Trying to figure out what is a lead guard in Payday 3?
Payday 3 offers the similar gameplay of its predecessor, Payday 2, with pulling off heists through stealth or guns blazing. Some of the mechanics have changed, including different types of guards. The lead guard is a more advanced guard that is almost better left alive than incapacitated. This guide will show players what a lead guard can do and how to spot them in the game.
What Can a Lead Guard Do in Payday 3?
There are a few differences between a lead guard and regular guards in Payday 3. A lead guard will be holding a pager that will consistently beep with calls, causing the players to have to answer each call if the guard is killed or incapacitated.
This would not be a problem for players to babysit the pager, but players can only answer two pagers before the alarm is automatically triggered. That means players will either have to finish the heist quickly before it happens, or leave the lead guard alive and work around it. However, players will only encounter the lead guard on the Overkill difficulty, which is the hardest difficulty in the game.
That being said, lead guards also have much larger patrol areas than their lesser counterparts. Their paths can span several floors in some heists, like No Rest For the Wicked. This allows them to easily uncover hiding places for bodies if players aren’t careful.
How To Spot a Lead Guard in Payday 3
The lead guard sports a different look than the regular guards, which makes them easier to spot from afar in Overkill mode. Regular guards are dressed in a uniform with a shirt and pants, while the lead guard will wear a hat, a Kevlar bulletproof vest, and will carry additional equipment.
How Do You Avoid Lead Guards?
The best way to avoid lead guards is to have one player constantly follow one along their patrol route, whilst the others explore the area. This way, you will have the lead guard’s location pinpointed and not trigger the radio. You can highlight lead guards and cameras by pointing at them. Be sure to alert your teammates if the mission goes awry.
Should You Kill Lead Guards?
Lead guards are a nuisance that you can’t solve with guns without consequence in Payday 3. If they’re shot in stealth mode, you’ll blow your cover. This is a bad idea unless you’re looking to go loud. To deal with lead guards, you’ll want to avoid them altogether in most cases.
That is everything to know about what is a lead guard in Payday 3. For other helpful guides on the game, please be sure to check out How to Make a Private Lobby in Payday 3, Payday 3 Server Status, and Payday 3 No Rest for the Wicked Heist Walkthrough.