The Ultimate Cyberpunk 2077 Weapon Guide for 2.0 & Phantom Liberty

Stepping into Night City is one thing, but surviving it is another. In a world drowning in chrome, ambition, and danger, the piece of iron in your hand is more than just a tool it’s your voice, your solution, and your last line of defense. After the game changing Update 2.0 and the

Phantom Liberty expansion, the rules of engagement have been completely rewritten. Choosing a weapon is no longer about picking the one with the highest DPS. It’s about creating a symphony of destruction where your gun, your cyberware, and your skills all work in perfect harmony.

This isn’t just another list of guns. This is your comprehensive Cyberpunk 2077 weapon guide, designed to navigate the immense and intimidating arsenal of the dark future. We’ll break down the core weapon technologies, uncover every iconic weapon hidden in the base game and Dogtown, and explore how to build a character so perfectly optimized that you’ll become a true Night City legend. Forget what you thought you knew; your education as an edgerunner starts now.

Understanding the Core Weapon Types in Night City

In the heart of Cyberpunk 2077’s combat system lie three foundational weapon technologies: Power, Tech, and Smart. This choice is more than just a label; it’s a fundamental decision for your build, directly influencing your attributes, perks, and the cyberware you slot into your body.

Power Weapons: The Art of the Ricochet

Think of Power weapons as the conventional firearms of 2077, but with a deadly twist. Known for their high fire rates and substantial kick, their unique feature is the ability to ricochet bullets off hard surfaces, allowing you to hit enemies hiding behind cover.

To truly master this, the Ballistic Coprocessor hand cyberware is an absolute must have. This implant shows you the projected trajectory of your ricochet shots as a glowing line, turning random chance into a calculated tactical advantage. The secret to effective ricocheting, especially after the 2.0 update, isn’t about complex geometry. It’s about the “snap to target” system. Instead of aiming at a surface and guessing, you aim near an enemy, like the floor at their feet, and fire.

The bullets will automatically divert toward the target with extra damage. Just be aware that equipping a silencer on most Power weapons will disable the trajectory preview, though a few iconic exceptions like the Kongou bypass this rule.

Tech Weapons: The Science of Penetration

Tech weapons are essentially electromagnetic railguns. By holding down the fire button, you can charge up a shot, unleashing a high velocity projectile that can pierce through walls, cover, and even multiple enemies at once. This immense power comes at a cost: Tech weapons cannot be silenced, making them a poor choice for pure stealth builds.

A critical, yet poorly explained, mechanic for these weapons is the “Bolt”. A Bolt shot is activated not by fully charging the weapon, but by releasing the fire button within a specific window during the charge up process. This mechanic is heavily tied to perks in the Technical Ability tree and can unlock powerful effects like applying shock or burn to your shots.

A hidden but powerful trick lies in your scope choice. Normally, you charge by aiming down sights (ADS), but certain scopes can influence the weapon’s base charge level. For example, equipping a Gaki scope on a tech sniper like the Nekomata can raise its initial charge to 50%, allowing for near instant Bolt shots with a quick click.

Smart Weapons: The Smart Link Requirement

Smart weapons represent the peak of Night City’s arms technology. They fire self guided micro missiles instead of traditional bullets, which automatically track targets and can even curve around obstacles to find their mark.

However, this advanced tech comes with a non-negotiable requirement: you absolutely cannot use Smart weapons without installing the Smart Link cyberware in your hands. This cyberware is the gateway to using these weapons; without it, they are completely useless.

When aiming, a targeting box appears over enemies, indicating the weapon system has a lock. Some iconic versions, like the Divided We Stand, can even lock onto multiple targets simultaneously. While their base damage was reduced in Update 2.0, they received powerful new perks in the Intelligence attribute tree, making them the perfect companion for a Netrunner build.

Close and Personal: Melee Weapons and Cyberware

Sometimes, the best solution is the one you deliver face to face. Night City offers a variety of ways to get up close and personal.

• Blades: This category includes katanas, knives, and swords. They are fast, deadly, and perfect for “Shinobi” builds that focus on high mobility and stealth, often causing a Bleeding effect.
• Blunt Weapons: Hammers, batons, and clubs fall into this category. They are slower but non-lethal, excellent for crowd control by applying a Stun effect, making them a great fit for brawler “Solo” builds.
• Throwable Weapons: Expanded in Phantom Liberty, this includes axes and knives that, after being thrown, automatically return to V’s hand, adding a powerful ranged component to melee focused builds.
• Cyberware Arms: These are weapons installed directly into V’s body, such as the infamous Mantis Blades, powerful Gorilla Arms, or the slicing Monowire. Each is tied to specific cyberware slots and perk trees, offering entirely unique playstyles.

Iconic Weapons Guide (Base Game)

Iconic weapons are the legends of Night City’s streets. These are unique firearms and blades with special names, distinct appearances, and game changing effects that set them apart from their standard counterparts. You’ll often find them by completing specific quests, defeating tough enemies, or exploring hidden corners of the city. Here are the legendary tools you can find in the base game.

The Malorian Arms 3516 isn’t just a gun; it’s a piece of history. As Johnny Silverhand’s signature weapon, this powerful pistol not only features unique animations but also fires ricocheting thermal damage rounds and has a unique melee attack. You can pry it from Grayson’s cold hands during the “Chippin’ In” side quest. For stealthy players, the Overwatch sniper rifle is arguably the best in its class. Gifted to you by Panam at the end of “Riders on the Storm,” it comes with a custom built silencer and a high reload speed, allowing you to deliver devastatingly quiet headshots from afar.

If you prefer a more personal touch, the Jinchu-Maru katana, looted from Oda’s body during “Play it Safe,” is a beast against bosses. Its damage doubles when the enemy has more health than you, and all your strikes become critical hits while the Kerenzikov cyberware is active. Another blade, the Satori, is one of the most easily missed weapons in the game. During “The Heist,” you must go upstairs to the rooftop helipad before leaving the penthouse to find it. It has lower base damage but a massively increased critical damage multiplier, making it incredible for crit focused builds.

For those who love Tech weapons, the Widow Maker is a top tier choice. Looted from Nash in the “Ghost Town” quest if you side with Panam, this rifle fires two projectiles per shot and deals Chemical damage with a high chance to poison enemies. Another tech marvel is the Lizzie pistol, found in the basement of Lizzie’s Bar. This gun fires an extra round with every shot, and when fully charged, that number increases, turning it into a close range DPS monster.

Smart weapon enthusiasts will want to find Skippy, the talking pistol with a personality. Found next to a body in an alley in Heywood, it features two modes: “Puppy Loving Pacifist” (aims for legs) and “Stone Cold Killer” (aims for heads). At the very top of the food chain is the Ba Xing Chong, a smart shotgun that fires explosive, self guided projectiles. You must craft it using a spec you can find in Adam Smasher’s vault on the Ebunike after defeating him.

Phantom Liberty’s Most Wanted: Iconic Weapon Guide

The lawless zone of Dogtown, introduced in the Phantom Liberty expansion, brings a whole new arsenal of experimental and deadly hardware to the table. Many of these are tied to your choices in the expansion’s branching storyline, meaning one decision could lock you out of a powerful weapon forever.

One of the most significant additions is X-MOD2 weapons. These are special versions of iconic weapons with improved base stats and, most importantly, two guaranteed mod slots. This solves the dilemma of choosing between a fixed iconic weapon and a customizable non-iconic one, making X-MOD2s some of the most desirable gear in the game.

For stealth builds, Her Majesty is a must have. Given to you by Alex during the “Get It Together” mission, this silenced pistol gains perfect accuracy, increased damage, and guaranteed headshot crits while your Optical Camo is active, making it the ultimate assassin’s tool. Another silent but deadly option is the Pariah, a silenced tech pistol. This rare combination allows you to pierce cover without breaking stealth. It can be looted from Reed during “The Killing Moon” if you side with Songbird.

If you prefer pure chaos, the Dezerter is a high risk, high reward power shotgun. It fires devastating explosive rounds, and killing an enemy sets you on fire, granting you increased movement speed and damage mitigation. Perhaps the most terrifying weapon in the expansion is the Erebus, a power submachine gun whose bullets are infused with dark energy from beyond the Blackwall. It has a chance to automatically upload the Blackwall Gateway quickhack to enemies, effectively deleting them. Obtaining its crafting spec is part of a major choice in the “Somewhat Damaged” mission, forcing you to choose between it and the iconic Militech Canto cyberdeck.

For tech weapon fans, the sniper rifle Rasetsu, acquired during “You Know My Name,” redefines collateral damage. Its charged shots bend their path after hitting an enemy to strike multiple foes behind them. The Order, a tech shotgun available from a black market vendor, can be charged to vaporize any enemy in its path, leaving a trail of EMP energy in its wake.

Iconic Weapon Quick Reference Guide

For an at a glance summary, here is a complete list of the Iconic weapons from both the base game and Phantom Liberty, along with how to find them.

Iconic Name	Weapon Type	Key Effect	How to Get (Summary)	Missable / Choice Dependent?
Apparition	Tech Pistol	Gets stronger at low health; charged shots deal double damage.	Looted from Frank’s body in the “War Pigs” side quest (Corpo lifepath only).	Yes
Archangel	Power Revolver	Very low recoil and deals Electrical damage.	Gifted by Kerry Eurodyne after the “Off the Leash” side quest.	No
Agaou	Throwable Axe	Critical hits create an electrical shockwave.	Looted from the boss of a high level organized crime activity in Dogtown.	No
Ba Xing Chong	Smart Shotgun	Fires explosive, self guided projectiles.	Craft it after finding the spec in Adam Smasher’s vault post game.	No
Bald Eagle	Power Revolver	Synergizes with the “Fang” knife for instant takedowns and returns.	Looted from Kurt Hansen if you side with Reed during “Firestarter”.	Yes (Choice dependent)
Breakthrough	Tech Sniper Rifle	Bullets can penetrate cover and then ricochet.	Craft it after finding the spec at an organized crime activity in Rancho Coronado.	No
Buzzsaw	Power SMG	Fires high penetration rounds; larger magazine.	Craft it after finding the spec at an organized crime activity in Northside.	No
Byakko	Katana	Killing an enemy enables rapid attack combos.	Reward for completing all of Wakako’s gigs.	No
Cocktail Stick	Katana	Has a unique look and deals higher base damage.	Found in the makeup room at Clouds club during “Automatic Love”.	Yes
Comrade’s Hammer	Tech Revolver	Single shot, massive explosive thermal damage; very slow reload.	Craft it after finding the spec at an organized crime activity in Arroyo.	No
Crash	Power Revolver	Can be charged to fire in full auto mode.	Gifted by River Ward during the “Following The River” quest.	No
Dezerter	Power Shotgun	Fires explosive rounds; self immolates for a speed and mitigation buff.	Found during “The Man Who Killed Jason Foreman” by getting the key from Rinder.	Yes (Choice dependent)
Dying Night	Power Pistol	Greatly increased headshot damage and very fast reload.	Given for free by Wilson the gunsmith at the start of the game.	No
Erebus	Power SMG	Bullets are infused with Blackwall energy; can instantly kill low health enemies.	Craftable with a component from “Somewhat Damaged” (Reed’s path); must choose between it and a cyberdeck.	Yes (Exclusive Choice)
Fenrir	Power SMG	Deals Thermal damage with a high chance to burn; reduced bullet spread.	Found on a table during the “Losing My Religion” side quest.	Yes
Her Majesty	Power Pistol	Silenced; has perfect accuracy and guaranteed headshot crits when Optical Camo is active.	Gifted by Alex during the “Get It Together” main quest.	No
Jinchu-Maru	Katana	Final combo strike deals double damage; deals double damage if enemy has more health.	Looted from Oda after his boss fight in “Play it Safe”.	Yes
Kongou	Power Pistol	Bullets ricochet without needing the Ballistic Coprocessor cyberware.	Found on the nightstand in Yorinobu’s penthouse during “The Heist”.	Yes
Lizzie	Tech Pistol	Fires an extra projectile per shot; fires even more when fully charged.	Found in the basement of Lizzie’s Bar after “The Space in Between”.	No
Malorian Arms 3516	Power Pistol	Johnny Silverhand’s gun; has a unique melee attack and ricocheting thermal rounds.	Looted from Grayson during the “Chippin’ In” side quest.	No
Mox	Power Shotgun	Increased reload speed and reduced bullet spread.	Gifted by Judy Alvarez after completing her questline (“Pyramid Song”).	No
Order	Tech Shotgun	Charging above 66% vaporizes enemies in its path, leaving an EMP trail.	Can be purchased from the black market vendor in Dogtown.	No
Overwatch	Power Sniper Rifle	Comes with a unique, built in silencer and has a faster reload speed.	Gifted by Panam at the end of the “Riders on the Storm” side quest.	No
Pariah	Tech Pistol	A silenced Tech pistol that fires in a three round burst.	Looted from Reed if you side with Songbird during “The Killing Moon”.	Yes (Choice dependent)
Raiju	Tech SMG	Can fire through cover without charging; increased headshot crit chance.	Found in a warehouse during a high level organized crime activity in Dogtown.	No
Rasetsu	Tech Sniper Rifle	Charged rounds bend after penetrating an enemy to hit multiple foes behind them.	Automatically acquired during the “You Know My Name” main quest.	No
Satori	Katana	Lower base damage but has a massively increased critical damage multiplier.	On the rooftop helipad AV during “The Heist.” Very easy to miss.	Yes (Very)
Skippy	Smart Pistol	A talking AI weapon with “Pacifist” and “Stone Cold Killer” modes.	Found in an alley in Heywood, starting the “Machine Gun” side quest.	No
Widow Maker	Tech Precision Rifle	Fires two projectiles per shot; deals Chemical damage with a chance to poison.	Looted from Nash during “Ghost Town” if you help Panam.	Yes

Your Edgerunner Workshop: Crafting and Modding in 2.0

The crafting and upgrading systems were significantly streamlined in Update 2.0 to be more meaningful and less grindy.

How Crafting and Upgrading Works Now

The old system of multiple component types is gone. Now, you only need one type of component corresponding to the item’s tier (e.g., Tier 5 components for Tier 5 items). The primary way to get these components is by disassembling unwanted weapons and gear you find. This creates a strategic choice: sell loot for cash, or break it down for parts to make your main gear more powerful.

A major change is that only Iconic weapons and cyberware can be upgraded. You can take an Iconic weapon you found early in the game and, through the “Upgrades” menu, spend components to raise its tier all the way to Tier 5++. This makes your favorite weapons viable for the entire game, rewarding your investment.

A Guide to Weapon Mods and Attachments

The most important rule of the new modding system is this:

installing a weapon mod is permanent and irreversible. You cannot remove it or replace it with another one. This makes your choice of mod a high stakes strategic decision. It’s crucial to distinguish between these permanent Mods (like Crunch or Pax) and Attachments (like scopes, silencers, and muzzles), which can be freely swapped at any time.

You can find mods as loot or buy them from vendors. You can also craft higher tier mods, which requires two mods of the same type from the tier below (e.g., two Tier 2 Crunch mods make one Tier 3 Crunch mod). Certain mods can completely transform a weapon’s function. The Kneel mod gives shotguns a high chance for an instant kill with a leg shot, while the Wallpuncher mod increases the cover penetration of Tech weapons.

Building Your Legend: Weapon Synergy and Builds

In Cyberpunk 2.0, a powerful weapon alone isn’t enough. True power comes from the synergy between your weapon, attributes, perks, and cyberware. Your build is a machine, and every part needs to work together.

The Solo Build: Brute Force and Heavy Firepower

The Solo is a walking tank, a chrome infused brawler who wades into battle and annihilates enemies with raw, overwhelming force.

• Core Attributes: Body and Technical Ability. Body is for health, resilience, and empowering heavy weapons. Tech Ability increases your cyberware capacity and the effectiveness of healing items.
• Key Perks: Focus on survival and destruction. Perks like Adrenaline Rush, Quake (a heavy weapon ground slam), and Rip and Tear (shotgun mastery) are essential.
• Recommended Weapons: Shotguns like the Guts or the explosive Dezerter are perfect. For LMGs, the Wild Dog offers ramping fire rate and crit chance. For melee, nothing beats the crushing power of Gorilla Arms.
• Cyberware Synergy: The Berserk operating system, which replaces your cyberdeck, is the heart of this build, turning you into an enraged, nearly invincible monster for a short time.

The Shinobi Build: Speed and Deadly Precision

The Shinobi is a ghost, a bladed phantom who dashes through combat, dispatching foes with surgical precision.

• Core Attributes: Reflexes and Cool. Reflexes govern your mobility (like the all important Dash) and blade proficiency. Cool focuses on stealth, critical damage, and pistol handling.
• Key Perks: Mobility perks like Dash and Air Dash are non-negotiable. In the Blade tree, Lead and Steel (blocking bullets with your sword) is key, while the Ninjutsu tree in Cool enhances your stealth capabilities.
• Recommended Weapons: Katanas are your best friend. The Byakko lets you perform faster combos after a kill, while the Satori is built for massive critical damage. For a silenced sidearm, Her Majesty is unmatched.
• Cyberware Synergy: The Sandevistan operating system is the soul of the Shinobi. It slows down time, allowing you to weave between bullets and slice up enemies before they can even react. Mantis Blades and Optical Camo are also vital components.

The Netrunner Build: Hacking and Smart Targeting

The Netrunner is a ghost in the machine, a master hacker who controls the battlefield from the shadows with debilitating quickhacks and intelligent weapons.

• Core Attributes: Intelligence and Technical Ability. Intelligence is vital for RAM, quickhack power, and Netrunning skills. Tech Ability is needed for the high cyberware capacity a top tier Netrunner requires.
• Key Perks: The entire Intelligence tree is your playground. Perks like Overclock (using health instead of RAM) and Hack Queue (uploading multiple hacks at once) are game changers.
• Recommended Weapons: Smart weapons are the obvious choice. The Yinglong unleashes EMP blasts, while the Ba Xing Chong shotgun clears entire rooms. The Monowire cyberware arm also has incredible synergy, allowing you to upload quickhacks directly through its slicing attacks.
• Cyberware Synergy: A high end Cyberdeck (like the Tetratronic Rippler) is the engine of your build. The Smart Link is mandatory. RAM boosting cyberware like the Ex-Disk is also critical to keep your hacks flowing.

Conclusion: Choosing Your Perfect Tool

As we’ve seen, the arsenal of Cyberpunk 2077 is a deep and complex ecosystem. There is no single “best” weapon in the absolute sense. Instead, there is the “best” weapon for your build. The philosophy of Update 2.0 is built on synergy. A powerful gun in the wrong hands is useless.

However, some weapons shine so brightly due to their power and flexibility that they stand out as top tier options for almost any player looking for an edge:

• Overwatch (Power Sniper): The built in silencer and incredible headshot damage make it the undisputed king of stealthy, long range combat.
• Yinglong (Smart SMG): Its combination of smart targeting, electrical damage, and EMP blasts makes it a crowd control monster and a Netrunner’s best friend.
• Byakko (Katana): The ability to ramp up attack speed with each kill makes it one of the smoothest and fastest feeling melee weapons, perfect for any Reflexes focused build.
• Guts (Power Shotgun): This weapon is the embodiment of raw, unapologetic power. For anyone who wants to get close and deal ludicrous damage, it’s a phenomenal choice.

Ultimately, this guide is your starting point. The true beauty of Cyberpunk 2077 lies in discovering your own unexpected and deadly combinations. So don’t be afraid to experiment. Build a hybrid character that breaks the rules. Forge your own legend in Night City and remember, in this town, the tool you choose matters just as much as the chrome in your veins.

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