PAYDAY 3 Guns Blazin’ Guide: Two Guns, One Slot, and a Skill System Having a Breakdown
PAYDAY 3's Guns Blazin' Crimebond adds two akimbo primary weapons: the Dual Grimshot shotguns and Dual Outlaw revolvers. Grimshot uses shotgun skills, while Outlaw occupies your primary slot but uses pistol skills. The new Tomahawk also benefits from throwing-knife skills. As for what to unlock first, Dual Grimshot is the sensible starting point if you have spare Renown, because Update 3.10 allows non-owners to steal the shotguns before buying the DLC.
Yes, you can steal the DLC before deciding whether to pay for it. Finally, a business model that understands its customers.
Want the shotguns without opening your wallet? Find out how to steal PAYDAY 3 Crimebond rewards with Renown. Apparently, armed robbery now comes with a loyalty programme.
Dual Grimshot: Two Shotguns, One Primary Slot
Dual Grimshot gives you a shotgun in each hand, both occupying a single primary weapon slot. The obvious starting point is the Shotgunner skill tree, particularly Calling Shotgun, Speedloader, Stockpile: Shotgun, Point Blank and Annihilation. These are potential build candidates rather than a tested optimal combination. Starbreeze's weapon classification establishes the relevant skill family, but individual interactions still need verification.
Guns Blazin' also introduces Double-Cross, a shotgun perk that increases your next shot's damage according to how many pellets hit the target. This makes accuracy potentially more valuable than simply unloading both barrels into the general postcode of someone's chest and letting physics settle the disagreement. Whether Double-Cross actually makes Grimshot competitive against existing shotguns depends on damage calculations, pellet behaviour and breakpoints that haven't been independently verified.
Dual Outlaw: Apparently, Your Primary Weapon Is a Pistol
Dual Outlaw is arguably the more interesting addition because it does something rather peculiar with PAYDAY 3's equipment system. These akimbo revolvers occupy your primary weapon slot but use pistol skills, meaning players should investigate the Hitman/Handgun tree instead of treating them like conventional primary weapons.
The most interesting candidates include Bullseye, Quick Draw, Stockpile: Handgun, Spatial Awareness and Bounty Hunter. However, Starbreeze confirming that Outlaw uses pistol skills doesn't automatically establish that every individual interaction works correctly, especially when those pistols are occupying a slot normally reserved for something considerably larger.
Imagine explaining this to PAYDAY's equipment department. You arrive carrying two revolvers. The clerk asks whether they're your primary weapons. Yes. He directs you towards the primary-weapons counter, where somebody informs you that revolvers are technically pistols and must be processed downstairs. Downstairs sends you back because pistols cannot occupy the primary slot. Eventually, someone calls security, which seems excessive considering everyone is already armed.
Fortunately, the practical answer is simpler: start with handgun skills and verify the individual interactions before rebuilding your loadout.
Guns Blazin' also introduces High Noon, a revolver perk that improves weapon-swapping speed and temporarily increases damage after switching to the affected weapon. That could encourage players to cycle weapons deliberately rather than keeping their revolvers equipped throughout a firefight. Whether the damage bonus justifies the interruption remains untested.
Before rebuilding your loadout around another magnificent damage number, see which PAYDAY 3 Weapon Perks actually earn their keep. Bigger numbers are lovely. Fewer bullets needed to kill someone are better.
Tomahawk: Your Throwing-Knife Build Has Acquired an Axe
The Tomahawk uses throwing-knife skills, making the Cutthroat tree relevant. Knife Expert, Deep Wounds, Fan Throw and Hidden Blade are particularly interesting candidates, although their exact interactions still require testing.
Fan Throw raises an obvious question: can you throw multiple Tomahawks using a skill designed for knives? The official description establishes the general skill category, but doesn't confirm that particular interaction.
Update 3.10 also fixes the earlier Haymaker and Hidden Blade conflict, although that doesn't independently establish Tomahawk compatibility. Apparently, PAYDAY 3 considers a small axe to be a knife. Somewhere, the entire cutlery industry is preparing legal proceedings.
What Should You Unlock First?
For players who haven't purchased Guns Blazin', start by stealing Dual Grimshot with Renown, assuming you have sufficient resources and meet the progression requirements. Update 3.10 specifically confirms the dual shotguns are available through the Crimebond stealing system and that Renown spent stealing rewards is reimbursed if you subsequently purchase the DLC.
The sensible approach is to steal Grimshot, try it with your existing Shotgunner setup and decide whether you actually enjoy using it before spending money. The DLC launched at $9.99, with a listed Steam euro-region price of €9.49, and buying it doesn't immediately unlock every reward. Progression is still involved.
For players who already own Guns Blazin', there's no verified universal unlock ranking. An existing shotgun build makes Grimshot a natural first experiment, while players invested in handgun skills have good reason to investigate Outlaw. Neither weapon is a proven damage winner.
For more about stealing Crimebond rewards and recovering Renown, see our PAYDAY 3 Crimebonds guide.
What Still Needs Testing?
The official descriptions establish the weapons' intended skill categories, but damage, armour penetration, ammunition economy, reload behaviour, effective range and individual skill compatibility still require verification. Double-Cross and High Noon also need practical testing before either deserves a permanent place in a recommended build.
Until those results exist, anyone declaring the definitive akimbo meta on launch day is presumably hoping you'll be too busy reloading four barrels to ask questions.
For more on choosing useful bonuses, see our PAYDAY 3 weapon perks guide.
Finished experimenting with your new guns? Explore CRIMENET's PAYDAY headquarters for heist guides, reviews and more ways to make the police regret their career choices.
PAYDAY 3 Guns Blazin' FAQ
Are Dual Grimshot and Dual Outlaw primary weapons?
Yes. Both occupy the primary weapon slot. Dual Grimshot uses shotgun skills, while Dual Outlaw uses pistol skills despite being a primary weapon.
What skills work with Dual Outlaw?
Dual Outlaw uses the Hitman/Handgun skill family. Skills such as Bullseye, Quick Draw and Stockpile: Handgun are worth investigating, although individual interactions still need testing.
Does the Tomahawk benefit from throwing-knife skills?
Yes. Starbreeze confirms that Tomahawk uses throwing-knife skills. However, specific interactions with skills such as Fan Throw and Hidden Blade haven't been independently verified.
Can you unlock Guns Blazin' weapons without buying the DLC?
Yes, selected rewards can be stolen using Renown, including Dual Grimshot. If you later purchase the Crimebond, the Renown spent stealing its rewards is reimbursed.
Which Guns Blazin' weapon should you unlock first?
Dual Grimshot is the safest first experiment for non-owners with spare Renown because it can be stolen before purchasing the DLC. Neither akimbo weapon has been proven to be the strongest yet.
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