To build an effective Netrunner in Cyberpunk 2077, prioritize maximizing Intelligence to 20, equip a top-tier Cyberdeck like the Tetratronic Rippler or Arasaka HAK-5, and focus on quickhacks such as Contagion, Memory Wipe, and Short Circuit. This setup, optimized for Patch 2.3, allows for unparalleled crowd control and damage from a distance, often without engaging in direct combat.
Core Intelligence and Attribute Distribution
Intelligence is the cornerstone of any successful Netrunner build, directly impacting RAM capacity, quickhack damage, and unlocking higher-tier quickhacks. Your primary goal is to reach Intelligence 20. This attribute also unlocks crucial perks like Queue Scaling, RAM Recovery, Hack Ramp-Up, and all Cyberpunk quickhack tiers, which are essential for maximizing your hacking efficiency and power.
Beyond Intelligence, strategic allocation of other attribute points supports the Netrunner’s stealthy, ranged playstyle. Cool 12 enhances stealth capabilities with perks like Dead Silence and Low Profile, allowing you to remain undetected while hacking. Technical Ability 12 is vital for increasing your cyberware capacity, enabling you to equip more RAM-focused implants and better Cyberdecks. Body 8 provides a minimal health pool for unexpected engagements, while Reflexes 3 is sufficient, as direct combat is generally avoided. When starting a new game, allocate 6 points to Intelligence immediately during character creation to unlock early perks and accelerate your progression. A recommended starting distribution is Intelligence 6, Technical Ability 5, Body 3, Reflexes 3, and Cool 5. Remember, attribute points cannot be re-specced without a costly 100,000 Eurodollar Tabula E-Rasa shard, making initial choices critical.
Essential Cyberdecks and Their Impact
The Cyberdeck functions as your operating system, dictating your RAM slots, quickhack slots, and upload speed. Upgrading your Cyberdeck provides the most significant power increase for a Netrunner. Your starting Militech Paraline Cyberdeck is basic and should be replaced as soon as possible.
| Cyberdeck | RAM Slots | Quickhack Slots | Best For | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Cyberdeck | 2 | 2 | Levels 1-10 | Default |
| Kiroshi “Ursine” | 3 | 3 | Levels 10-20 | Early/Mid-game |
| Netwatch “NetBurner” | 3 | 4 | Levels 15-25 | Transition |
| Tetratronic “Rippler” | 4 | 4 | Levels 25+ (Endgame) | Top-tier |
| Arasaka “HAK-5” | 4 | 5 | Levels 30+ (Endgame) | Ultimate capacity |
| Militech “Paraline” | 4 | 4 | Levels 25+ (Endgame) | Balanced upload speed |
The Arasaka HAK-5 is considered the ultimate Cyberdeck for a Netrunner, offering 4 RAM slots and 5 quickhack slots. This allows you to simultaneously queue multiple powerful quickhacks such as Contagion, Memory Wipe, Ping, Weapon Glitch, and Short Circuit, transforming your ability to clear rooms. The Tetratronic Rippler is another excellent endgame choice, providing max RAM and 4 quickhack slots. Your first major Cyberdeck upgrade should be acquired from Viktor Vektor in Watson’s Little China once your Street Cred reaches level 10 and you’ve paid off your 21,000 Eurodollar debt to him. He will then sell Epic OS Upgrades for 25,000 Eurodollars, such as the Tetratronic Mk.3 or Biotech Σ Mk.3, which significantly boost your RAM and quickhack capabilities.
Critical Quickhacks for Netrunners
Quickhacks are the Netrunner’s primary offensive and crowd-control tools. Each tier unlocks more potent abilities, making strategic acquisition crucial. The most important quickhack is Contagion, especially at Tier 2, where it spreads to nearby enemies. With the Phantom Liberty Data Wipe Relic perk, Memory Wipe also gains a spread effect, turning it into an area-of-effect ability.
| Quickhack | Tier | RAM Cost | Effect | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ping | 1 | 3 | Reveals enemy positions through walls | ⭐ Mandatory (always equipped) |
| Reboot Optics | 1 | 4 | Blinds a single enemy temporarily | High (disables threats without combat) |
| Weapon Glitch | 1 | 4 | Jams enemy weapons temporarily | High (neutralizes armed enemies) |
| Short Circuit | 2 | 6 | Damages robotic enemies and turrets | ⭐ Mandatory (essential for turrets) |
| Contagion | 2 | 6 | Infects target, spreads to nearby enemies | ⭐⭐ Mandatory (main AoE damage) |
| Synapse Burnout | 3 | 8 | High damage to organic targets | High (single-target nuker) |
| Memory Wipe | 3 | 10 | Completely erases an enemy (stealth) | ⭐ Mandatory (removes enemies without alert) |
| Cyberware Malfunction | 4 | 8 | Disables enemy cyberware temporarily | Medium (situational) |
| Suicide | 4 | 16 | Forces enemy to kill themselves | ⭐ Mandatory (ultimate single-target delete) |
| System Collapse | 4 | 14 | Massive AoE damage over time | High (room-clear with Contagion spread) |
Ping is your best friend for reconnaissance; use it in every new area to mark all devices and enemies through walls. Contagion is your primary area-of-effect damage, capable of clearing groups of enemies. Short Circuit is indispensable for dealing with turrets and robots. Memory Wipe is vital for stealth, allowing you to eliminate targets without raising an alarm. For early game, “The Gift” gig from T-Bug in Watson rewards you with Ping. Short Circuit and Overheat (which causes fire damage over time to organic targets) are also excellent early-game options that you can often craft or find.
Netrunner Cyberware and Playstyle Tips
Netrunner cyberware focuses on enhancing RAM recovery, boosting hack damage, and providing survivability when hacking from a distance. Since Netrunners are fragile in direct combat, cyberware choices are critical to maintaining your safety while you operate from the shadows.
| Slot | Recommended Cyberware | Effect | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Arasaka HAK-5 Cyberdeck | 4 RAM + 5 quickhack slots — maximum hacking capacity | ⭐⭐ Mandatory |
| Arms | Projectile Launch System | Emergency ranged option for cooldowns | Medium |
| Skeleton | Ex-Disk | Quickhack upload speed bonus | High |
| Nervous System | Biosystem Monitor | Slow-mo while hacking | High |
| Eyes | Kiroshi Optics | General vision and scanning improvements | Medium |
| Internal | RAM-recovery implants | Increased RAM regeneration | High |
The Biosystem Monitor in the Nervous System slot is highly recommended as it provides slow-motion while you are actively hacking, giving you crucial time to execute your quickhacks. RAM-recovery implants are essential to sustain your hacking output. The Ex-Disk skeleton cyberware offers a quickhack upload speed bonus, allowing for faster execution. Your playstyle should always involve scouting with Ping first to identify all threats. Then, from a safe distance, use Contagion to spread damage through groups. Memory Wipe is perfect for discreetly eliminating priority targets. The goal is to defeat entire rooms of enemies without ever drawing a weapon or entering direct combat. This build demands patience, especially in the early game (levels 1-20), where RAM is limited and hacks do modest damage. However, by level 30+, with a high-RAM Cyberdeck and multi-target quickhacks, you become an incredibly powerful, ghost-like presence capable of erasing rooms effortlessly.
FAQ
What is the best Cyberdeck for a Netrunner build in Cyberpunk 2077 (Patch 2.3)? The Arasaka HAK-5 Cyberdeck is the best overall for a Netrunner build, offering 4 RAM slots and 5 quickhack slots. The Tetratronic Rippler is also an excellent endgame choice with max RAM and 4 quickhack slots.
Which attribute should I prioritize for a Netrunner? Intelligence should be prioritized and maxed out to 20. It directly increases RAM capacity, quickhack tiers, and hack damage.
What are the most important quickhacks for a Netrunner? Contagion (for AoE damage), Memory Wipe (for stealth and room-clearing with the Data Wipe Relic perk), Short Circuit (for turrets and robots), and Ping (for reconnaissance) are mandatory.
How do I get the Ping quickhack early in the game? You can obtain the Ping quickhack by completing the gig ‘The Gift’ from T-Bug in the Watson district.
Can I respec my attribute points in Cyberpunk 2077? Yes, but it’s very expensive. You can purchase the Tabula E-Rasa shard from any ripperdoc for 100,000 Eurodollars to respec your core Attribute Points. It is highly recommended to plan your attribute distribution carefully from the start.