Cyberpunk 2077, the neon-drenched, gritty open-world RPG from CD Projekt RED, captivates players with its deep lore, the vast expanse of Night City, and an array of choices affecting the narrative journey. However, beyond its narrative allure and visual spectacle lies the pulsating heart of any action-packed video game: the arsenal. In a world where might is right, and every street corner can erupt into a firefight, understanding your weapons isn’t just recommended; it’s essential for survival.
Weapon Types
In Cyberpunk 2077, weapons aren’t just tools of destruction; they’re your best friends in the concrete jungle of Night City. The game classifies firearms into a trio of broad categories—Power, Tech, and Smart—each with its unique flavor and tactical usage.
Power Weapons are your bread-and-butter firearms, descendants of contemporary guns, but with a cyberpunk twist. They’re capable of bouncing bullets off surfaces, allowing you to hit enemies cowering behind cover. The punch they pack and their straightforward use make them a go-to choice for any street-savvy mercenary.
Tech Weapons, on the other hand, trade bullet-bouncing flair for raw penetration power. These beauties can charge up shots to unleash devastating blasts that chew through cover and armor like a hot knife through butter. Tech weapons are the answer to the prayers of those who prefer a methodical, calculated approach to combat.
Smart Weapons fold in the futuristic cool factor by boasting homing bullets. That’s right, bullets that track and follow your enemies, turning cover into no more than a minor inconvenience. However, their futuristic appeal comes at the cost of requiring a Smart Link cyberware implant to use effectively, so they ask for a bit of prep before you can fully utilize their potential.
Weapon Stats
Navigating the stat sheets of your arsenal is like reading the blueprint of destruction. Every firearm comes with its own set of stats, but here are the key figures you should be monitoring:
- DPS (Damage Per Second): The breadwinner stat for any weapon, DPS gives you a snapshot of the potential havoc it can wreak within a second.
- Damage: Split into ranges (min-max), this stat shows the damage variability per bullet or shot.
- Attack Speed: Measured in rounds per minute (RPM), it dictates how fast your weapon spits out lead.
- Clip Size: Determines how many projectiles you can fire before the dreaded reload.
- Reload Time: The fewer seconds here, the better. Time spent reloading is time not spent dispatching enemies.
- Crit Rate and Crit Damage: These stats indicate the chance of landing a critical hit and the bonus damage it deals, respectively. A crit can often mean the difference between a quick takedown and a prolonged shootout.
Knowing these stats is akin to knowing your enemies; it allows you to adapt, choose the right tool for the job, and exploit weaknesses.
Best Weapons
While “best” can be subjective in the diverse playground of Night City, some weapons have risen to notoriety for their sheer effectiveness. Here, we’ll spotlight a few iconic and powerful instruments of chaos.
Lizzie: A Tech Pistol with a burst-fire mode that makes it uniquely deadly in close to medium engagements. Its ability to quickly dispatch foes with a shower of bullets makes it a fan favorite.
Skippy: The Smart Pistol with a personality. Skippy is not just a weapon but an experience. Choose between its lethal “Stone Cold Killer” mode or the non-lethal “Puppy-Loving Pacifist” for a different flavor of combat.
Widow Maker: This Tech Precision Rifle deals massive damage and can pierce through walls with charged shots. It’s the quintessential sniper’s choice for taking out targets from a safe distance.
Mantis Blades: While not a firearm, these Cyberware implants deserve mention for their brutal efficiency in close combat. Leaping towards your enemy and shredding them to pieces never gets old.
Monowire: Another Cyberware gem, the Monowire, acts as a high-tech whip, slashing through groups of enemies with devastating electrical damage and serving as a versatile tool in both stealth and open combat scenarios.
Weapon Strategies
Knowing your arsenal is half the battle; using it effectively is the other half. Here are some strategic considerations to elevate your gunplay:
Environment Awareness: Use the battlefield to your advantage. Power Weapons can ricochet bullets off surfaces, opening creative angles of attack. Tech Weapons can shoot through cover, punishing enemies who think they’re safe. Leverage your surroundings to maximize damage and minimize risk.
Elemental Damage: Beyond physical bullets, elemental effects like Thermal (Fire), Electrical, Chemical, and Physical can add layers to your strategy. Use them to exploit enemy weaknesses or control the battlefield.
Ammo Types: Pay attention to the ammo you’re using. Different enemies might be more vulnerable to certain ammo types, switching between them can turn the tide of battle.
Stealth Versus Loud: Choose your approach wisely. Sometimes, sneaking in and silently taking down targets with suppressed weapons or melee attacks can be more effective than going in guns blazing.
Advanced Weapon Tactics
For the gunplay connoisseurs looking to refine their artistry in combat, consider these advanced tactics:
Bullet Bending: With Power Weapons, mastering the art of bouncing bullets to hit enemies outside your direct line of sight can transform you into a veritable magician of death.
Pre-Charging Tech Weapons: In anticipation of a firefight, charging your Tech Weapon before peeking out from cover allows you to unleash a devastating first strike, oftentimes neutralizing the threat before it can even react.
Smart Weapon Finesse: While Smart Weapons do the aiming for you, positioning is still key. Flanking or gaining high ground can improve the tracking efficiency of your homing bullets, making them even deadlier.
Status Effect Stacking: Utilize weapons and cyberware that inflict status effects like burn or poison in tandem. Layering these effects can whittle down even the toughest foes through damage over time.
Weapon Swapping: Instead of reloading in the heat of the battle, swap to your secondary weapon. This tactic, known as “reloading by switching,” can keep your damage output consistent and your enemies on their back foot.
The arsenal of Cyberpunk 2077 is as varied as the citizens of Night City, each weapon brimming with potential for destruction and chaos. Understanding the ins and outs of your firearms, leveraging their strengths according to the situation, and continuously evolving your tactics will not only make you a force to be reckoned with but also deepen your immersion in the cyberpunk fantasy. Whether you’re slicing through foes with Mantis Blades or sniping targets with the Widow Maker, remember: in Night City, the right weapon in the right hands can make all the difference. Equip yourself wisely, choomba, and own the streets.