What To Do First In Cyberpunk 2077 Early Game Priorities And Tips
Entering Night City for the first time in Cyberpunk 2077 can feel overwhelming due to the sheer density of Watson and its surrounding districts. Establishing solid early-game habits will set your character up for long-term success while making combat and exploration significantly smoother. Focus on foundational systems early on to maximize your credits, cyberware upgrades, and attribute potential.
Complete Local NCPD Scanner Hustles
Before rushing through the main storyline missions, take time to explore the Watson district and clear out NCPD Scanner Hustles. These short encounters provide quick bursts of experience points, street cred, and valuable loot. Clearing these sites early ensures you have enough cash to afford crucial cyberware upgrades before facing tougher story encounters.
Additionally, gathering dropped weapons from defeated gang members gives you steady material for crafting or selling. Consistently turning in unwanted gear allows you to build a substantial financial cushion right from the start. This early financial boost makes purchasing health items and ammunition hassle-free.
Invest in Essential Cyberware Upgrades
Visiting a reputable ripperdoc early in Act 1 should be a top priority for every new mercenary. Basic cyberware enhancements, such as armor implants or stamina restoration mods, instantly increase your survivability. Upgrading your cyberdeck also grants access to higher quickhack capacity, giving you powerful options in stealth scenarios.
Prioritize utility implants before investing heavily in expensive cosmetic or high-tier combat cyberware. Simple upgrades like double-jump legs or enhanced optics drastically improve your traversal and tactical awareness. Building a balanced cyberware setup early creates a strong foundation for any playstyle.
Focus Attribute Points on a Specific Playstyle
Cyberpunk 2077 rewards focused character builds rather than spreading attribute points evenly across every discipline. Decide early whether you want to focus on hacking, brute physical strength, stealthy reflexes, or tech crafting. Concentrating points into two primary attributes unlocks powerful perks much faster in the early game.
Reviewing perk trees early helps you plan which abilities will benefit your preferred weapon choices and tactical approach. Sticking to a targeted build path prevents wasted points and ensures your character scales effectively against scaling enemies. Early planning makes mid-game boss encounters far more manageable.
Explore Gigs and Side Jobs for Unique Rewards
Fixers throughout Night City will regularly contact you with side gigs that offer unique story context and high payouts. Completing these side jobs increases your Street Cred rating, which in turn unlocks higher-tier items at local vendors. Many gigs also contain hidden iconic weapons that cannot be obtained anywhere else in the game.
Taking time to complete side content prevents you from becoming underleveled during critical main campaign missions. It also gives you a deeper appreciation for the rich atmosphere and lore embedded across Night City. Balancing main quests with local gigs delivers the most satisfying early-game progression path.