Payday 2
Payday 2

Four Stores

Conquer the Payday 2 Four Stores heist using our expert tips. We cover smart looting routes and crowd control to maximize cash and XP gains quickly.

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Four Stores

The "Four Stores" heist is an excellent early-game mission for new players and a reliable source of cash and experience for veterans. It's a relatively straightforward smash-and-grab, focusing on quick execution and managing multiple small objectives. While it can be done stealthily, going loud is often faster and just as effective given the mission's design.

Mission Overview

Your primary objective is to loot four distinct stores: a convenience store, a clothing store, a pharmacy, and a electronics store. Each store contains a varying amount of cash, and some may have a safe or additional loot like jewelry or electronics. The mission concludes once you've secured enough loot bags in the escape vehicle.

Preparation & Loadout

  • Weapons: For lower difficulties, any reliable primary and secondary will suffice. On Overkill and above, consider weapons with good accuracy and damage for dealing with swarms of law enforcement. Shotguns are excellent for crowd control in tight spaces.
  • Equipment:
    • Ammo Bags: Always useful, especially if you plan on going loud.
    • Doctor Bags: Crucial for sustaining your crew through prolonged firefights.
    • ECM Jammers: Essential for stealth attempts, allowing you to disable cameras and pagers. Can also be used to delay police assaults.
    • Trip Mines (Sensor Mode): Can help detect approaching enemies or mark loot.
  • Perk Decks:
    • Muscle/Armorer: For increased survivability in loud scenarios.
    • Rogue/Grinder: For speed and health regeneration, useful for quickly moving between stores.

Walkthrough: Stealth Approach (Optional)

While possible, full stealth on Four Stores can be tricky due to the number of civilians and cameras. It's generally recommended for experienced players or those looking for a challenge.

  1. Reconnaissance: Before entering, identify the locations of the security cameras and the manager's office in each store.
  2. ECM Rush: A common stealth strategy involves deploying ECM Jammers to disable cameras and pagers for a short duration. Coordinate with your team to chain ECMs if necessary.
  3. Control Civilians: Immediately after entering, shout down and tie up any civilians. This prevents them from calling the police.
  4. Disable Cameras: Locate and disable the security camera feed from the manager's office. This is usually a small room with a monitor.
  5. Looting: Once the area is secure, proceed to loot the cash registers and any safes.
  6. Bag Management: Carefully move loot bags to the escape vehicle without being spotted.

Walkthrough: Loud Approach (Recommended)

The loud approach is generally more efficient for Four Stores, especially on lower difficulties. Speed and aggression are key.

  1. Initial Breach: Choose a store to start with. The convenience store is often a good first target due to its central location and easy access to cash registers.
  2. Secure the Area: Immediately after initiating the heist (e.g., by shooting out a window or opening a cash register), expect law enforcement to be alerted. Focus on controlling the immediate area around your current store.
  3. Looting Strategy:
    • Cash Registers: Prioritize emptying all cash registers in each store. These are the primary source of loot.
    • Safes: Some stores may have a small safe. These can be drilled or opened with C4. The electronics store often has a safe containing valuable electronics.
    • Additional Loot: Keep an eye out for loose jewelry in the clothing store or additional electronics in the electronics store.
  4. Moving Between Stores: Once a store is sufficiently looted, move quickly to the next. Use cover and communicate with your team to suppress incoming police.
  5. Escape Vehicle: The escape vehicle (usually a white van) will eventually arrive at a designated location. Begin moving secured loot bags to the van as soon as it's available.
  6. Defense: While waiting for the escape vehicle or securing the last bags, establish a defensive perimeter. The street can become a chokepoint, so be mindful of snipers and tasers.

Key Locations & Loot

  • Convenience Store: Multiple cash registers, often a small safe behind the counter.
  • Clothing Store: Several cash registers, sometimes jewelry display cases.
  • Pharmacy: Cash registers, occasionally a small safe.
  • Electronics Store: Cash registers, often a safe containing electronics (laptops, phones), and loose electronics on shelves.

Tips for Success

  • Communication: Coordinate with your team on which stores to hit first, who's carrying loot, and where to focus fire.
  • Prioritize Objectives: Focus on emptying cash registers first, as they are the most consistent source of loot. Safes can be drilled while defending.
  • Stay Mobile: Don't get bogged down in one location. Move between stores to avoid being overwhelmed by police assaults.
  • Use Cover: The streets and interiors of the stores offer plenty of cover. Utilize it to your advantage.
  • Watch for Specials: Cloakers, Tasers, and Bulldozers can quickly end a run. Prioritize taking them down.