Overview: (Don’t Fear) The Reaper
The “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” ending in Cyberpunk 2077 is a unique, secret path available to players who have built a strong relationship with Johnny Silverhand throughout their playthrough. This ending allows V and Johnny to storm Arasaka Tower alone, presenting a high-risk, high-reward scenario that diverges significantly from other available conclusions. Successfully navigating this path requires specific side job completions and dialogue choices, leading to a challenging final mission that can result in V’s death if not handled carefully.
Prerequisites for the Secret Ending
To unlock the “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” secret ending, players must fulfill a series of specific requirements before progressing too far into the main story. These conditions revolve primarily around Johnny Silverhand’s side jobs and your interactions with him.
First, you must complete the following critical side jobs related to Johnny Silverhand:
- Tapeworm: This main mission arc, which includes “Transmission,” “Life During Wartime,” and “Search and Destroy,” is a prerequisite for unlocking the subsequent necessary side jobs.
- Chippin’ In: This side job is crucial. During your conversation with Johnny at the oil fields, specific dialogue options must be selected. These choices are:
- “Nah, fucked that up too.”
- “What do you want from me?”
- “OK. But as second chances go, this is your last.”
- When prompted to inscribe Johnny’s initials, ensure you do so.
- Other important dialogue options during “Chippin’ In” include: “Let’s do something about that.”, “The Guy who Saved My Life”, “You were a real dick in the beginning.”, “When you said you let down your friends…”, and “Yeah, I’ll call Rogue.”
- Blistering Love: This side job also contributes to the necessary progression.
While some sources indicate a need for Johnny’s friendship percentage to be at least 70%, other information suggests that selecting the correct dialogue options during “Chippin’ In” is the sole determinant for unlocking the secret ending, regardless of the displayed approval rating. It is advisable to complete all specified side jobs and select the correct dialogue to ensure the secret ending option becomes available. These steps must be completed before entering Embers to meet with Hanako.
You can monitor your relationship with Johnny by opening the main menu and hovering over the large rectangular icon in the middle, towards the top of the screen.
Executing the Secret Ending
Once all prerequisites are met, the option for the secret ending will present itself during the game’s final decision point. When prompted with choices for the final assault, you must select the option: “Think you and Rogue should go.”
After making this choice, you will need to wait approximately five minutes on the menu screen. During this waiting period, Johnny Silverhand will eventually speak up and offer an alternative plan. When he does, select the option: “Let’s hear this plan.” This action initiates the “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” ending.
Outcomes of the Secret Ending
The “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” ending involves V and Johnny storming the Arasaka facility alone. This path is exceptionally challenging, and if V dies during the attempt to reach the Mikoshi Access Point, the game will conclude, and the credits will roll. There are no restarts or retries if V falls in this specific scenario.
However, if V successfully survives the assault and reaches the Mikoshi Access Point, two distinct outcomes become available, leading to different achievements and final states:
- The Sun Achievement (Path of Glory): To achieve this, V must choose to cross the bridge and enter Cyberspace forever.
- Temperance Achievement (New Dawn Fades): To achieve this, V must choose to enter the well to return to V’s body.
These choices determine V’s ultimate fate after the perilous solo assault on Arasaka Tower.
FAQ
Do I need a high approval rating with Johnny Silverhand to get the secret ending? Some sources indicate a need for Johnny’s friendship to be at least 70%, but other information suggests that the correct dialogue choices during the “Chippin’ In” side job are the only definitive requirement.
Which side jobs are essential for unlocking the secret ending? You must complete the “Tapeworm” main mission arc, followed by the side jobs “Chippin’ In” and “Blistering Love.”
What specific dialogue options are needed during “Chippin’ In”? At the oil fields, choose: “Nah, fucked that up too.”, “What do you want from me?”, and “OK. But as second chances go, this is your last.” Also, inscribe Johnny’s initials when prompted. Other important options include: “Let’s do something about that.”, “The Guy who Saved My Life”, “You were a real dick in the beginning.”, “When you said you let down your friends…”, and “Yeah, I’ll call Rogue.”
What happens if V dies during the “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” assault? If V dies while attempting to reach the Mikoshi Access Point, the game will end, and the credits will immediately begin to roll.
How do I initiate the secret ending after meeting the requirements? When prompted with the final choices, select “Think you and Rogue should go.” Then, wait approximately five minutes on that menu for Johnny to offer his plan, and choose “Let’s hear this plan.”