What are Lead Guards in Payday 3? How to deal with them

Payday 3 is a game that rewards skill, patience, and map knowledge. An experienced heister knows where guards patrol and if/when to take them out to pull off the perfect job. It seems the developers want to throw a spanner in the works with the introduction of Lead Guards. These foes are the stuff of nightmares, so let me explain what Lead Guards are in Payday 3 and how to deal with them.

Related: How to beat Cloakers in Payday 3

What are Lead Guards in Payday 3? How to deal with them

The good news is Lead Guards only show up during specific heists on the Overkill difficulty. You’ll always know to expect them as they are listed as threats in the heist selection screen.

Image: PC Invasion

Lead Guards are terrifying because although you can kill them, you’ll blow every chance of a stealth heist if you do.

If you defeat a Lead Guard, you’ll need to answer their radio as usual. The catch is that they’ll be hailed roughly every 30 seconds after you’ve done it. As you have limited responses, the heist is guaranteed to go loud within about 2 minutes of killing the Lead Guard.

How do I deal with a Lead Guard?

Here’s the neat thing: you don’t! Lead Guards are a hindrance you can’t overcome with guns. The best way to deal with them is to avoid them at all costs. If you’re in a team, it’s essential that you keep the Lead Guard marked as much as possible so they don’t sneak up on your friends. To highlight guards and cameras, simply point at them (the default key is ‘Mousewheel In’)

Do the Lead Guards do anything else?

You’ll notice that guards in Payday 3 have predictable patrol paths. While this is technically still true for Lead Guards, they have a much larger patrol area. For example, the Lead Guard can wander multiple floors on the No Rest for the Wicked heist. Many of your ‘go-to’ places to hide bodies can be discovered by the Lead Guard as they patrol. Lead Guards make every mission much harder just by existing and are a brutal addition to Payday 3.

Are Lead Guards hard to kill?

If you decide to go loud, you can take out a Lead Guard like any other poorly armored enemy. These enemies exist as a powerful deterrent to stealth. If you plan to storm the place like a bull in a pottery shop, you’ll be fine.

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