In the wake of the 2.0 update and Phantom Liberty DLC, Cyberpunk 2077 is the best it has ever been. CD Projekt Red added brand new systems, items, and even an entire district to Night City, giving players incredible freedom to enjoy this glorious open-world game the way they want. One of the best changes of the 2.0 update is the reworking of the Perk system. All five trees received total overhauls, and the resulting build variety is incredible. With so many game-changing Perks to choose from, it can be hard to narrow the selection down. Not to worry: we’ve done it for you. Here are the best Perks in Phantom Liberty, ranked from great to indispensable.
6. Carhacker
Though vehicles were lackluster in previous versions of the game, the 2.0 update has changed that with the addition of vehicular combat and a reworking of the police system. No Perk takes better advantage of this rework than Carhacker. This Intelligence Perk allows you to seize control of vehicles to control them remotely, set off alarms, or even cause them to explode. You sometimes have to go out of your way to get value out of this Perk, but when you do, it’s both effective and satisfying. If you’ve ever wanted to master the machines prowling the streets of Night City and Dogtown, Carhacker is for you.
5. Spillover
Quickhacking netrunner builds are unlike anything else in Cyberpunk 2077. Shifting your focus from gunslinging to hacking opens the game up in unexpected ways. Quickhacks can let you distract enemies with electrical disturbances or cause blindness by attacking optical cyberware, among even more impressive feats. When Overclock is active, Spillover grants a +50% chance for quickhacks to spread to an additional target. It’s the hacking equivalent of shooting two enemies instead of one, so it’s no wonder Spillover ranks amongst the best Perks in Phantom Liberty. If all you’re looking for is a buff to DPS, this is it. If you’re looking for something deeper and more tactical, Spillover can be used that way as well.
4. Nerves Of Tungsten-Steel
Nerves of Tungsten-Steel sits at the apex of the Cool tree, but it’s worth every point you have to spend to unlock it. When Deadeye is active, Nerves of Tungsten-Steel triggers, guaranteeing Critical Hits for headshots and weakspots. This Perk also increases damage as distance increases, to a max of +25%. Headshots and weakspots are one of the easiest ways to crank your DPS to the max, and Nerves of Tungsten-Steel is one of the best Perks to take advantage of this system. The buff to damage with distance makes this Perk a natural fit for snipers, so if you’re a fan of Precision Rifles or Sniper Rifles, this Perk should rank amongst your top picks. It’s not worthwhile if you’re running a melee build, but for medium and long-range loadouts, Nerves of Tungsten-Steel is phenomenal.
3. Adrenaline Rush
Unlike some other multi-level Perks, every level of Adrenaline Rush is worthwhile. Level 1 grants +35 Max Health, a simple but useful buff that directly impacts your survivability. Level 2 follows suit with a +20% Health Regen bonus to all Health Regen effects from all sources. The Body tree includes a variety of useful Health and regeneration buffs, and Level 2 of Adrenaline Rush pairs well with all of them. Level 3 of this Perk unlocks Adrenaline Rush mode, which causes Blood Pump and Health Items to grant Adrenaline in addition to their usual effects. Adrenaline acts as a short-lived shield that decays over time. The ability to deploy this kind of instant protection easily makes Adrenaline Rush one of the best Perks in Phantom Liberty.
2. Salt In The Wound
If you’re running a Rifle build, there’s arguably no Perk more valuable in Cyberpunk 2077 than Salt in the Wound. When you have this Perk, shooting the same target a seventh consecutive time deals bonus damage equal to 100% of the total damage from the preceding shots. In essence, this doubles your DPS as long as you stay on target. Salt in the Wound naturally rewards the player for landing consistent shots and concentrating fire on a single target. The 2.0 update does a great job of rewarding players for leaning into whatever build and playstyle they prefer. Salt in the Wound is one of the best examples of that.
1. Air Dash
Level 1 of Air Dash reduces Dash Stamina cost by -20%. Level 2 increases Dash speed by +20%. Those are fine buffs but not nearly enough to make Air Dash one of the best Perks in Phantom Liberty. Level 3 unlocks the ability to Dash in midair, and that’s another story. It’s hard to overstate how transformative this Reflexes Perk is, especially if you combine it with leg cybernetics to improve your jumping. The ability to leap off a building or catwalk in the midst of battle, sail across the gap, and continue the battle on the other side radically impacts the strategies you can deploy. Whether you favor a katana or rifle, you’ll feel like a true cyber ninja sailing through the Night City air.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is available now for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
