With cosmetic rewards and more endgame content now tied to infamy progression, reaching infamy 100 in Payday 2 is more relevant than ever. Whether you’re a returning player or a newcomer to the grind, this guide outlines an efficient, solo-friendly route to reaching that milestone—infamy 100 and beyond—without needing lightning-fast ECM rushes or a full squad of elite heisters. This is a mixed approach: part relaxed, part methodical, and part AFK-friendly, for those who want to level efficiently without burning out.

Setting Up: Weapon Retention and Prepping for Infamy Reset A recent quality-of-life change makes it easier than ever to start strong after going infamous. By equipping key weapons in the first slot of page one in your inventory—then switching to a different profile before resetting—you can keep using those weapons immediately, even if they’re level-locked. This is a small but powerful trick. Start with something practical like the Judge shotgun or Raven for your stealth setup, so you can hit the ground running on your initial post-infamy jobs.

The Early Heists: From Level 0 to 55 This route begins with a burst of stealthable heists that are quick and XP-rich. It’s designed to give you early access to skill points while staying low on risk.

• 1. Four Stores (Overkill, ECM only): This guarantees ATM spawns and provides a clean XP boost. It’s a fast job, enough to carry you to around level 30 if done properly.
• 2. Diamond Store (Death Sentence Stealth): Another easy stealth job. Enter through the left alley, eliminate the camera operator, and then pick off guards and the manager at the rear stairwell. Bag the diamonds and move them to the van. Takes 5–7 minutes and should bring you to level 50.
• 3. Election Day (Death Sentence Stealth): This two-day job is fantastic for leveling. Day one can be rushed quickly by guessing the right truck—based on color and name. If you guess wrong, simply quit and repurchase. Once you get the right truck, Day 2 (Swing Vote) is a breeze with ECMs and crowbar-fueled hacking. Done in 4–5 minutes, this brings you to around level 55.

The Core Strategy: Holdout Mode for the Long Haul Once you’re level 55, you have the skill points and gear to take on the heart of this strategy: Holdout Mode. This is the real XP engine.

• Why Holdout? Each full 9-wave holdout takes roughly 30 minutes and grants ~6 million XP. Given you need ~23 million XP to go from level 55 to 100, this means you only need about 4 holdout completions. That’s 200,000 XP per minute—solid returns.
• Recommended Build: Use the Lion’s Roar and the DB Grim for damage. Pair them with skills like Low Blow, Berserker, Partners in Crime, and the Anarchist perk deck. Bots equipped with powerful shotguns (like the Stakeout) can easily support you.
• Preferred Holdouts: Start with something simple—First World Bank, San Martín Bank, or Cook-Off for early sessions. They’re all accessible and manageable. For a challenge, move onto tougher maps like Big Bank or Heat Street.

Shop now on Amazon!
Save up to 50% on top Gaming Gear:

Gaming Headset
Gaming Mice
Mechanical Keyboards
Game Controllers
Gaming Chair

Bonus AFK Strategy: Alesso Holdout and Safe Zones Don’t have time to be fully active? Try the Alesso holdout. There are safe spots near the hostage where you can literally AFK through all 9 waves—especially with early wave converts. The AI will do all the heavy lifting. While not the most engaging method, it’s a fully valid way to rake in XP passively. This technique works on other maps too, provided you can find a safe corner or booth and stay put. Just remember: AFKing too much might lead you to question why you’re even playing—but if time is your bottleneck, this method works.

Mixing It Up: Keep It Varied and Efficient After completing a holdout, drop back into stealth for a break and an XP bonus:

• Election Day Revisited: Repeat for the 20% XP bonus on your next heist.
• Diamond Holdout (Hard Mode): A true test of your build and concentration. Minimal cover and no safe zones force you to engage.
• Sentry Turret Builds: At higher levels, try experimenting with a full sentry build. Drop them in single-fire mode and let them protect the hostage. It’s effective and oddly satisfying.

Closing the Gap: Polish Runs After a few rotations, you’ll be close to level 100. If you’re still shy of the goal, wrap things up with something lightweight like:

• Ukrainian Job
• Big Oil Day One
• Cook-Off or Rats (if you want more XP)

These are fast runs that require little effort and will top off your XP bar nicely.

Estimated Run Time This full strategy—from 0 to 100—takes about 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on how efficiently you play menus, heists, and rewards screens. Speeding up comes naturally with repetition. XP penalties from overplaying a single heist are avoided by rotating between jobs, which keeps things fresh and maximizes returns.

Optional Additions to the Rotation If you want more XP-rich heists to sprinkle in:

• Cook-Off: Great for long, loot-heavy runs.
• Rats: Classic multi-day heist with strong XP potential.
• Boiling Point: A great blend of difficulty and rewards.

From Infamy 25 to 500? Let’s do some napkin math. If this method takes ~2 hours per infamy level, you’re looking at around 950 hours from infamy 25 to 500. Daunting, sure. But with some consistency, it’s manageable—and definitely more fun than mindless ECM spam.

Whether you’re racing to unlock cosmetics, challenge yourself with loud heists, or just looking for a methodical way to level, this approach keeps things fresh and flexible. Challenge yourself, experiment with builds, and above all—enjoy the grind. Who knows, maybe you’ll hit 500 without even realizing it.