The Best Weapons to Find and Use - Cyberpunk 2077 Guide - IGN (2024)

There is an overwhelming amount of weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 that you'll pick up along the way. While most are quickly replaced by something better, Iconic weapons can be upgraded along with your character to ensure they are effective even in the latter parts of the game.

With so many different weapons to choose from, we have listed six of the best weapons that we have managed to come across in Cyberpunk 2077's base game and 10 from its expansion Phantom Liberty. Found a weapon that you think should be included in our list? Let us know in the comments below.

• The Best Weapons to Find and Use in Cyberpunk 2077
• Best Phantom Liberty Weapons

The Best Weapons to Find and Use in Cyberpunk 2077

This section of the guide will show you the best weapons to find and use as you explore Night City.

Lizzie - Tech Pistol

Shortly after Act 2 begins you'll have access to the Automatic Love mission. After speaking to Judy in Lizzie's Bar, you can grab the Lizzie pistol off the table outside her room. This gun is great as it fires an extra shot every time you pull the trigger, and increases the number of rounds fired when charged up.

Fenrir - Power Submachine Gun

Fenrir is an absolute powerhouse that can be nabbed early on by visiting a monk near the northern docks area of Watson. After helping him save his brother, you'll be able to grab this iconic weapon from the Maelstrom gang. Fenrir is great at absolutely melting enemies - literally. It deals thermal damage plus has the opportunity to inflict burn damage on top of it. This is a gun you'll want to upgrade and keep with you throughout the game, as it is useful in almost any situation.

Skippy - Smart Pistol

Not only is Skippy an incredibly powerful and unique smart pistol that scales with the user's level, it also talks and has a full personality. This weapon can be found in the Heywood area as part of an optional side mission where you must collect it off of someone's dead body in an alleyway. Skippy has a lethal or non-lethal mode (though these are not what they first seem!) that you can select when you first pick it up after having a short conversation with the rather sassy gun.

Follow our full guide below for where to find Skippy:

• How to Find Skippy, The Talking Gun

Widow Maker - Tech Precision Rifle

Widow Maker is an optional Iconic weapon that can deal some serious damage. It fires two projectiles per shot and has the chance to deal poison damage when shots are charged up. While working with Panam during the Ghost Town mission, she will talk about getting revenge on Nash. This gun can be missed, so be sure to select the option "OK. So where's this hideout?" during your chat with Panam for the opportunity to take down Nash and his gang. Afterwards, you can loot Widow Maker off Nash's body, adding this powerful weapon to your arsenal.

Overwatch - Power Sniper Rifle

Panam's trusty sniper rifle can be yours after completing the Riders on the Storm Side Job. Once you've completed its requirements, the sniper rifle will be propped next to the motorcycle just before Panam rides away. This power sniper rifle deals high damage, has a faster-than-average reload speed and is very accurate. Its full potential is unlocked at Body level 6 - which will increase its overall power.

Prototype: Shingen Mark V - Smart Submachine Gun

This iconic Smart Submachine Gun can be found during the Gimme Danger mission in Act 2. It is hidden inside an open Arasaka truck inside the compound, guarded by a remote mine that you must quickly deactivate. Like other smart weapons, this gun automatically targets and fires at enemies inside the smart targeting square, launching a series of projectiles at up to three enemies simultaneously. This is a great gun to break out when you're outnumbered. It also has a high critical damage modifier and the ability to burn enemies, as well.

Best Phantom Liberty Weapons

Below, you will find a list of all the best weapons you can find and use in Night City that are exclusive to the Phantom Liberty DLC Expansion. Looking for something in particular? Click the links below to jump to...

Order

How to Unlock: The Order can be purchased from a Black Market Vendor in EBM Petrochem Stadium

• Type: Tier 3 Iconic Tech Double-Barrel Shotgun
• Features:
  • +50% Headshot Damage Multiplier
  • +100% Armor Penetration
  • 3sec Charge Time
  • +4% Shock Chance
  • Charging this weapon above 66% vaporizes any enemies in your path, leaving an EMP trail behind it.

This shotgun is an excellent weapon for taking down enemies fast. As its description reads, charging it up past 66% will vaporize anyone who gets in your way, so you can clear out the room quick and easy.

Hawk

How to Unlock: The Hawk can be found in the Kress Street hideout. After completing Lucretia My Reflection, you can find this weapon leaning up against the wall by the entrance after Reed and Myers leave. It’s the latter’s Power Assault Rifle.

• Type: Tier 3 Iconic Power Assault Rifle
• Features:
  • +175% Headshot Damage Multiplier
  • +25% Armor Penetration
  • Headshots temporarily weaken and mark enemies. In this weakened state, enemies move slower, cannot use abilities, deal less damage, and are more prone to losing their balance.

If you're feeling overwhelmed in combat, this is a great weapon to have at your side. Due to its ability to weaken and mark enemies, you can buy yourself some time when clearing out a room while also dealing loads of damage.

Ol’ Reliable

How to Unlock: The Ol'Reliable can be looted off Dante’s body during the Shot By Both Sides side job.

• Type: Tier 4 Iconic Power Revolver
• Features:
  • +200% Headshot Damage Multiplier
  • +25% Armor Penetration
  • +50% Crit Damage
  • Swapping to this weapon greatly increases headshot damage and effective range. The farther the target, the greater the headshot Crit Chance.

Not only does this weapon pack a punch, but it's well worth it for its range. As its description explains, swapping to Ol' Reliable increases your effective range and headshot damage, so you can pair it with a weapon like Hawk to take out big groups of enemies.

Dezerter

How to Unlock: The Dezerter can be looted during the Addicted to Chaos side job.

• Type: Tier 4 Iconic Power Double-Barrel Shotgun
• Features:
  • +85% Headshot Damage Multiplier
  • +75% Armor Penetration
  • +17% Burn Chance
  • This shotgun’s extreme firepower pulverizes everything in its path. Neutralizing an enemy engulfs you in flames except when your Health is low, granting a movement speed boost and increased Mitigation Chance.

Much like the Order shotgun, the Dezerter will destroy anything that gets in its way. However, it has a trade-off, taking down an enemy will set you on fire except for when your health is low. Then, it'll give you a speed boost and increased Mitigation Chance.

Baby Boomer

How to Unlock: The Baby Boomer is received after completing the Dazed and Confused side job.

• Type: Tier 5 Iconic Two-Handed Club
• Features:
  • +25% Armor Penetration
  • +20% Bleeding Chance
  • +20% Stun Chance

It's always fun to have a trusty melee weapon at your side, and the Baby Boomer is a must. Especially if you unlock some of the Blunt Weapon skills in the Body attributes tree, like Quake or Savage Sling, you can have a great time smacking this weapon around.

Her Majesty

How to Unlock: Her Majesty is given to you by Alex during the Get It Together main story mission.

• Type: Tier 3 Iconic Power Pistol
• Features:
  • +150% Headshot Damage Multiplier
  • While Optical Camo is active, this weapon’s shots gain perfect accuracy and guaranteed headshot Crits along with increased damage. It also comes with a silencer.

If you have a stealth build, you'll love having this weapon in your inventory. Not only does it deal an incredible amount of headshot damage, but its silencer works wonders when you want to clear out a room and remain hidden.

Rasetsu

How to Unlock: The Rasetsu can be picked up during the You Know My Name main story mission.

• Type: Tier 3 Iconic Tech Sniper Rifle
• Features:
  • +300% Headshot Damage Multiplier
  • +50% Armor Penetration
  • 1.5sec Charge Time
  • Charged rounds now penetrate through enemies and will bend their trajectory to hit multiple enemies simultaneously.

Similar to Her Majesty, this weapon is great for stealth builds if you want to put some distance between you and the enemies you want to take out. More importantly, charging it up will send rounds straight through enemies and even bend their trajectory to hit multiple enemies.

Wild Dog

How to Unlock: The Wild Dog can be looted off Tap to Reveal near the end of the Firestarter main story mission.

• Type: Tier 4 Iconic Power Light Machine Gun
• Features:
  • +85% Headshot Damage Multiplier
  • +25% Armor Penetration
  • Repeated hits increase fire rate and Crit Chance. Quick Melee Attacks deal massive damage when ammo is empty.

This weapon has great damage output, but it's even more worth it for the boosted follow-up attacks. When your ammo is empty, you can follow up with a Quick Melee Attack to deal a massive amount of damage.

Bald Eagle

How to Unlock: The Bald Eagle can be looted off Tap to Reveal near the end of the Firestarter main story mission.

• Type: Tier 4 Iconic Power Revolver
• Features:
  • +250% Headshot Damage Multiplier
  • +75% Armor Penetration
  • After throwing Iconic knife Fang into an enemy’s leg, shooting the same leg will shred it to pieces and return Fang to your hand. Effective against moving targets.

This revolver packs a punch, but similar to the Wild Dog, it's the follow-up that's the most interesting. If you loot the Fang knife from the same location, you can pair it up with the Bald Eagle and chuck it into an enemy's leg, then shoot the leg to shred it and return Fang to your hand. It's a great way to slow down moving enemies.

Erebus

How to Unlock: The Erebus can be found during the Somewhat Damaged main story mission. For more information on where to get it, visit our How to Get the Erebus Weapon guide.

• Type: Tier 4 Iconic Power Submachine Gun
• Features:
  • +100% Headshot Damage Multiplier
  • +25% Armor Penetration
  • Rounds fired from this weapon are infused with the dark energy from beyond the Blackwall. Highly effective against enemies with low Health.

Due to being infused with dark energy from the Blackwall, this weapon will absolutely destroy any enemies who attempt to stand in your way (and leave traces of the Blackwall behind as they go). If they have low Health, it's even more effective.