You can get the Saw in Payday 2 as a melee weapon by purchasing the “Gage Package #1” DLC. This guide will walk you through how to acquire this powerful tool and make the most of it.
The saw in Payday 2, officially known as the “Buzzsaw,” is a fan-favorite melee weapon renowned for its ability to chew through objectives and enemies alike. Many players consider it one of the best melee weapons in the game, especially for certain playstyles. This guide will break down everything you need to know to get your hands on this iconic tool and wield it effectively.
Deciphering the Buzzsaw: What Makes It Special?
The Buzzsaw isn’t your typical melee weapon. Instead of a traditional swing, it features a spinning saw blade that deals continuous damage to anything caught in its path. This unique mechanic makes it incredibly potent for crowd control and for breaching objectives that require sustained interaction, like opening safes or cutting through certain doors.
Key Features of the Buzzsaw:
- Continuous Damage: Unlike weapons that strike once, the Buzzsaw keeps dealing damage as long as it’s in contact with a target.
- Armor Penetration: It can often chew through armored units with relative ease, especially with the right build.
- Objective Interaction: Its primary appeal for many is its ability to speed up interaction with mission objectives, significantly cutting down on time spent waiting for drills or other mechanisms.
Acquiring the Buzzsaw: The DLC Connection
To get the Buzzsaw in Payday 2, you must own the “Gage Package #1” DLC. This is the primary and most straightforward method. Without this DLC, the Buzzsaw simply won’t appear in your inventory or be available for purchase.
The “Gage Package #1” DLC: Your Ticket to the Buzzsaw
This DLC was one of the earlier content additions to Payday 2, and it introduced a variety of new weapons and skills. The Buzzsaw is the standout melee weapon from this package.
Where to Purchase the DLC:
- Steam Store: If you play Payday 2 on PC, the easiest place to get the DLC is through the Steam store. Search for “Payday 2 Gage Package #1.”
- Bundles: Sometimes, DLCs are bundled together. Keep an eye out for sales or bundles that might include this package, potentially at a discount.
Important Note: Payday 2 is a live-service game with a vast array of DLC. Ensure you are purchasing the correct package. The “Gage Package #1” is the one that contains the Buzzsaw.
Alternative Acquisition Methods (and why they usually aren’t the case)
While direct DLC purchase is the main way, it’s worth addressing common misconceptions or less direct routes:
- Mission Rewards: Unlike some other in-game items or weapon parts, the Buzzsaw is not obtained through general mission rewards or card drops. Its inclusion is tied directly to the DLC.
- Trading: You cannot trade for the Buzzsaw itself. You can trade for other items that might enhance its effectiveness, but the weapon itself is locked behind the DLC purchase.
- Free Weekend/Promotions: Occasionally, Valve or Overkill might offer temporary access to certain DLCs during special events. However, this is rare, and to permanently own the Buzzsaw, the DLC purchase is required.
Utilizing the Buzzsaw: Builds and Strategies
Once you have the Buzzsaw, the real fun begins: figuring out how to use it effectively. This often involves crafting a dedicated Payday 2 melee build.
Payday 2 Melee Build Essentials for the Buzzsaw
A good melee build revolves around increasing your damage, survivability, and interaction speed. With the Buzzsaw, you’ll want to focus on skills that amplify its strengths.
Key Skill Trees to Consider:
- Enforcer: This is your primary tree for melee builds.
- Melee Skills: Look for skills that increase melee damage, lifesteal on melee hits, and charge attacks.
- Tanking Skills: Skills like “Iron Man” (for ICTV armor) and “Bullseye” (for armor gating) are crucial for survivability.
- Mastermind: While not as direct, Mastermind can offer valuable utility.
- Medic Skills: Skills like “Inspire” can save you and your teammates, even when you’re up close and personal.
- Converted Units: Having converted police units can draw enemy fire, giving you more breathing room.
- Ghost: Can offer stealth bonuses, but for a Buzzsaw build, you’re usually in the thick of it. However, some skills for movement speed or dodge can be beneficial.
- Technician: While often associated with deployables like turrets and ammo bags, some Technician skills can aid in objective interaction speed, which synergizes with the Buzzsaw.
Essential Skills for a Buzzsaw Build:
Here’s a breakdown of must-have skills, assuming you’re going for a high-damage, survivable melee build:
- Shock and Awe (Enforcer): Increases melee damage and allows for a powerful charged attack. Essential for the Buzzsaw’s output.
- Bloodthirst (Enforcer): Increases melee damage with each melee kill. This is a fantastic stacking buff for the Buzzsaw’s continuous damage.
- Frenzy (Enforcer/Aced): Provides a significant damage boost but reduces your health. This pairs well with skills that provide health regeneration or armor gating.
- Combat Doctor (Mastermind): Allows you to place a medic bag with more charges. Useful for recovery.
- Inspire (Mastermind/Aced): Revives downed teammates with a shout. Absolutely vital for team support in a melee build.
- Bullseye (Mastermind/Enforcer): Reduces armor gate cooldown on headshots. Great for regenerating armor quickly when you manage a headshot.
- Iron Man (Enforcer): Allows you to wear the Improved Combined Tactical Vest (ICTV), providing the highest armor and damage reduction. Crucial for melee survivability.
- Beserker (Enforcer): The lower your health, the higher your melee damage. This is the cornerstone of many high-difficulty melee builds.
Deployables for the Buzzsaw User
While the Buzzsaw is your primary weapon, your deployables play a supporting role.
- First Aid Kits: Essential for healing yourself and teammates, especially given the close-quarters nature of melee.
- Ammo Bags: Generally not as crucial for melee builds unless you’re also carrying a secondary weapon that consumes a lot of ammo.
- Throwable Items: Medkits are generally preferred.
Weapon Mods for the Buzzsaw
The Buzzsaw itself can be modified to further enhance its effectiveness. The goal is usually to maximize damage, increase its reach, or improve its utility.
- Blade Mods: Mods that increase damage are paramount.
- Grip Mods: Can affect handling or stability.
- Barrel Mods: Often aim to increase damage or penetration.
- Customization Options: Payday 2 allows for cosmetic customization, but focus on mods that provide stat bonuses.
Example Buzzsaw Mod Recommendations:
- Buzzsaw Blade: The base blade is good, but look for mods that boost its raw damage output.
- Grip: Depending on your playstyle, a grip that improves melee speed or charge attack effectiveness could be beneficial.
- Barrel: Mods that increase the range or damage of the Buzzsaw’s sawing action are ideal.
Always check the specific stats of the mods available to you to see how they impact the Buzzsaw’s performance.
Payday 2 Chainsaw: A Deeper Dive into the Buzzsaw
The term “Payday 2 chainsaw” is often used interchangeably with the Buzzsaw. While it’s not a literal chainsaw in the same way you might find one in a hardware store, its function and visual presentation are very similar. Its noisy, grinding operation and its ability to rip through materials and enemies evoke the image of a powerful chainsaw.
Why the Buzzsaw is a Top-Tier Payday 2 Melee Weapon
The Buzzsaw stands out in the Payday 2 weapon list for several reasons:
- Objective Speed: It dramatically reduces the time needed to interact with certain objectives. Cutting through doors, safes, or other barriers takes a fraction of the time compared to standard tools.
- Crowd Control: When surrounded, the Buzzsaw can cleave through multiple enemies simultaneously, especially with the right buffs.
- Unique Playstyle: It offers a distinct and satisfying way to play the game, very different from typical gunplay.
The Buzzsaw in Different Difficulty Levels
The effectiveness of the Buzzsaw can vary depending on the difficulty setting:
- Normal to Hard: The Buzzsaw is incredibly powerful and can often carry you through these difficulties with minimal support.
- Very Hard/Overkill: On these higher difficulties, enemy health and armor increase significantly. You’ll need a well-optimized Payday 2 melee build with high damage buffs (like Berserker) to remain effective. Survivability becomes paramount.
- Mayhem/Death Wish/One Down: For these extreme difficulties, the Buzzsaw is still viable, but it requires a very specific and carefully crafted build. You’ll likely need to rely heavily on armor gating, health regeneration, and massive damage buffs to compete with the sheer firepower and health of enemies.
Payday 2 DLC: The Key to Unlocking Content
It’s important to reiterate the significance of DLC in Payday 2. The game features a vast amount of content locked behind various DLC packs. The Buzzsaw is a prime example of a powerful weapon that is only accessible through owning a specific DLC.
Understanding the Value of DLCs
While some players prefer to stick to base game content, many of the game’s most unique and powerful items, including the Buzzsaw, are part of paid DLC. If you are serious about experiencing the full breadth of Payday 2’s arsenal and playstyles, investing in DLCs like “Gage Package #1” is often necessary.
Other Notable Melee Weapons in Payday 2
While the Buzzsaw is exceptional, Payday 2 offers a variety of other interesting Payday 2 melee weapons:
- Katana: Fast, high-crit chance, and good for single targets.
- Buzzer: A stun baton that can temporarily disable enemies.
- Fire Axe: High damage, good for breaking shields and armor.
- Composter: Another powerful, heavy-hitting melee weapon.
Each melee weapon has its niche, but the Buzzsaw’s unique objective interaction capability sets it apart.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I get the Buzzsaw without buying DLC?
No, you cannot get the Buzzsaw without purchasing the “Gage Package #1” DLC. It is exclusively tied to this content pack.
Is the Buzzsaw good for stealth missions?
The Buzzsaw is generally not suited for stealth missions. Its noisy operation will immediately alert all enemies, and its strengths lie in combat and objective interaction in loud scenarios.
What’s the best melee build in Payday 2?
The “best” melee build is subjective and depends on your preferred playstyle and the difficulty you’re playing. However, builds that incorporate the Enforcer tree for damage and survivability, often focusing on Berserker, Shock and Awe, and Bloodthirst, are very popular and effective.
How do I get better at using melee weapons in Payday 2?
Practice is key! Experiment with different melee weapons and skill builds. Focus on mastering dodge, armor gating, and managing your positioning. Learn to identify which melee weapons are best for different situations and enemy types.
Is the Buzzsaw worth the money if I only want the melee weapon?
For players who enjoy melee combat or need a tool to speed up objective interactions, the Buzzsaw is often considered a worthwhile purchase. Its unique functionality is not replicated by any other weapon.
What are the best Payday 2 weapon mods for the Buzzsaw?
Focus on mods that increase its raw damage output, penetration, and any other stats that enhance its sawing ability. Specific recommendations can change with game updates, so always check the stat changes provided by each mod.
Can I use the Buzzsaw to cut through anything?
The Buzzsaw is effective against certain types of doors, safes, and barriers. It’s not a universal “cut through anything” tool, but it significantly speeds up interaction with many common objectives that would otherwise require drills or explosives.
By following this comprehensive guide, you should now have a clear path to acquiring and mastering the formidable Buzzsaw in Payday 2. Happy sawing!