Do Knocked Out Enemies Wake Up in Cyberpunk 2077? The Definitive Answer
The short answer is no. In Cyberpunk 2077, unconscious enemies might as well be permanently comatose because they will never wake up again. While you might be playing a paragon of virtue, striving for a non-lethal playthrough, the game mechanics treat “knocked out” as “effectively dead” for all practical purposes. This has significant implications for gameplay, story, and player choices. Let’s delve into the details.
The Illusion of Non-Lethal Combat
Cyberpunk 2077 offers a variety of ways to incapacitate enemies without outright killing them. You can use your fists, blunt weapons, quickhacks designed for stunning, and even weapon mods that convert firearms to non-lethal. You can sneak around and perform non-lethal takedowns, leaving a trail of bodies in your wake, technically “alive” but utterly unresponsive. However, the game doesn’t treat these characters any differently from those you’ve eliminated with a well-placed headshot. This can be jarring for players seeking a truly non-lethal experience.
The illusion lies in the terminology. The game uses the term “non-lethal” which implies a temporary state. However, in Cyberpunk 2077, non-lethal incapacitation is permanent. Enemies will remain unconscious indefinitely, their fate sealed the moment they hit the ground. It is in contrast to games like Metal Gear Solid where a guard will eventually wake up and resume their patrol.
Gameplay Implications of Permanent Incapacitation
This permanent incapacitation has several key gameplay implications:
- Resource Management: You don’t need to worry about enemies waking up and alerting others. Once they’re down, they’re down for good.
- Stealth Strategies: You can clear entire areas using stealth and non-lethal methods without fear of detection from revived enemies.
- Moral Choices (or Lack Thereof): The impact on the story is minimal, which can be disappointing for players who prioritize a non-lethal approach for moral reasons.
- Looting: Whether you kill an enemy or knock them out, you can still loot their body, removing any strategic disadvantage to choosing non-lethal methods.
- Consequences: In general, there are no long term consequences to incapacitating someone or outright killing them.
Cyberpsychos and Non-Lethal Takedowns
One area where the game somewhat incentivizes non-lethal takedowns is in dealing with Cyberpsychos. Regina Jones tasks you with tracking down and neutralizing these individuals. While the game allows you to kill them, she clearly prefers that you take them down alive so she can attempt to help them.
You can achieve this by using non-lethal weapons, blunt weapons, or quickhacks like Short Circuit and Contagion. Even if you use lethal weapons, you can reduce their health to a critical point and then deliver the final blow with a non-lethal option. The reward for completing these missions is the same regardless of whether the Cyberpsycho lives or dies. Once all of them are done, eventually Regina will call to have you meet to talk a bit about them, with her comments based on if you had managed to keep them all alive or not before she gives you your reward. The reward is given even if some of them are killed.
The Impact (or Lack Thereof) on the Story
Perhaps the most significant disappointment for players pursuing a non-lethal playthrough is the lack of meaningful impact on the story. Even in gigs where fixers explicitly instruct you to avoid killing the target, the only tangible difference is often a slight variation in the reward amount. The narrative doesn’t significantly branch based on your lethal or non-lethal choices. Going Non-Lethal Does Not Impact The Story.
The Panam & Nash side mission is often cited as an example of how the game treats lethal and non-lethal choices similarly. Whether you spare or eliminate characters, the overall narrative trajectory remains largely unchanged.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What’s the point of non-lethal combat in Cyberpunk 2077?
While there isn’t a significant gameplay advantage, some players prefer non-lethal combat for roleplaying purposes. It allows you to create a V who adheres to a certain moral code, even if the game doesn’t explicitly reward it. Using non-lethal combat is also a preference.
2. How do you neutralize Cyberpsychos without killing them?
You can use your fists, blunt weapons like baseball bats and wrenches. There’s also a firearm mod that allows a gun to be non-lethal, and there’s also a cyberware mod, Target Analysis, which makes all weapons non-lethal. Then there’s the Short Circuit and Contagion quickhacks as well.
3. Is there any reason not to kill in Cyberpunk 2077?
The main reason to avoid killing in Cyberpunk 2077 is for personal roleplaying preferences. While it doesn’t drastically alter the story, some players find it more immersive and satisfying to play a character who tries to minimize bloodshed.
4. Can you beat Cyberpunk 2077 without killing anyone?
While challenging, it is technically possible to complete the main story of Cyberpunk 2077 with minimal kills. This requires a stealth-focused build and a mastery of non-lethal takedowns.
5. How do you neutralize without killing in Cyberpunk 2077?
Dealing enough damage to the limbs will down an enemy without killing them, and you can still loot them.
6. What happens if you don’t throw the fight in Cyberpunk 2077?
If you win the fight, you get fewer eddies than if you lose, but you get way more Street Cred. Throw the fight and you get less Street Cred and more eddies. There’s no special reward either way so just go for whichever currency you need the most.
7. How do I stop Max from killing himself in Cyberpunk 2077?
Convince Max to Meet With Regina. Once you open the door to the room where Max is, he’ll threaten to kill himself with a gun to his head. There are two choices here to advance the conversation. If you choose, “Nope, I’m not.” the conversation will continue.
8. Can I kill Cyberpsychos after the mission?
Yes, you can kill the cyberpsychos and still complete the quests regardless. However, there are no real benefits to doing so.
9. What happens if you kill a kid in Cyberpunk 2077?
If you run someone over, kids included, and they are injured or killed, the police will be immediately dispatched and you will need to beat a hasty retreat. If you engage the police and start killing them, then things will escalate and MaxTac will be called in and very soon after, you will be dead.
10. What happens if you save all the Cyberpsychos?
Once all of them are done, eventually Regina will call to have you meet to talk a bit about them, with her comments based on if you had managed to keep them all alive or not before she gives you your reward. The reward is given even if some of them are killed.
11. Are Gorilla Arms lethal in Cyberpunk 2077?
Gorilla Arms hit hard and can be used during fistfights to demolish bones and keep enemies alive. Gorilla Arms is a great melee choice against Cyberpsychos and enemies that just need to be beaten up without the cost of their lives.
12. Is it better to be lethal or non-lethal in Cyberpunk 2077?
From a gameplay perspective, there’s no significant difference. However, for roleplaying purposes, you may prefer one approach over the other.
13. Do fists count as non-lethal in Cyberpunk 2077?
Yes, fists are considered non-lethal weapons.
14. Do you get more money for non-lethal takedowns in Cyberpunk 2077?
Generally, no. The reward differences between lethal and non-lethal approaches are minimal. Even in the Gigs where V’s Fixer tells you not to kill the target, the only thing that changes if you manage to keep them alive is the number of credits at the end.
15. Can you turn into a Cyberpsycho?
Just like every person who drinks a lot at parties doesn’t end up an alcoholic in the gutter, not everyone who gets loaded up on cyberware is going to automatically go cyberpsycho. You have to have an inherent susceptibility, which (in the TRPG) is represented by the player’s Humanity Stat.
Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity for Deeper Gameplay
While Cyberpunk 2077 offers a range of non-lethal options, the fact that knocked-out enemies remain permanently unconscious undermines the potential for more nuanced gameplay and narrative choices. The game prioritizes player freedom and combat variety, but it sacrifices the opportunity to create a truly meaningful non-lethal experience. Despite this limitation, Cyberpunk 2077 remains a compelling RPG with a rich world and engaging characters. Players can still find satisfaction in crafting their own stories and playing V according to their own moral compass, even if the game doesn’t always fully support those choices.
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