To achieve all Phantom Liberty endings, you must navigate critical dialogue choices during two main jobs: “Firestarter” and either “Killing Moon” or “Somewhat Damaged,” which determine Songbird’s fate and unlock specific outcomes for V. There are four distinct endings: King of Wands, King of Swords, King of Cups, and King of Pentacles, each stemming from a primary decision in “Firestarter” followed by a subsequent choice.
Overview of Phantom Liberty Endings
The Phantom Liberty expansion features four significant endings, each profoundly impacting V’s story and the fates of key characters like Songbird, Reed, and Alex. These outcomes are entirely dependent on your choices during two pivotal main jobs: “Firestarter” and a subsequent mission, either “Killing Moon” or “Somewhat Damaged.” The decisions made in these quests dictate the narrative path, leading to different final missions and unique consequences, including the possibility of unlocking a new ending for the base game.
The four endings are categorized as follows:
| Ending Name | Primary Action | Key Mission |
|---|---|---|
| King of Wands | Kill Reed | Killing Moon |
| King of Swords | Hand Songbird Over to Reed | Killing Moon |
| King of Cups | End Songbird’s Misery | Somewhat Damaged |
| King of Pentacles | Refuse to Kill Songbird | Somewhat Damaged |
Each ending offers different rewards, consequences for V’s condition, and the ultimate fates of the supporting cast. Understanding these pathways is crucial for players aiming to experience all narrative possibilities within the expansion.
The Firestarter Decision
The first and most critical decision point in Phantom Liberty occurs during the “Firestarter” main job. In this mission, V and Alex infiltrate Hansen’s meeting with the netrunner twins. The choice you make here irrevocably splits the narrative, determining which subsequent main jobs you will undertake and, consequently, which endings become available.
The “Firestarter” decision branches the story into two distinct paths:
| Firestarter Choice | Subsequent Main Job | Available Endings |
|---|---|---|
| Help Songbird escape | The Killing Moon | King of Wands, King of Swords |
| Help Reed capture Songbird | Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos | King of Pentacles, King of Cups |
Choosing to help Songbird escape leads directly into “The Killing Moon” main job, where the final decision for the King of Wands or King of Swords endings will be made. Conversely, siding with Reed to capture Songbird initiates “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos,” which then progresses to “Somewhat Damaged,” setting up the choices for the King of Pentacles or King of Cups endings. This initial choice is a point of no return for the narrative branches, as it dictates the entire latter half of the expansion’s main story.
Killing Moon Outcomes
If you chose to help Songbird escape during “Firestarter,” your path will lead to “The Killing Moon” main job. This mission culminates in a crucial confrontation where you must make a final decision regarding Songbird’s fate, leading to either the King of Wands or King of Swords ending. Songbird will reveal that the neural matrix can only be used once and that she lied about curing both of you.
The critical choices and their outcomes in “The Killing Moon” are:
King of Wands - Kill Reed
This ending is achieved by picking up Songbird at the Tycho terminal station and then killing Reed during the confrontation. You can pick her up by choosing either “Time to go, So Mi.” or “Wake the hell up.” When confronting Reed, you must draw your weapon and kill him during the slow-motion sequence. Failing to kill him will result in your death and a reload. After putting Songbird inside the spaceship, be sure to pick up Reed’s iconic tech pistol, Pariah, next to his body.
Consequences for King of Wands:
- Songbird lives and stays on the Moon, but V remains without a cure.
- You will receive the iconic Quantum Tuner cyberdeck from Songbird.
- Proof of Songbird’s successful operation will appear later in “From Her to Eternity” as a metal pin from Tycho.
- Alex retires to Monte Carlo, and you share a final drink with her in “Unfinished Sympathy.” A postcard from Alex will later arrive at your apartment.
King of Swords - Hand Songbird Over to Reed
This ending occurs if you hand Songbird over to Reed at any point after her confession about the cure. You can do this by choosing “Call Reed | Reed’ll take care of you” when she reveals her lie, or by picking her up and then choosing “Holster weapon | All yours, but you’ll help me live on” or “Holster weapon | Take her. Don’t want nothin’ in return” during the confrontation with Reed. If you choose to hand her over, Reed will take her in an FIA AV.
Consequences for King of Swords:
- This path unlocks the secret “Tower” ending for the vanilla Cyberpunk 2077 base game.
- Reed will help V get the cure from the Relic degradation.
- You must complete the main jobs “Through Pain to Heaven” and “Who Wants to Live Forever” to access the “Things Done Changed” (Tower Ending).
Somewhat Damaged Outcomes
If you chose to help Reed capture Songbird during “Firestarter,” your narrative path will lead through “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos” and ultimately to “Somewhat Damaged.” In this mission, you find Songbird within the Cynosure core, severely damaged by Blackwall exposure. Her condition forces V to make a final, difficult decision regarding her fate, leading to either the King of Cups or King of Pentacles ending.
The critical choices and their outcomes in “Somewhat Damaged” are:
King of Cups - End Songbird’s Misery
This ending is achieved by complying with Songbird’s request to end her suffering inside the Cynosure core. She will explain that the Blackwall exposure has erased most of her personality and memories, and she wishes for V to kill her.
Consequences for King of Cups:
- Songbird dies, ending her misery.
- This path will likely have significant emotional consequences for V, as well as for Reed.
- Further specific rewards or direct impacts on V’s cure are not detailed in the provided sources for this particular ending, beyond the general understanding that it’s one of the four main outcomes.
King of Pentacles - Refuse to Kill Songbird
This ending is achieved by refusing Songbird’s plea to end her life. Instead, you choose to keep her alive, allowing Reed to take her. This decision will lead to Reed taking Songbird into custody, presumably for NUSA’s purposes.
Consequences for King of Pentacles:
- Songbird remains alive but is taken by Reed, likely for NUSA’s continued use or study.
- Similar to the King of Swords ending, choosing this path will unlock the secret “Tower” ending for the vanilla Cyberpunk 2077 base game.
- Reed will help V get the cure from the Relic degradation.
- You must complete the main jobs “Through Pain to Heaven” and “Who Wants to Live Forever” to access the “Things Done Changed” (Tower Ending).
FAQ
How many endings does Phantom Liberty have? Phantom Liberty has four significant endings, which are determined by your choices in “Firestarter” and a subsequent mission (“Killing Moon” or “Somewhat Damaged”).
What are the key missions that determine the endings? The two vital main jobs that determine the endings are “Firestarter” and either “Killing Moon” (if you sided with Songbird) or “Somewhat Damaged” (if you sided with Reed).
Can I unlock the base game’s secret ending through Phantom Liberty? Yes, both the King of Swords and King of Pentacles endings, which involve handing Songbird over to Reed or refusing to kill her, can unlock the secret “Tower” ending for the vanilla Cyberpunk 2077 base game.
What is the “best” ending for V in Phantom Liberty? The “best” ending is subjective. However, the King of Wands ending is arguably the one that fits V and Johnny’s philosophies the most, allowing Songbird a second chance and freeing Reed. This ending does not provide a cure for V.
What happens if I kill Reed in “The Killing Moon”? If you kill Reed in “The Killing Moon,” you achieve the King of Wands ending. Songbird escapes to Luna, V does not get a cure, and you can obtain Reed’s iconic tech pistol, Pariah.
What is the iconic weapon I can get from Reed? If you choose the King of Wands ending and kill Reed, you can pick up his iconic tech pistol, Pariah, next to his body.
Does Songbird ever get cured in any ending? In the King of Wands ending, Songbird successfully undergoes an operation on the Moon, as evidenced by a metal pin received later in “From Her to Eternity.” In other endings, her fate varies, including death or being taken by the NUSA.