Is Fenrir Worth Upgrading in Cyberpunk 2077? A Deep Dive

Absolutely! Fenrir, the Power Submachine Gun, is a fantastic weapon to upgrade in Cyberpunk 2077, particularly in the early to mid-game. Its ability to deal thermal damage and inflict the burn status effect makes it incredibly effective against a wide range of enemies. While its late-game viability might wane compared to some other specialized weapons, careful crafting and upgrading can keep Fenrir a valuable asset in your arsenal. The early availability and consistent usefulness make it a strong contender for upgrade resources.

Why Upgrade Fenrir?

Fenrir stands out because of its inherent elemental damage. This is a significant advantage, especially early on when you might not have access to many weapons with built-in elemental effects. Burn damage stacks, dealing damage over time, and significantly weakens enemies. Upgrading Fenrir boosts its base damage, the chance to inflict burn, and overall effectiveness, keeping it relevant as you level up.

Crafting vs. Upgrading: Understanding the Difference

It’s crucial to understand the difference between crafting and upgrading in Cyberpunk 2077. The original article mentioned that weapons only rescale if you craft them. That’s partially correct, especially when considering Iconic weapons like Fenrir.

• Crafting: Crafting allows you to create a new version of the weapon at your current level. This ensures the weapon’s base damage and stats are appropriate for your character’s level, preventing it from becoming obsolete. However, you need the blueprint and crafting materials.

• Upgrading: Upgrading uses components to improve the existing weapon’s stats. It primarily increases attack power and potentially adds minor bonuses. Upgrading alone won’t keep your weapon at pace with your level; crafting is critical for Iconic weapons.

Therefore, if you want to keep Fenrir viable throughout your playthrough, you’ll need to acquire the blueprints and regularly craft new versions as you level up, supplementing this with regular upgrades.

How to Maximize Fenrir’s Potential

To truly make Fenrir shine, consider the following:

• Craft Regularly: As mentioned above, craft new versions of Fenrir whenever you level up significantly. This ensures its base stats remain competitive.
• Invest in Crafting Perks: The Technical Ability skill tree has several perks that enhance crafting, making it cheaper and more effective. Perks like “Edgerunner Artisan” are essential for crafting Legendary versions.
• Use Appropriate Mods: Consider mods that enhance damage, critical hit chance, or status effect application. Thermal damage mods can further amplify Fenrir’s core strength.
• Pair with a Suitable Build: Fenrir works well with builds that focus on quickhacking, Tech ability, or general combat prowess. Its burn effect synergizes nicely with perks that boost damage against burning enemies.

The Late-Game Dilemma

While Fenrir is excellent for the early and mid-game, its effectiveness can diminish in the late game when compared to specialized weapons like Erebus or fully optimized builds. However, even then, Fenrir can remain a useful weapon in your rotation, especially for dealing with groups of enemies. Its burn effect can provide valuable crowd control and sustained damage.

Ultimately, the decision to continue upgrading Fenrir in the late game depends on your playstyle, available resources, and alternative weapons. If you’ve grown attached to it and invested heavily in crafting perks, it’s certainly viable to keep Fenrir as part of your loadout. If you’re focused on maximizing DPS, you might find other weapons more effective.

One thing to keep in mind is the value of iconic weapons and the satisfaction of leveling them up completely. This aspect of the game makes it worthwhile. Consider the Games Learning Society to further dive into educational games and gaming mechanics. They offer amazing resources to dive into how education is utilized in the gaming sphere.

Fenrir: A Worthwhile Investment

In conclusion, Fenrir is definitely worth upgrading in Cyberpunk 2077, especially in the early to mid-game. Its thermal damage and burn effect make it a potent weapon against a variety of enemies. Regular crafting and strategic upgrading will ensure it remains relevant as you level up. While its late-game viability might depend on your playstyle and available alternatives, Fenrir’s early availability and consistent usefulness make it a strong contender for upgrade resources.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Where can I find Fenrir early in the game?

Fenrir can be found during the Maelstrom questline in Watson. After helping the monk save his brother, you can loot it from a Maelstrom gang member.

2. Does Fenrir’s burn effect stack?

Yes, Fenrir’s burn effect stacks, meaning multiple hits will increase the duration and damage of the burn.

3. Is it better to craft or upgrade Fenrir?

Both crafting and upgrading are important. Crafting ensures the weapon scales with your level, while upgrading improves its stats. Focus on crafting a new version every few levels and upgrading it as much as possible in between.

4. What is the best crafting perk for upgrading Fenrir?

The “Edgerunner Artisan” perk in the Technical Ability tree is essential for crafting Legendary versions of iconic weapons.

5. What mods should I use on Fenrir?

Consider mods that enhance damage, critical hit chance, or status effect application, especially those that boost thermal damage.

6. Does Fenrir work well with a Netrunner build?

Yes, Fenrir can complement a Netrunner build. Its burn effect can weaken enemies, making them more vulnerable to quickhacks.

7. How does Fenrir compare to other early-game SMGs?

Fenrir is one of the best early-game SMGs due to its thermal damage and burn effect. It outperforms many other weapons in terms of sustained damage.

8. Can I get Fenrir after completing the Maelstrom questline?

If you miss Fenrir during the quest, you might need to reload an earlier save or potentially find it later in the game through random drops, but this is not guaranteed. It is best to get it during the quest.

9. What attribute should I focus on to maximize Fenrir’s damage?

While Fenrir doesn’t directly scale with any specific attribute, investing in Technical Ability for crafting and Reflexes for SMG-related perks will indirectly boost its effectiveness.

10. Is Fenrir good against bosses?

Fenrir can be effective against some bosses, especially those vulnerable to thermal damage. However, specialized weapons might be more suitable for certain boss fights.

11. Does Fenrir benefit from headshots?

Yes, headshots with Fenrir deal increased damage, just like with any other weapon.

12. What is the max level I can upgrade Fenrir to?

The maximum upgrade level depends on the crafting tier (e.g., Legendary). As you improve your crafting, the level of the crafted weapon increases.

13. Is Fenrir a power, tech, or smart weapon?

Fenrir is a power submachine gun. This means bullets can ricochet off surfaces.

14. Where can I find more information about Cyberpunk 2077 weapons and builds?

There are many online resources, including wikis, forums, and YouTube channels dedicated to Cyberpunk 2077.

15. Is it better to disassemble or sell Fenrir if I find a better weapon?

If Fenrir is not a direct upgrade, selling it is generally recommended to gain eddies for other upgrades or items. Disassembling it provides crafting components, but you’ll likely get more value from selling it. Keep the Iconic weapons and upgrade them to the maximum level.

Remember that while maximizing your builds is important, the overall learning experience and critical thinking skills you develop while exploring Cyberpunk 2077 can also be valuable. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about the educational aspects of gaming.