Payday 2
Payday 2

Day 1: The Convoy

Survive Day 1 of Hoxton Breakout in Payday 2. This guide covers ambushing the convoy, disabling the transport, and escorting Hoxton to the escape vehicle under.

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Day 1: The Convoy

Day 1 of the Hoxton Breakout heist, aptly named "The Convoy," thrusts your crew into a high-octane ambush designed to liberate Hoxton from a heavily guarded police transport. This mission is loud, chaotic, and demands excellent team coordination and tactical awareness. Expect relentless waves of law enforcement, including a significant presence of special units. Your primary objectives are to disable the convoy, secure Hoxton, and then escort him to a waiting escape vehicle while holding off the relentless police assault.

Phase 1: The Ambush and Convoy Disablement

The heist begins with your crew positioned on a highway overpass, overlooking the approaching police convoy. This initial phase is critical for setting the tone and gaining an early advantage.

  • Initial Setup: As soon as the heist starts, immediately deploy your chosen deployables. An Ammo Bag is highly recommended near the initial ambush point, as sustained fire will be necessary. A Doctor Bag can be placed slightly further back but still accessible.
  • Convoy Approach: The convoy consists of several police cars and the armored transport carrying Hoxton. Your objective is to stop the armored transport.
  • Targeting the Transport: Focus all fire on the armored transport's engine block (front grill) or tires to disable it quickly. Weapons with high damage per shot or high rate of fire are effective here.
  • Dealing with Escorts: While the transport is the priority, be mindful of the escorting police cars. They will deploy standard police officers and occasionally Tasers. Eliminate them to reduce incoming fire.
  • Securing the Area: Once the transport is stopped, a short holdout phase begins as you await the drill. Clear the immediate vicinity of any remaining law enforcement.

Phase 2: Freeing Hoxton

With the convoy stopped, your next task is to breach the armored transport and free Hoxton.

  • Drilling the Door: A drill will need to be placed on the rear door of the armored transport. This drill is relatively slow and will attract heavy police attention.
  • Defense Positions (Drill Phase):
    • Front of Transport: One or two You can take cover behind the front of the transport, providing a good vantage point for incoming enemies from the highway.
    • Sides of Transport: Utilize the sides of the transport as cover. Be aware of enemies flanking from the road shoulders.
    • Overpass (Sniper Position): If a player has a long-range weapon, the initial overpass can offer a temporary, elevated position to pick off distant enemies, especially snipers. However, this position becomes less viable as the police push closer.
    • Under the Overpass: The area directly under the overpass can offer some cover from aerial assaults (e.g., snipers on distant buildings) but can also become a choke point if overwhelmed.
  • Drill Maintenance: The drill can jam. Be prepared to restart it promptly. A player with the Hardware Expert skill (Technician tree) can restart it faster.
  • Hoxton's Release: Once the drill finishes, Hoxton will emerge. He is an NPC and will follow You who interacts with him first. He cannot take damage but will occasionally pause to taunt enemies or comment on the situation.

Phase 3: The Escape Route and Holdout

With Hoxton in tow, your crew must navigate a gauntlet of police to reach the escape vehicle. This is often the most challenging part of the heist due to the sheer volume of enemies.

  • Escorting Hoxton: Designate one player to primarily escort Hoxton. This player should prioritize staying with him and ensuring he doesn't get stuck.
  • Pushing Forward: The path to the escape vehicle is linear but heavily contested. Move as a unit, clearing areas before advancing. Do not rush ahead, as Hoxton will lag behind.
  • Key Choke Points: Expect heavy resistance at intersections and open areas. Utilize grenades (frag or incendiary) to clear groups of enemies.
  • The Escape Vehicle Holdout: Upon reaching the escape vehicle, Bain will announce a short wait time. This triggers a final, intense holdout phase.
  • Optimal Holdout Positions:
    • Behind the Escape Van: The rear of the escape van provides excellent cover from enemies approaching from the front and sides. This is a primary defensive position.
    • Nearby Barriers/Cars: Utilize any abandoned cars or concrete barriers near the escape zone for additional cover.
    • Elevated Positions (Limited): Depending on the specific spawn, there might be a slight elevation or small structure nearby that offers a limited vantage point, but these are often exposed.
    • Choke Point Defense: Identify the main avenues of approach for the police and focus fire there. Often, enemies will funnel down the street towards the van.
  • Prioritize Special Units: During the holdout, special units will spawn relentlessly. Prioritize eliminating them:
    • Tasers: Can disable players, leaving them vulnerable.
    • Cloakers: Can down players instantly with their charge. Listen for their distinctive audio cue.
    • Dozers: Heavily armored, require sustained fire to take down. Aim for the faceplate.
    • Snipers: Can deal significant damage from a distance. Look for their laser sights.
    • Shields: Can block bullets. Flank them or use explosives.
  • Deployable Management: This is where your deployables shine. Place Doctor Bags in a safe, central location accessible to all players. Use Ammo Bags strategically when players are running low.

Recommended Loadouts and Skills

Given the loud and intense nature of "The Convoy," specific weapons and skills can significantly improve your chances of success.

Recommended Weapons:
  • Primary Weapons (High Damage/Crowd Control):
    • Assault Rifles (e.g., CAR-4, AK Rifle, Lion's Roar): Versatile, good for both clearing crowds and dealing with specials. Mod for stability and accuracy.
    • Light Machine Guns (LMGs - e.g., KSP 58, Buzzsaw 42): Excellent for sustained fire and crowd control during holdout phases. Can suppress enemies.
    • Shotguns (e.g., Raven, IZHMASH 12G): Powerful for close-quarters combat, especially against Shields and Dozers. Can be modified for high damage or high pellet count.
    • Sniper Rifles (e.g., Rattlesnake, Nagant): Effective for picking off distant specials like Snipers and Dozers, but less ideal for general crowd control.
  • Secondary Weapons (Special Unit Elimination/Utility):
    • Compact Grenade Launcher (e.g., GL40, China Puff): Invaluable for clearing groups of enemies, especially during the holdout.
    • High-Damage Pistols (e.g., Deagle, Bronco .44): Good for quickly dispatching specials if your primary is focused on crowds.
    • SMGs (e.g., Krinkov, Micro Uzi): High rate of fire for quick special unit takedowns.
  • Melee: A high-damage melee weapon (e.g., Katana, Great Sword) can be useful for quickly finishing off downed enemies or dealing with Cloakers.
  • Throwables:
    • Frag Grenades: Excellent for clearing groups and dealing with Shields.
    • Incendiary Grenades: Good for area denial and sustained damage on groups.
    • Molotov Cocktails: Similar to incendiaries, good for blocking enemy paths.
Recommended Skills:

Focus on skills that enhance survivability, damage output, and team utility.

  • Mastermind Tree:
    • Inspire (Aced): Crucial for reviving teammates quickly from a distance, keeping the team in the fight.
    • Hostage Taker (Aced): Provides health regeneration, significantly increasing survivability.
    • Joker/Partner in Crime: Converts enemies into allies, drawing fire and adding extra firepower.
  • Enforcer Tree:
    • Iron Man (Aced): Allows wearing the heaviest armor (ICTV), greatly boosting survivability.
    • Shotgun/LMG Skills: Boost damage and effectiveness of these weapon types.
    • Fully Loaded (Aced): Increases ammo capacity and allows for an ammo bag deployable.
  • Technician Tree:
    • Body Expertise (Aced): Makes body shots count as headshots for assault rifles and LMGs, significantly increasing damage output.
    • Hardware Expert (Basic/Aced): Speeds up drill interaction and repair.
    • Engineer Skills: If using sentry guns, these boost their effectiveness.
  • Fugitive Tree:
    • Nine Lives (Aced): Grants an extra down before going into custody.
    • Swan Song (Aced): Allows players to continue fighting for a short period after being downed, crucial for clearing threats or reaching cover.
  • Perk Decks:
    • Armorer: Provides excellent armor regeneration and damage reduction.
    • Stoic: Converts damage into damage over time, allowing for strategic healing.
    • Kingpin: Provides a powerful temporary invulnerability and healing ability.
    • Anarchist: Converts health into armor, offering aggressive armor gating.

Common Pitfalls and Missables

  • Splitting Up: This heist punishes teams that spread out too much. Stick together, especially when escorting Hoxton.
  • Ignoring Specials: Allowing Tasers, Cloakers, and Dozers to run rampant will quickly lead to downs. Prioritize them.
  • Running Out of Ammo/Health: Manage your deployables effectively. Don't be afraid to use an ammo bag if multiple teammates are low.
  • Hoxton Getting Stuck: Occasionally, Hoxton might get stuck on environmental objects. If this happens, try to clear the path or have a player interact with him to re-engage his follow script.
  • Underestimating the Holdout: The final holdout phase is intense. Ensure your team is positioned well and ready for a sustained fight.