To effectively kill Adam Smasher on Very Hard difficulty in Cyberpunk 2077 2.0, prioritize Tech weapons for armor penetration, chemical damage, and Frag Grenades. Focus on his cyber heart once his chest plate is destroyed, and utilize Quickhacks like Weapon Malfunction and Cyberware Malfunction to disrupt his attacks and deal significant damage.
Pre-Battle Preparation
Before engaging Adam Smasher, careful preparation of your loadout and cyberware is crucial, especially on Very Hard difficulty. This final boss battle, encountered at the bottom of Arasaka Tower, demands a strategic approach to maximize your damage output and survivability. Ensure your inventory includes specific weapon types and consumables that exploit Smasher’s vulnerabilities.
| Category | Item/Type | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Weapons | Tech Weapons | Pierce armor, hit through cover, effective against reinforcements. |
| Chemical Damage | Smasher is weak to chemical damage. | |
| Consumables | Frag Grenades | Deal large damage, damage cyberware. |
| Healing Items | Crucial for survivability, especially with Dorph-head perk. | |
| Cyberware | Operating System | Consider Sandevistan for evasion or Berserker for damage reduction. |
| Perks | Adrenaline Rush | Prevents knockdown, increases mitigation. |
| Unstoppable Force | Prevents knockdown, increases mitigation. | |
| Dorph-head | Enhances healing item effectiveness. | |
| Can’t Touch This | Enhances Dash for evasion. | |
| Vulnerability Analytics | Relic Perk, reveals weak points on limbs. |
Tech weapons are a cornerstone of this fight due to their ability to pierce Smasher’s front armor plate, which is otherwise difficult to destroy. This penetration capability also allows you to strike targets through cover, which can be useful when dealing with reinforcements. Frag Grenades are excellent for burst damage and for damaging Smasher’s cyberware. Regarding cyberware, a Sandevistan operating system can provide critical evasion capabilities, while a Berserker can offer significant damage reduction, both valuable on Very Hard. For perks, Adrenaline Rush and Unstoppable Force (Body 15) are highly recommended to prevent knockdowns, which can be devastating. If you have the Relic Perk, Vulnerability Analytics, it will highlight weak points on Smasher’s limbs, offering additional targets for focused fire.
Adam Smasher’s Weaknesses and Vulnerabilities
Adam Smasher, despite his formidable appearance, possesses several key weaknesses that can be exploited to your advantage. Understanding these vulnerabilities is paramount for a successful encounter on Very Hard. His core weakness lies in his cyber heart, located on the right side of his chest, but it requires specific tactics to expose.
| Weakness Type | Description | Exploitation Method |
|---|---|---|
| Cyber Heart | Smasher’s weakest spot, on the right side of his chest. | Destroy his front plate with Tech weapons to expose. |
| Chemical Damage | Smasher has a specific vulnerability to chemical attacks. | Use weapons with chemical damage modifiers. |
| Armor Plate | His front armor plate protects his cyber heart. | Use Tech weapons to pierce and destroy the plate. |
| Cyberware | His various cybernetic components are susceptible to damage. | Frag Grenades and Cyberware Malfunction Quickhack. |
| Weapon System | His bullet storm attack can be disrupted. | Weapon Malfunction Quickhack. |
The most significant vulnerability is Adam Smasher’s cyber heart. Inflicting damage directly onto this spot results in substantial health reduction. However, it is initially protected by a front armor plate. Tech weapons are ideal for destroying this plate due to their piercing capabilities. Once exposed, focus fire on the cyber heart. Beyond this, Smasher is weak to chemical damage, so incorporating weapons with this damage type into your loadout will grant a considerable advantage. Conversely, he possesses resistance to electrical damage, so avoid using such weapons. Quickhacks also play a vital role in exploiting his weaknesses. Weapon Malfunction can significantly reduce the efficiency of his bullet storm attack in the first phase, making it less dangerous. Cyberware Malfunction, while requiring a longer upload time, can deal immense damage, often pushing him into a new phase.
Combat Strategies for Each Phase
The fight against Adam Smasher is divided into three distinct phases, each with its own attack patterns and requiring specific tactical responses. Adapting your strategy to each phase is crucial for survival and victory on Very Hard difficulty. Maintaining distance and utilizing cover effectively will be key throughout the encounter.
Phase 1: Melee Focus and Bullet Storm
In the initial phase, Adam Smasher is at his most aggressive, relying heavily on melee combos, jump attacks, and his “Bullet Storm” projectile attack. Your primary goal here is to maintain distance and avoid his close-range assaults. When he charges, begin backing up immediately. As he starts his melee swings, repeatedly dodge backward to evade his combos. This evasion technique is similar to what is used against Oda during the “Gimme Danger” quest. For his jump attack, simply sprint away from your current position as he initiates it. This phase is when the Weapon Malfunction quickhack is most effective, as it can severely cripple his Bullet Storm, making it far easier to manage. Focus on destroying his front armor plate with Tech weapons during this phase to prepare for exposing his cyber heart.
Phase 2: Sandevistan and Reinforcements
Once Smasher’s health drops below 80%, he will begin utilizing Sandevistan whenever he moves, making him nearly impossible to hit unless you have a counter. If you have your own Sandevistan cyberware, activate it to match his speed and continue your assault. Alternatively, Smart guns can track him even while he’s using Sandevistan. If neither of these options is available, you will only be able to land hits when he is stationary. This phase often introduces reinforcements, so be prepared to switch targets and clear them out quickly, using Tech weapons to shoot through cover if necessary. Continue to chip away at his health, aiming for his exposed cyber heart if the front plate has been destroyed.
Phase 3: Advanced Weaponry and Vulnerability Analytics
The final phase sees Adam Smasher deploying more advanced weaponry, including potentially a Projectile Launch System Energy Blast Cannon, Shoulder-Mounted Mortar Barrage, and Cluster Missile Devastation. His attacks become more varied and powerful. If you have the Relic Perk, Vulnerability Analytics, this phase is where it becomes particularly useful, highlighting weak points on his limbs. While these weak points have substantial health and are not always available, targeting them with a gun build can significantly shorten the fight. If you cannot consistently hit these, it might be more efficient to continue focusing on his cyber heart or general chemical damage. Be extremely vigilant about dodging his incoming projectiles and managing any remaining reinforcements. Using defensive perks like Adrenaline Rush and Unstoppable Force will help mitigate damage and prevent knockdowns from his powerful attacks.
FAQ
What are Adam Smasher’s main weaknesses? Adam Smasher is primarily weak to chemical damage and has a critical weak point in his cyber heart, located on the right side of his chest, which is exposed after his front armor plate is destroyed. He is also vulnerable to Tech weapons and Frag Grenades.
Which Quickhacks are most effective against Adam Smasher? Weapon Malfunction is highly effective in Phase 1 to reduce the power of his Bullet Storm attack. Cyberware Malfunction can deal significant damage and often push him into the next phase, though it has a longer upload time.
Should I use electrical damage weapons against Smasher? No, Adam Smasher is resistant to electrical damage, so it is advisable to avoid using weapons with this damage type. Focus on chemical damage instead.
How do I expose Adam Smasher’s cyber heart? You need to destroy his front armor plate, which is best achieved by using Tech weapons due to their armor-piercing capabilities.
What perks are recommended for the Adam Smasher fight on Very Hard? Perks such as Adrenaline Rush and Unstoppable Force (Body 15) are highly recommended to prevent knockdowns. Dorph-head enhances healing, and Can’t Touch This improves Dash evasion. The Relic Perk, Vulnerability Analytics, can also be beneficial for identifying limb weak points.