Netrunner Build Overview
The Netrunner build in Cyberpunk 2077 focuses on utilizing quickhacks to disable and eliminate enemies, often before they even detect your presence. This playstyle prioritizes stealth and strategic engagement, allowing you to control the battlefield from a distance. With the 2.0 update, Netrunners can now queue multiple quickhacks, enabling powerful combinations with diverse effects. While direct gunfights can be challenging, a well-executed Netrunner build can take down entire groups of adversaries efficiently.
The core of this build revolves around high Intelligence for increased RAM capacity, which is crucial for uploading quickhacks. Technical Ability further enhances your quickhack damage and RAM recovery. For those with the Phantom Liberty DLC, the level cap increases to 60, granting additional attribute points that can be invested in Body for improved survivability.
Key strengths of this build include the ability to neutralize targets silently and control enemy cyberware. However, its primary weakness lies in its reliance on stealth; direct confrontations can be difficult if you are detected.
Attribute and Perk Priority
To maximize your Netrunner’s potential, careful allocation of attribute points and selection of perks is essential.
Attribute Progression (Base Game Level 50 / Phantom Liberty Level 60):
- Intelligence: Prioritize this attribute to 20. It directly increases your maximum RAM capacity, which is vital for using quickhacks.
- Technical Ability: Raise this to 15. It boosts quickhack damage and speeds up RAM recovery.
- Cool: Allocate 15 points here. This enhances stealth capabilities and critical damage.
- Reflexes: Invest 15 points for improved mobility and critical chance.
- Body: For those with Phantom Liberty, allocate 16 points to Body (up from a base of 3, with 10 additional points from the DLC). This significantly increases your health and overall survivability. In the base game, a minimal Body investment (e.g., 3-6) is sufficient.
Key Perks to Consider:
- Intelligence Perks: Focus on perks like Eye in the Sky, Optimization, Proximate Propagation, Encryption, Hack Queue, Counter-a-Hack, Copy-Paste, Data Recycler, Feedback Loop, Embedded Exploit, Speculation, Recirculation, Acquisition Specialist, Precision Subroutines, Queue Acceleration, Queue Prioritization, Queue Hack_Root, Blood Daemon, Overclock, Sublimation, Race Against Mind, Power Surge, Target Lock Transfer, Terminal Velocity, Targeting Prism, Queue Mastery, Spillover, and Smart Synergy. Overclock is particularly powerful, allowing you to use HP to fuel quickhack uploads when RAM is depleted.
- Technical Ability Perks: Glutton for War, First Aid, All Things Cyber, Driver Update, Chipware Connoisseur, Chrome Constitution, Renaissance Punk, License to Chrome, and Extender Warranty are beneficial for cyberware and quickhack synergy.
- Cool Perks: Killer Instinct, Focus, Rinse and Reload, No Sweat, Deadeye, California Reaper, Long Shot, and Nerves of Tungsten-Steel support stealth and critical damage.
- Reflex Perks: Slippery, Muscle Memory, Multitasker, Dash, Ready, Rested, Reloaded, Sharpshooter, and Price Makes Perfect improve mobility and combat effectiveness.
- Body Perks (for survivability): Painkiller, Speed Junkie, Comeback Kid, and Army of One.
Essential Gear and Quickhacks
Optimizing your cyberware and quickhack arsenal is paramount for a successful Netrunner.
Recommended Quickhacks:
- Memory Wipe: Untraceable, ideal for stealth.
- Contagion: Spreads damage to multiple enemies.
- Overheat: Deals thermal damage over time.
- Cyberware Malfunction: Disables enemy cyberware.
- Short Circuit: Deals electrical damage.
- System Collapse: An ultimate quickhack that is untraceable and incapacitates enemies.
- Synapse Burnout: A combat quickhack that can be combined with Overheat.
- Cripple Movement: A control quickhack to hinder enemy mobility.
- Sonic Shock: Untraceable, useful for disabling enemies without alerting others.
Crucial Cyberware:
- Operating System (Cyberdeck): The Tetratronic Rippler Mk.5 is a top choice. The Netwatch Netdriver Mk.1 is also excellent for its high base RAM slots.
- Arms Cyberware: The Monowire is the best melee weapon for Netrunners, especially with the Jailbreak Relic Perk, which allows you to launch Control quickhacks through it.
- Frontal Cortex Cyberware:
- Ex-Disk: Increases quickhack upload speed and RAM slots.
- RAM Upgrade: Boosts RAM recovery rate and provides additional RAM slots.
- Camillo RAM Manager: Further enhances RAM recovery rate and RAM slots.
- (Optional) Kerenzikov Boost System: Can replace RAM Upgrade if you prefer more gun combat over Monowire.
- Hands Cyberware: A Smart Link is mandatory for any Netrunner build, as it’s the only Hand Cyberware that enables smart weapon functionality.
Recommended Weapons:
While quickhacks are your primary damage source, having reliable smart weapons is beneficial, especially when RAM is low or for direct engagements.
- Crimestopper (Tier 5+ Iconic): A Smart Pistol obtainable during Gig: Heaviest of Hearts. It offers improved stats, faster lock-on, and increased crit damage.
- Pizdets (Tier 5+ Iconic): A Smart SMG with a built-in silencer, ideal for stealth. Its fire rate increases with consecutive shots. Found by looting Boris Ribakov in Gig: Spy in the Jungle.
- Hercules 3AX: An alternative to the Pizdets, acquired from Gig: Roads to Redemption, if you prefer a different ammo type.
Netrunner Playstyle Tips
The Netrunner playstyle thrives on stealth and strategic planning. Your goal is to eliminate threats before they become aware of your presence.
- Stay Undetected: This is the cornerstone of a Netrunner’s effectiveness. Use quickhacks like Memory Wipe or System Collapse to neutralize enemies without alerting others.
- Utilize Quickhack Combos: The ability to queue multiple quickhacks allows for powerful combinations. For instance, you can combine Contagion with Overheat to spread damage and then finish off remaining targets with Short Circuit.
- Manage RAM: RAM is your most precious resource. Intelligence and Technical Ability perks, along with specific cyberware, will help you manage it effectively. The Overclock perk allows you to spend HP for quickhack uploads when RAM is depleted, enabling the “Infinite Overclock combo.”
- Leverage Smart Weapons: When stealth isn’t an option or RAM is low, smart weapons provide a powerful alternative. The Targeting Prism perk, combined with weapons like the Pizdets, can shred multiple enemies during open combat.
- Monowire for Close Quarters: The Monowire, especially with the Jailbreak Relic Perk, offers a potent melee option that integrates with your quickhack abilities.
FAQ
What are the most important attributes for a Netrunner build? Intelligence and Technical Ability are the primary attributes. Intelligence increases RAM, while Technical Ability boosts quickhack damage and RAM recovery. Cool and Reflexes are also highly beneficial for stealth, critical chance, and mobility.
Which quickhacks are essential for a Netrunner? Memory Wipe, Contagion, Overheat, Cyberware Malfunction, Short Circuit, and System Collapse are all highly effective. For stealth, untraceable quickhacks like System Collapse, Memory Wipe, and Sonic Shock are invaluable.
What is the best cyberdeck for a Netrunner? The Tetratronic Rippler Mk.5 and Netwatch Netdriver Mk.1 are excellent choices, offering high base RAM slots.
Can a Netrunner be effective in direct combat? While a Netrunner excels in stealth, smart weapons like the Crimestopper and Pizdets, combined with appropriate perks, can make you capable in direct engagements, especially when RAM is low. The Monowire also provides a strong melee option.
Does the Phantom Liberty DLC affect Netrunner builds? Yes, Phantom Liberty increases the level cap to 60, providing 10 additional attribute points. These can be invested in Body to significantly improve survivability.