There are so many flashy ways to take down enemies in Cyberpunk 2077, but one of the coolest things you can do is channel your inner Solomon Reed and take out entire squadrons without ever being detected through stealth.
Stealth-focused builds have always been a part of Cyberpunk 2077, but the 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty DLC added some brand new toys that really take stealth up a notch. You can combine your stealth perks with quickhacks to make one of the most powerful netrunner builds in the game, but you don’t have to run the net to become a secret agent in the game. Making stealth your sole focus can transform you into a ghost while still providing some heart pounding, fast-paced gameplay. Put on your black shades and get ready to become a cyber ninja.
The rule of cool
One of the best parts about Cyberpunk’s reworked skill trees is the way they consolidate certain abilities with different weapon choices. While you focus on unlocking every stealth-centric perk available, you’ll also be upping your crit chance and paving the way for specializations in pistols, snipers, and throwing knives. Cool and Tech should get your attention right off the bat, and when the build is complete, your attributes should look something like this:
- 20 Cool – Unlock stealth perks and weapon specializations
- 20 Tech – Get the absolute most out of your chrome
- 17 Body – Build up HP and unlock Adrenaline mode for when things go sideways
- 15 Reflex – Dash and air dash are incredibly fun and will synchronize with your cyberware
- 9 Int – Not a necessity, but this will let you get the most out of the Renaissance Punk perk
Your perk choices are probably pretty obvious here. Get everything in the center of the Cool tree, and then choose either everything on the pistols/snipers or knives side of the tree. There’s only one silenced sniper in the game (Overwatch, which you get from Panam’s questline), but pistols like Pariah, Her Majesty, and Death and Taxes are all great options. Of course, knives are always silent, so the choice is yours, choomba. Over on the Tech tree, you’ll also want the entire center path to boost your cyberware as much as possible. Then grab some health perks and dash perks for good measure.
If you have the Phantom Liberty DLC you’re really in luck. The Relic tree has some fantastic perks for a stealth build in Cyberpunk 2077. Emergency Cloaking and Sensory Protocol are going to let you run circles around your enemies even in the midst of combat. No matter how good your stealth skills are, you’re eventually going to end up in combat, and that’s when Vulnerability Analytics and Machine Learning will turn your crit hits up to 11.
All about the chrome
Cyberware plays a key role in every Cyberpunk 2077 stealth build, but it’s especially important to chrome up if you want to focus on stealth. Optical camo is an absolute must. It will help you slip through enemy bases, and with those Relic perks it will also help you lose enemies in the midst of combat. Once your camo is installed, it’s time to get an operating system. A Sandevistan pairs perfectly with your camo by letting you slow time while invisible to maximize your stealth window. Also, when the going gets tough, a Sandevistan will let you get all the crit headshots you need to clear a room.
Those are the most important pieces of chrome, but you’ll want more. The Kerenzikov will let you slow down time when dashing, sliding, or dodging, so you can get off even more headshots with your knives or a silenced pistol. Kiroshi “Cockatrice” Optics will help you crit as much as possible, and with the help of 20 points in Cool, most of your hits will do massive damage. Atomic Sensors combo with the Synaptic Accelerator to slow down time and boost your movement speed just before an enemy detects you. Handle Wrap and the Stabber will increase your throwing knife damage. The Tyrosine Injector will help you get more bonuses from stealth takedowns, and the Deep-field Visual Interface will turn any sniper into a crit hit god.
In addition to those, you’ll want to get the standard array of defensive cyberware and probably the Blood Pump to get the most out of your Adrenaline mode. Luckily having 20 Tech points will give you access to just about as much cyberware as you could want. Especially in the early game, it’s a good idea to pick up more defensive cyberware than you think you need. You’ll be pretty squishy early on, and your best stealth maneuvers won’t be much of an option during the game’s handful of boss battles.
By the time you hit max level and chrome yourself out, you’ll be a virtual ghost, able to take out dozens of enemies without anyone even knowing you’re in the area. Sure, you’ll also be running on the edge of cyberpsychosis with all that chrome, but that’s what being a cyberpunk is all about.
