After players have finished playing through Cyberpunk 2077 for the first time, there are plenty of character builds for them to use in a second or even third playthrough if they want to try something new. There's a great deal of freedom of choice in Cyberpunk 2077 due to its big open-world map full of things to do, people to see, and especially weapons to use, allowing for a wide variety of different character builds. The new 1.6 Edgerunners update that released on September 6 added even more content to the game, which should make for even better builds than before.
There are many ways to play in Cyberpunk 2077. The great number and variety of weapons means that players can customize their combat style however they'd like, and the skills that support them allow them to fine-tune their gameplay experience even more. Creating a custom build focused on certain aspects of combat in this way is fun in its own right, and a good way for players to familiarize themselves with the game's combat system and the various skill trees. Doing so can also aid immersion, and help players feel like they truly are V while they're completing Cyberpunk 2077's best and funniest side quests by letting them craft their own personalized version of the main character.
Using different builds and trying out a variety of different weapons and gear is a big part of the fun of open-world RPGs like Cyberpunk 2077. Even if players don't complete the game to 100% first, going back and using a different build in a new playthrough can help keep it refreshing and exciting. Players may even find ideas for new builds that they might not expect while playing with other ones, or discover their new favorites by trying out something they hadn't considered before. Cyberpunk 2077's unique combat lends itself to almost any kind of build, and now that the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime has given the game new life and content, it's a great time to either get into Cyberpunk 2077 for the first time and make some, or to give it another chance after a subpar previous first impression.
Melee Builds Let Players Dive Right Into The Action In Cyberpunk 2077
While fighting the various enemies of Night City, sometimes the most straightforward approach is the best. Playing as an all-melee build is a good challenge for a second playthrough after players have made generous use of the various other weapons available to V. While a build such as this can be difficult as it can severely limit range and force players to get up close and personal with some of the strongest enemies in Cyberpunk 2077, it's not impossible to do, and the additional challenge can make for a more intense and fun playthrough. Players would behoove themselves, however, to level themselves sufficiently before taking on tough enemies, in addition to acquiring Cyberpunk 2077's best and most powerful katanas - or whichever type of melee weapon they choose for their build - and investing in supporting perks such as Sting Like a Bee, Crimson Dance, and Invincible.
There are several variants of melee builds that players can use if players want to deal exclusively with close combat, as well as different ways to narrow them down. They can focus only on either blunt or bladed weapons, for example, or pick from a combination. Heavily-armored defense-focused builds can let them soak up immense amounts of damage, while lightly-armored agility-based builds can let them dance around and avoid taking it in the first place. There are also more specific builds that players can use; a stealth-focused Ninja melee build can make players into invisible warriors, and weapons like the Neurotoxin Knife that was added in Cyberpunk 2077's 1.6 patch update can be used for an Assassin build focused on damage over time. Perhaps the most fitting for Cyberpunk 2077, however, is a Samurai build with one two-handed blade and one smaller one-handed one, along with a menpo mask and long coat to emulate the distinctive armor of an ancient warrior.
Cyberpunk 2077's Guns Make For Fun Ranged Builds
If players don't enjoy melee very much, they can make builds focused on ranged weapons for Cyberpunk 2077. A gun-based build might be better for players who want to stay safe behind cover and avoid getting too close to enemies. There are a plethora of different kinds of guns to use, leaving them spoiled for choice, and plenty of skills and perks to support them. These kinds of builds can carry their own challenges, however, as players will need to spend quite a bit of Cyberpunk 2077's money, eddies, on ammunition over the course of their playthrough. If they're not careful with their bullets, they may find themselves defenseless against one of Night City's gangs, so they may want to carry at least one melee weapon as a fallback. Thankfully, perks like Bulletjock, Rio Bravo, and Dead Center (depending on what kinds of guns players use) can help them stretch their ammo.
If players want to pin down a specific ranged build to use, a good place to start is with what kind of firearm they want to wield. There are nine different types of guns they'll be able to reliably use in Cyberpunk 2077: pistols, revolvers, shotguns, double-barreled shotguns, SMGs, LMGs, assault rifles, precision rifles, and sniper rifles, each one classified as either Power, Smart, and Tech. There are also unique weapons like Rebecca's shotgun from the Edgerunner anime in Cyberpunk 2077 that players can find, but these might be best for more specialized builds. Good gun-focused builds include Sniper, based on using mods like silencers and scopes to pick off enemies from a distance, or Run and Gun builds focusing on moving around the battlefield as fast as possible while using Smart guns and machine guns to mow enemies down before they can get a hit in. Players can even make a Maniac build based around dismembering enemies with shotguns, or set out to clean up the streets of Night City one gang at a time with a revolver-wielding Vigilante build.
There Are Plenty Of Quirky Builds To Make In Cyberpunk 2077
Of course, there are plenty of other builds to make in Cyberpunk 2077 that don't involve players simply limiting themselves to melee or ranged weapons. Some players might want to play like certain characters, and make builds based on Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' Lucy or David Martinez, or characters from the main game such as Panam or Judy. There's also builds that are focused on Cyberpunk 2077's netrunner abilities and combat-based cyberware such as Monowire and Mantis Blades. If players want an additional challenge, they can make builds specifically designed to make the game difficult. If they want to get the most out of Cyberpunk 2077's roleplay and immersion opportunities, they can even make a build based around their version of V and their personality and backstory.
There are plenty of different unorthodox builds players can make in Cyberpunk 2077. A Brawler build in which they use nothing but their fists to take down enemies can add a nice challenge - especially if players forego the Gorilla Arms cyberware - and turn V into a hard-hitting boxer, which is appropriate for those with the Streetkid Lifepath. If players want a build to experience all of Cyberpunk 2077 in one, they can make a Jack of All Trades build dedicated to using a bit of every possible combat style. Netrunner builds based solely on quickhacks and cyberware can also be very fun. Players can even make a build with no armor or perks and only a Steel Pipe or Crowbar for a weapon if they want to make the game as difficult as possible. There are plenty of builds to try out in Cyberpunk 2077, so players should experiment and see which ones are right for them.