Payday 2
Payday 2

Rats

Master the Payday 2 "Rats" heist by following this guide for meth lab production, transport, and disposal. Maximize payouts and minimize risks across all three.

·Multi-source verified (66/66)

Rats

The "Rats" heist is a multi-day contract that focuses on drug manufacturing, transport, and disposal. This guide will walk you through each day, providing strategies to maximize your payout and minimize your risks.

Day 1: Meth Lab Production

Day 1 involves cooking meth in a dilapidated house. Your primary objective is to produce a minimum of three bags of meth, though producing more will increase your payout.

  • Initial Setup: Upon spawning, immediately locate the meth lab in the kitchen or basement. The lab consists of a burner, a large pot, and three ingredient containers: Caustic Soda, Muriatic Acid, and Hydrogen Chloride.
  • Ingredient Identification: Bain will call out the correct ingredient to add. Listen carefully! Adding the wrong ingredient will cause the lab to explode, damaging players and requiring a restart of the cooking process.
  • Cooking Process:
    1. Add the first ingredient Bain calls out.
    2. Wait for Bain to call out the second ingredient.
    3. Add the second ingredient.
    4. Wait for Bain to call out the third ingredient.
    5. Add the third ingredient.
    6. Once all three ingredients are added correctly, the meth will cook. After a short delay, you can bag the meth.
  • Defense Strategy:
    • Perimeter Control: The house has multiple entry points. Prioritize defending the front and back doors, and the windows on the ground floor.
    • Upstairs Advantage: The upstairs offers good vantage points for snipers and controlling enemy flow. However, be wary of enemies pushing from the stairs.
    • Ammo and Health: Ammo bags and Doctor Bags should be placed in central, defensible locations, such as the living room or hallway, allowing easy access for all team members.
    • Special Units: Watch out for Tasers, Shields, and especially Cloakers who can quickly down players in the confined spaces of the house.
  • Optimal Meth Production: Aim for 7 bags of meth for the maximum bonus. This requires cooking the meth multiple times. Each successful cook yields one bag.

Day 2: Bus Stop Ambush

Day 2 is a straightforward ambush mission. You need to secure the meth bags from Day 1 and transport them to a waiting bus.

  • Securing the Meth: The meth bags from Day 1 will be located in the back of a van. You'll need to move them to the bus.
  • Bus Location: The bus will be parked at a designated bus stop.
  • Defense and Transport:
    • Team Coordination: Designate one or two players to carry bags while the others provide heavy cover.
    • Clear the Path: Before attempting to move bags, clear the immediate area around the van and the bus stop of any immediate threats.
    • Sniper Threat: Be aware of snipers positioned on rooftops and elevated platforms around the area. Prioritize eliminating them.
    • Heavy Resistance: Expect heavy police resistance, including SWAT vans and special units. Utilize cover effectively.
  • Escape: Once all meth bags are loaded onto the bus, secure the area around the bus until the escape timer runs out.

Day 3: The Lab Explosion or Trade

Day 3 presents a critical choice: either destroy the meth lab or trade the meth for money. The choice impacts your payout and the mission's difficulty.

Option A: Destroying the Meth Lab (Higher XP, Lower Cash)

This option involves planting C4 in a lab and detonating it. This is generally the quicker but less lucrative option in terms of cash.

  • Locate the Lab: The lab is typically located in a warehouse or industrial building.
  • C4 Placement: You'll need to find and plant C4 charges at designated points within the lab. Bain will guide you to these locations.
  • Drill the Safe (Optional): Sometimes, there will be a safe containing additional loot or a keycard needed to access parts of the lab. Consider bringing a drill if you want to maximize your take.
  • Defense During Placement: Expect heavy resistance as you plant the C4. Utilize cover and team fire to suppress enemies.
  • Detonation and Escape: Once all C4 is planted, trigger the detonation and make your way to the escape vehicle.
Option B: Trading the Meth (Lower XP, Higher Cash)

This option involves trading the meth for cash with Hector's buyers. This path is often more challenging due to the need to protect the trade and the subsequent escape.

  • Secure the Trade Point: You'll need to bring the meth bags to a specific location, often an open area or a building with multiple entry points.
  • Buyer Arrival: Hector's buyers will arrive in a vehicle. You'll need to load the meth bags into their vehicle.
  • Protect the Trade: This phase is often characterized by intense police assaults. You must protect the buyers and their vehicle until the trade is complete.
  • Escape Route: After the trade, you'll need to secure your own escape. This can involve a prolonged firefight as you move to the escape vehicle, which might be a boat or a van.
  • Additional Loot: Keep an eye out for additional cash or drug stashes in the trade area, especially if you have the "Loot Bag" skill.

General Tips for Rats

  • Communication is Key: Especially on Day 1, clear communication about ingredients is vital to avoid explosions.
  • Skill Synergy:
    • Enforcer: Skills like Iron Man and Fully Loaded are excellent for tanking damage and carrying extra ammo, especially on Day 2 and 3.
    • Technician: Drill Skills are useful if you opt for the safe on Day 3 (Destroy Lab). Turret Sentry can provide valuable suppressing fire.
    • Mastermind: Inspire is crucial for reviving downed teammates quickly, especially during intense assaults.
    • Ghost: While less stealth-focused, skills like ECM Overdrive can be useful for brief crowd control or opening certain doors.
  • Loadout:
    • Primary Weapon: An assault rifle (e.g., CAR-4 Rifle, AK Rifle) or an LMG (e.g., KSP 58) is recommended for sustained firefights.
    • Secondary Weapon: A high-damage shotgun (e.g., Judge Shotgun, Locomotive 12G) or a powerful pistol (e.g., Deagle) for special units.
    • Equipment: Doctor Bags are essential for survivability. Ammo Bags are also highly recommended, especially on higher difficulties.
  • Difficulty Scaling: "Rats" can be very challenging on higher difficulties (Overkill, Mayhem, Death Wish, Death Sentence). Expect more special units, tougher enemies, and less available cover.