Quickhacks in Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 are specialized abilities utilized by Netrunners to manipulate NPCs and the environment, requiring a Cyberdeck for successful deployment. This overhauled system allows for significant strategic depth, enabling players to combine gunplay with netrunning skills in combat or to pursue stealthy infiltration. The core of quickhacking involves scanning targets and deploying specific programs, with effectiveness tied to your Cyberdeck’s RAM capacity and equipped quickhacks.
Quickhack Fundamentals
Quickhacks are abilities used to affect enemies or the environment, requiring a Cyberdeck to function. When scanning enemies or machines, you can perform actions such as deactivating them or taking direct control. The gameplay style for those preferring quickhacks and Breach Protocol has been significantly updated for Cyberpunk 2077 2.0, making it more feasible to integrate netrunning into combat.
The process of quickhacking involves scanning a target, which can be an enemy or an electric-powered object. If the target is hackable, two menus will appear in your scanner: a data tab and a hacking tab. The data tab provides important information about your enemy, including specialization, criminal affiliation, bounty, and strengths/weaknesses. The hacking tab displays available quickhacks and their descriptions.
Quickhacks can be uploaded in a queue onto an enemy. Many quickhacks possess special effects that can influence subsequent hacks in the queue, such as rendering them untraceable. Perks, Cyberdecks, and other Cyberware can modify the values and effects of your quickhacks.
Cyberdecks and RAM Management
A Cyberdeck is essential for Netrunner abilities, allowing users to quickhack individuals and devices, as well as breach networks. Each Cyberdeck comes with pre-installed quickhacks, a limited number of slots for equipped quickhacks, and a specific amount of RAM. RAM is a critical resource consumed when performing quickhacks. The cost of a quickhack in RAM can be altered by various factors, including certain cyberware abilities, Perks, and differences in quickhack level. Used RAM automatically recovers outside of combat.
The maximum RAM available to V is determined by their operating system, which can be purchased, changed, and upgraded at a Ripperdoc. Your maximum RAM can also be increased through a higher Intelligence attribute, specific cyberware abilities, Perks, and by equipping a higher-quality Cyberdeck. For instance, the Netwatch Netdriver MK.1 (Iconic) Cyberdeck offers 13 RAM slots. With a Level 13 Netrunner skill (+2 RAM) and additional Frontal Cortex Cyberware such as Camillo RAM Manager (+2), Ex-Disk (+6), and Self-ICE (+2), the total RAM slots can reach 25, excluding perk bonuses. This increased RAM capacity is crucial for deploying high-cost quickhacks.
| Component | RAM Contribution (Example) |
|---|---|
| Netwatch Netdriver MK.1 | 13 |
| Netrunner Skill (Lvl 13) | +2 |
| Camillo RAM Manager | +2 |
| Ex-Disk | +6 |
| Self-ICE | +2 |
| Total Max RAM | 25 |
Equipping higher-quality Cyberdecks enables the execution of more advanced quickhacks. You can customize your equipped quickhacks at a Ripperdoc or through the OS Cyberware section of your Inventory.
Breach Protocol and Access Points
Every Cyberdeck includes Breach Protocol as a pre-installed feature, enabling the penetration of networks and the uploading of daemons. These daemons can infiltrate all connected enemies and devices. Breach Protocol cannot be initiated without an equipped Cyberdeck.
A key pre-installed daemon is ICEpick. Successfully uploading ICEpick via Breach Protocol reduces the RAM cost of all subsequent quickhacks used on enemies and devices connected to the network. New, powerful daemons can be unlocked through the Breach Protocol Skill tree. It is highly recommended to initiate every encounter with Breach Protocol, even if stealth is not the primary goal, as it reduces quickhack costs by one RAM.
Access Points are physical ports, such as laptops or antennae, that allow V to jack into local networks. They can be located by exploring the environment or by using the Ping quickhack on a connected device or person, which will highlight the Access Point. Successfully uploading a Datamine daemon into an Access Point using Breach Protocol can yield rewards such as money, quickhack crafting components, or even new quickhacks. Access Point Breach Protocol is generally more challenging than the quickhack version used on individual enemies or tech.
Quickhack Categories and Acquisition
Quickhacks are categorized based on their primary function:
| Category | Primary Use | Example Quickhacks |
|---|---|---|
| Covert | Infiltration, evading or escaping enemy attention. | Memory Wipe, Ping, Reboot Optics |
| Combat | Dealing damage once enemies are aware of your presence. | Contagion, Overheat, Short Circuit |
| Control | Impeding opponents, decisive against bosses/mini-bosses by disabling cyberware. | Cyberware Malfunction, Weapon Glitch, Cripple Movement |
| Ultimate | Most powerful, highest RAM cost and upload time, potential for instant elimination. | Cyberpsychosis, Detonate Grenade, Suicide, System Collapse |
Quickhacks, also referred to as Daemons, can be acquired through several methods:
- Vendors: Purchased from Netrunner shops.
- World Finds: Discovered throughout Night City.
- Rewards: Earned by completing main jobs, side jobs, and gigs.
- Datamine: Collected after successfully uploading the Datamine daemon to network Access Points.
- Crafting: Created if you possess the necessary Crafting Spec. Crafting Specs can also be purchased from vendors, found in the world, earned as rewards, or unlocked in the quickhacking Skill tree.
The availability of quickhacks depends on the target. For instance, you cannot use “Synapse Burnout” on a device that lacks eyes. Human targets generally offer the widest range of quickhack options. If a quickhack appears red, it indicates it is already in use or you lack sufficient RAM to deploy it.
FAQ
What is the primary requirement to use Quickhacks in Cyberpunk 2077 2.0? A Cyberdeck is essential to use Quickhacks effectively.
How do I increase my maximum RAM for Quickhacks? Your maximum RAM can be increased by a higher Intelligence attribute, specific cyberware abilities, Perks, and by equipping a higher-quality Cyberdeck.
What is the benefit of using Breach Protocol at the start of an encounter? Using Breach Protocol, especially with the ICEpick daemon, reduces the RAM cost of all subsequent quickhacks used on connected enemies and devices.
Where can I find new Quickhacks? New quickhacks can be purchased from vendors, found in the world, earned as rewards from activities, collected after datamining Access Points, or crafted if you have the Crafting Spec.
Can I queue multiple Quickhacks on an enemy? Yes, Quickhacks can be uploaded in a queue, and some hacks will have special effects that influence those queued after them, such as making them untraceable.