Cyberpunk 2077 Beginner's Guide: Lifepaths, Attributes, Cyberware and Night City

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1. Pick a lifepath At character creation you choose Nomad, Streetkid or Corpo. According to the community wiki this changes the opening chapter and adds a unique side quest and extra dialogue options. It doesn't change the main story, so pick the background you like.
2. Choose a comfortable difficulty In your first playthrough keep difficulty low or normal while you learn combat and menus. It can be changed mid-game, so lower it if you get stuck.
3. Focus on one playstyle Rather than spreading points across all five attributes, stack one or two. Cool and Reflexes suit stealth and blades, Intelligence suits remote hacking, Body suits a tough close-range build.
4. Make scanning a habit Before entering an area, hold Tab to scan enemies, cameras and interactive objects. Scanning tags enemies, and netrunners select quickhacks from this screen.
5. Don't skip your first ripperdoc Early in the story you meet the ripperdoc Viktor. Cyberware is one of the strongest progression paths; spend your eurodollars on implants that support your playstyle.
6. Take gigs from fixers Fixers call you with job offers. Gigs bring money, experience and Street Cred. Doing a few nearby gigs before pushing the main story makes your character stronger.
7. Learn to call your car Night City is big. Press V to summon your vehicle, set a waypoint on the map and follow navigation. Use fast travel points you've unlocked too.
8. Track your Street Cred According to the wiki Street Cred caps at 50 and grants up to 15% permanent vendor discounts in total. Some gigs and vendor items require a certain level.

• Bind dodge to one keyBy default you dodge by double-tapping a movement key, which can trigger by accident. You can assign dodge to a single key in the controls settings, which many players prefer.
• Hide bodies when sneakingIf others spot a downed enemy the alarm goes off. When playing stealthily, carry bodies into containers such as lockers or dumpsters.
• Watch item qualityItems come in quality tiers. According to the wiki, higher cyberware tiers become purchasable at certain character levels. Consider upgrading existing cyberware at a ripperdoc as well.
• Keep consumables readyX gives quick healing in combat. The wiki says health only regenerates to a certain percentage outside combat, and food and drink grant regeneration buffs.
• Read dialogue optionsSome dialogue choices depend on attribute levels or lifepath. Attributes like Body also open doors and conversation options, so your build affects exploration, not just combat.
• Stay out of trouble with the policeHarming civilians or committing crimes brings the NCPD after you, and the response escalates with your wanted level. Keep fights to mission areas early on.
• Side quests are worth itCharacter-driven side quests are one of the game's strengths. Follow phone messages and the journal; some side stories can even affect the ending.
• Sell what you don't useYour inventory fills quickly. Selling or disassembling unwanted items gives money and crafting materials.
• Check your keybindsDefault keys can differ slightly between versions. When you first launch, open Settings > Controls and adjust to your habits.
• Save before big decisionsThere are major choices and a point of no return near the end. The game warns you, but manual saves before key moments make it easy to try different outcomes.

• Spreading attribute points thinly: you end up not strong enough in any playstyle.
• Neglecting cyberware: a large share of progression comes from implants.
• Rushing in without scanning: stealth breaks when you don't know where cameras and enemies are.
• Trusting pre-2.0 guides: perks and cyberware were overhauled by the update.
• Harming civilians and escalating police response: a new character rarely survives that fight.
• Skipping side quests entirely: you miss both progression and important parts of the story.

This guide was written for version: Guide written for the current post-2.0 version as of September 2026; keys can be remapped in settings.

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