Beginner's Guide to Cyberpunk 2077

New to Night City? Everything you need to survive and thrive.

Getting Started

  • 1Choose your Lifepath: Corpo, Street Kid, or Nomad. It affects dialogue options but not gameplay.
  • 2Focus on 2-3 attributes max. Spreading points evenly makes a weak character.
  • 3Explore Watson thoroughly in Act 1. It has great loot and side content.
  • 4Do side jobs and gigs -- they give the best weapons, cyberware, and story content.
  • 5Quick save often (F5). Some choices are permanent and immediately consequential.

Combat Tips

  • 1Use cover. V dies quickly on higher difficulties without it.
  • 2Scan enemies before engaging to find weaknesses and cyberware vulnerabilities.
  • 3Upgrade your weapon frequently or buy/craft new ones. DPS matters a lot.
  • 4Grenades and quickhacks can thin crowds before engaging in direct combat.
  • 5Invest in at least one healing cyberware (Biomonitor or Second Heart).

Cyberware & Builds

  • 1Visit ripperdocs in each district -- they carry different cyberware inventories.
  • 2Operating System choice defines your playstyle: Cyberdeck (hacking), Sandevistan (time slow), Berserk (melee).
  • 3The Edgerunner perk (Tech 20) lets you exceed cyberware capacity at a health cost.
  • 4Legendary arm cyberware (Mantis Blades, Gorilla Arms, Monowire) are game-changers.
  • 5Smart weapons need a Smart Link implant. Tech weapons charge through walls.

Money & Loot

  • 1Disassemble junk and cheap weapons for crafting components.
  • 2NCPD Scanner Hustles are the fastest way to earn money early on.
  • 3Iconic weapons can be upgraded -- never sell them.
  • 4Access Points give bonus money and crafting specs. Always hack them.
  • 5Buy the best cyberware you can afford at each new ripperdoc visit.