One of the most intriguing aspects of Payday 2 is the extensive customization options available for each player’s character, including skill trees, weapons, and armor. One popular build in the game is the “Leech” build, which focuses on health regeneration and survivability.
Thus, we will delve deeper into the mechanics of the Leech build and explore its strengths and weaknesses in various game modes and scenarios in this discussion.
Overview of Leech Build
The Leech build in Payday 2 is a popular choice for players looking for a tanky and self-sustaining playstyle. It also utilizes a throwable item known as the Ampoule to further enhance its sustainability.
The Ampoule is a vial filled with a regenerative substance that can be thrown to heal yourself and your teammates. It’s an essential component of the Leech build, as it provides a reliable source of healing outside of the Grinder perk deck’s health regeneration.
Leech Perk Deck
This perk deck has two major benefits: invulnerability for the player and the ability to heal teammates with every hit they take. The invulnerability aspect of the perk can be incredibly useful in a variety of situations.
For example, in a high-intensity battle where the player is taking heavy fire, the ability to become invulnerable for a limited time can allow them to move into a better position or escape to safety.
The healing aspect of the perk is also quite valuable. If the player is taking damage while invulnerable, they can heal their teammates with every hit they take. This can help to keep the team alive and allow them to continue fighting, even if they are under heavy fire.
The Symbiosis skill is also a valuable addition to a player’s toolkit in situations where they are at risk of going down in combat. Additionally, reviving teammates or using a Doctor Bag can increase the player’s chances of staying alive even further.
Momentum Leech — The Ampule
When the player equips the Leech Perk Deck, their throwable item is replaced by the Leech Ampule, which they can use to restore 40% health and disable armor for the duration of the effect.
The Ampule also divides the player’s health into segments of 20%, and any damage above 200 hit points removes one segment.
This means that the player must be careful not to take too much damage, as it can quickly reduce their health to critical levels and limit their ability to use the Ampule in the future.
Lastly, the ability to heal teammates for 5% of their HP [1] with any damage taken is a significant benefit of the Momentum Leech perk.
Helmet Popping
It increases the damage of a headshot by 25%.
Blendin In
This provides two main benefits to the player. Firstly, it increases their concealment by 1, which can be useful for players who prefer to play stealthily and avoid being detected by enemies.
Secondly, if the player is wearing armor, the perk reduces the movement penalty they would normally receive by 15%.
Indomitable
Increases the player’s maximum health by 20%. This can be a significant advantage, as it allows the player to survive longer in combat and take more damage before going down.
Fast and Furious
This perk increases damage output by 5%, except for melee attacks, throwables, and explosives, and increases interaction with doctor bags by 20%.
Stalwart
This perk lengthens the duration of the Leech Ampule by 10 seconds and reduces the cooldown time of the Ampule by 1 second for each enemy killed.
Walk-in Closet
This perk unlocks an armor bag and increases ammo pickup to 135%.
Symbiosis
This allows players to use the Leech Ampule while downed while reviving teammates, or using a doctor’s bag can increase chances of survival. 10s segment health and maximum health is increased by 60%.
Built Different
This perk boosts the player’s maximum health by 20%.
Leech Build’s Best Skills
Here are tables for every best skill in Leech Build:
Perk Deck | Perks |
Medic – Mastermind | Quick Fix |
Combat Medic | |
Combat Doctor (Aced) | |
Inspire (Aced) |
Perk Deck | Perks |
Controller – Mastermind | Confident (Aced) |
Forced Friendship | |
Hostage Taker (Aced) | |
Joker | |
Partners In Crime (Aced) |
Perk Deck | Perks |
Enforcer | Close By (Aced) |
Overkill | |
Shotgun CQB | |
Shotgun Impact (Aced) | |
Underdog |
Perk Deck | Perks |
Ghost | Duck And Cover |
Parkour (Aced) | |
Second Wind | |
Shockproof (Aced) |
Perk Deck | Perks |
Gunslinger -Fugitive | Akimbo (Aced) |
Equilibrium | |
Revenant – Fugitive | Nine Lives |
Primary And Secondary Weapons For Leech Build
To maximize the benefits of the Akimbo Skills in Payday 2, it is advisable to choose primary weapons that can be used in an Akimbo configuration.
This setup enables players to move more quickly and unleash a high volume of bullets on their enemies, making it an effective strategy for taking on tough challenges.
Primary: Akimbo Krinkov Submachine Guns
This build incentivizes players to engage in close combat by offering rewards for getting up close and personal with their enemies and putting their gun barrels in their faces.
Stat | Value |
Magazine | 60 |
Total Ammo | 180 |
Rate of Fire | 822 |
Damage | 99 |
Accuracy | 60 |
Stability | 16 |
Reload Time | 3.5 secs |
Concealment | 21 |
Primary: Akimbo Goliath 12G Shotguns
The Akimbo Goliath 12G Shotguns are an excellent choice for a primary weapon in a Leech Build, as they offer high accuracy and rate of fire.
Stat | Value |
Magazine | 12 |
Total Ammo | 72 |
Damage | 42 |
Accuracy | 56 |
Stability | 16 |
Rate of Fire | 333 |
Reload Time | 3 secs |
Concealment | 13 |
Secondary: The Judge Shotgun
A compact and reliable weapon that is lethal at close range. It is an excellent choice for players regardless of their build, making it a versatile option for any loadout.
Stat | Value |
Magazine | 5 |
Total Ammo | 35 |
Rate of Fire | 500 |
Damage | 155 |
Accuracy | 60 |
Stability | 28 |
Reload Time | 2.3 secs |
Concealment | 29 |
Secondary: China Puff 40mm Grenade Launcher
Correctly utilizing the Ampule and the China Puff can greatly benefit your gameplay, as killing two enemies with the China Puff will restore a health segment.
With its explosive power, the China Puff can take out multiple enemies at once, making it a powerful tool in your arsenal.
Stat | Value |
Damage | 960 |
Accuracy | 100 |
Stability | 96 |
Rate of Fire | 50 |
Magazine | 3 |
Total Ammo | 6 |
Reload Time | 5.3 secs |
Concealment | 18 |
Equipment For Leech Build
Now that we have covered the Leech Perk Deck, skills, and weapons for the Payday 2 Leech Build, it’s time to focus on the gear that will benefit this build. Choosing the right equipment is crucial as it can make or break your chances of success in a mission.
In this section, we will discuss the recommended equipment that will complement the aggressive playstyle of the Leech Build.
Throwables
We highly recommend keeping the Leech Ampule as your throwable for the Leech Build in Payday 2. It is a crucial component of the build, allowing you to restore health, divide your health into segments, and heal your teammates.
Swapping it out for any other throwable will significantly impact the effectiveness of the build. Therefore, we strongly advise against it.
Equipment - Doctors Bag
Doctor Bag is an essential piece of equipment that will significantly benefit your Leech build in Payday 2.
As we have built this loadout to be aggressive and reward players for tanking shots and going for kills, using Doctor Bags will be crucial to keep you and your team alive during intense firefights.
Armor For Leech Build
Armor is an essential component of any Payday 2 build, and the Leech build is no exception. In this section, we’ll discuss the best armor options for a Leech build and how to use them effectively.
Melee – Electrical Brass Knuckles
Electrical Brass Knuckles are a melee weapon that can be used with the Leech build in the game. They are a versatile and powerful option for players who prefer a more hands-on approach to combat.
With their electrical charge, these brass knuckles can stun enemies and deal heavy damage. They are an excellent choice for close-quarters combat and can be used to quickly take down enemies when combined with the Leech Ampule’s healing effects.
Read Next: Payday 2 Sentry Build
Wrapping Up
Whether or not to use a Leech build depends on your playstyle and preferences. If you enjoy an aggressive playstyle and like to tank shots while dealing damage, then a Leech build could be a great fit for you. Additionally, if you play in a group and enjoy supporting your teammates, the Leech perk deck can provide healing benefits to your team.
