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Start with Update 2.3, choose one combat direction, and spend your first perk points on a connected attribute path. Cyberpunk 2077’s progression system was substantially rebuilt in Update 2.0, so advice written for the pre-2.0 game can send a new player toward obsolete menus or upgrade assumptions. This spoiler-light guide explains what to check before playing, how to choose a first combat identity, how scanner-based hacking fits into combat, and what the current respec rules mean for early decisions.
Which version and platforms does this guide cover?
The latest official update identified for this guide is Update 2.3, whose patch notes are dated July 16, 2025. The official Update 2.3 FAQ lists Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC, Nintendo Switch 2, and Mac. It describes the update as free for owners of the base game and says Phantom Liberty is not required. It also says installing the update does not require starting a new game.
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Platform support and patch availability can change, so check the current platform store or official support page when you install. The advice below is about the systems documented for the modern 2.0-and-later progression model, not the original launch-era perk trees.
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What you need to own
If you do not own the game, the base game is the relevant purchase for starting this guide. Phantom Liberty is an expansion, not a prerequisite for Update 2.3 or for the basic scanner, combat, perk, and attribute systems discussed here.
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Do you need to restart?
No restart is required solely because you install Update 2.3, according to the official FAQ. A new playthrough can still be useful if you want to experience the redesigned progression from the opening, but it is not a patch requirement.
What changed after Update 2.0?
Update 2.0 overhauled skills and perk trees. The rebuilt trees contain fewer perks, with each one intended to produce a more meaningful gameplay effect. That change matters more than any individual early perk: guides written around the old tree layout, old reset assumptions, or old menu locations may no longer describe the game you are playing.
Perks and attributes are not the same thing
Perk points buy abilities inside an attribute’s tree. Attributes represent the broader character direction those trees belong to. Treat the two decisions separately when reading a description: first ask whether the perk supports the way you want to fight, then check its attribute requirement and any prerequisite path.
What happened to existing saves?
Update 2.0 refunded perk points on existing saves and granted a one-time attribute reset. The same notes say an all-perk reset was removed. That transition guidance was for saves being moved into the redesigned system; it is not a promise that a new character can repeatedly reset attributes whenever desired. Plan your attribute spending with a direction in mind, while using perk descriptions to make smaller, deliberate choices.
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Choose a first combat identity before buying upgrades
There is no universally established “best beginner build” in the official material. A better opening decision is which activity you want to make easiest to perform repeatedly: direct weapon use, close-range melee, or hacking through a cyberdeck. You can still experiment, but your first points will feel more useful when they reinforce one of those approaches instead of being scattered across unrelated trees.
| Starting direction | What to prioritize when reading perks | How to make the choice |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon-focused combat | Perks whose descriptions improve the weapon handling or combat behavior you expect to use most. | Pick the weapon category you naturally reach for, then follow prerequisites in that tree rather than buying isolated bonuses. |
| Melee | Perks that support your preferred close-range approach and the attribute associated with it. | Choose whether you enjoy staying close to threats; if not, do not force a melee path because a guide calls it optimal. |
| Hacking | Intelligence-linked perks and cyberdeck-oriented abilities. | Choose this when scanning, setting up quickhacks, and managing RAM sounds more appealing than constant weapon exchanges. |
This is a decision framework, not a tested tier list. The official notes identify distinct abilities for distinct styles, but they do not establish one winning combination for every player.
Examples of the redesigned tree identities
- Overclock: an ability associated in the official Update 2.0 notes with netrunner-oriented play.
- Bolt shots: an ability associated with Tech weapons.
- Adrenaline Rush: an ability associated with Body-focused builds.
Those examples show why reading the tree matters. They are signposts for different fantasies, not instructions to buy all three or proof that one attribute dominates the others.
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Use this process each time you earn enough points to consider a new perk. It keeps early experimentation manageable without pretending that every character should follow the same build.
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- Describe your actual combat behavior. Decide whether you are mostly firing weapons, closing distance for melee, or opening encounters through hacking. If two styles appeal to you, choose one as the primary path and keep the second as a deliberate side interest.
- Open the relevant attribute tree. Read the visible perk descriptions rather than relying on a pre-2.0 screenshot or an old build list. Update 2.0 changed the layout and the size of the trees.
- Check prerequisites before spending. A powerful-looking perk is not useful if it requires a branch you do not intend to develop. Follow the connected route that leads to the ability you actually want.
- Buy one meaningful step, then play. Use the next encounters to decide whether the change feels natural. A perk that looks attractive on paper may not match your timing, range, or preferred weapons.
- Keep a small reserve when undecided. Holding a point briefly is safer than purchasing an unrelated perk merely because it is available. This is especially sensible for attributes, whose reset options are more limited than ordinary perk experimentation.
- Reassess after a clear change in preference. If you stop enjoying your original approach, redirect later spending toward the new style instead of trying to make every tree serve every role.
What not to do in the opening hours
- Do not copy a pre-2.0 guide whose screenshots or reset advice predates the redesigned trees.
- Do not spread early attribute investment evenly just to avoid making a decision; that can leave every intended path underdeveloped.
- Do not assume a one-time transition reset on an existing save means unlimited attribute respecs for a new character.
- Do not buy a perk without reading its prerequisites and the behavior it changes.
Settings: configure the menu you actually have
Settings advice depends on platform, display, and whether you value image quality or performance. The official material does not establish universal “best” values, so use the documented menu changes as orientation rather than as a preset.
Finding Crowd Density
Update 2.0 moved Crowd Density from the Gameplay section to Graphics. If an older guide tells you to search under Gameplay, it is describing the earlier menu layout. On PC, console, and Mac, the exact surrounding options can differ, so look under Graphics when following current instructions.
HDR changes in Update 2.3
Update 2.3 improved the HDR settings screen. Its patch notes mention a correction to the calibration preview and a clearer description for the Tone-Mapping Midpoint setting. These are interface and explanation changes; they do not establish one correct midpoint or calibration number for every television, monitor, or Mac display.
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- Identify your platform and display. Note whether you are on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, or Mac, and whether your screen is HDR-capable.
- Open Graphics first. Confirm that Crowd Density is located there on your current build and review the options your platform exposes.
- Choose your priority. If steadier performance matters most, favor settings that reduce visual workload; if image detail matters most, accept that performance may differ. The available evidence does not justify a single numeric preset.
- Use the HDR calibration screen only when HDR is enabled. Follow the on-screen preview and judge the result on your own display. The Update 2.3 preview correction makes the screen more reliable, but it cannot account for every panel’s factory settings or room lighting.
- Change one setting at a time. When a scene looks wrong or performance changes, reverting the last change identifies the cause faster than changing a whole group at once.
Settings troubleshooting
- You cannot find Crowd Density: check Graphics, not Gameplay, because Update 2.0 moved it.
- HDR looks different from an older video: verify that the video predates Update 2.3, whose HDR screen and calibration preview were adjusted.
- A recommended value looks poor on your screen: treat the recommendation as display-specific, not universal. Return to the calibration preview and your platform’s performance priority.
- An option is missing: confirm the installed patch and platform. Console, PC, Mac, and Nintendo Switch 2 versions may expose different graphics controls.
Combat fundamentals for a first playthrough
The official sources used for this guide do not provide a complete, experimentally verified tutorial comparing every firearm, blade, stealth, and hacking tactic. You can still establish a reliable learning loop without claiming a universal combat recipe.
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- A Nintendo Switch Online membership may be required for online play. Please check the game detail page on Nintendo.com for membership requirements.
- 2025 CD PROJEKT S.A. All rights reserved. CD PROJEKT, the CD PROJEKT logo, the REDengine logo, Cyberpunk, Cyberpunk 2077, the Cyberpunk 2077 logo, Johnny Silverhand, the SAMURAI logo, Phantom Liberty and the Phantom Liberty logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of CD PROJEKT S.A. in the US and/or other countries. All other copyrights and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Build a repeatable loop
- Observe before committing. Use the environment and the scanner to understand what is in front of you. This is particularly important if you are considering hacking as your primary method.
- Start with the range you enjoy. Weapon-focused players should practice the weapon behavior they intend to keep using; melee players should learn whether staying close feels comfortable; hacking-focused players should begin encounters through the scanner and cyberdeck.
- Use one new mechanic at a time. After purchasing an upgrade, deliberately create a situation where its description applies. That makes it easier to tell whether the perk changed your choices.
- Adjust the plan, not every point. If a fight feels awkward, first change positioning, timing, or the way you begin the encounter. A single difficult battle is not evidence that your entire attribute direction is wrong.
Weapon-focused approach
Choose this direction when you want the simplest feedback loop: select a weapon, learn how its attacks behave, and buy perks that clearly support that behavior. Keep the tree coherent instead of taking unrelated bonuses from several attributes. The redesigned system rewards meaningful choices, but the official notes do not name one firearm path as the correct beginner route.
Melee approach
Melee is a preference decision rather than a required challenge mode. If you enjoy close-range pressure, read the descriptions in the relevant attribute tree and make sure your early purchases support that distance. If you dislike being near enemies, do not select melee perks merely because they appear early in a menu.
Hacking approach
Hacking is a distinct combat method built around the scanner and a cyberdeck. It is not simply a weapon perk with a different animation: your equipment and Intelligence investment affect how the system behaves.
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CD PROJEKT RED support describes quickhacks as being used through the scanner and cyberdeck. The same support material says Intelligence affects quickhack proficiency, RAM costs, and RAM recovery. In practical terms, a hacking-focused character must consider both the actions available through the scanner and the resource demands of using them.
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A beginner hacking workflow
- Equip a cyberdeck. Hacking requires the appropriate cyberdeck equipment; without one, the scanner-based quickhack approach is not available in the same way.
- Open the scanner before attacking. Identify the target and inspect the quickhack options presented by your current setup.
- Read the cost and effect. Pay attention to RAM requirements and the result described for the quickhack. Intelligence influences the cost and recovery side of this system.
- Use a small, understandable sequence. Start with one quickhack, observe what it changes, then decide whether another action is worth the remaining RAM.
- Invest toward the style you actually use. If you repeatedly enjoy scanning and managing quickhacks, follow Intelligence-linked perks and the netrunner-oriented abilities described in the perk tree.
The official material does not establish an optimal quickhack loadout or a best sequence for every encounter. Treat the first hours as a way to learn how your cyberdeck, RAM economy, and chosen perks interact.
Hacking problems and fixes
- Quickhacks feel too expensive: check the RAM cost shown in the scanner and consider whether your Intelligence direction supports the resource demands.
- Recovery feels too slow: Intelligence also affects RAM recovery, so review that attribute before abandoning hacking as a style.
- You cannot find a quickhack option: confirm that you are using the scanner and have a cyberdeck equipped; support documentation identifies both as part of the basic method.
- You expected hacking to work like a firearm: switch your mindset to setup and resource management. The scanner, cyberdeck, and RAM limit are central to the approach.
When should you respec?
For a new character, do not make respec planning the center of your build. The important distinction is that the Update 2.0 transition refunded perk points on existing saves and offered a one-time attribute reset, while the notes removed an all-perk reset. That is different from unlimited, repeatable attribute resets.
Use a reset to correct a direction, not to avoid reading
If your save is one of those affected by the progression transition, review the refunded points before spending them. Rebuild around the combat identity you now want, then make normal perk purchases one at a time. For a fresh character, read prerequisites and descriptions before committing attributes so that you do not depend on a reset that may not be available.
A first-session checklist
- Confirm that the game is updated and that your platform is supported by the current release you intend to play.
- Remember that Update 2.3 is described as free for base-game owners and does not require Phantom Liberty.
- Open Graphics and locate Crowd Density there, not under Gameplay.
- If using HDR, review the updated calibration preview and Tone-Mapping Midpoint explanation.
- Choose weapon-focused combat, melee, or hacking as your primary direction for the opening.
- Read each perk’s description and prerequisites before buying it.
- Keep attribute choices deliberate because the documented transition reset is not an unlimited new-player respec system.
- If hacking appeals to you, equip a cyberdeck, use the scanner, and watch RAM costs and recovery.
- After each meaningful upgrade, play long enough to notice the behavior it was meant to change.
Bottom line
Cyberpunk 2077 is easiest to learn when you treat Update 2.0’s redesigned progression as the starting point, not as a minor patch layered over the launch game. Set graphics according to your own platform and display, choose one primary combat identity, and follow the perk descriptions that support it. Hacking requires a scanner, cyberdeck, and Intelligence-aware approach to RAM; attributes deserve more caution than ordinary perk experimentation because the documented reset rules are limited.
Quick Recap
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