Introduction: Weaving the Digital Fabric of Night City
Netrunning in Cyberpunk 2077 transforms V into a digital phantom, capable of hacking enemies, manipulating devices, and controlling the environment remotely. Whether you prefer slipping through defenses unseen or unleashing a cascade of debilitating code in open combat, a skilled netrunner dictates the flow of battle. This guide details how to forge potent Netrunning builds for both stealthy infiltration and direct digital assault.
Core Attributes: The Foundation of Your Netrunner
Your attribute allocation is critical. **Intelligence** reigns supreme, directly boosting your RAM (hacking resource), quickhack damage, upload speed, and unlocking crucial Netrunning perks. **Cool** is vital for stealth builds, improving stealth effectiveness and unlocking perks that synergize with covert actions. **Technical Ability** aids in crafting iconic quickhacks and enhancing cyberware effectiveness. Consider investing in **Body** for increased survivability, especially for combat-focused builds that utilize the Overclock perk.
- **Intelligence:** Maximize for core Netrunning power (RAM, damage, speed).
- **Cool:** Essential for stealth, enabling silent takedowns and evasion.
- **Technical Ability:** Improves cyberware stats and allows crafting powerful gear.
- **Body:** Increases health and resilience, beneficial for Overclock usage.
Stealth Netrunner Build: Ghost in the Machine
This build emphasizes remaining undetected while neutralizing targets and manipulating systems. Key quickhacks include **Ping** (reveals enemies and devices on the network), **Sonic Shock** (makes subsequent quickhacks untraceable), **Memory Wipe** (removes enemies from combat state), and **System Collapse** (non-lethal takedown). Prioritize cyberware enhancing RAM recovery, stealth detection time, and quickhack upload speed.
Combat Netrunner Build: Digital Demolitionist
Embrace chaos with this offensive powerhouse build. Focus on devastating quickhacks like **Overheat** (damage over time), **Short Circuit** (high burst damage, effective against drones/robots), **Contagion** (spreads damage and effects), and ultimate quickhacks like **Cyberpsychosis** (causes target to attack everyone) or **Suicide**. Cyberware boosting RAM, quickhack damage, and effect duration is paramount. Mastering the **Overclock** perk (Intelligence tree) is key, allowing you to spend Health instead of RAM for quickhacks, enabling sustained digital assaults.
Essential Cyberware for Optimal Hacking
Cyberware defines your Netrunning capabilities. Choose your cyberdeck wisely based on your preferred playstyle. Augmentations for the Frontal Cortex, Skeleton, and other slots are crucial for maximizing RAM, upload speed, and survivability.
- **Cyberdecks:** Netwatch Netdriver Mk.5 (Ultimate quickhack focus & spread), Tetratronic Rippler Mk.4 (Fast uploads, combat/stealth hybrid), Arasaka Mk.4 (Covert hacking focus).
- **Frontal Cortex:** Ex-Disk (Max RAM), RAM Upgrade (Max RAM), Self-ICE (Counter-hacking defense), RAM Recoup (RAM on enemy defeat).
- **Skeleton:** Epimorphic Skeleton (Health), Kinetic Frame (Armor/Mitigation). Consider Synaptic Accelerator (slow time on detection) for stealth builds.
- **Face/Hands:** Kiroshi Optics mods (Crit Chance/Headshot Damage), Smart Link (Enables smart weapon targeting, synergizes with some builds).
Advanced Netrunning Tactics & Strategies
Effective Netrunning involves more than just selecting quickhacks. **Quickhack Queuing** allows you to stack multiple hacks on a single target for devastating combos (unlocked via Intelligence perks). Manage your **Traceability** – using multiple quickhacks rapidly increases trace progress, eventually revealing your location. Use perks and cyberware to slow trace speed or employ Sonic Shock for untraceable hacks. Leverage **Overclock** for intense combat scenarios, burning through enemies with a flurry of hacks at the cost of your health pool. Combine hacks creatively: use **Contagion** to soften up a group, then **Overheat** to ignite them all, or use **Cyberware Malfunction** to disable dangerous enemies before neutralizing them.
Expand Your Netrunning Knowledge
The world of Netrunning is deep and constantly evolving with player discoveries. Explore dedicated community forums, wikis, and video guides to refine your builds and learn cutting-edge strategies for Cyberpunk 2077.