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Choose the lifepath whose voice and opening appeal to you, then build V around one primary attribute and the weapons you actually enjoy. In the current game, Nomad, Streetkid, and Corpo are role-playing frameworks rather than locked classes. Update 2.0 changed perks, skills, cyberware, police behavior, and vehicle combat so substantially that its systems—not older launch-era guides—should be your baseline. Learn the scanner, try several weapons, spend early points with a focus, and treat perk redistribution as part of normal experimentation.
What Update 2.0 changes for a new player
Update 2.0, released in 2023, rebuilt the progression and several surrounding systems. CD PROJEKT RED describes the overhaul as a complete redesign of the perk and skill trees, intended to let players become the kind of cyberpunk they want rather than follow a narrow class template. The update also changed cyberware, police behavior, and vehicle combat. Advice written for the pre-2.0 game can therefore recommend perks, equipment priorities, or police tactics that no longer match the current rules.
The redesigned trees contain fewer, more consequential perks. Attributes now act as the broad framework and perks supply the specific behavior: mobility, blades, stealth, quickhacks, heavy weapons, tech weapons, or other approaches. Cyberware is also part of progression rather than a late cosmetic upgrade. Your capacity and the strength of available implants develop with the rest of your character, so a ripperdoc visit belongs in your normal upgrade routine.
Because the system changes were extensive, CD PROJEKT RED strongly recommended a new playthrough when Update 2.0 launched. A fresh character is still the least confusing way to learn the current rules, although returning players received reset options on existing saves.
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- CREATE YOUR OWN CYBERPUNK: Become an urban outlaw equipped with cybernetic enhancements and build your legend on the streets of Night City. · EXPLORE THE CITY OF THE FUTURE: Night City is packed to the brim with things to do, places to see, and people to meet. And it’s up to you where to go, when to go, and how to get there.
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Which lifepath should you choose?
Lifepaths change the opening sequence, background framing, and some situational dialogue. They do not force you into a combat class, lock you out of a core build, or determine whether you must use guns, blades, stealth, or hacking. Choose based on the version of V you want to role-play; your attributes and perks determine how V actually fights.
| Lifepath | Best fit if you want | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Nomad | An outsider arriving in Night City and a road-focused introduction | The opening context and occasional Nomad-flavored dialogue |
| Streetkid | V to begin with local familiarity and street-level connections | The opening context and some Streetkid dialogue options |
| Corpo | A corporate background and a sharper, business-oriented tone | The opening context and some Corpo dialogue options |
Nomad
Nomad is the natural choice if you like the idea of entering Night City from outside it. The opening emphasizes travel, an outsider’s perspective, and the road. Select it for that tone, not because it gives a permanent vehicle, weapon, or attribute advantage.
Streetkid
Streetkid starts V with local Night City familiarity. It suits players who want conversations and introductions to feel grounded in the city’s street culture. The background can open situational dialogue, but it does not make a stealth, melee, or hacking build stronger.
Corpo
Corpo frames V through corporate experience and gives related dialogue choices. It is a good fit for a calculating or politically aware role-play style. Those choices are occasional opportunities, not a separate progression track.
The practical rule
If you are undecided, listen to each premise and pick the one you would enjoy seeing for the first hour. You can use any lifepath with any attribute plan, and you do not need to restart because you later prefer blades, quickhacks, shotguns, or precision rifles.
Build foundations after Update 2.0
There are five main attributes: Body, Intelligence, Reflexes, Technical Ability, and Cool. Start by selecting one primary attribute that matches the way you expect to play, then keep a secondary attribute available for utility. This focus gets you to useful perk tiers sooner than scattering early points across every tree.
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| Attribute | Natural starting direction | Typical combat feel |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Durability and close-range weapons, especially shotguns | Staying in the fight, absorbing pressure, and ending encounters at short range |
| Reflexes | Fast movement, blades, and agile gunplay | Closing distance, repositioning, and attacking while mobile |
| Intelligence | Netrunning and quickhack-centered play | Managing RAM and cooldowns while disabling or damaging enemies through systems |
| Technical Ability | Cyberware investment and tech-weapon experimentation | Using implants and charged or technically specialized weapons as a connected system |
| Cool | Precision, stealth, and headshot-oriented approaches | Controlling visibility and removing targets accurately from favorable positions |
These pairings are starting archetypes, not restrictions. Put early points into the attribute whose next meaningful perk tier improves what you already enjoy. If you begin with a shotgun and discover that stealth is more fun, move your later points toward Cool; if quickhacks become your favorite tool, shift toward Intelligence. The redesigned system is intended to support that kind of adjustment.
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Three beginner-friendly starter plans
The following plans are deliberately broad. They describe what to prioritize first rather than prescribing a single “best” build. Compare them by distance, visibility, system dependence, resource management, and how easily they can borrow perks from a secondary attribute.
| Plan | Primary attribute | Distance and visibility | Main resources | Easy secondary options |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Close-range bruiser | Body | Close range; usually loud | Health, stamina, ammunition, and positioning | Reflexes for mobility or Technical Ability for cyberware |
| Mobile blade or gunfighter | Reflexes | Close to mid range; can be loud or evasive | Stamina, ammunition, and movement timing | Cool for precision or Body for resilience |
| Netrunner | Intelligence | Any distance; often controlled or indirect | RAM, quickhack cooldowns, and line-of-sight decisions | Technical Ability for cyberware or Cool for stealth |
| Stealth marksman | Cool | Mid to long range; low visibility | Positioning, ammunition, and the risk of being detected | Reflexes for mobility or Intelligence for electronic control |
| Cyberware technician | Technical Ability | Flexible; weapon choice can remain open | Cyberware capacity and the resources of your chosen weapon system | Body for durability, Reflexes for movement, or Intelligence for hacks |
Close-range bruiser
Raise Body when you want to survive mistakes and fight at shotgun or other close range. This is readable for a first playthrough because the feedback is immediate: close distance, manage stamina and ammunition, and use cover when several enemies can attack at once. Add Reflexes if you need more mobility, or Technical Ability when cyberware becomes the centerpiece of your setup.
Mobile blade or gunfighter
Reflexes supports a fast, active style. It is suitable for blades and agile gunplay, with movement serving as both offense and defense. Keep a secondary path open rather than buying every Reflexes perk immediately; Cool can add precision and Body can make an aggressive approach less punishing.
Netrunner
Intelligence is the clearest starting point for a quickhack-centered character. Your decisions revolve around RAM, cooldowns, target priority, and whether to disable a threat before exposing yourself. It is powerful but asks you to learn more systems at once, so test quickhacks in small encounters before committing every early point.
Stealth marksman
Cool supports precision, stealth, and headshot-oriented play. The key skill is not simply aiming; it is choosing an approach that keeps detection under control. Reflexes can provide an escape or repositioning route, while Intelligence can let you manipulate electronic systems before a shot.
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Cyberware technician
Technical Ability is a flexible foundation when you want implants and tech-weapon experimentation to define the character. It works for players who enjoy adjusting equipment at ripperdocs and building around what their current cyberware enables. Because it is less tied to one distance, it is useful when you are still deciding between loud and stealth play.
What to do first in Night City
Use the opening hours to learn the current systems before making a permanent-feeling commitment. This sequence gives a new player information in the order it becomes useful.
- Learn the scanner. Use it in safe areas and during the first missions to identify enemies, devices, hazards, and possible routes. Scanning is the common language of gunplay, stealth, and netrunning, so understanding it pays off regardless of your build.
- Try several weapons. Use the equipment that drops during early missions instead of selling or ignoring every unfamiliar category. Spend enough time with a close-range weapon, a conventional firearm, and any hacking tools available to discover whether you prefer direct damage, mobility, stealth, or system control.
- Choose one primary attribute. Once a playstyle begins to feel natural, direct early points toward its attribute until you reach a useful perk tier. Do not distribute every point evenly merely to keep the character “balanced”; a focused tree becomes functional sooner.
- Buy perks that change your behavior. Prefer a perk that improves the attack, movement option, hack, or defensive decision you actually make over a minor bonus for equipment you rarely use. The post-2.0 trees are smaller, so each purchase should have a visible purpose.
- Visit a ripperdoc as your plan develops. Cyberware is tied to the redesigned progression and capacity system. Recheck your implants after meaningful level or attribute changes instead of treating the first installation as final.
- Keep a secondary attribute flexible. A secondary path lets you borrow mobility, stealth, durability, or technical utility without abandoning the main identity of the build.
- Reassess after a few missions. If you are avoiding a weapon or perk because it is not fun, redistribute eligible perks outside combat and redirect the next points. Experimentation is more valuable than preserving an early plan you dislike.
Perk redistribution and character respec
For a new character, perk points can be redistributed outside combat. Use that freedom to test a branch, remove perks that do not fit your equipment, or move from one starter archetype to another. Make changes when you are safe and out of combat; then confirm that the replacement perks support the weapons and cyberware you currently have.
Attribute points require a more careful distinction. The normal beginner lesson is to plan a primary attribute rather than assume every attribute can be freely reset whenever you want. For existing saves affected by Update 2.0, CD PROJEKT RED documented refunded perk points and a one-time attribute redistribution. That documented reset was intended to help returning players adapt to the new system; it is not a reason to scatter points on a new playthrough.
The official Build Planner includes the base-game attribute trees and, for owners of the expansion, the Phantom Liberty Relic tree. Use it to map a route before spending points, especially if you want to combine a primary weapon style with cyberware or quickhacks.
Cyberware: when and how to use it
Update 2.0 makes cyberware a core build layer. Your implants affect survivability, utility, movement, and how your chosen weapons function, while cyberware capacity limits how much you can equip. As your level and attribute plan change, the best loadout can change too.
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- Match implants to your primary plan. A Body bruiser benefits from equipment that supports staying close and surviving pressure; a Cool marksman should value tools that preserve positioning and precision; an Intelligence build should consider how implants interact with its hacking resource loop.
- Leave room for upgrades. Do not spend capacity on every available implant simply because it can be installed. Keep enough flexibility to replace an item when a better fit appears.
- Revisit ripperdocs deliberately. Compare the effect of a new implant with the capacity it consumes and the perks you are building toward. A cyberware purchase is part of your build decision, not an isolated shopping trip.
When should you start Phantom Liberty?
Phantom Liberty is an optional paid expansion with its own campaign and the Relic skill tree. It is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Owners also have an official adequately leveled-start option, so you do not have to play every preceding hour before entering its story.
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Starting with an existing character
Use your current character if you understand the build and want the expansion integrated into that progression. Review your perks and cyberware first, because the Relic tree adds another layer to your decisions.
Using the adequately leveled start
Choose the official leveled option when you want to reach the expansion quickly or are beginning a new run focused on its campaign. Treat the resulting character as a complete starting point: inspect the supplied attributes, perks, equipment, and cyberware before entering difficult missions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.PC requirements and buying decisions
Before buying or tuning the PC version, check CD PROJEKT RED’s current requirements table for your exact graphics mode and target configuration. Requirements differ by platform and by the performance or quality mode being targeted, and the table covers the Update 2.0 and Phantom Liberty configurations. Do not rely on a pre-2.0 article or on a generic statement that a computer “runs” the game.
Is Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition worth buying?
The Ultimate Edition is the purchase to investigate when you want the base game and Phantom Liberty together, rather than buying the expansion separately later. Its value depends on your platform, region, current price, and whether you actually want the expansion’s campaign and Relic tree. Edition contents and storefront inventory can change, so verify the live listing for your platform before paying and confirm that it includes the expansion license you need.
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- Included is the following: Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition for PlayStation 5 PS5, 2 pack of PremGear 2 Sizes Thumbsticks made to increase accuracy and comfort (1 High-Rise, 1 Mid-Rise), PremGear Quality Cleaning Cloth
- DISCOVER UPDATE 2.0: Experience new and overhauled gameplay mechanics to fulfill your wildest cyberpunk fantasies. The free Update 2.0 brings brand new ways to play Cyberpunk 2077, including totally redesigned perks and cyberware systems, pulsating vehicle combat and car chases, a revamped police system, enhanced enemy combat AI, and more
- CREATE YOUR OWN CYBERPUNK: Become an urban outlaw equipped with cybernetic enhancements and build your legend on the streets of Night City
- EXPLORE THE CITY: Night City is packed to the brim with things to do, places to see, and people to meet. And it’s up to you where to go, when to go, and how to get there
- BUILD YOUR LEGEND: Go on daring adventures and build relationships with unforgettable characters whose fates are shaped by the choices you make
If you only want to learn the base game first, the standalone base edition is sufficient; Phantom Liberty remains an optional addition. If you already own the base game, compare the expansion’s separate price with the current upgrade or bundle price instead of assuming a second full purchase is necessary.
Common beginner mistakes and fixes
Following a pre-2.0 build verbatim
Symptom: A guide refers to old perk names, skill structures, cyberware rules, or police behavior that you cannot reproduce. Fix: Use Update 2.0-era attribute trees and the official Build Planner, then translate only the underlying playstyle idea into the current system.
Choosing a lifepath for supposed combat bonuses
Symptom: You restart because a Nomad, Streetkid, or Corpo choice seems to have put you in the wrong class. Fix: Lifepath changes narrative framing and situational dialogue; choose the background you enjoy and let attributes define combat.
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Symptom: Many trees contain a few low-level perks, but none reaches a useful tier. Fix: Select a primary attribute, spend toward its next meaningful tier, and keep one secondary attribute for later flexibility.
Ignoring the scanner
Symptom: Encounters feel chaotic and stealth or hacking options seem invisible. Fix: Scan before committing to a route. Identify enemies, devices, and hazards, then decide whether direct fire, movement, or a system-based approach fits the situation.
Treating cyberware as an afterthought
Symptom: Your perks suggest one playstyle but your implants support another, or you run out of capacity when a useful upgrade appears. Fix: Include cyberware in each build review and revisit a ripperdoc after major progression changes.
Assuming a new character has unlimited attribute respecs
Symptom: Early points are spent randomly because you expect to undo every decision later. Fix: Experiment freely with eligible perk redistribution, but plan attributes with a primary focus. The one-time attribute redistribution documented for existing Update 2.0 saves was a special transition aid.
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Quick Recap
A simple decision checklist
- Pick Nomad, Streetkid, or Corpo for its story tone, not for a class advantage.
- Use Update 2.0 systems as your reference point.
- Test weapons and the scanner before specializing.
- Choose one primary attribute and buy perks that improve your real behavior.
- Keep a secondary attribute open for mobility, stealth, durability, hacking, or technical utility.
- Revisit cyberware capacity and ripperdoc options as you level.
- Redistribute perks outside combat when your experiment is not working.
- Use the official Build Planner for a detailed base-game or Relic-tree route.
- Enter Phantom Liberty after you understand the core loop, or use its official adequately leveled start if you want to begin there.
- Check the current platform-specific PC requirements and verify edition contents before purchase.
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