Cyberpunk 2077 is CD Projekt Red's open-world RPG set in the dystopian Night City, where you play as V — a mercenary with a digital ghost of Keanu Reeves stuck in their head. After the massive 2.0 Update and Phantom Liberty expansion, the game was completely overhauled with reworked skill trees, new police system, vehicle combat, and cyberware capacity limits. The game now features some of the best first-person RPG combat available, with builds ranging from invisible netrunner hackers to chrome-loaded melee berserkers.
This guide covers everything you need: core mechanics, the best builds, equipment worth investing in, location progression, and the tips that actually make a difference.
Core Mechanics
cyberware upgrades
Cyberware is implanted by Ripperdocs across Night City and uses a capacity system (post-2.0) tied to your level and Technical Ability stat. You have slots for frontal cortex, arms, skeleton, nervous system, integumentary system, and more. Iconic cyberware like the Militech Berserk or Sandevistan slow time or boost damage dramatically. Higher-tier cyberware requires higher capacity.
quickhacking
Quickhacking lets you upload daemons to enemies through the cyberdeck equipped in your head slot. Hacks range from Short Circuit (deals electrical damage) to Contagion (spreads poison) to Cyberpsychosis (makes enemies attack each other). RAM acts as your hacking resource and regenerates over time. Intelligence scaling makes hacks one-shot at higher levels.
vehicle combat
Added in Update 2.0, vehicle combat lets you shoot weapons, use quickhacks, and ram enemies while driving. Specific mounted weapons can be installed on vehicles, and the Sandevistan cyberware works while driving. Some missions now include dedicated vehicle chase sequences.
crafting system
Crafting requires the Technical Ability tree and allows you to create and upgrade weapons, clothing, and consumables. Iconic weapons can be upgraded through tiers (Uncommon to Legendary) at crafting stations. The 2.0 update simplified crafting to focus on upgrading existing weapons rather than rerolling stats.
skill progression
The 2.0 update replaced the old perk system with reworked skill trees tied to Body, Reflexes, Intelligence, Technical Ability, and Cool. Each tree has distinct playstyle branches — Reflexes splits between blades, assault, and mobility. Skills auto-level as you use them, unlocking perk points and passive bonuses.
Builds Overview
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netrunner | S | Scan enemies through walls, queue multiple quickhacks, watch everything die without firing a shot. | Intelligence 20 > Cool 15 > Body 12 > Technical Ability |
| Solo | S | Pop Berserk, charge into groups, tank damage while dealing massive melee or shotgun hits. | Body 20 > Reflexes 18 > Cool 12 |
| Techie | A | Charge tech weapons, shoot through walls, and maintain the best gear through crafting. | Technical Ability 20 > Reflexes 15 > Body 12 |
| Nomad | B | Stealthy assassin using silenced weapons, throwing knives, and Sandevistan for bullet-time escapes. | Cool 20 > Reflexes 18 > Body 10 |
| Corpo | B | Activate Sandevistan, slice everyone in bullet-time with katana combos. | Reflexes 20 > Cool 16 > Body 14 |
Netrunner (S-Tier): Full Intelligence build that kills through walls using quickhacks. With a Tier 5 Cyberdeck and hacks like Synapse Burnout or Short Circuit, you can clear entire buildings without entering. The Overclock mechanic lets you spend health instead of RAM for devastating hack chains.
Solo (S-Tier): A Body/Reflexes combat monster that combines Berserk cyberware with shotguns or melee weapons for devastating close-range damage. The Adrenaline Rush perk tree in Body provides insane survivability with health regen and armor bonuses. Gorilla Arms or Mantis Blades complete the chrome-warrior fantasy.
Techie (A-Tier): Technical Ability build focused on tech weapons that charge shots through cover and crafting the best gear. Bolt weapons like the Achilles Precision Rifle or Breakthrough Power Sniper can one-shot through walls. The Edgerunner perk lets you exceed cyberware capacity at the cost of health.
Nomad (B-Tier): Not a traditional class but a lifepath that gives unique dialogue options and a backstory. As a build, Nomad players often go Cool/Reflexes for a gunslinger feel. The Cool tree's Focus and Ninjutsu branches enable stealth with throwing knives and silenced weapons.
Corpo (B-Tier): A lifepath rather than a mechanical build, Corpo gives unique dialogue options in corporate settings. Often paired with a Reflexes/Cool build for the 'stylish assassin' fantasy. The Sandevistan cyberware (slows time by 80%) combined with katanas creates the iconic Edgerunner anime playstyle.
For full build breakdowns with gear and stat priorities, see our Cyberpunk 2077 builds guide.
Equipment Guide
| Equipment | Why It Matters | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Skippy | A talking smart pistol found in an alleyway in Vista Del Rey. | Any build, especially Reflexes-focused |
| Widow Maker | An iconic tech precision rifle obtained from Nash during the Panam questline. | Techie / Technical Ability builds |
| Overwatch | Panam's iconic suppressed sniper rifle given to you during her questline. | Nomad / Cool-Reflexes stealth builds |
| Comrade's Hammer | A tech revolver that fires one shot per cylinder but that shot does absolutely massive damage and penetrates walls. | Techie / Technical Ability one-shot builds |
| Erebus | An iconic SMG added in the Phantom Liberty expansion, obtained in Dogtown. | Solo or hybrid Netrunner-combat builds |
Skippy: A talking smart pistol found in an alleyway in Vista Del Rey. It auto-aims at heads or legs depending on your initial choice (picks the opposite after 50 kills). One of the most fun weapons in the game with full voice acting and a quest tied to returning it to its owner.
Widow Maker: An iconic tech precision rifle obtained from Nash during the Panam questline. It fires two charged shots that can penetrate walls and apply poison. The charge mechanic means each shot hits extremely hard, making it one of the best sniping weapons.
Overwatch: Panam's iconic suppressed sniper rifle given to you during her questline. It has built-in silencer, making it the best stealth sniper. Deals massive headshot damage and doesn't alert enemies on kill. Cannot be bought, only earned through the main Panam storyline.
Comrade's Hammer: A tech revolver that fires one shot per cylinder but that shot does absolutely massive damage and penetrates walls. Found from a specific NCPD scanner hustle in Arroyo. With Technical Ability perks, a single charged shot can deal 50,000+ damage.
Erebus: An iconic SMG added in the Phantom Liberty expansion, obtained in Dogtown. It fires incredibly fast, generates quickhack uploads on hit, and synergizes with Sandevistan for bullet-time spraying. One of the best weapons for hybrid combat/hacking builds.
Location Progression
| Location | Level Range | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Watson | Level 1-15 (Street Cred) | First cyberware upgrades from Vik, early iconic weapons, gig money |
| Westbrook | Level 15-30 (Street Cred) | High-value gig rewards, Satori katana (from The Heist), premium cyberware shops |
| Pacifica | Level 25-35 (Street Cred) | Voodoo Boys questline completion, Placide encounter, premium netrunner gear |
| Badlands | Level 15-40 (Street Cred) | Panam's questline rewards (Overwatch rifle), Nomad vehicles, Basilisk tank mission |
| City Center | Level 20-35 (Street Cred) | High-end clothing shops, corporate gig rewards, iconic weapon crafting specs |
Watson: V's starting district and the most contained area early in the game. Contains your first apartment, several gigs, and Vik the Ripperdoc. The area opens up after the prologue lockdown and has multiple NCPD scanner hustles with decent early loot.
Westbrook: The wealthiest district in Night City, containing Japantown and Charter Hill. Home to high-level gigs, luxury shops, and several important story missions. Japantown in particular is a hub for main questline events and features the Clouds nightclub.
Pacifica: The most dangerous district, largely controlled by the Voodoo Boys gang. Relatively small but packed with high-difficulty encounters. The main questline takes you here for the Voodoo Boys netrunner arc. The abandoned Grand Imperial Mall is a notable landmark.
Badlands: The desert wasteland surrounding Night City, home to Nomad camps and Biotechnica farms. Panam's entire questline takes place here, and it contains some of the game's best side content. Militech convoys and Wraith camps provide challenging combat encounters.
City Center: The corporate heart of Night City with towering Arasaka and Militech buildings. Contains fewer gigs than other districts but those available are high-reward. The area is heavily policed, making open combat inadvisable unless you're high level.
Tips That Actually Matter
- Invest in Body early for survivability — the Adrenaline Rush perk at Body 15 gives passive health regeneration in combat that trivializes most encounters.
- Quickhacking trivializes the game if you invest Intelligence to 20. Contagion can wipe an entire building through walls before you enter.
- Iconic weapons can be upgraded through tiers at crafting stations. Never disassemble an iconic weapon — you can't get it back.
- Ripperdocs in different areas sell unique cyberware. Fingers in Japantown has the best Sandevistan early, but you lose access if you punch him during a quest.
- The Sandevistan cyberware (slows time by 50-85%) is the most powerful cyberware in the game. QianT Mk.4 from Fingers has a 15-second cooldown.
- Perks can be reset for free in the 2.0 update. Experiment freely with different builds without worrying about wasted points.
- Fast travel points also serve as data terminals — scan them for quick XP and street cred early in the game.
- Clothing no longer provides armor in 2.0 — wear whatever looks cool. All defense comes from cyberware and perks now.
- Skip the NCPD scanner hustles until you have decent gear. Focus on gigs and side jobs for better rewards and story content.
- The Phantom Liberty expansion is accessible from Act 2 onward. It adds an entirely new district (Dogtown) and is balanced for level 15+ characters.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Selling iconic weapons at vendors — they're one-of-a-kind and can't be reacquired. Always keep them in your stash even if you don't use them.
- Punching Fingers the Ripperdoc during the Automatic Love quest — he sells the best Sandevistan in the game and you permanently lose access to his shop.
- Ignoring the phone calls from fixers — each call starts a gig chain, and many lead to iconic weapons and important story content.
- Trying to fight MaxTac police early — they're designed to be unkillable at low levels. Just run away or avoid high wanted levels.
- Spreading attribute points across all 5 stats — focus on 2-3 attributes max. A build with Intelligence 20 and Cool 16 is far stronger than one with all stats at 12.
Frequently Asked Questions
What order should I do quests in Cyberpunk 2077?
Follow the main quest until you complete The Heist, then do side jobs and gigs to level up before continuing the main story. Panam, Judy, Kerry, and River's questlines should be completed before the final mission as they unlock additional ending options.
Is Phantom Liberty worth buying?
Absolutely. Phantom Liberty adds Dogtown, a new district with 15+ hours of story content, new skill trees, new weapons, and one of the best narratives in modern gaming. It also adds a new ending to the base game.
What's the best build in Cyberpunk 2077 after 2.0?
Netrunner (Intelligence 20 + Cool 16) is the most powerful, capable of clearing missions without combat. For action-focused play, Sandevistan Katana build (Reflexes 20 + Cool 16) delivers the iconic 'Edgerunner anime' experience with bullet-time sword combat.
Can you continue playing after the ending?
The game loads you back to a save point before the final mission after credits. You keep all side quest progress but can replay the ending differently. Phantom Liberty adds one new ending path that must be triggered mid-game.
What to Read Next
- Best Cyberpunk 2077 Builds — Detailed breakdowns with gear, stats, and playstyle guides
- Cyberpunk 2077 Tier List — Current meta rankings
- Cyberpunk 2077 Walkthrough — Step-by-step progression from start to endgame
- Cyberpunk 2077 Beginner's Guide — First session essentials
- Cyberpunk 2077 Tips & Tricks — Advanced strategies and hidden mechanics
