・Patch 1.6 Edgerunners Update is now live!
・All the new items added in Patch 1.6
・Phantom Liberty DLC, a full expansion, arriving in 2023!
・Is Cyberpunk Edgerunners Canon?
・Is Lucy in 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.
List of Contents
Beginner Build | |
---|---|
Main Attributes | • Reflexes • Body • Intelligence |
Main Perk Trees | • Athletics (Body) • Handguns (Reflexes) • Blades (Reflexes) • Quickhacking (Intelligence) • Crafting (Technical Ability) • Cold Blood (Cool) |
Main Weapons / Arm Cyberware | • Satori • Lizzie • Archangel • Monowire |
Operating System | • NetWatch Netdriver MK.5 / QianT "Warp Dancer" Sandevistan MK.5 |
Strengths | Weaknesses |
---|---|
• Versatile and adaptable to different situations • Ideal for beginners looking to try out what the game has to offer |
• Not as specialized, making its damage lacking at times • Limited attribute distribution locks out some higher-end options |
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.
Build Attributes | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lv. | Body | Reflex | Tech | Intel | Cool |
1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
10 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
50 | 18 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
Perk | Effect at Lv. 1 |
---|---|
![]() |
Health slowly regenerates during combat. |
![]() |
Increases max Stamina by 10%. |
![]() |
Increases Health regen threshold from 60% to 65% in combat and to 100% out of combat. |
![]() |
Increases melee damage by 10%. |
![]() |
Allows you to reload weapons while sprinting, sliding and vaulting. |
![]() |
Dodging does not drain Stamina. |
![]() |
Allows you to shoot while sprinting, sliding and vaulting. |
![]() |
Increases max Health by 15%. |
![]() |
Getting hit does not interrupt Health regeneration. |
![]() |
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.
Perk | Effect at Lv. 1 |
---|---|
![]() |
Reduces reload time for Pistols and Revolvers by 10%. |
![]() |
Increases Crit Chance with Pistols and Revolvers by 2%. |
![]() |
Increases headshot damage multiplier with Pistols and Revolvers by 5%. |
![]() |
Increases damage with Pistols and Revolvers by 3%. |
![]() |
Reduces draw/holster time for Pistols and Revolvers by 25%. |
![]() |
Reduces Pistol and Revolver recoil by 30%. |
![]() |
Increases Crit Damage with Pistols and Revolvers by 15%. |
![]() |
The last round in a Pistol or Revolver clip deals double damage. |
![]() |
Increases Crit Chance for Pistols and Revolvers by 5% if fully modded. |
![]() |
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.
Perk | Effect at Lv. 1 |
---|---|
![]() |
Increases attack speed with Blades by 10%. |
![]() |
Strong Attacks with Blades deal 10% more damage. |
![]() |
Moving while wielding a Blade increases Armor by 15% |
![]() |
Reduces the Stamina cost of all attack with Blades by 30% |
![]() |
Increases Crit Chance with Blades by 10%. |
![]() |
Dodging increases damage with Blades by 25% for 5 sec. |
![]() |
Increases damage with Blades by 50% against enemies with max Health. |
![]() |
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.
Perk | Effect at Lv. 1 |
---|---|
![]() |
Allows RAM to recover during combat. Recover 4 RAM unit(s) every 60 sec. |
![]() |
Quickhacks deal 10% more damage. |
![]() |
Eliminating a target affected by a quickhack instantly recovers 1 RAM unit(s). |
![]() |
Reveals an enemy netrunner when they're attempting to hack you. |
![]() |
Quickhacks deal 50% more damage to unaware targets. |
![]() |
Quickhack spread distance is increased by 2 times. |
![]() |
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.
Perk | Effect at Lv. 1 |
---|---|
![]() |
Gain more components when disassembling. |
![]() |
Allows you to craft Rare items. |
![]() |
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. |
![]() |
Crafted clothes gain 5% more armor. |
![]() |
Crafted weapons deal 5% more damage. |
![]() |
Grants a 20% chance to craft an item for free. |
![]() |
Allows you to craft Epic items. |
![]() |
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.
Perk | Effect at Lv. 1 |
---|---|
![]() |
Increases damage dealt by silenced weapons by 25% while sneaking. |
![]() |
Increases movement speed while sneaking by 20%. |
![]() |
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. |
![]() |
Increases your Crit Chance by 7% while sneaking. |
![]() |
Deal 15% more damage to human enemies. |
![]() |
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.
Perk | Effect at Lv. 1 |
---|---|
![]() |
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. |
![]() |
Increases all Resistances by 3% per stack of Cold Blood. |
![]() |
While Cold Blood is active, increases damage with melee weapons by 5%. |
![]() |
While Cold Blood is active, increases ranged weapon damage by 10% to enemies within an area of 5 m. |
![]() |
Increases Armor by 4% per stack of Cold Blood. |
![]() |
Increases headshot damage by 5% per stack of Cold Blood. |
![]() |
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.
![]() |
|
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.
![]() |
|
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.
![]() |
|
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.
Cyberware | Effect (Legendary/Iconic) |
---|---|
![]() |
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.
Warp DancerSandevistan MK.5
Cyberware | Effect (Legendary/Iconic) |
---|---|
![]() |
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.
Cyberware | Effect (Legendary) |
---|---|
![]() |
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.
Cyberware | Effect (Legendary) |
---|---|
![]() |
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.
Cyberware | Effect (Legendary) |
---|---|
![]() |
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.
Cyberware | Effect (Legendary) |
---|---|
![]() |
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.
Cyberware | Effect (Legendary) |
---|---|
![]() |
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.
Cyberware | Effect (Rare) |
---|---|
![]() |
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.
Quickhack | Stats | Effect |
---|---|---|
![]() |
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.
Quickhack | Stats | Effect |
---|---|---|
![]() |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Recommended Build | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Weapon Type | Shotgun, Blunt Weapons, Assault Rifle, Sniper Rifle | |||
Quickhacks | Short Circuit, Contagion | |||
Additional Perks | Annihilation, Street Brawler, Assault |
Build Attributes | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lv. | Body | Reflex | Tech | Intel | Cool |
1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
10 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
50 | 18 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
Best Builds | |
---|---|
Blunt Weapon Build | Stealth Build |
Gunslinger Build | Netrunner Build |
Assault Rifle Build | Blades Build |
Cold Blood Build | Monowire Build |
Gorilla Arms Build | Mantis Blades Build |
Smart Weapons Build | Tech Weapons Build |
Tank Build | Beginner Build for All Playstyles |
Best Beginner Build for All Playstyles in Patch 1.6
Genshin Impact Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Honkai: Star Rail Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV) Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Pokemon UNITE Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Fire Emblem Heroes (FEH) Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Fire Emblem Engage Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Star Wars Jedi Survivor Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Pokemon Legends: Arceus Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Elden Ring Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
FF7 Remake Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
New Pokemon Snap Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
CD PROJEKT®, Cyberpunk®, Cyberpunk 2077® are registered trademarks of CD PROJEKT S.A. © 2020 CD PROJEKT S.A. All rights reserved. All other copyrights and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
The copyrights of videos of games used in our content and other intellectual property rights belong to the provider of the game.
The contents we provide on this site were created personally by members of the Game8 editorial department.
We refuse the right to reuse or repost content taken without our permission such as data or images to other sites.