Who Reigns Supreme? Determining the Strongest Character in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Adam Smasher. There’s really no way around it. While Cyberpunk: Edgerunners introduced a roster of incredibly capable and compelling characters, when it comes to pure, unadulterated destructive power, Adam Smasher stands head and shoulders above the rest. His near-total conversion to cyberware, coupled with his ruthless efficiency and lack of any moral compass, makes him an unstoppable force within the universe. While characters like David Martinez pushed their limits to incredible extremes, Smasher consistently proved to be the ultimate gatekeeper, a wall that defined the upper echelon of combat prowess. Now, let’s break down why.

The Smasher Supremacy: Why Adam Smasher is the Undisputed Champion

Adam Smasher’s strength doesn’t just come from raw power, it’s a confluence of factors:

• Full-Body Conversion: Smasher is practically a walking tank. The article mentions his use of the NovelTech Samson, a full-body replacement designed for hazardous environments. This isn’t just about increased strength or speed; it’s about unparalleled durability and resistance to damage. He can shrug off attacks that would cripple or kill almost anyone else.
• Ruthless Efficiency: Smasher isn’t concerned with honor or fair fights. His primary goal is always to neutralize the threat as quickly and efficiently as possible. This is evident in his brutal takedown of Rebecca and his cold, calculated engagement with David.
• Experience: Smasher has been operating in Night City for decades, accumulating combat experience that far surpasses anyone else in the show. He’s seen it all, done it all, and survived it all.
• Strategic Cyberware: While the specific details of all his cyberware aren’t fully revealed, it’s clear that Smasher’s augmentations are tailored for maximum combat effectiveness. This likely includes enhanced reflexes, targeting systems, and a devastating array of weaponry integrated directly into his body.
• Lack of Empathy: Smasher has no moral constraints. He’s willing to use any tactic, no matter how brutal, to achieve his objective. This gives him a significant psychological advantage over opponents who might hesitate or show mercy.

David Martinez: The Rising Star and the Limits of Potential

David Martinez represents the potential for human enhancement through cyberware. His tolerance for cybernetic implants was exceptional, allowing him to push the limits of the Sandevistan and other powerful augmentations. However, David’s reliance on the Sandevistan, while making him incredibly fast, also proved to be his weakness. As seen in his fight with Smasher, once the anti-gravity devices were disabled, his speed advantage was nullified. Furthermore, his humanity and emotional attachments ultimately hindered him.

David’s arc is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked cybernetic augmentation. While he achieved incredible power, it came at the cost of his mental and physical health. He burned bright, but he burned out quickly. His character shows the value that one can learn from video games, to become strategic and think about choices, with the Games Learning Society showing that you can learn great lessons from gaming and implement them in real life. Check out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Other Contenders: Lucy, Maine, and Rebecca

• Lucy: A skilled Netrunner, Lucy’s strength lies in her ability to manipulate cyberspace. While she’s a valuable asset in combat, her direct combat abilities are limited compared to someone like Smasher or even David. Her strength is more in support, recon, and infiltration, and her primary weapon of choice is the Monowire.
• Maine: Maine was a powerful and experienced Edgerunner, possessing considerable strength and resilience thanks to his cyberware. However, he ultimately succumbed to cyberpsychosis, highlighting the risks associated with excessive augmentation. He was strong, but his mental fortitude proved to be his undoing.
• Rebecca: Despite her diminutive size, Rebecca packed a serious punch. Her energetic and trigger-happy personality, combined with her access to powerful weapons, made her a formidable opponent. However, her impulsiveness and lack of strategic planning made her vulnerable against more experienced and calculated foes like Adam Smasher.

V (Cyberpunk 2077) vs. David Martinez: A Thought Experiment

The debate about whether V (from Cyberpunk 2077) is stronger than David is interesting. V’s victory over Adam Smasher in the game is often cited as evidence of their superiority. However, it’s important to remember that V’s capabilities are highly dependent on player choice and build. A well-optimized V can certainly defeat Smasher, but it’s not necessarily a definitive indication that they are inherently stronger than David. David, at his peak, with his enhanced Sandevistan, presented a unique challenge that V might struggle to overcome without specific counter-builds. It’s more of a matter of different strengths and weaknesses.

Conclusion: Strength Defined

Ultimately, “strength” in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners isn’t just about physical power. It’s about a combination of factors, including cyberware, skill, experience, mental fortitude, and strategic thinking. While David pushed the boundaries of human potential through cybernetic augmentation, Adam Smasher represents the logical extreme of that path – a near-total conversion into a weaponized machine, devoid of empathy and driven by pure, destructive power. While many characters showed impressive strength in different ways, Smasher remains the undisputed strongest character in the Edgerunners universe.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions to explore more details about this topic:

1. Why is Adam Smasher so difficult to defeat? His full-body conversion gives him unparalleled durability, and his combat experience spans decades. He is also ruthless and has no moral compass.

2. Did David Martinez ever have a chance against Adam Smasher? David had a chance, but his reliance on the Sandevistan and his dwindling mental state weakened him.

3. What is Cyberpsychosis, and how did it affect Maine? Cyberpsychosis is a mental disorder caused by excessive cyberware implantation, leading to loss of empathy and violent behavior. It consumed Maine and significantly lowered his combat effectiveness.

4. How did Lucy’s abilities contribute to the Edgerunners crew? Lucy was the Netrunner and a very powerful one, so she handled infiltration, hacking, and support, manipulating cyberspace to the crew’s advantage.

5. What cyberware did David use, and how did it enhance his abilities? The article mentions Syn-Lungs, Maine’s Gorilla Arms, and the Sandevistan, which gave him superhuman speed. He also has lots of other cyberware like Projectile Launch System.

6. What is the significance of Rebecca’s character in the story? Rebecca provides comic relief and serves as a loyal member of David’s crew, demonstrating unwavering support despite her unrequited feelings for him.

7. Is V from Cyberpunk 2077 stronger than David Martinez? It’s debatable. V’s strength is highly dependent on player choices, but a well-optimized V can defeat Adam Smasher.

8. Why was David able to tolerate so much cyberware? He came from a loving home, but was still pushed to his limits by the end of the series.

9. What is the Monowire, and what is it used for? It is a cyberware that causes status effects and dismembering enemies.

10. How does the world of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners relate to the main Cyberpunk 2077 game? The anime tells the story of a group of edgerunners and takes place in the same world, Night City, as Cyberpunk 2077, but with mostly different characters.

11. What is the Sandevistan, and what does it do? The Sandevistan is a cyberware implant that allows the user to temporarily move at superhuman speeds, effectively slowing down time for them.

12. What happened to Lucy after the events of Edgerunners? Lucy travels to the moon, but is saddened by the absence of David. She is one of the two survivors of the crew, with Falco being the other.

13. Is it possible to avoid cyberpsychosis in the Cyberpunk universe? It’s possible, but it requires careful management of cyberware, mental stability, and supportive relationships.

14. How old was David Martinez during the events of Edgerunners? He started as a 17-year-old before joining the edgerunners.

15. What is the “choom” term mentioned in the Edgerunners series? It’s a slang term used in the Cyberpunk universe that means “friend” or “buddy.”