Payday 3 Stealth Guide: Mastering Fear and Greed Tactics

Fear and Greed is the climactic heist in Payday 3’s The Bad Apple campaign, and it stands out as one of the most challenging to complete stealthily.

As part of Payday 3’s Year 1 DLC rollout, the Fear and Greed heist has been introduced alongside a suite of additional content. Players reunite with Houston, who makes a comeback after being rescued in the previous heist. The objective is to infiltrate the New York Stock Exchange and strike Concord where it hits hardest—his finances.

As always, Fear and Greed can be tackled either with a loud approach or stealthily. Here’s a guide on completing the heist without triggering any alarms.

How to Stealth in Fear and Greed

First and foremost, ensure you’re equipped with our recommended stealth loadout. There are specific skills that will assist you in navigating the stock exchange undetected.

Additionally, opting for the Start inside the Exchange favor will allow you to bypass the initial phase of the heist, significantly reducing the difficulty of the subsequent stages. If you choose this route, feel free to skip down to the section detailing what to do inside the stock exchange.

At the mission’s outset, you’ll find yourself on the rooftop of the Stock Exchange. Shade will instruct you to disable the power to the elevator and collect a zipline bag. Exercise caution, as the rooftop is monitored by several guards and cameras.

The zipline bag can be located within any of the ventilation shafts scattered across the rooftop. Meanwhile, to disable the elevator’s power, you’ll need to search the rooms that have lockpickable doors.

Once you locate the lever to cut off the power, trace the cable from the power box to determine which elevator it controls. Interact with the elevator doors to access the shaft and drop the zipline bag into the drop zone.

After setting up the zipline, interact with it to descend through the elevator shaft and land on the lower level. Open the elevator door to gain entry to the Stock Exchange.

Inside the Stock Exchange

Your next objective is to locate an office belonging to one of the trading firms: either Jordan or SwapMeet Trading. These offices are situated on the upper level of the Stock Exchange. To gain entry, you’ll require either an RFID tag or a QR code. Always confirm which one you need by checking the office entrance. Also, keep an eye out for a Red Keycard, as you will need this later on.

Where to Find the RFID Tag

The RFID tag can be found in the upper offices just above the central exchange area. Numerous tags will be present on the traders’ desks. Beware of several cameras and a couple of guards patrolling this area.

Where to Find the QR Code

The QR code is held on the phone of an employee. If you spot an employee with a cell phone, interact with it and remain within the large circle until it fills completely.

Where to Find the Red Keycard

The Red Keycard is held by an employee. The ideal starting locations to search for this keycard are in or near the Big Meeting Room or Speaker Hall. You can retrieve it from the back of the employee’s jacket.

Obtaining the USB Key

Next, proceed to the office of the trading firm indicated by Shade, either Jordan or SwapMeet, located on opposite sides of the building on the upper floor. Use the RFID tag or QR code to access the office.

Be cautious as you may trigger a silent alarm, which will activate in just over a minute. Look for a small wall unit to cut the wire and disable the alarm; it can usually be found either inside or outside the office.

Payday 3 Fear and Greed Stealth Cut Wire — Starbreeze Studios / dexerto

Cut the wire to disable the silent alarm.

Once you’ve disabled the alarm, feel free to explore the office. Shade will request that you hack a nearby PC. If you’re wearing a mask, consider closing the blinds by pressing the buttons next to the windows and securing the civilians. Move them to a safe area and continue with the hack.

Eventually, Shade will instruct you to sift through files within the office to locate specific numbers she requires. After completing this, you can finish the hack. Shade will then need you to find a USB key located in a safe within the office. Open the safe, retrieve the USB, and exit the office.

If you’re masked up, this next part can be challenging. You’ll need to descend into the main area of the Stock Exchange and connect the USB to one of the kiosks. Any kiosk will suffice, but be wary of civilians and guards spotting you, as cover is scarce. Once you choose a suitable station, plug in the USB and wait for Shade to gain access. When she’s ready, retrieve the USB and head back upstairs.

Executing the Stock Transfer

Your next goal is to access the Transfer Control Room, a secure office on the upper floor. This requires the Red Keycard for entry. Once inside, tie up all the civilians present and plug the USB into the console so Shade can initiate the stock transfer process.

You’ll need to collect three separate numbers for input onto the console. Each kiosk in the central Stock Exchange area will display a code—for example, X4 or K2—that you will need to match on the console.

Payday 3 Fear and Greed Stealth Stock Exchange 1

Make note of the first kiosk you visit, then interact with its panel to reveal a four-digit code. Jot this down before heading back to the console in the Transfer Control Room. You will need to repeat this process for two additional codes, totaling three entries into the console.

After entering all the codes, Shade will carry on with the transfer. The total in the top left corner will gradually climb, and the longer you allow it to run, the more cash you’ll earn. Keep an eye out for roaming guards and civilians who may discover any evidence you’ve left behind. They could potentially stumble into the Transfer Control Room, so be prepared to handle that threat if it arises.

Once you’re satisfied with the transfer, collect the USB key and head downstairs to locate the EMP, which can be found in a supply cupboard situated near the central trading room. Take the EMP and deliver it to the designated drop zone within one of the trading kiosks.

Payday 3 Fear and Greed Stealth Escape — Starbreeze Studios / dexerto

If you entered unmasked, you’ll need to mask up here to operate the EMP. Once it’s safe, trigger the EMP and exit the vicinity. You’ll have approximately ten seconds before it detonates. When it goes off, guards will enter a Searching phase, increasing their chances of discovering any clues.

Return to the elevator shaft used earlier and ascend via the zipline. By this time, Bile should have arrived in his helicopter. Proceed to the escape zone and stand within it to finalize the heist. Congratulations! You’ve just stealthily completed Fear and Greed, concluding the Bad Apple campaign.

For a comprehensive list of all heists in Payday 3, check out the full mission list. Additionally, take a look at the best heists for quick cash and how the new solo mode functions.

Source