Can You Truly Be a Pacifist in Night City? A Deep Dive into Non-Lethal Cyberpunk 2077
Yes, it is possible to beat Cyberpunk 2077 without killing anyone. However, it requires dedication, specific build choices, and a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics. While the story itself doesn’t significantly change based on your lethal or non-lethal approach, the satisfaction of navigating Night City with a clear conscience is a reward in itself. You’ll need to master non-lethal weapons, quickhacks, and stealth tactics to achieve this. So, grab your non-lethal mods, choose your perks carefully, and prepare to become the ultimate pacifist merc!
The Art of the Non-Lethal Takedown
Cyberpunk 2077 offers a surprising amount of flexibility when it comes to avoiding bloodshed. The key is understanding the distinction between incapacitation and death. Merely reducing an enemy’s health to zero doesn’t automatically trigger a kill. It’s often the follow-up damage or environmental factors that seal their fate.
Choosing Your Arsenal
Your weapons selection is paramount. Certain weapons are inherently designed for non-lethal combat.
- Blunt Weapons: Baseball bats, pipes, and even your fists are all excellent choices. Investing in Gorilla Arms cyberware significantly enhances your melee prowess, allowing you to knock enemies unconscious with fewer hits. Remember that Gorilla Arms count as blunt weapons for the purpose of damage scaling with skills and perks that increase damage to blunt weapons.
- Non-Lethal Mods: These mods can be attached to various firearms, converting them to fire rubber bullets or tranquilizer darts. They are essential for taking down enemies from a distance without resorting to lethal force. Look for mods with the attribute “non-lethal”.
- Quickhacks: This is where netrunners truly shine. Several quickhacks are inherently non-lethal and incredibly effective for incapacitating enemies.
Mastering the Netrunning Arts
Netrunning is arguably the most effective path for a pacifist playthrough. The right quickhacks can disable enemies from afar, rendering them harmless without spilling a drop of blood.
- Short Circuit: This quickhack deals electrical damage and can incapacitate enemies, especially when used against those with cyberware vulnerabilities.
- Overheat: Similar to Short Circuit, Overheat can disable enemies, although its effects are heat-based.
- Contagion: While Contagion spreads to multiple enemies, it can be combined with other covert and control hacks to achieve non-lethal takedowns.
- System Collapse: This quickhack directly incapacitates the target.
- Covert and Control Hacks: Combining hacks like Reboot Optics, Memory Wipe, and Weapon Glitch will allow you to strategically distract and disable enemies.
The Importance of Awareness and Stealth
A pacifist playthrough demands a heightened awareness of your surroundings and a mastery of stealth techniques. You’ll need to carefully plan your approaches, utilizing cover and distractions to avoid direct confrontation whenever possible. Maximize your stealth capabilities by investing in the Cool attribute and related perks. Pay attention to enemy positions and patrol routes, utilizing quickhacks like Reboot Optics to create diversions.
The Fine Line: Avoiding Overkill
Even with non-lethal weapons and quickhacks, you need to be mindful of overkill. Repeatedly striking a downed enemy, even with a non-lethal weapon, can result in their death. Aim for the limbs rather than the head to ensure you incapacitate rather than kill. Be especially careful using quickhacks that deal damage over time, as these can sometimes lead to unintended fatalities.
Cyberpsycho Encounters
Cyberpsycho Sightings are some of the most challenging encounters for a pacifist. The key is to subdue them without delivering a fatal blow. Equipping a non-lethal mod on your gun, using fists, or other blunt melee weapons is crucial. After you have beaten one, you can basically take almost anyone out non lethally – just make sure you’re not overkilling them, and aim for the legs instead of the head for the finishing blow – long as you don’t blow off a leg, it’ll just down them not kill them. Just don’t shoot them when they are on the ground.
Can You Beat CYBERPUNK As a Pacifist?
Yes, you can, and going Non-Lethal Does Not Impact The Story.
FAQ: Your Pacifist Questions Answered
1. While it’s not too hard to do non-lethal takedowns, what if the subsequent damage after the takedown is lethal?
Any subsequent damage after a takedown can be lethal, even if the initial takedown was non-lethal. Be extremely cautious about environmental hazards or accidental strikes after an enemy is down. Avoid AoE (Area of Effect) damage sources.
2. How do you neutralize enemies in Cyberpunk 2077 without killing them?
Focus on using non-lethal weapons, quickhacks, and stealth takedowns. Avoid headshots and repeated strikes on downed enemies.
3. Does going non-lethal in Cyberpunk 2077 impact the story?
No, going non-lethal does not significantly alter the main story. The overall narrative remains largely the same regardless of your approach.
4. Which quickhacks are best for a non-lethal playthrough?
Short Circuit, Overheat, Contagion, and System Collapse are excellent choices. Covert hacks for distraction and control are also invaluable.
5. Do my fists count as non-lethal weapons?
Yes, your fists are considered non-lethal. Equipping Gorilla Arms enhances their effectiveness.
6. What are the penalties for killing enemies in Cyberpunk 2077?
There are no long-term repercussions for killing enemies. The police will spawn but quickly despawn if you move away from the area.
7. How do I handle Cyberpsycho encounters non-lethally?
Use non-lethal mods, fists, or blunt melee weapons. Avoid shooting them when they are on the ground.
8. What happens if you save all the Cyberpsychos?
Regina Jones will contact you with comments based on your success in keeping them alive and will give you a reward either way.
9. Can I kick in Cyberpunk 2077?
Yes, melee combatants often use kicks in their combos, allowing for a non-lethal approach.
10. What happens if I don’t throw the fight in Cyberpunk 2077?
If you win the fight, you get fewer eddies but more Street Cred. The choice depends on what you need more.
11. Does V survive in any ending of Cyberpunk 2077?
V’s fate is determined by the player. Even with the looming tragedy, V can secure a relatively happy ending.
12. Is it wrong to punch Fingers in Cyberpunk 2077?
If you hurt Fingers, you will lose access to his ripperdoc clinic and stock for the rest of the game.
13. Do Gorilla Arms count as melee weapons in Cyberpunk 2077?
Yes, they are technically melee weapons that maximize powerful punches, making them effective for non-lethal takedowns.
14. How do I get Johnny Silverhand’s arm in Cyberpunk 2077?
After completing the Chippin’ In quest, find Johnny’s silver arm in V’s backpack. It’s listed as a common item.
15. How to get Johnny to 70% to get the best ending?
Progress through Johnny’s storyline by completing quests, make the right choices, and choose the correct dialogue options during relevant quests, such as Automatic Love, Transmission, Life During Wartime, Tapeworm, Search and Destroy, Blistering Love, Holdin’ On, and A Like Supreme.
A Morally Conscious Mercenary
Embarking on a pacifist playthrough in Cyberpunk 2077 adds a unique layer of challenge and role-playing depth. It forces you to engage with the game’s mechanics in a way that most players never experience, pushing you to think strategically about your choices and their consequences. While the game doesn’t explicitly reward you for your pacifism, the satisfaction of navigating Night City without contributing to its endless cycle of violence is a reward in itself. You might find yourself reflecting on the morality of your actions in a way that a standard playthrough simply doesn’t encourage.
The Future of Games and Learning
Exploring ethical gameplay through titles like Cyberpunk 2077 highlights the potential of video games as learning tools. Engaging with complex moral dilemmas within a virtual world allows players to experiment with different choices and consider their impact in a safe and consequence-free environment. Organizations like the Games Learning Society are actively researching and promoting the use of games for educational purposes, recognizing their power to foster critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and ethical awareness. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about their work.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Challenge
A pacifist run in Cyberpunk 2077 is not for the faint of heart. It requires patience, dedication, and a willingness to experiment. But the rewards, both in terms of gameplay satisfaction and moral reflection, are well worth the effort. So, load up your non-lethal mods, hone your netrunning skills, and prepare to become the most morally conscious mercenary in Night City. Good luck, choomba!