Cyberpunk 2077: How to Upgrade Iconic Weapons – Cyberpunk 2077 is a vibrant, dystopian RPG teeming with unique items and weapons to enhance your gameplay experience. Among these, Iconic Weapons stand out as powerful and customizable tools that define your journey through Night City. Whether you’re a veteran or a new player, understanding how to upgrade these weapons can dramatically improve your combat efficiency and gameplay enjoyment. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about upgrading Iconic Weapons in Cyberpunk 2077.
What Are Iconic Weapons?
Iconic Weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 are unique, one-of-a-kind items that feature distinctive designs, special attributes, and unique abilities. They can be found throughout Night City, obtained from story missions, side quests, and hidden locations. Unlike standard weapons, Iconic Weapons can be upgraded multiple times to remain effective as your character levels up.
Why Upgrade Iconic Weapons?
- Maintain Weapon Relevance
As you progress through Cyberpunk 2077, enemies scale in difficulty. Upgrading your Iconic Weapons ensures they remain powerful and competitive, no matter the challenge.
- Enhance Special Abilities
Iconic Weapons often come with unique abilities, such as increased critical hit damage or special elemental effects. Upgrading these weapons amplifies these traits, making them even more potent.
- Personalization and Playstyle
Upgrading allows you to adapt Iconic Weapons to your preferred combat style, whether you favor stealth, long-range sniping, or chaotic melee combat.
How to Get Iconic Weapons Cyberpunk 2077
Before you can upgrade Iconic Weapons, you need to acquire them. Here are common ways to find Iconic Weapons in Cyberpunk 2077:
- Story Missions
Many Iconic Weapons are awarded as part of the main story. For example:
Lizzie: Found during the “Automatic Love” quest.
Overwatch: A sniper rifle rewarded during Panam’s side quest “Riders on the Storm.”
- Side Quests
Engaging in side missions often leads to Iconic Weapons. For instance:
Choom Doom: Found during the “Stadium Love” side quest.
Scalpel: A katana acquired during the “Big in Japan” quest.
- Exploration
Certain Iconic Weapons are hidden in the world, requiring exploration and a keen eye. For example:
Dying Night: Available in V’s apartment as part of the “The Gun” quest.
Buzzsaw: Found in specific weapon caches scattered across the map.
Steps to Upgrade Iconic Weapons Cyberpunk 2077
Upgrading Iconic Weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 involves several steps, from gathering materials to crafting improvements. Below is a detailed walkthrough:
- Access the Crafting Menu
To start upgrading your Iconic Weapon:
Go to the Crafting menu after opening your inventory.
Locate the Iconic Weapon you want to upgrade in the list of items.
- Gather Required Materials
Upgrading weapons requires crafting components. These can be obtained through:
Looting Enemies: Many enemies drop crafting materials upon defeat.
Dismantling Items: Break down unused weapons, clothing, or gear for components.
Purchasing from Vendors: Crafting materials can be bought from weapon and junk vendors across Night City.
Types of Crafting Materials:
Common Components: Easy to find; used for basic upgrades.
Rare Components: Acquired from higher-level enemies or rare loot boxes.
Epic and Legendary Components: Required for top-tier upgrades, these are rarer and often purchased or found in high-level areas.
- Level Up Crafting Skill
Your ability to upgrade Iconic Weapons depends on your Crafting skill level. To improve your crafting capabilities:
Craft Regular Items: Crafting any item gives experience points.
Invest in Perks: Perks under the Crafting skill tree, such as Field Technician or Edgerunner Artisan, enhance your efficiency and allow you to craft Legendary-tier weapons.
- Upgrade the Weapon
After you have the required supplies and degree of expertise:
From the Crafting menu, pick the Iconic Weapon.
Choose the “Upgrade” option.
Confirm the upgrade, and your weapon’s stats will increase.
Understanding Weapon Tiers and Rarity
- Weapon Rarities
Iconic Weapons follow the standard rarity tiers in Cyberpunk 2077:
Common (White)
Uncommon (Green)
Rare (Blue)
Epic (Purple)
Legendary (Orange)
- Upgrading Through Ranks
Iconic Weapons can often be upgraded through these tiers. For example:
Start with a Rare version of an Iconic Weapon.
Upgrade it to Epic and eventually Legendary with the right materials and crafting skills.
Best Practices for Upgrading Iconic Weapons
- Prioritize Your Playstyle
Not every Iconic Weapon will suit your playstyle. Focus your resources on upgrading weapons that align with how you prefer to play.
- Plan Resource Usage
Crafting materials can be scarce, so prioritize upgrades that offer the most significant boost to your overall effectiveness.
- Regularly Upgrade
Make a habit of upgrading your Iconic Weapons periodically to keep them effective against scaling enemies.
- Experiment with Modifications
Many Iconic Weapons can be enhanced further with weapon mods. These can add damage, increase critical hit chance, or introduce elemental effects.
Top Iconic Weapons to Upgrade
Here are some standout Iconic Weapons worth upgrading:
- Lizzie
Type: Pistol
Unique Trait: Fires an extra round per shot; excellent for crit builds.
Recommended Build: Stealth or high-crit setups.
- Overwatch
Type: Sniper Rifle
Unique Trait: Suppressed shots, ideal for long-range stealth.
Recommended Build: Sniper or stealth-focused playstyles.
- Scalpel
Type: Katana
Unique Trait: Adds an electrical damage effect and increased attack speed during critical hits.
Recommended Build: Melee combatants.
- Buzzsaw
Type: Submachine Gun
Unique Trait: Penetrates walls, making it effective in enclosed spaces.
Recommended Build: Close-quarters combat.
Crafting Perks to Focus On
Investing in the right perks ensures you can upgrade your Iconic Weapons effectively.
Key Perks in the Crafting Tree
Mechanic: Increases the chance to gain more crafting components.
Grease Monkey: Unlocks crafting of Epic items.
Edgerunner Artisan: Unlocks crafting of Legendary items.
Field Technician: Grants additional damage to crafted weapons.
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
- Lack of Materials
If you’re short on crafting materials:
Visit junk shops and vendors to stock up.
Explore high-level zones to loot better items.
Dismantle weapons and armor you no longer use.
- Insufficient Crafting Skill
To level up your Crafting skill quickly:
Focus on crafting consumables like grenades or health packs.
Break down excess items for components to craft more frequently.
- Resource Management
If you’re unsure whether to invest in a weapon upgrade:
- Compare the stats of your Iconic Weapon to similar non-Iconic weapons.
- Upgrade Iconic Weapons with unique traits that complement your build.
Conclusion
Upgrading Iconic Weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 is essential for staying competitive in combat and enhancing your gameplay experience. By understanding how to gather materials, level up your crafting skill, and strategically upgrade your weapons, you can unlock the full potential of Night City’s most unique and powerful armaments.
Whether you’re wielding the electric Scalpel or sniping enemies from afar with Overwatch, your journey through Cyberpunk 2077 will be defined by the weapons you choose to upgrade. Use this guide to ensure your arsenal remains as iconic as the city itself.