Loud Approach: First World Bank

Loud Approach: First World Bank

The First World Bank heist, when approached with a loud strategy, transforms into a high-octane battle for survival and riches. This guide will equip you with the knowledge and tactics to successfully crack the vault and escape with maximum loot, even under the most intense police assaults.

I. Pre-Heist Preparation & Loadout

Success in First World Bank often hinges on meticulous planning and a well-rounded crew. Coordinate with your team to ensure a balanced loadout.

A. Recommended Skills & Perks

• Mastermind:
  • Inspire Aced: Essential for quickly reviving downed teammates and boosting their morale.
  • Hostage Taker Aced: Provides crucial health regeneration, especially useful during prolonged defenses.
  • Joker/Partner in Crime: Convert enemies to draw fire and add extra firepower.
• Enforcer:
  • Iron Man Aced: Allows for heavy armor, increasing survivability.
  • Fully Loaded Aced: Ensures you have ample ammunition for sustained firefights.
  • Shotgun/Saw Skills: For breaching and crowd control.
• Technician:
  • Drill Skills (e.g., Kickstarter Aced, More Firepower Aced): Crucial for speeding up the vault drill and making it more resilient.
  • Sentry Gun Skills: Maximize the effectiveness of sentry guns for area denial.
• Fugitive/Ghost:
  • Nine Lives Aced: An extra down can be a lifesaver.
  • Sneaky Bastard/Low Blow: If incorporating critical builds for damage output.

B. Essential Deployables

Strategic placement of deployables can turn the tide of battle.

• Doctor Bags: Absolutely critical for resetting downs and maintaining team health. Aim for at least two, ideally four, across the team.
• Ammo Bags: Necessary for sustained engagements, especially for high-fire rate weapons. Two per team is a good baseline.
• Sentry Guns: Highly recommended for this heist.
  • Placement: Deploy them strategically at choke points leading to the vault, or covering the escape route. They excel at suppressing enemies and dealing with weaker units, freeing up players for special enemies.
  • Upgrades: Prioritize AP rounds for shield penetration and increased health/ammo capacity.
• Trip Mines (Sensor Mode): Can be used to highlight incoming enemies, particularly useful for giving early warnings about flanking units or special spawns.

C. Recommended Weapon Loadouts

Focus on weapons with good damage, accuracy, and ammunition reserves.

• Primary Weapons: Assault Rifles (e.g., CAR-4, AK-47 variants), Light Machine Guns (e.g., KSP 58, Brenner 21) for sustained fire and crowd control, or Shotguns (e.g., Raven, IZHMAS) for close-quarters combat and shield penetration.
• Secondary Weapons: Submachine Guns (e.g., Compact-5, Krinkov) for close-range burst damage, or High-Damage Pistols (e.g., Deagle, Crosskill) for precision shots against specials.
• Melee Weapon: Any high-damage melee for quick kills on weaker enemies or to conserve ammo.
• Throwable:
  • Molotovs/Incendiary Grenades: Excellent for area denial and clearing out groups of enemies.
  • Frag Grenades: Good for instant damage and clearing tight spaces.
  • Concussion Grenades: Can disrupt enemy pushes and provide breathing room.

II. Phase 1: Securing the Lobby & Initial Breach

The moment the alarm sounds, the bank transforms into a warzone. Your immediate goal is to establish control.

1. Initial Assault & Lobby Control:
   • Upon going loud, expect immediate police response. Prioritize securing the main lobby area.
   • Key Choke Points: The main entrance doors and the stairwells leading to the upper floors are primary entry points for law enforcement.
   • Enemy Types: Expect a mix of standard SWAT, security guards, and potentially the first wave of special units like Tasers and Shields.
   • Tactical Advice: Push forward aggressively to clear the lobby, but be mindful of flanking enemies from the side corridors. Establish a perimeter.
2. Accessing the Vault Area:
   • Locate the manager's office on the ground floor. You'll need to either drill or saw the door.
   • Once inside, find the vault access panel. This will trigger the vault door to open, revealing the inner vault door.
   • Common Pitfall: Don't linger too long in the manager's office. It can become a death trap if overwhelmed.

III. Phase 2: Vault Drilling/Sawing & Defense

This is arguably the most critical phase, requiring sustained defense against relentless assaults.

1. Initiating the Drill/Saw:
   • Place the drill or saw on the main vault door. This is your primary objective.
   • Technician Advantage: A Technician with drill skills is invaluable here for faster and more resilient drills.
2. Establishing Defensive Positions:
   • Main Vault Corridor: This narrow corridor leading to the vault is a major choke point. Deploy sentry guns here to suppress enemies. focus fire down this corridor.
   • Side Corridors: Be aware of the smaller corridors flanking the vault area. Enemies will attempt to push through these. Assign at least one player to monitor these routes.
   • Upper Floor Control (Crucial!):
     • Sniper Threat: Snipers will consistently spawn on the upper floors, particularly in the windows overlooking the vault area and the lobby. These snipers can quickly down players and are a high priority target.
     • Tactical Advice: Designate at least one, preferably two, players to actively patrol and clear the upper floors. This not only eliminates snipers but also prevents enemies from gaining a height advantage and flanking your team.
     • Access Points: The main stairwells from the lobby provide access to the upper floors.
   • Lobby Perimeter: Maintain some presence in the lobby to prevent enemies from completely overrunning it and cutting off your escape.
3. Managing Special Enemies:
   • Tasering Threat: Tasers frequently patrol the corridors leading to the vault and the upper floors. Prioritize them immediately as they can incapacitate players, leaving them vulnerable.
   • Shields: Use explosives, melee attacks from behind, or AP rounds to deal with Shields. They often push the main vault corridor.
   • Dozers: These heavy units are a significant threat. Focus fire on their weak points (head/faceplate) or use high-damage weapons. They often appear during assault waves.
   • Cloakers: Listen for their distinctive audio cues. They will attempt to flank and down players with their powerful kicks. Watch your back, especially in the more open lobby areas or upper floors.
4. Drill Maintenance:
   • The drill will jam periodically. A designated player should be ready to restart it quickly.
   • Common Pitfall: Getting caught restarting the drill while under heavy fire. Clear the immediate area before attempting to restart.

IV. Phase 3: Looting the Vault & Escape Route

Once the vault is open, the real work begins: securing the loot and making a daring escape.

1. Vault Looting:
   • The vault contains a significant amount of cash, gold, and potentially other valuables.
   • Efficiency: Designate one or two players to bag loot while others maintain defensive positions.
   • Loot Bag Table:

     Loot Type	Quantity (Approx.)	Value (Approx.)
     Cash Bundles	10-15	$50,000 - $75,000 each
     Gold Bars	5-8	$100,000 - $150,000 each
     Loose Diamonds	Variable	$20,000 - $40,000 each

2. Preparing the Escape Route:
   • The escape vehicle will arrive outside the bank, usually at the front entrance.
   • Securing the Path: You will need to transport all loot bags from the vault, through the lobby, and out to the escape van. This is where the fight intensifies.
   • Choke Points on Escape Route:
     • Main Lobby: The entire lobby becomes a gauntlet. Expect heavy resistance from all directions.
     • Front Entrance: The doors leading outside will be heavily guarded.
     • Upper Floor Snipers: Continue to monitor and eliminate snipers on the upper floors, as they will have clear lines of sight to the lobby and the escape path.
   • Tactical Advice for Escape:
     • Team Movement: Move as a cohesive unit. Don't leave a single player to carry all the bags alone.
     • Bag Management: Designate one or two players as primary bag carriers, while others provide heavy cover fire.
     • Deployable Repositioning: If you have extra sentry guns, consider deploying them near the front entrance to provide cover for bag throws.
     • Smoke Grenades: Can be useful for obscuring vision while throwing bags to the escape van.
     • Prioritize Specials: Clear out Tasers, Dozers, and Shields from the escape path immediately.
3. Final Push to the Escape Van:
   • Once all bags are outside, throw them into the escape van.
   • Be prepared for a final, desperate assault as you make your way to the van yourself.
   • Common Pitfall: Getting downed just short of the escape. Ensure everyone is revived and healthy before making the final dash.

V. Common Pitfalls & Advanced Tips

• Ignoring Snipers: This is a common mistake that leads to rapid downs. Always prioritize clearing the upper floors.
• Splitting Up Too Much: While controlling different areas is important, don't spread your team so thin that you can't support each other.
• Running Out of Ammo/Medkits: Proper deployable management and efficient shooting are key. Don't waste ammo on standard units if a special is present.
• Underestimating the Escape: The escape phase is often the most chaotic. Don't relax after the vault is open.
• Hostage Management: Taking hostages can reduce assault waves and provide trade opportunities if a teammate goes into custody.
• Utilize Cover: The bank offers plenty of cover. Don't stand in the open during heavy assaults.

By following these detailed strategies and preparing thoroughly, your crew can confidently tackle the First World Bank on a loud approach, securing a massive payout and proving your mastery of the Payday 2 criminal underworld.