Saving Brick in Cyberpunk 2077: A Deep Dive into the Pickup Mission and Beyond
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Yes, you absolutely can save Brick in Cyberpunk 2077, specifically during the Act 1 mission “The Pickup”. However, saving him isn’t guaranteed, and it requires specific actions during the mission. It’s a crucial decision with lasting consequences that can affect your gameplay experience. This article will walk you through the intricacies of rescuing Brick, the potential benefits, and the pitfalls to avoid. This will help you become a true Night City legend!
Understanding the Pickup Mission and Brick’s Situation
The Pickup is a pivotal early mission where you negotiate with the Maelstrom gang to acquire a Militech bot. Upon arrival at All Foods, the gang’s hideout, you discover that Brick, the previous leader, has been overthrown by Royce. You’re then forced to deal with Royce, a far less reasonable and significantly more volatile character.
Brick is found captive inside a locked room, rigged with a trip mine. Saving him requires not only finding him, but also disabling the trap or finding the code to disarm it, and then unlocking the door. This can be a nerve-wracking experience if you aren’t fully prepared.
The Steps to Save Brick
Here’s a breakdown of how to free Brick:
- Find Brick’s Prison: After dealing with Royce (either through negotiation or combat), explore the area thoroughly. Brick is held captive in a room behind two yellow-lit rooms.
- Disable the Trip Mine (Two Methods):
- The Code (9691): If you have the Militech chip, you can hack it to obtain the code to disable the detonator. This is probably the easiest option.
- Technical Ability: If you have sufficient Technical Ability (at least level 5), you can remotely deactivate the mine using the keypad.
- Unlock the Door: The keypad can be hacked if you have enough Intelligence (level 7), or you can remotely deactivate the lock on the keypad. If you have the code, you do not need to hack.
- Talk to Brick: Once inside, Brick explains the trip mine situation and asks for your help. If you didn’t disable the detonator, a red laser will be pointing at him. Disarm it using either of the methods above.
- Free Brick: After successfully disarming the trap, Brick will be freed, and you’re ready to move on.
Important Considerations
- Consequences of Failure: Failing to disarm the trip mine will result in Brick’s death, and you’ll miss out on future interactions.
- Royce’s Fate: Whether you kill Royce or not has an impact on Brick’s future. More on this below.
- Post-Rescue: Brick won’t immediately join your escape. He’ll express his gratitude and promise to repay the favor if you ever meet again.
The Ripple Effect: What Happens After Saving Brick?
Saving Brick has implications beyond just a good deed. Here’s what you can expect:
- Future Appearance: Brick appears later in the game in the Totentanz, the Maelstrom hangout, during a side mission. The exact circumstances depend on whether Royce is dead or alive.
- Second Conflict Mission: If Brick is alive, he may offer assistance during the Second Conflict quest line. This involves the band Samurai and is considered one of the more story-rich parts of the game.
- Royce’s Impact: If you kill Royce and free Brick, Brick will be the one in charge at the Totentanz later. If you free Brick but Royce is still alive, Brick may die. The game does not offer a lot of clarity on this.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Many players stumble when trying to save Brick. Here are some common pitfalls:
- Rushing the Mission: Take your time to explore and find the correct room.
- Ignoring the Trip Mine: Failing to disable the mine before entering the room will result in Brick’s immediate demise.
- Insufficient Skills: Not having enough Technical Ability or Intelligence can prevent you from disarming the mine or unlocking the door.
Final Thoughts: Is Saving Brick Worth It?
In short, saving Brick is absolutely worth it. While the immediate benefits aren’t game-changing, the long-term implications and potential assistance in later missions make it a worthwhile endeavor. Plus, it’s simply the right thing to do, showcasing V’s character and moral compass. And that matters in a world as morally grey as Night City. As game developers know, morality systems affect the gameplay experience. You can learn more about the impact of game development in general and morality systems by checking out Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you save Brick after the mission if you leave All Foods?
No, you cannot go back and save Brick after you leave All Foods. The opportunity to save him is only available during “The Pickup” mission. If you leave without freeing him, the chance is lost.
2. What is the code for freeing Brick?
The code for freeing Brick is 9691. This code disarms the detonator connected to the trip mine.
3. Does Brick come back if you save him?
Yes, Brick does come back if you save him. He reappears later in the game at the Totentanz, the Maelstrom hangout, and can potentially help during the Second Conflict quest line.
4. Can you save Brick and Dum Dum?
Yes, you can save both Brick and Dum Dum. Discovering and rescuing Brick doesn’t affect Dum Dum’s fate, nor does letting Dum Dum die affect Brick’s.
5. What happens if you kill Royce?
If you kill Royce and then free Brick, Brick will be the one in charge at the Totentanz later on. This can impact future interactions with the Maelstrom gang.
6. What happens if you don’t save Brick?
If you don’t save Brick, he remains imprisoned and likely dies. This means you miss out on his potential assistance later in the game.
7. Is it better to save Brick or kill Royce?
It’s generally better to save Brick. Killing Royce alone isn’t the deciding factor, but freeing Brick offers potential benefits later in the game, including a possible ally in the Second Conflict mission.
8. What is the best way to free Brick?
The best way to free Brick is to obtain the code (9691) from the Militech chip and use it to disarm the detonator. If you don’t have the code, having a high Technical Ability skill also works.
9. Can you side with Militech and save Brick?
Yes, if you side with Militech and receive the credchip, you can still save Brick. Just don’t give the chip to Royce, instead hack it to get the code for freeing Brick.
10. Where do you find Brick after saving him?
You find Brick later in the game at the Totentanz, the Maelstrom hangout. This happens during a subsequent side mission.
11. Should I tell Dex about Evelyn?
Telling Dex about Evelyn’s plan to cut him out of the deal will increase your share of the profits.
12. What happens if I pay with the Militech card?
If you pay with the Militech card (assuming it’s not been tampered with), Royce will take the bot and ask you to leave. However, Militech will then arrive, leading to a firefight.
13. What are the consequences of saving Brick and how does it influence the overall gameplay?
The consequences of saving Brick mainly involve future interactions and potential assistance during later missions. It doesn’t drastically alter the main storyline, but it adds depth and can offer advantages.
14. Can you still get Johnny Silverhand’s arm in Cyberpunk 2077 if you don’t save Brick?
Saving Brick doesn’t affect your ability to get Johnny Silverhand’s arm. Johnny’s arm is tied to the Chippin’ In side quest, which is automatically assigned after completing the Tapeworm main quest.
15. What happens if you keep Brick locked up?
If you keep Brick locked up, he remains imprisoned, and you forfeit any chance of interacting with him later in the game. You lose out on potential assistance and story content. There are no benefits to keeping Brick locked up.