Best Beginner Build for All Playstyles in Patch 1.6 | Cyberpunk 2077

This is a guide to the Best Beginner Build for All Playstyles for Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 1.6. Read our guide for details about the build, what attributes to level up, which perks to choose, and what weapons and cyberwares to use.

Beginner Build Overview

Build Basic Information

Strengths and Weaknesses

Beginner Best Attribute Build

Attribute Progression

This build aims to provide an all-around playstyle that allows for combat survivability, hacking, and stealth. As such, we're adding allocating stats fairly evenly. However, to be able to use more powerful cyberware later in the game, we've shifted most of the points to Body and Reflexes. This helps with survivability and improves most weapons. This guide will focus on Katanas and Handguns, but you're free to use other weapons like Shotguns and Assault Rifles with the same attributes.

Cool is more important early on to make stealth and Cold Blood worth using, but it isn't worth leveling later in favor of other perks. Technical Ability and Intelligence were distributed to allow the crafting of Epic items and increase our chances of getting Legendary quickhacks through access points later in the game.

Beginner Build Best Perks

Athletics (Body)

Perk	Effect at Lv. 1
Regeneration	Health slowly regenerates during combat.
True Grit	Increases max Stamina by 10%.
Epimorphosis	Increases Health regen threshold from 60% to 65% in combat and to 100% out of combat.
Steel And Chrome	Increases melee damage by 10%.
Divided Attention	Allows you to reload weapons while sprinting, sliding and vaulting.
Like A Butterfly	Dodging does not drain Stamina.
Multitasker	Allows you to shoot while sprinting, sliding and vaulting.
Invincible	Increases max Health by 15%.
Tenacious V	Getting hit does not interrupt Health regeneration.
Steel Shell	Increases Armor by 10%.

Athletics generally improves survivability, making this a must for beginners to avoid flatlining too much. Regeneration can help with staying alive during combat while perks like Invincible and Steel Shell become valuable later in the game to ensure you can survive in a fight.

Handguns (Reflexes)

Perk	Effect at Lv. 1
Gunslinger	Reduces reload time for Pistols and Revolvers by 10%.
High Noon	Increases Crit Chance with Pistols and Revolvers by 2%.
Rio Bravo	Increases headshot damage multiplier with Pistols and Revolvers by 5%.
Desperado	Increases damage with Pistols and Revolvers by 3%.
On the Fly	Reduces draw/holster time for Pistols and Revolvers by 25%.
Steady Hand	Reduces Pistol and Revolver recoil by 30%.
A Fistful of Eurodollars	Increases Crit Damage with Pistols and Revolvers by 15%.
Grand Finale	The last round in a Pistol or Revolver clip deals double damage.
Westworld	Increases Crit Chance for Pistols and Revolvers by 5% if fully modded.
Lead Sponge	Enables you to shoot with Pistols and Revolvers while dodging.

For our primary ranged weapon, we recommend Handguns such as Pistols and Revolvers since they're relatively easy to handle and can deal plenty of damage when enhanced with perks. General damage skills like Desperado and Rio Bravo will always be useful while Gunslinger and On the Fly make switching to them more convenient.

Blades (Reflexes)

Perk	Effect at Lv. 1
Sting Like a Bee	Increases attack speed with Blades by 10%.
Roaring Waters	Strong Attacks with Blades deal 10% more damage.
Slow and Steady	Moving while wielding a Blade increases Armor by 15%
Flight of the Sparrow	Reduces the Stamina cost of all attack with Blades by 30%
Blessed Blade	Increases Crit Chance with Blades by 10%.
Float Like a Butterfly	Dodging increases damage with Blades by 25% for 5 sec.
Judge, Jury and Executioner	Increases damage with Blades by 50% against enemies with max Health.
Deathbolt	While wielding a Blade, defeating an enemy restores 20% Health and increases movement speed by 30% for 5 sec.

Our recommendation for melee weapons is Blades since this perk tree improves Katanas, Knives, and the Monowire. You won't go wrong with perks like Blessed Blade and Judge, Jury and Executioner for damage while Deathbolt can help keep you alive in close combat later on.

Quickhacking (Intelligence)

Perk	Effect at Lv. 1
Biosynergy	Allows RAM to recover during combat. Recover 4 RAM unit(s) every 60 sec.
Bloodware	Quickhacks deal 10% more damage.
Forget-Me-Not	Eliminating a target affected by a quickhack instantly recovers 1 RAM unit(s).
I Spy	Reveals an enemy netrunner when they're attempting to hack you.
Subliminal Message	Quickhacks deal 50% more damage to unaware targets.
Diffusion	Quickhack spread distance is increased by 2 times.
School of Hard Hacks	Unlocks Crafting Specs for Rare quickhacks.

Quickhacking is useful for taking down enemies remotely. While this won't be as fast or effective as a dedicated netrunner build, key perks like Bloodware and Subliminal Message are all you really need for damage. You might also consider picking up Datamine Virtuoso from Breach Protocol to increase your chances of getting Legendary quickhacks since you won't be able to craft them.

Crafting (Technical Ability)

Perk	Effect at Lv. 1
Mechanic	Gain more components when disassembling.
True Craftsman	Allows you to craft Rare items.
Workshop	Disassembling items grants a 20% chance to gain a free component of the same quality as the disassembled item. Additionally, there is a 5% chance to gain a free component of higher quality than the disassembled item.
200% Efficiency	Crafted clothes gain 5% more armor.
Field Technician	Crafted weapons deal 5% more damage.
Ex Nihilo	Grants a 20% chance to craft an item for free.
Grease Monkey	Allows you to craft Epic items.
Efficient Upgrades	Grants a 10% chance to upgrade an item for free.

Crafting and upgrading stronger equipment will always be appreciated no matter what build you choose. We'll want to get Grease Monkey to craft Epic gear, which is perfectly usable for killing your enemies. The other perks are also useful for beginners to craft items to sell for Eddies or money in-game.

Ninjutsu (Cool)

Perk	Effect at Lv. 1
Silent And Deadly	Increases damage dealt by silenced weapons by 25% while sneaking.
Crouching Tiger	Increases movement speed while sneaking by 20%.
Dagger Dealer	Enables knife throwing. A thrown knife returns to the hand after the time given in its description or immediately upon pickup. Hold L2 to aim and press R2 to throw.
Strike From The Shadows	Increases your Crit Chance by 7% while sneaking.
Assassin	Deal 15% more damage to human enemies.
Sniper	Increases damage from headshots fired from outside combat by 10%.

Ninjutsu perks are all about improving stealth. Silent and Deadly, Strike from the Shadows, and Sniper are all key damage tools for playing stealthily. Assassin is also great for working even outside of stealth. Dagger Dealer is optional but worth getting thanks to the buffs to Knives being affected by the Blades perks and the overall buffs to throwing.

Cold Blood (Cool)

Perk	Effect at Lv. 1
Cold Blood	After defeating an enemy, gain Cold Blood for 7 sec. and increase movement speed by 2%. Stacks up to 1 time. The duration of each additional stack is 1 sec. shorter.
Will to Survive	Increases all Resistances by 3% per stack of Cold Blood.
Blood Brawl	While Cold Blood is active, increases damage with melee weapons by 5%.
Easy Out	While Cold Blood is active, increases ranged weapon damage by 10% to enemies within an area of 5 m.
Defensive Clotting	Increases Armor by 4% per stack of Cold Blood.
Frozen Precision	Increases headshot damage by 5% per stack of Cold Blood.
Coolagulant	Stacks of Cold Blood are removed one by one, not all at once.

Due to our fairly low Cool attribute, we won't be able to use some of the other Cold Blood perks. Fortunately, all the defensive buffs like Defensive Clotting and Will to Survive are available at low levels and can be used to make survival easier under Cold Blood. We also get enough points to include Coolagulant to make the buffs last longer.

Beginner Build Best Weapons

Satori

Effect	Reduces base damage, but increases Crit Damage 5 times.

The Satori is one the best Katanas in the game thanks to its large Crit Damage modifier. It's also found in Act 1, making it suitable for progressing through the rest of the game once you get it.

How to Get the Satori

Lizzie

Effect	Fires an extra round per shot. Further increases the number of rounds fired when fully charged.

Like the Satori, the Lizzie is a standout among its weapon class. It fires multiple rounds and can be charged to deal more damage. It's also available early on in Act 2, making this a keeper until the ending. Before getting this Iconic weapon, you can use the M-76E Omaha, which fires one round less.

How to Get the Lizzie

Archangel

Effect	Deals Electrical damage with a chance to apply Stun and has significantly reduced recoil. An angel of a weapon with a devil's attitude.

The Archangel is our weapon of choice when playing stealthily. It's most effective when silenced with a muzzle and aiming for headshots. Its non-Iconic version, the Overture, is also good for scoring stealth kills before you get this gun.

How to Get the Archangel

Beginner Build Best Cyberwares

Operating System

NetWatch Netdriver MK.5

Cyberware	Effect (Legendary/Iconic)
NetWatch Netdriver MK.5	Allows you to perform quickhacks on targets and devices while scanning. Offensive quickhacks can be uploaded to 3 targets within a 6-meter radius. Increases damage dealt by quickhacks by 30%. Increases cyberdeck RAM recovery rate 9 unit(s) per 60 sec. Increases quickhack spread distance by 60%.

Equipping a cyberdeck opens up quickhacking, which can be very effective at either crippling or eliminating enemies without having to enter combat. There's no attribute requirement either, making it accessible for any build. On top of that, equipping Legendary quickhacks give passive abilities even when you're not hacking.

The NetWatch Netdriver MK.5 should be your operating system of choice as its focus on damage is great at showing how powerful quickhacks can be. Use the Tetratronic series before getting this to also improve quickhack damage.

QianT Warp Dancer Sandevistan MK.5

Cyberware	Effect (Legendary/Iconic)
QianT "Warp Dancer" Sandevistan MK.5	Slows time by 10% for 8 sec. Cooldown 30 sec. ・Increases any damage dealt by 15%, Crit Chance by 10%, and Crit Damage by 50% when Sandevistan is active.

If stealth and quickhacking aren't your style, then a Sandevistan will serve you well. Our build has just enough Reflexes to equip one of the best in the game. Use it whenever you're in the middle of a fight and cut down enemies during the slowed time. Note that this also affects your reload times, so it's usually best to use your melee weapons during this time.

Arms Cyberware

Monowire

Cyberware	Effect (Legendary)
Monowire	The Monowire charges when equipped but not used in combat. Attacks with a charged wire deal bonus damage based on the charge level. Charge level and bonus damage dealt decline with each attack. Three mod slots available (wire, battery, universal).

The Monowire is also improved by Blades perks, making this a good choice for the Arms Cyberware. It can reach a good distance farther than a Katana, making it an effective backup during combat.

Other Cyberwares

Heal-on-Kill

Cyberware	Effect (Legendary)
Heal-on-Kill	Instantly restores 10% Health after defeating an enemy.

As our build has 18 Reflexes, we can equip the Legendary version of Heal-on-Kill. This cyberware shows its worth against groups of enemies since you won't have to spend time healing when you can just strike down your enemies to recover Health.

Biomonitor

Cyberware	Effect (Legendary)
Biomonitor	Instantly restores 100% Health when Health drops to 15%. Cooldown 120 sec.

The Biomonitor can be good insurance in case of firefights. This effectively gives you a second chance once you've reached critical Health to avoid flatlining. Do note that it has a relatively long cooldown, so use your extra time wisely.

Optical Camo

Cyberware	Effect (Legendary)
Optical Camo	Grants invisibility for 15 seconds. Cooldown: 45 sec.

The Optical Camo isn't just a tool for stealth. It's also a great combat cyberware since your enemies can't see your blades or bullets coming while it's active. Pair this with the QianT Sandevistan, and you can feel like a ninja killing their targets without ever being seen.

Bioconductor

Cyberware	Effect (Legendary)
Bioconductor	Reduces all cyberware cooldowns by 30%.

A lot of the cyberware we suggested have cooldowns, and you'll want as much uptime as possible to maximize them. The Bioconductor does just that, allowing cyberware to be ready sooner.

Reinforced Tendons

Cyberware	Effect (Rare)
Reinforced Tendons	Press X while in midair to perform a double jump.

Reinforced Tendons are great for the ability to double jump. Double jumping allows us to reach previously unreachable places and helps with repositioning during combat too.

Beginner Build Best Quickhacks

Short Circuit

Quickhack	Stats	Effect
Short Circuit	Duration: 6.8 sec Upload Time: 1 sec Cooldown: 10 sec	Uncommon ・Non-Lethal ・Deals moderate damage to the target. Very effective against drones, mechs, robots, and targets with a Weakspot. Rare ・Applies an EMP effect to the target for 4 sec. Epic ・Deals 30% extra damage to enemies below a High threat level. Legendary ・Passive While Equipped: Crit Hits with any weapon apply this quickhack's uncommon effect.

Short Circuit will be a frequently used quickhack as it uploads fast and has a fairly short cooldown. When paired with damage-increasing perks, Short Circuit can make quick work of most enemies. The Legendary version is even better since all Crit Hits deal extra damage without the need to upload hacks.

Contagion

Quickhack	Stats	Effect
Contagion	Duration: 8.5 sec Upload Time: 1 sec Cooldown: 30 sec	Uncommon ・Non-Lethal. ・Deals low damage that applies Poison to the target. Spreads to 2 targets within an 8-meter radius. Effective against closely grouped targets. Rare ・Poison lasts significantly longer. Epic ・Each subsequent target receives 30% more damage from Contagion. Legendary ・Passive While Equipped: All quickhacks capable of spreading to multiple targets can jump 1 additional time(s).

Contagion can work as a backup combat quickhack when Short Circuit is on cooldown. It even spreads across enemies, making this ideal against groups.

How to Play the Beginner Build

Experiment With Different Playstyles

As an all-around build, you'll have more freedom with how you can play with it. You can try out stealth against one group of enemies and then go full frontal assault against another. You're also free to try out other weapon types and cyberware as our attributes unlock plenty of higher rarity ones.

Use All Your Tools

Building skill EXP requires performing actions like crafting, beating enemies with certain weapons, or successfully quickhacking. Since this build is suitable for any playstyle, you should improve these as much as possible to gain the skill's progression bonuses and earn more Perk Points.

Adapt to Situations

Beginners aren't expected to play perfectly. Making mistakes and failing missions are normal while learning to play the game. Our build provides enough survivability options to adapt to these trials whenever you screw up.

Beginner Alternative Builds

Alternate Weapons Build

This build substitutes Handguns and Blades for the other weapon types available in the game. The rest of the build remains the same as Body and Reflexes are still the attributes that affect these weapons and allows us to equip the same cyberware.

Depending on the weapons you choose, make sure to build up their respective skill trees instead. For example, if you want to primarily use Shotguns, use your perk points on Annihilation over the weapon you're replacing.

Cyberpunk 2077 Related Guides

Best Character Builds

All Build Guides

All Cyberpunk 2077 Guides