Payday 2 Weapon Rebalance Changes

Author Notes:
This change log is subject to modification due to new information uncovered over time.  Feel free to add information or correct me.
I'm aware there's also a spreadsheet floating around courtesy of CookMyTree on reddit.  I decided to just have this log co-exist with the spreadsheet because the game statistics aren't always completely accurate about a gun's behavior.  They never have been...

Index
1.) Assault Rifles [ARC]
2.) Shotguns [SGC]
3.) Sniper Rifles [SRC]
4.) Light Machine Guns [LMC]
5.) Pistols [PSC]
6.) Akimbo [AKC]
7.) Submachine Guns [SMC]
8.) Special Weapons [SPC]
9.) Thoughts and Opinions [T/O]



Statistics
• Accuracy and Stability are measured from 0-100, instead of 0-20 and 0-50 respectively.
• Damage is no longer a rounded number.  One decimal point is added to the stat.



General Changes
• Each weapon type has their properties changed to follow a tier system.  Some promote spray fire and others promote accurate shots.
• Many weapon mods have seen changes to accommodate the new system.  Look over each of your weapons to make sure they're right.
+ LMGs and the Minigun no longer have a movement penalty.
+ Most SMGs have been given a higher ammo pool.
+ Sniper rifle hip fire accuracy increased drastically.
+ Pistols generally have less ammo, but deal significantly more damage and cover just about any range.
- Assault Rifles have less accuracy, but more damage, favoring a close to mid-range combat style of play.
- Shotgun damage has mildly decreased, pellets per shell have increased, and the pellet spread has narrowed.

1.) Assault Rifle Changes [ARC]

CAR-4 Rifle
+ Damage increased to 39.9
- Accuracy decreased mildly

AK.762 Rifle
+ Damage increased to 84
+ Accuracy increased

AK Rifle
+ Damage increased to 42
+ Accuracy increased
+ Stability increased
* (Generally this weapon is almost identical to the CAR-4 statistically when modded)

AMCAR Rifle
+ Damage increased to 37.8
+ Ammo increased to 220
+ Stability significantly increased
- Accuracy decreased severely

UAR Rifle
+ Damage increased to 39.9
+ Stability increased slightly

JP36 Rifle
+ Damage increased to 37.8
+ Ammo increased to 240
+ Stability increased significantly
- Accuracy decreased badly

M308 Rifle
+ Damage increased to 168
+ Accuracy slightly increased
+ Ammo increased to 70
+ Stability increased

AK5 Rifle
+ Stability increased

AMR-16 Rifle
+ Damage increased to 84
- Accuracy and stability slightly decreased, but mods make this change negligible.

Commando .553 Rifle
+ Damage increased to 36.8
+ Stability increased
+ Ammo increased to 240
- Accuracy decreased significantly

Eagle Heavy Rifle
+ Damage increased to 85
+ Accuracy increased
+ Stability increased
+ Ammo increased to 100

Falcon Rifle
+ Damage increased to 84
+ Accuracy increased
+ Stability increased
+ Ammo increased to 100

Clarion Rifle
+ Damage increased to 36.8
+ Stability increased significantly
+ Ammo increased to 240
- Accuracy decreased horrendously

Gecko 7.62 Rifle
+ Damage increased to 44.1
+ Stability increased
- Accuracy decreased

Gewehr 3 Rifle
+ Damage increased to 84
+ Stability increased
+ Ammo increased to 100

Queen's Wrath Rifle
+ Damage increased to 42
- Ammo decreased to 150

Lion's Roar Rifle
+ Damage increased to 42
+ Stability increased
- Accuracy decreased

Valkyria Rifle (RIP)
+ Ammo increased to 220
+ Stability increased mildly
- Damage decreased to 37.8
- Accuracy decreased significantly

Cavity 9mm
+ Ammo increased to 99
+ Accuracy increased
+ Stability increased
- Damage decreased to 84



2.) Shotgun Changes [SGC]

Locomotive 12G Shotgun
+ Ammo increased to 42
+ Stability increased
- Damage decreased to 60.9

The Judge Shotgun
+ Ammo increased to 25

Street Sweeper Shotgun
+ Ammo increased to 72
+ Stability increased
- Accuracy decreased
- Damage decreased to 24.1

Predator 12G Shotgun
+ Ammo increased to 66
+ Stability increased
- Accuracy decreased
- Damage decreased to 31.5

Joceline O/U 12g Shotgun
+ Damage increased to 152.3
+ Ammo increased to 28 (Luxurious Ammo Pouch was nerfed, but still brings the ammo pool up to 36 like before)
- Stability decreased

Reinfeld 880 Shotgun
+ Stability slightly increased
- Damage decreased to 61.9
- Ammo decreased to 42
- Accuracy decreased

IZHMA 12G Shotgun
+ Stability increased
- Accuracy decreased
- Damage decreased to 24.1

Mosconi 12G Shotgun
+ Damage increased to 152.3
+ Ammo increased to 32
+ Accuracy increased
+ Stability increased

M1014 Shotgun
+ Stability increased
- Ammo decreased to 64
- Damage decreased to 31.5
- Accuracy decreased

Raven Shotgun
+ Stability increased
- Damage decreased to 61.9

Steakout 12G Shotgun
+ Ammo increased to 72
- Stability decreased
- Accuracy decreased
- Damage decreased to 24.1



3.) Sniper Rifle Changes [SRC]

Rattlesnake Sniper Rifle
+ Damage increased to 168
+ Stability increased
- Accuracy slightly decreased (80+ accuracy will still be laser accurate when ADS)
- Ammo decreased to 40

R93 Sniper Rifle
+ Damage increased to 294

Thanatos .50 cal Sniper Rifle
+ Damage increased to 3045

Nagant Sniper Rifle
+ Accuracy increased

Repeater 1874 Sniper Rifle
+ Accuracy increased
- Damage decreased to 168

Lebensauger .308 Sniper Rifle
+ Accuracy increased
- Damage decreased to 168
- Ammo decreased to 40
- Stability decreased



4.) Light Machine Gun Changes [LMC]

RPK Light Machine Gun
+ Damage increased to 42
- Accuracy decreased
- Stability decreased

KSP Light Machine Gun
+ Damage increased to 37.8
- Accuracy decreased
- Stability decreased

Brenner-21 Light Machine Gun
+ Damage increased to 42
+ Accuracy increased

Buzzsaw 42 Light Machine Gun
+ Damage increased to 37.8
- Accuracy decreased
- Stability decreased



5.) Pistol Changes [PSC]

Interceptor 45 Pistol
+ Damage increased to 84
+ Accuracy increased
- Ammo decreased to 91

Chimano Custom Pistol
+ Damage increased to 84
+ Accuracy increased significantly
- Ammo decreased to 96

Chimano Compact Pistol
+ Damage increased to 42
+ Stability increased

Chimano 88 Pistol
+ Damage increased to 39.9
+ Stability increased
+ Ammo increased to 153

Crosskill Pistol
+ Damage increased to 84
+ Accuracy increased
+ Stability increased
+ Ammo increased to 90
* (Capable of over 95 accuracy and 100 damage with mods, one of the best pistols in the game now.)

Bernetti 9 Pistol
+ Damage increased to 42

Bronco .44 Revolver
+ Damage increased to 199.5
+ Accuracy increased a lot
+ Stability slightly increased
+ Ammo increased to 54
* (This gun is DUMB.)

STRYK 18c Pistol
+ Damage increased to 39.9
+ Accuracy increased
+ Stability increased a lot
+ Ammo increased to 160
* (Actually stable on auto fire now, provided you don't have Equilibrium Aced.)

Deagle Pistol
+ Damage increased to 168
+ Accuracy increased a lot
+ Ammo increased to 50
* (There's plenty of reason to use this now.)

Gruber Kurz Pistol
+ Damage increased to 42
- Accuracy decreased horrendously
* (It looks bad, but a Silent Killer build makes it good still.  Just nowhere near as good as before.)

Signature .40 Pistol
+ Damage increased to 84
+ Accuracy increased

Broomstick Pistol
+ Damage increased to 42
+ Ammo increased to 150

LEO Pistol
+ Damage increased to 84
+ Accuracy increased
- Ammo decreased to 95

Peacemaker .45 Revolver
+ Damage increased to 204.7
+ Accuracy increased
+ Ammo increased to 54
- Stability decreased
* (It lost its niche now that the other revolvers match it in damage.  It's only a novelty now.)

Matever .357 Revolver
+ Damage increased to 204.7
+ Accuracy increased
+ Ammo increased to 54
- Stability decreased



6.) Akimbo Changes [AKC]

Akimbo Chimano Compact Pistols
+ Damage increased to 42
+ Ammo increased to 160

Akimbo Crosskill Pistols
+ Damage increased to 84
+ Accuracy increased
+ Stability increased
- Ammo decreased to 100

Akimbo Bernetti 9 Pistols
+ Damage increased to 42
- Accuracy slightly decreased
- Ammo decreased to 168
* (These actually have a niche again, thanks to their damage.  Consider these an Akimbo SMG.)

Akimbo Deagle Pistols
+ Damage increased to 168
+ Accuracy increased

Akimbo Chimano 88 Pistols
+ Damage increased to 42
+ Stability increased
+ Ammo increased to 170
* (The accuracy is more than the stats let on.  I never thought I'd say the Chimano 88 was good...)

Akimbo Chimano Custom Pistols
+ Damage increased to 84
+ Accuracy increased significantly
- Ammo decreased to 96

Akimbo Interceptor 45 Pistols
+ Damage increased to 84
+ Accuracy increased
- Ammo decreased to 104



7.) Submachine Gun Changes [SMC]

Chicago Typewriter Submachine Gun
+ Damage increased to 42
+ Stability slightly increased
- Accuracy decreased

Mark 10 Submachine Gun
+ Damage increased to 42
+ Stability slightly increased
+ Ammo increased to 160

Compact-5 Submachine Gun
+ Damage increased to 37.8
+ Ammo increased to 210
- Accuracy decreased significantly

CMP Submachine Gun
+ Damage increased to 37.8
+ Ammo increased to 210
+ Stability increased
- Accuracy decreased significantly

Para Submachine Gun
+ Damage increased to 39.9
+ Ammo increased to 150
- Accuracy decreased

Krinkov Submachine Gun
+ Damage increased to 84
+ Accuracy increased
- Stability decreased slightly
* (Statistically this roughly matches the AK.762 when fully modded.  Pretty good SMG.)

Kobus 90 Submachine Gun
+ Damage increased to 39.9
+ Ammo increased to 150
- Accuracy decreased
- Stability decreased slightly

Swedish K Submachine Gun
+ Damage increased to 84
+ Accuracy increased slightly
* (Despite receiving only buffs, this gun is still less than stellar...)

SpecOps Submachine Gun
+ Damage increased to 42
+ Ammo increased to 160
+ Stability increased slightly

Cobra Submachine Gun
+ Damage increased to 37.8
+ Ammo increased to 220
+ Stability increased slightly
- Accuracy decreased

Blaster 9mm Submachine Gun
+ Damage increased to 37.8
+ Ammo increased to 220
+ Stability increased
- Accuracy decreased

Uzi Submachine Gun
+ Damage increased to 42
+ Ammo increased to 150
- Accuracy decreased
* (With Silent Killer, this gun rocks.  I've been waiting for it to get buffed.)

Patchett L2A1 Submachine Gun
+ Damage increased to 37.8
+ Ammo increased to 220
+ Stability increased
- Accuracy decreased significantly
* (I don't think the fire rate makes this gun worth its new purpose.)

Jacket's Piece
+ Damage increased to 42
+ Ammo increased to 160
+ Accuracy increased
* (It still kicks ass, along with its cousin just below.)

Kross Vertex Submachine Gun
+ Damage increased to 44.1
+ Ammo increased to 150
+ Accuracy increased
+ Stability increased slightly
* (What a beast!)

Micro Uzi Submachine Gun
+ Damage increased to 37.8
+ Ammo increased to 224
+ Stability increased significantly
- Accuracy decreased



8.) Special Weapon Changes [SPC]

GL40 Grenade Launcher, Piglet Grenade Launcher, and Pistol Crossbow
+ Drastically increased accuracy and stability

Vulcan Minigun
+ Can now collect ammo pickups!

OVE9000 Saw
- Damage decreased to 24.1
* (Berserker is once again a mandatory skill for one-clicking deposit boxes)

Plainsrider Bow, Light Crossbow, English Longbow, and Heavy Crossbow
+ Stability increased




9.) Thoughts and Opinions [T/O]

My final thoughts in general are that most of the changes make sense in the long run.  The CAR-4 was a behemoth that could be fired from anywhere and the shotguns were undisputed power houses.  Both the assault rifles and the shotguns have fared just fine after the rebalance and are still extremely viable.  Yeah, that's right.  The shotguns are still really good.  Not sure why everyone was so upset about them.

The SMGs had their changes coming for such a long time.  They deserved the love they got.  I'm not sure what thought process was behind the pistol changes, because the ridiculous buff they got is something they didn't need.  I won't complain though, since dealing 100 damage with a Crosskill is hilarious.

The LMG changes are great and I was skeptical about how unstable they were until the bipods got introduced on day 5.  Then it all made sense.  The LMGs are now the strongest they have ever been and are a blast to use.  Sniper rifles having high accuracy on hip firing was an interesting change and it certainly helps a lot more than it sounds like it would.  The Lebensauger nerf was warranted.  That gun was dumb...  It's still really good now, even.

This rebalance is a step in the right direction, because from my observation, no weapon class is bad now.  They're all really good at something.  This makes finding weapon combinations that work well together fun again, because everything is viable...mostly (my poor Valkyria).  Maybe it would be nice to see Overkill do one last little touch up after Crimefest to get everything pretty even.  Maybe nerf the pistol damage slightly...or just keep it that way.  I certainly won't mind.