Can You Level Up Skippy in Cyberpunk 2077? The Definitive Guide
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Yes, and no. You can’t level up Skippy in the traditional sense like other weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 by using crafting components. However, Skippy automatically scales with V’s level, increasing its damage output as you gain experience. This means Skippy remains a viable weapon throughout your playthrough, even as you reach the higher levels of Night City. No manual upgrades are required!
Understanding Skippy’s Unique Mechanics
Skippy is no ordinary smart pistol; it’s an AI-driven weapon with a personality (and opinions!) that rivals some of the game’s most memorable characters. What makes it unique goes beyond its scaling damage. It’s about the choices you make with Skippy and how they affect its performance. Let’s dive in!
Stone Cold Killer vs. Puppy-Loving Pacifist: A Crucial Choice
One of the first things Skippy will ask you is to choose a firing mode: Stone Cold Killer (lethal) or Puppy-Loving Pacifist (non-lethal). This choice has a significant impact on how the gun behaves:
- Stone Cold Killer: Skippy will prioritize headshots, dealing maximum damage and quickly eliminating enemies.
- Puppy-Loving Pacifist: Skippy will aim for the lower extremities (specifically, the family jewels!), incapacitating enemies without killing them.
The catch is that after 50 kills, Skippy will permanently switch to the opposite mode. This makes your initial choice critical for long-term use. It is a fun game mechanic which teaches players about adapting strategy. For those interested in how games such as this can be used in educational environments, check out the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
The Fifty-Kill Switch: Planning for the Long Haul
The key to maximizing Skippy’s effectiveness lies in understanding the 50-kill switch. If you want Skippy to remain a headshot machine, you need to initially select Puppy-Loving Pacifist. Conversely, if you prefer the non-lethal approach, choose Stone Cold Killer.
After the 50 kills, Skippy will have a conversation with you. The dialogue choices you make further determine its final state:
- If you initially chose Puppy-Loving Pacifist and then select “killing is wrong,” Skippy will be locked into non-lethal mode permanently.
- If you initially chose Puppy-Loving Pacifist and then select “I don’t know,” Skippy will be locked into lethal mode permanently.
Choosing the “I don’t know” option ensures you keep the lethal headshot ability.
The “Machine Gun” Quest and Skippy’s Owner
After using Skippy for a while, it will reveal its true purpose: to be returned to its owner, Regina Jones. This triggers the “Machine Gun” side quest.
You have two options:
- Return Skippy to Regina: You’ll receive a reward of approximately 7,000 eddies.
- Keep Skippy: You can tell it that you’ll bring it back to Regina and not go through with it, just continue using the weapon as you normally would or tell Skippy “finders keepers.” Skippy would chide V for being a “bad owner,” but it’s not like it could run away.
If you choose to keep Skippy, it will become “emo” and call you a “bad user,” but it will remain in your inventory. More importantly, it will no longer be classified as a quest item, allowing you to store it on your stash wall.
Is Skippy the Best Gun? And Other Considerations
While Skippy is powerful, particularly in Stone Cold Killer mode, it’s not necessarily the “best” gun in Cyberpunk 2077. Other weapons, like the Genjiroh, can offer higher damage output or more versatile combat options. The annoyance of the mode options could also factor into it. Ultimately, the best gun depends on your playstyle and build.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Skippy
1. Can I upgrade Skippy with components?
No. Skippy can’t be upgraded using crafting components. Its damage scales automatically with your level.
2. How do I make Skippy more powerful?
You can’t directly increase its stats. Its power increases as V levels up. The most significant impact comes from choosing the right firing mode and manipulating the 50-kill switch to keep it in Stone Cold Killer mode.
3. Is it better to keep Skippy cyberpunk?
In the end, this depends on personal preference. But, Skippy in Stone Cold Killer mode is a frightfully powerful gun – one of the strongest in the game. If you played your cards right earlier, and Skippy is stuck in Stone Cold Killer mode, then it’s well-worth holding onto as a secondary or even a primary weapon depending on your choice of Cyberpunk 2077.
4. Is Skippy better than Genjiroh?
Genjiroh offers a distinct advantage, firing four projectiles per shot, increasing its lethality. Genjiroh is also better than Skippy since players do not have to deal with the mode options. Many players do prefer the Genjiroh, so the verdict is really up to the player.
5. Does Skippy change after 50 kills?
Yes. After 50 kills, Skippy will switch firing modes from Stone Cold Killer to Puppy-Loving Pacifist, or vice versa. This switch is permanent.
6. Should I tell Skippy killing is wrong?
If you want Skippy to stay in Stone Cold Killer mode, do not tell it that killing is wrong. This will lock it into non-lethal mode. Choose “I don’t know” instead.
7. How do I keep Skippy forever?
You can keep Skippy by not returning it to Regina Jones. You can choose to tell it “finders keepers.” This will make it go “emo”, calling you a bad user.
8. What happens if you tell Skippy killing is wrong?
If Skippy is in Puppy-loving pacifist and you tell him “killing is wrong” it will lock him into non-lethal permanently.
9. What happens if you get 50 kills with Skippy?
After 50 kills, Skippy will change from stone cold killer to peace loving pacifist (or vice versa) based on your initial choice.
10. Why can’t I stash Skippy?
Initially, you can’t stash Skippy because it’s classified as a quest item. Once it asks you to return him to his owner, tell him no. This will make him go “emo”, calling you a bad user. But it also makes it so he is no longer a quest item and therefore able to be placed on the stash wall.
11. What is the best option for Skippy cyberpunk?
You can choose whichever suits your playstyle. Note: After 50 kills with Skippy it will switch to whichever mode you did not choose originally, and stay that way permanently. So, it’s actually best to choose the Pacifist mode if you plan to utilize Skippy long-term.
12. Will Regina let you keep Skippy cyberpunk?
Once you present Skippy to her, you’ll be prompted to make a choice: sell Skippy to Regina for roughly 7000 eurodollars, or turn and walk away, keeping Skippy for yourself.
13. Can you complete machine gun and keep Skippy?
If you choose to keep it, it loses the quest item flag, and can no longer be returned to Regina but can be placed in your stash for the weapon wall. If you choose to return it to complete the mission, it keeps the quest item flag and can’t be stashed. You can only return it, or keep it but can’t stash it.
14. How do I keep Skippy without bad users?
Alternatively, you could tell Skippy “finders keepers.” Skippy would chide V for being a “bad owner,” but it’s not like it could run away. It’s also possible to tell Skippy that you’ll bring it back to Regina and not go through with the whole thing, just continue using the weapon as you normally would.
15. Can you get another gun like Skippy?
While no other gun exactly replicates Skippy’s unique combination of AI personality and automatic scaling, the Genjiroh comes close. It offers a high damage output and doesn’t require you to manage the firing mode switch.
Mastering Skippy: A Final Word
Skippy is more than just a weapon; it’s an experience. Understanding its mechanics, manipulating its firing mode, and making the right choices during the “Machine Gun” quest are crucial to maximizing its potential. While it might not be the “best” gun for everyone, it’s undoubtedly one of the most memorable and engaging weapons in Cyberpunk 2077. Good luck, and have fun in Night City!