15 Best Weapons In Cyberpunk 2077 [Expert Picks]

Your weapon selection can make an easy mission hard or vice versa, and that is why I have curated Cyberpunk 2077 best weapons guide which includes the best assault rifles, sub-machine guns, shotguns, snipers, and more so that players can have the top-tier arsenal in the game.

Best Weapons Summary And Comparison

A total of 56 weapons are available in Cyberpunk 2077 from which the top 15 are listed each from different categories. Here are my top weapons in the game alongside a comparison table: 

A Similar Read: Cyberpunk 2077 All Legendary Weapons Locations 

Weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 range from big guns such as assault rifles, shotguns, snipers, precision rifles, and LMGs to small yet lethal ones such as SMGs, pistols, revolvers, and melee weapons. All bullet weapons are classified into Tech, Smart, and Power, and melee ones into blade and blunt.

Assault Rifles

Assault Rifles from my experience are a decent weapon of choice if your target is at a medium to long-range distance. Most weapons come in auto or burst firing mode configuration. There are nine ARs in the game, and I have listed three of the best assault rifles you should have.

Divided We Stand

Divided We Stand is a named assault rifle. This AR comes under the SMART weapon category, and it fires off homing projectiles that can target up to five enemies. Besides the base damage that the bullets deal when fired up at enemies, the bullets also deal chemical damage and have a high chance of applying a poison status effect on a target.

The double damage (base and chemical) Divided We Stand deals on the enemies make it one of the best go-to assault rifles in the game. Besides that, this AR has 30 magazine size that is decent enough to spray bullets on at least a couple of targets before you reload the next clip.

There are two methods to acquire Divided We Stand. The easiest and probably the straightforward one in my opinion is to beat Walker’s Score in Stadium Love Side Job, and the difficult method is to select the option of fighting 6^th Street Members.

Moron Labe

Moron Labe is one of the best weapons under the Power categories. As a Power weapon, the bullets of Moron Labe can ricochet off surfaces, increasing the chances to hit multiple enemies.

Moron Labe comes in an Epic or Iconic weapon rarity in Cyberpunk 2077. The best aspect of this AR is that the base rate of fire can be increased significantly. Doing so in my opinion also increases the chances of dismembering enemy targets, allowing you to be more lethal while in combat.

For obtaining the Moron Labe, players will need to complete NCPD Scanner Hustle called Suspected Organized Crime Activity (West Wind Estate). Anton Kolev drops the crafting specifications of this AR which can be later crafted by acquiring the necessary components in the game.

Related: Cyberpunk 2077 Legendary Cyberware Locations

Psalm 11:6

Psalm 11:6 is another Power category assault rifle that packs an incredible punch. Players can increase the overall performance of Psalm 11:6 by slotting in the scope, muzzle, and mod attachments. The three attachment slots of this AR in my opinion make it one of the most versatile assault rifles in Cyberpunk 2077.

Since it is a Power weapon, the bullets will ricochet off from the surface while firing at enemies. Other than that, the AR deals thermal damage to its targets, increasing the chance of applying the burn status effect. With all the highly damaging attributes, Psalm 11:6 comes with a few drawbacks that hold it down. For starters, this AR has a lower rate of fire and higher weapon recoil.  

To acquire Psalm 11:6, players will need to neutralize Tom Ayer by completing the NCPD Scanner Hustle called Suspected Organized Crime Activity: Just Say No. The named boss drops crafting spec, which can be used later to craft the weapon if you have the required components and perks.

Submachine Guns

Submachine Guns (SMGs) are excellent weapons for close to medium-range combat. The rate of fire of these weapons is high, and bullet spread is a tad bit more as compared to assault rifles. There are ten SMGs in the game, and I have listed three of the best sub-machine guns you should have.

Yinlong

Yinglong is the best SMG under the Smart category of weapons in the game. Like other Smart weapons, this also comes with the ability to lock onto targets and send guided homing projectiles.

Besides the raw power of bullet damage, Yinlong comes with the special effect of applying EMP whenever bullets land on enemies. Enemies are hit with electrical damage on impact, and there is a small chance that Yinglong will emit an EMP discharge, disabling nearby cyberware equipment for a short duration. The legendary or Iconic rarity of this SMG comes with one attachment slot and four legendary mod slots to further increase the overall performance of Yinglong.

For the acquisition of the Yinglong, players will need to complete the NCPD Scanner Hustle called Suspected Organized Crime Activity: Living the Big Life and eliminate Denzel Cryer. Doing so drops a crafting spec by the named enemy, which can be used to get Yinglong.

Buzzsaw

Buzzsaw, in my opinion, is one of the best sub-machine guns in Cyberpunk 2077 under the Power weapons category. Since it’s a Power weapon, the fired bullets have the tendency to ricochet off surfaces, hitting multiple enemies.

Other than that, what makes Buzzsaw one of best weapons is that the weapons come with a mod that significantly increases the penetration power of fired rounds on targets. This special effect of the SMG weapon is very effective against armored enemies as they are likely to get hit frequently after being fired upon using the Buzzsaw.

The SMG weapon can be acquired in Rare and Iconic rarity. Buzzsaw comes with one scope, muzzle, and weapon mod slot regardless of the weapon rarity. However, if you have the rare (blue) rarity of this weapon, then you can only slot in two mods as compared to four for the legendary rarity of Buzzsaw.

To get the Blue rarity Crafting Spec of Buzzsaw, players must eliminate Yelena Sidorova. The NCPD scanner hustle called Suspected Organized Crime Activity: Vice Control can be accessed in Watson district.

Fenrir

Fenrir, a potent Power SMG in Cyberpunk 2077, is available in Rare and Iconic rarities. As a Power weapon, its bullets ricochet, hitting multiple targets. Fenrir inflicts burn damage on enemies and boasts reduced bullet spread and increased impact, though recoil is compromised.

With the default three attachment slots, adding scope, muzzle, and mod slot enhances performance. Rarity determines mod slots, with the Rare version having one and the legendary four.

Obtain Fenrir by completing the side job “Sacrum Profanum/Losing My Religion”. Head to the Cargo Bay in Northside District, locate an abandoned warehouse, and find the Monk to initiate the quest. Fenrir awaits on the left table.

Shotguns

Shotguns from my experience are the highest damage-dealing weapons at close to mid-range in Cyberpunk 2077. They are the highest lethal weapons of all categories in the game at point-blank range. The rate of fire of these weapons is not that high as compared to SMGs, ARs, and other guns, but they have a massive bullet impact on hit. Moreover, Shotguns also have a lot of bullets spread the further a shot is aimed to hit a target. There are 12 Shotguns in the game, and I have listed three of the best Shotguns you should have.

Ba Xing Chong

Ba Xing Chong is by far the best Smart Shotgun weapon in the game. Since it is a Smart weapon, it fires homing projectiles that seek its targets. Ba Xing Chong comes in Legendary and Iconic weapon rarity in Cyberpunk 2077.

When it comes to the special effect of Ba Xing Chong, in my opinion, there is no parallel to it in the shotgun weapon category. This shotgun can fire explosive rounds, dealing high-impact explosive damage in a small area. Ba Xing Chong can be used to quickly take out single targets or wipe out threats standing closer to each other. The legendary rarity of Ba Xing Chong can slot in one mod and attachment, while the Iconic rarity version of this shotgun comes fully loaded.

To get your hands on the Ba Xing Chong, players must find the Crafting Spec, which can be obtained from a locked chest located at the backside of Ebunike. An access card unlocks the chest, which is acquired after defeating Adam Smasher.

Rostović DB-2 Satara

I wield the Rostović DB-2 Satara, a potent double-barrel shotgun featuring a two-round magazine. Despite its limited ammo capacity, it compensates with formidable damage. As a Tech weapon in Cyberpunk 2077, its power is unleashed by charging the shot, delivering a devastating blow.

This lethal shotgun excels in close-range combat and possesses the unique ability to penetrate covers, making it one of the top-tier weapons in the game. Additionally, a single attachment enhances its overall performance. In the Rare variant, one mod can be equipped, while the Legendary variant accommodates up to four mods.

Acquiring the Rostović DB-2 Satara is from my experience relatively straightforward. A Rare variant can be obtained by looting Wraiths Maelstrom, Tyger Claws, or 6th Street gang members. For those seeking the Legendary variant, a weapon vendor at Northside Watson in All Foods Factory offers it for purchase.

• Here is how to find all Cyberpunk 2077 legendary clothes 

Constitutional Arms M2038 Tactician

Constitutional Arms M2038 Tactician is a standard pump shotgun that has decent damage and a higher magazine than most shotguns in Cyberpunk 2077. As a Power weapon in the game, the bullets of this shotgun prove more lethal than SMGs and ARs whenever they ricochet from surfaces.

This shotgun comes with two weapon attachments; a scope and a mod slot. Other than that, if you have the Rare variant of Constitutional Arms M2038 Tactician, you can slot in one mod as compared to four if the shotgun is of the Legendary variant.

Acquiring this weapon in the early to mid-game is also not a problem as it can be purchased from the 2^nd Amendment by going to West Wind Apartments in West Wind Estate, Pacifica. Other than that, while playing “The Heist” main mission, players can acquire Constitutional Arms M2038 Tactician weapons from Arasaka soldiers.

Snipers

Snipers are the highest damage-dealing weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 if your target is at a medium to long-range distance from you. The rate of fire of these weapons is a tad bit higher than shotguns but slower than SMGs and ARs; however, they deal damage at par with a shotgun weapon. There are six Snipers in the game, and I have listed three of the best Snipers you should have.

Overwatch

Overwatch is one of the best weapons under the Sniper rifle weapon category. This sniper rifle is a Power weapon in the game, and its bullets ricochet off from surfaces. The best aspects about this sniper rifle from my experience are that a) it comes with a custom-equipped scope called HPO Mk.77 Kanone MAX and b) it has increased reload speed which makes up for the shorter magazine size.

Other than that, there are two attachment slots to install a scope and a mod in it. If you have the Legendary variant of this sniper rifle, you can slot four Legendary mods.

In the easy method of acquiring the Overwatch, players will need to complete the side job called Riders of the Storm and receive the weapon as a reward from Panam Palmer.

Breakthrough

Breakthrough is a Tech sniper rifle that is famous for penetrating covers and hitting enemies hiding behind it. The high power of charged shots allows players to take out targets who are ducked behind cover. Furthermore, the penetrating round also ricochets multiple times before coming to a stop. Combining these two unique aspects and the base damage of this sniper rifle, in my opinion, Breakthrough ranks as one of the best sniper rifles in Cyberpunk 2077.

Like Overwatch, this sniper rifle also has a magazine size of four rounds only. However, it has 0.93 attacks per second and three times the damage multiplier. Breakthrough comes pre-equipped with an E305 Prospecta scope and can slot in four mods if you have the Legendary variant.

In order to obtain the Epic Crafting Spec of Breakthrough, players will need to eliminate Olga Elisabeth Longmead by playing NCPD Scanner Hustle called Suspected Organized Crime Activity: New Boss, New Rules. After that, you can craft the weapon if you have the required perks and components. 

O’Five

If blowing enemies to smithereens is your forte, then O’Five is the best sniper rifle in Cyberpunk 2077, better suited for your taste. Unlike the first two snipe rifles I recommended above, O’Five had reduced attacks per second of 0.28 and a round magazine clip size.

However, I’ve found that regardless of the shortcomings, the special effects of this sniper rifle make it one of the best weapons in the game. All of the weapons’ ammo have explosive tips, which cause a mini-blast whenever the bullets hit a target.

Other than that, O’Five comes equipped with HPO Mk.77 Kanone MAX scope and has an empty attachment slot. If you have the Legendary variant of this sniper rifle, then you can slot in four mods into the weapon to increase overall performance up a notch.

For the O’Five easy acquisition, players will need to play Beat on the Brat: Arroyo mission and wager a total of €$ 12,000. Doing so will turn Buck and his buddies hostile to you after you win the fistfight. After defeating everybody, you can collect O’Five as a payment to complete the mission.

Precision Rifles

Precision Rifles stand in the middle ground between an AR and a sniper rifle. They have a perfect balance of weapon power, target range, ammo capacity, and decent recoil. Precision Rifles are better suited for medium to long-range engagements. There are three Precision Rifles in the game, and I have listed only the best Precision Rifle in Cyberpunk 2077 you should have.

Widowmaker

For a Tech weapon, Widomaker not only offers a charged shot ability to deal an increased amount of damage, but it also can deal poison damage to a target.

The best part of Widowmaker in my opinion is that the weapon fires two projectiles while firing a single shot, and each round deals chemical damage to its target, which later applies the poison status effect.

The Widowmaker does not come pre-equipped with attachment slots; however, players can slot in scope and a mod slot into the weapon. Players can slot in one Rare mod and four Legendary ones to this precision rifle in the game.

One of the easiest ways to obtain Widowmaker is by completing the main mission called Ghost Town. After eliminating Nash, players can get this precision rifle as a reward for completing the mission. Another way to get Widowmaker is to get it by looting dead enemies in the Queen of the Highway side job.

Melee Weapons

Melee weapons allow you to charge and do offense while being up close and personal with enemies. There are two types of melee weapons players will come across in the game; blunt and blade. While there are more than 20 melee weapons to use in the game, I have mentioned the top two best melee weapons in Cyberpunk 2077.

Satori

Satori is a blade category iconic melee weapon that increases critical hit significantly up to 500% at the cost of dropping the base damage by 20%. This sharp melee weapon comes with one melee mod attachment slot, which can increase the overall performance of Satori a tad bit better.

During the ” The Heist “ main mission, players can get this melee weapon very early in the game. Satori can be found inside Saburo Arasaka’s Rayfield Excalibur aerial vehicle.

Mantis Blades

Even though Mantis Blades is a Cyberware weapon, I have included it in the list of melee weapons, but from what I’ve experienced it functions very similarly to the melee arsenal of the game. This weapon allows V to attack its targets and block incoming damage. The heavy attack prompts V to lunge toward a nearby enemy and deal with a lethal attack which could also eliminate the target. Mantis Blades remain hidden until players trigger the attack promptly.

Besides the leaping ability towards the enemies, Mantis Blades also have a decent chance of applying the various status effects on their target. The easiest way to acquire the Mantis Blade is to visit a Ripperdoc and buy the cyberware. The Epic variant of Mantis Blade can be bought from Arroyo Ripper Doc, which is located in the Santo Domingo district. On the other hand, the Legendary variant of this cyberware can be acquired by visiting Ripperdoc of Downtown or Wellsprings.

• Besides Mantis Blades, Monowire is another best cyberware you should use in Cyberpunk 2077.

Other Honorable Mentions

These are some other viable options for weapons in Cyberpunk that you can also check out:

• Pride: It has 100% additional critical damage and deals 10% extra damage against Elite opponents.
• Comrade’s Hammer: A decent weapon, but it has a slow reload.
• Dying Night: A great handgun that can do massive headshot damage. You also get different crafting specs after obtaining it.

My Thoughts On Cyberpunk’s Weapons

The ability to seamlessly switch between high-tech Smart guns for precision shooting and heavy-hitting Power weapons for intense confrontations kept the gameplay fresh and engaging. I found myself experimenting with different weapons, fine-tuning my style to suit the challenges I encountered.

The iconic Mantis Blades, for instance, transformed me into a stealthy predator, allowing me to take on foes in a ruthless yet elegant manner. This blend of gameplay mechanics and a wide array of weapons made every encounter a unique and thrilling experience.

Conclusion

That is pretty much everything you need to know about Cyberpunk 2077 best weapons. Which weapon type has been your favorite so far in the game? Check out the top asked questions regarding weapons in the game and also let me know more of your thoughts in the comments section below.