Cyberpunk 2077: 10 Essential Tips for Beginners in Night City (Post-2.0)

1. Choose Your Lifepath Wisely – But It's Not Permanent

Your lifepath (Street Kid, Nomad, Corpo) gives you unique dialogue options and starting missions, but it doesn't lock you into a playstyle. Pick the one that appeals to you narratively; you can still build any character later.

2. Respec Your Perks Freely – But Not Your Attributes

In the 2.0 update, you can refund perk points anytime from the perk menu for free. However, attribute points are locked once assigned. Plan your attribute spread (e.g., Reflexes for blades, Technical Ability for cyberware) carefully, as you can only reset them once per playthrough via a costly item.

3. Cyberware Is Your Best Friend

Cyberware now replaces the old armor system. Visit a Ripperdoc early and invest in iconic cyberware like the Sandevistan or Berserk for combat, or Monowire for hacking. Keep your cyberware capacity in check by leveling up and equipping capacity-boosting mods.

4. Don't Ignore Relic Perks

After starting the Phantom Liberty expansion, you gain access to the Relic skill tree. These perks (e.g., V's Accelerator for slow-mo dodges) are incredibly powerful and can define your build. Prioritize completing the expansion early to unlock them.

5. Loot Everything – But Sell Wisely

Weapons and clothing now have tiers (Common to Legendary). Break down unwanted gear into components for upgrading, but sell items with high value. Keep an eye out for Iconic weapons – they have unique perks and can be upgraded at a crafting bench using components.

6. Drive Fast, but Use Fast Travel

Night City is huge. While driving is fun, use fast travel points (the blue station icons) to save time. You can also call your vehicle via the radio, but you'll need to unlock it first by completing certain missions.

7. Hack Everything – Intro to Quickhacks

Even if you're not a netrunner, invest a few perks into the Intelligence tree for Ping (marks enemies through walls) and Synapse Burnout (direct damage). Quickhacks can turn difficult encounters into cakewalks. Use them during stealth to thin out enemies.

8. Complete Side Jobs and Gigs

The main story is great, but side content (played by Regina Jones and other fixers) offers huge rewards: XP, eddies, and iconic loot. Many side quests also affect the main story's outcome, so don't rush.

9. Stealth Is Viable – But Not Always Required

The game rewards stealth with bonus XP and less enemy reinforcement. Use Rebuilt Optics cyberware to see enemy outlines, and equip a silenced pistol or knife. But if you're spotted, switch to a run-and-gun approach – ammo is plentiful.

10. Save Often – Especially Before Major Missions

The game auto-saves frequently, but manual saves are your safety net. Some missions have branching paths or timed choices that can lock you out of content. Use multiple save slots to avoid regrets.