit the room the same way you entered – however, do not run.
Once you exit this room, make a right and wait for the third guard to arrive. This will leave all three guards distracted as they indulge in their donut consumption, allowing Houston to go unnoticed.
Upon returning to the room with the surveillance guards, direct your attention to the left wall where four buttons are labeled Cells 1-4. By pressing the appropriate button, the corresponding cell door will open. Before exiting the room, ensure that Houston’s cell is identified and the corresponding button is pressed.
Hit the button that matches the cell Houston is being held in.
To meet up with Houston at the metal detector, simply follow the hallway around. At this point, you have the option to either disable the metal detector or open the basement counter. Regardless of which you choose, Houston will be granted access to the parking lot we were in earlier. We’re nearly finished.
Finally, to gain access through the gate, you must press a button. Make your way to the guard room located on the opposite side of the parking lot and use a lockpick to open the door.
Regardless of whether or not you are still unmasked, there will be a guard inside this room. If you are unmasked, you will have no difficulty pressing the button from behind him. If you are masked, you can utilize a nearby lure to lure him out of the room.
Hit this button to trigger the exit.
The only remaining task is to return to the server room and retrieve Houston’s server. If you are not wearing a mask, you can simply go up through the lobby and back through the rotunda. However, if you have already put on a mask, the most effective way to reach the server room is by sneaking through the holding cells and going back upstairs that way.
After securing Houston’s server and any extra loot, your escape will be possible, allowing you to successfully complete the heist and receive your payday. This will also prepare you for the upcoming launch of Payday 3’s next DLC heist, Fear and Greed.
To view the full list of missions available in Payday 3, including all other heists, be sure to check out the mission list. Don’t forget to also take a look at the top heists for quick money-making opportunities, as well as the details of the new solo mode.
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