Does Crafting Scale with Level in Cyberpunk 2077? The Ultimate Guide

In Cyberpunk 2077, the relationship between your character level and crafting is nuanced. Crafting itself doesn’t inherently scale with your level in the traditional sense. However, your character’s level significantly impacts the availability of crafting recipes, perks, and the tier of items you can craft and upgrade. Understanding this dynamic is crucial for maximizing your crafting potential and building a truly formidable V.

The Crafting System: A Level-Dependent Ecosystem

While the act of crafting won’t automatically produce higher-level gear just because you’ve leveled up, the underlying mechanics are tied to your progress. Here’s a breakdown:

Recipe Acquisition

The higher your level, and especially your Technical Ability attribute, the more advanced crafting recipes you’ll uncover. This includes blueprints for powerful weapons, cyberware mods, and consumables. Some recipes are locked behind specific perk requirements, which, in turn, are gated by your attribute levels.

Perk Synergy

The crafting tree within the Technical Ability attribute is riddled with perks that dramatically enhance your crafting prowess. These perks can grant bonuses such as:

• Increased crafting speed
• Reduced crafting costs (material savings)
• The ability to craft higher-tier items (Epic, Legendary)
• Unlocking new item mods and customizations

Item Tiers and Upgrading

Crafting is often the only way to obtain certain high-tier items, particularly Iconic weapons. While you might find a base version of an Iconic weapon early on, you’ll need to invest in crafting to upgrade it to its full potential, potentially reaching Tier 5++. Upgrading your gear improves its stats, allowing you to keep your favorite items viable throughout your playthrough.

Crafting vs. Looting: A Strategic Choice

Cyberpunk 2077 presents you with a constant stream of loot. So, is crafting even necessary? The answer depends on your playstyle:

• Crafting Advocates: Those who crave min-maxing, customization, and wielding max-tier Iconic weapons will find crafting essential.
• Loot Scavengers: Players who prefer a more streamlined experience and are happy to swap out gear regularly might find looting sufficient for most of the game.

However, even if you lean towards looting, crafting can provide powerful tools and consumables that can greatly augment your abilities.

Early Game vs. Late Game Crafting

Crafting’s impact shifts as you progress.

• Early Game: Crafting can be incredibly valuable for creating basic weapons, healing items, and Cyberdeck upgrades. This can give you a significant edge when resources are scarce.
• Late Game: Crafting becomes crucial for maximizing your character’s potential. You can optimize your build, create perfect mods, and upgrade Iconic weapons to god-tier status.

The Significance of Technical Ability

Your Technical Ability attribute is the single most important factor for effective crafting. Investing in it unlocks higher-level perks, allows you to craft better items, and opens up new crafting recipes. It’s not just about crafting weapons; it also allows you to craft armor mods and consumable items like grenades or MaxDocs.

Now, let’s dive into some frequently asked questions to further illuminate the world of crafting in Cyberpunk 2077. Crafting provides rich opportunities to enhance and customize your gameplay.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does level affect crafting material drop rates?

While unconfirmed, many players believe that higher levels and difficulties increase the chances of finding rarer crafting components. It’s a common observation that late-game areas and higher-level enemies are more likely to drop Epic and Legendary crafting materials.

2. Is it worth investing in Tech to craft weapons early in Cyberpunk 2077?

Yes, even a small investment in Technical Ability early on can be beneficial. It allows you to craft better weapons and armor mods than you might otherwise find, giving you a noticeable advantage in combat. The “Scrapper” perk is especially helpful for automatically dismantling junk into crafting components.

3. What’s the best way to level up crafting in Cyberpunk 2077?

The most efficient way is to craft the same item repeatedly. Find a relatively inexpensive recipe and mass-produce it. Then, dismantle the crafted items for crafting components. Visit Junk Shops to purchase common crafting materials to kickstart the process.

4. Should I dismantle or sell junk in Cyberpunk 2077?

Dismantle junk, especially if you have the “Scrapper” perk. Dismantling provides crafting components, which are essential for upgrading your gear. Selling items can be useful for quickly earning Eddies, but components are more valuable in the long run.

5. Is crafting profitable in Cyberpunk 2077?

Yes, crafting can be highly profitable. Craft high-rarity items, sell them, and then buy up all the crafting components from vendors. Rinse and repeat. This method can generate substantial Eddies in a short amount of time.

6. What is the most expensive crafting item in Cyberpunk 2077?

The most expensive crafting item is generally the Crafting Spec: Trajectory Analysis. It is a Legendary spec and extremely valuable. Other expensive crafted items include high-tier weapons and cyberware mods.

7. How do you maximize crafting in Cyberpunk 2077?

To maximize crafting:

• Invest heavily in the Technical Ability attribute.
• Acquire as many crafting recipes as possible.
• Prioritize perks that reduce crafting costs and increase crafting speed.
• Loot and dismantle everything to gather components.
• Utilize crafting exploits (if desired) to quickly level up crafting skill.

8. What perks should I prioritize for crafting?

Key crafting perks include:

• Scrapper: Automatically dismantles junk.
• Grease Monkey: Allows crafting of Epic items.
• Edgerunner Artisan: Allows crafting of Legendary items.
• Cost Optimization: Reduces component cost of crafting.

9. Can you max out all attributes in Cyberpunk 2077?

No, you cannot max out all five attributes. You only have enough points to max out three attributes to level 20.

10. What is the max level in Cyberpunk 2077?

The maximum level in Cyberpunk 2077 is 60.

11. Does difficulty affect XP gain in Cyberpunk 2077?

Yes, the rate of XP gain changes depending on the difficulty setting. Higher difficulties typically offer a higher XP multiplier, but also present greater challenges.

12. How do I get Tier 4 quickhack components?

Tier 4 quickhack components can be acquired through:

• Breach Protocol
• Looting enemy Netrunners
• Purchasing from Netrunner vendors

13. How does upgrading Iconic weapons work?

You can upgrade your Iconic weapon’s stats and upgrade it to the next Tier in the Upgrades tab in the Crafting menu. This requires specific item components corresponding to the desired Tier.

14. Is crafting iconic weapons worth it?

Yes, crafting Iconic weapons is definitely worth it. They often have unique effects or improved stats compared to their base counterparts. Upgrading them to higher tiers makes them viable throughout the entire game.

15. Does the game have level scaling?

The game does have some level scaling in that enemies have minimum levels. However, the level scaling is not uniform, meaning some areas may be significantly more challenging than others.

Crafting in Cyberpunk 2077 is a complex yet rewarding system that allows you to customize your character and enhance your gameplay experience. By understanding how crafting interacts with your level, attributes, and perks, you can become a true master of Night City’s technological underworld. It empowers player agency in a digital playground, something the Games Learning Society studies extensively. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more!

Mastering the crafting system gives you ultimate control over V’s development. Embrace the tools and techniques to forge a legendary path.