Look, I've played Cyberpunk 2077 three times now. Once at launch (we don't talk about that), once after Patch 1.6, and once after the Phantom Liberty expansion dropped. Each run I discovered something I wish I'd known earlier.
Night City doesn't hold your hand. It drops you in, gives you a gun, and says good luck. So let me hold your hand instead — just for a bit.
Mistake #1: Ignoring Your Attributes Early On
This one hurt me on my first run. I dumped points into Cool thinking it'd make me look good (it does), without realizing that certain attribute thresholds unlock entire dialogue options and playstyle paths that are permanently locked otherwise.
Before you spend a single attribute point, decide how you want to play:
- Stealth/hacker? → Invest in Intelligence and Cool
- Guns blazing? → Reflexes and Body
- Street smart talker? → Cool and Technical Ability
You can respec perks for a fee, but you cannot respec base attributes. Choose wisely from the start.
Mistake #2: Rushing the Main Story
Night City has over 100 hours of content — and most of the best stuff is off the beaten path. If you beeline the main quest, you'll finish the game in 15 hours and miss 80% of what makes Cyberpunk special.
The side gigs written by individual fixers — especially the ones involving Kerry Eurodyne, River Ward, and Judy Alvarez — are some of the best storytelling in the entire game. Panam's questline is arguably better than the main story. Don't skip them.
My rule: do at least two side quests for every main mission. Your build will be stronger, and your experience infinitely richer.
Mistake #3: Selling Everything You Loot
Night City's economy early on feels brutal — eddies are tight, everything costs a fortune. The temptation is to sell every weapon and piece of gear you pick up.
Don't sell crafting components. Ever. They're worth more to you as upgrade materials than as cash, especially if you're running a Tech build or planning to craft high-tier weapons later. Stack them, dismantle grey-quality gear instead of selling it, and by mid-game you'll have more components than you know what to do with.
Also — iconic weapons. If a weapon has an orange name, keep it. You can't get it again.
Mistake #4: Ignoring the Skill Shards and Tutorials
I know, I know. Nobody reads tutorials. But Cyberpunk's skill shards — those little yellow books scattered everywhere — actually give you skill XP when you read them. In a game where skill progression matters, free XP lying around deserves a pick-up.
More importantly: read them for the actual tips. The quickhacking system especially has nuances that the game doesn't explain well in the opening hours. Understanding how to chain quickhacks, how RAM regenerates, and how enemy cybersecurity tiers work can completely change how you approach combat.
Mistake #5: Not Using Cyberware Wisely
Your cyberware capacity matters. More implants increase your humanity cost (in lore terms) and have hard caps. A lot of new players shove everything available into every slot without thinking about synergies.
Build around a theme:
- Sandevistan (bullet-time dodge) pairs insanely well with katanas and shotguns
- Berserk works for blunt weapons and tanks
- Netrunner builds need memory and cooling upgrades above everything else
A focused cyberware build beats a scattered one every time. Visit a ripperdoc early, understand what each implant does, and plan ahead.
Bonus Tip: Turn Off the Mini-map Sometimes
This sounds weird but hear me out. Night City is one of the most visually dense game environments ever built. When you're constantly staring at the mini-map for directions, you miss the neon signs, the street vendors, the random encounters, the graffiti that tells stories.
Get lost sometimes. Take a walk through Japantown without a destination. Ride the highways at night with the radio on. The atmosphere is half the game.
Night City was built to be lived in. Let yourself live in it.
Got questions about builds or specific missions? Drop them in the forum — we're always happy to help new choombas find their footing.
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