Cyberware Catalog for Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.1 - VULKK.com (2024)

Camillo RAM Manager slightly increases your Max RAM and recovers a portion of RAM whenever it drops below 20%. Y

ou’re giving up a ton of sustained RAM regeneration by taking this over something that provides passive regeneration options, so it’s more useful to builds that use Quickhacks sparingly or in burst situations. Pure Netrunners have stronger options.

The RAM recovered, cooldown duration, and max RAM increased change with upgrade tier.

The RAM Reallocator is the Iconic version of the Camillo RAM Manager. It offers a greater cooldown reduction and stronger version of the attunement effect, and replenishes additional RAM.

EX-Disk increases your Max RAM and Quickhack upload speed, both of which are valuable to Netrunners.

However, this implant is super useful to any build that makes use of a Cyberdeck.

Both the RAM capacity and Quickhack upload speed boosts can increase when you upgrade the tier.

Kerenzikov Boost System increases the time slow effect offered by Kerenzikov by an additional 15%, so it brings the Tier 5 version from 60% to 75% time dilation. It also eliminates the stamina cost from shooting while Kerenzikov is active.

Both effects can improve when you upgrade the tier.

Mechatronic Core makes you deal significantly more damage against non-human enemies and slightly increases your max RAM.

It’s cheap, but I don’t think there’s really a need to spend a slot on this one unless your build is really weak against mechanical enemies or there’s literally no benefit to one of the alternatives.

Both the damage boost and RAM provided can increase when you upgrade the tier.

Memory Boost makes you regenerate RAM whenever you neutralize an enemy and slightly increases your max RAM.

You can recover your spent RAM faster with Memory Boost than with the RAM Upgrade implant, but you usually can’t recover as much RAM in the long run since there aren’t enough enemies in a given encounter. It also does nothing against bosses.

Both RAM effects can increase when you upgrade the tier.

The Newton Module reduces the cooldown of all cyberware after neutralizing an enemy and extends the duration of all currently active cyberware effects.

It’s valuable to all builds that heavily rely on their Operating System.

Upgrading the Newton Module increases the amount of cooldown reduction/duration extention per enemy neutralized.

The Axolotl is the Iconic version of the Newton Module. It offers a 7.5% cooldown reduction on all Cyberware after defeating an enemy, which is literally 10x the boost provided by the non-Iconic version. It’s a must-have for any build that was using the Newton Module.

RAM Upgrade directly increases your RAM recovery rate and gives you a small amount of additional RAM.

The 0.17 RAM recovery rate boost at Tier 5 is equivalent to 10.2 RAM per minute, meaning it offers the most RAM recovery out of any Frontal Cortex implant, assuming you’re spending it constantly.

You can increase the RAM provided and recovery rate by upgrading the tier.

Fits great in our Netrunner Build for Update 2.0.

Self-Ice lets you avoid an enemy Quickhack every so often and slightly increases your Max RAM.

Since Intelligence builds have easy access to hack enemy Netrunners back through walls and spread those hacks to enemies, Self-Ice is really only useful for non-Intelligence builds.

The max RAM and rate limit can be improved when you upgrade the tier.

The Quantum Tuner is similar to the Newton Module and Axolotl in that it provides a cooldown reduction to other Cyberware.

It has 2 effects, the first is a sort of cooldown reset for most Cyberware effects, letting you use a piece of active Cyberware once again every minute. The second effect is a global 15% cooldown reduction.

The Quantum Tuner is useful to most builds, though it has a massive Cyberware Capacity cost, so you’ll have to give up something else that’s impactful to your build.

It’s less useful to Intelligence builds since this implant has to compete with many other essentials in the Frontal Cortex.

Upgrading this implant can improve both cooldown reductions. You cannot purchase the Quantum Tuner from any Ripperdoc in the game.

Phantom Liberty Spoiler: The Quantum Tuner is sent to you by Songbird as a gift sometime after you chose to help her and betray Reed and opted to put her in the rocket to the moon.

Bionic Joints offers a cheap way to get a decent chunk of extra armor. It’s universally valuable, especially in the early game.

As you get later in the game, you’ll only want to use this while you’re saving up cyberware capacity for a better implant.

Upgrading Bionic Joints just increases the amount of armor it provides. This isn’t some special trait. Upgrading any implant that provides armor will typically upgrade the amount of armor it provides as well.

Dense Marrow gives you a fair bit of armor and increases your melee damage dealt, but the stamina cost from each attack is also increased. The melee damage and armor increase with upgrades while the stamina cost gets reduced.

I haven’t spent much time with melee since the update, but my gut tells me this should synergize better with Body than Reflexes because the former benefits from low stamina while the latter benefits from high stamina.

Kinetic Frame offers a fair bit of survivability from armor and mitigation chance, but you only get the mitigation chance when your Stamina is high, meaning it is detrimental to pair it with Dense Marrow or a Body-focused build. However, it does synergize quite well with Reflexes.

The armor and mitigation chance increase as you upgrade the implant.

Para Bellum increases your armor stat by a percentage and gives a decent chunk of armor directly, so it becomes more valuable the more armor you have and as you level up.

Both the flat armor provided and the percentage can increase as you upgrade the tier.

Rara Avis is the Iconic version of Para Bellum. It offers nearly 3x the armor multiplier but doesn’t provide any armor itself. I don’t think paying for double the Cyberware Capacity is worth what only amounts to about 100-150 extra armor when you likely have other implants that provide better buffs instead.

RAM Recoup makes you restore some RAM when you take damage, slightly increases your max RAM, and gives a small amount of armor.

I haven’t tested to see if the calculation is done pre or post-mitigation or if it works when you spend HP with Overclock, but this implant and many others are valuable enough on their own for Netrunners that you can’t really afford to care about that level of min-maxing anyway.

The amount of RAM restored, max RAM, and armor provided can all be increased by upgrading the implant.

Scar Coalscer gives you extra survivability when you need it most. I haven’t tested it, but the implant doesn’t seem good enough unless you focus your entire build around armor, which doesn’t make much sense.

For example, Para Bellum is flat-out stronger unless you decide to take both, but there are so many great Skeleton implants that you would want to take one of those alongside Para Bellum instead.

Upgrading Scar Coalescer to a higher tier can increase both the flat and percentage boost to armor.

Scarab is meant to improve your survivability when crouched, but your mobility is hindered, so you turn into a turtle, or I guess scarab…

Do not take this with a stealth build! If you are crouched in stealth, you should not be taking any damage to begin with because you aren’t in combat. Yes, it’s technically useful for that first hit if you get spotted, but the movement penalty will be active a whole lot more often.

It’s only consistently useful if you take cover in crouched positions a lot. Realistically, the implant should give you the armor in cover rather than while crouched, because you’re gonna forget to crouch if you’re taking cover behind a wall corner.

When you upgrade this cyberware, you will increase the armor provided and decrease the movement penalty.

Spring Joints offers a boost to your mitigation strength and a small increase to armor. Since it boosts mitigation strength and not mitigation chance, it should only be used if you are buffing your mitigation chance or know it will trigger at specific times.

Both the armor and mitigation strength can be improved by upgrading the implant.

Titanium Bones increases your carrying capacity significantly and maxes out at slightly more than it used to. It also offers a small boost to your armor and has practically no capacity cost.

However, it isn’t worth spending anything to boost carrying capacity anymore because you can just deconstruct all your loot as soon as you max it out. The bigger cost of equipping this implant is the fact that it takes up a slot. If you don’t have much cyberware capacity, you’re better off using Bionic Joints instead.

Upgrading Titanium Bones increases the carrying capacity and armor it provides.

Universal Booster significantly increases your armor directly. It also provides a percentage boost to armor and reduces your stamina costs for a short time after using a health item.

Any build will benefit from this implant, but a Technical Ability build will benefit more since they reduce the cooldowns on those health items.

Upgrading Universal Booster increases the armor it provides and improves the percentage boosts, but it does not affect the duration of those boosts.

The Feen-X implant was added with the release of Update 2.1. It enables your RAM to rebound whenever it gets low by spiking your RAM regeneration rate.

However, it is reliant on having a good RAM regen rate to begin with. I strongly recommend pairing Feen-X with RAM Upgrade since the latter increases your base RAM Regen rate, making the former more effective.

Upgrading this implant increases the magnitude of the RAM Regen Rate and raises the RAM threshold that determines when you’ll get that boost.

Adrenaline Converter increases your movement speed for a short time after entering combat.

It’s more valuable if you can get around the “entering combat” limitation as stealth builds can, but it’s also worthwhile if you just benefit a lot from being fast at the beginning of combat.

It’s helpful for melee builds since it allows them to close the gap between them and their enemies sooner, but it’s also nice for cover-reliant builds since it makes it easier to reach cover before everyone starts shooting at you.

Upgrading Adrenaline Converter increases the strength of the movement speed boost.

The Adreno-Trigger is the Iconic version of the Adrenaline Converter. It offers slightly less movement speed but lasts for 50s instead of 7s, meaning it will be active for most entire encounters. In addition, it is attuned to Reflexes instead of Cool.

Atomic Sensors makes you move faster while the enemy is in the process of noticing you. The closer the enemy is to detecting you, the faster you’ll move. The idea is you can get outta dodge in time before the enemy sees you, allowing you to remain in stealth.

It’s best to use Atomic Sensors with a build that uses stealth or otherwise heavily incentivizes you to start combat on your terms. I do not recommend using this implant if you’re trying to get the attention of Senpai because you’re just making things harder on yourself.

Upgrading the implant improves the movement speed boost it provides.

Kerenzikov enables you to aim at all while parkouring and makes it easier by slowing time. It has a short cooldown, so you can’t just spam it.

Reflexes is all about parkour, so there is a natural synergy there, but any build that’s heavily reliant on weapons can make use of it, even one that’s more cover-oriented.

I recommend picking up Kerenzikov ASAP after starting your character if you plan on using it so that you get in the habit of actually parkouring and shooting. Otherwise, you’re just gonna forget, wasting some cyberware capacity and an implant slot.

Upgrading Kerenzikov increases the magnitude of the time slow and decreases its cooldown.

Neofiber improves both your mitigation chance and mitigation strength. Extra survivability is valuable for any build, but Reflexes and Cool benefit more from it as they derive survivability from buffing mitigation (as opposed to HP) and get other buffs based on their mitigation stat.

Upgrading Neofiber can increase both the mitigation chance and mitigation strength it provides.

Reflex Tuner slows time significantly if your health drops below 25%, though it has a substantial rate limit. It’s useful for surviving through unexpected spikes because it gives you more time to react and find cover.

Both the time dilation and cooldown duration can be improved by upgrading this implant.

Revulsor is the Iconic version of Reflex Tuner. The only difference is that it provides a different attunement effect that reduces its cooldown by a few seconds total. I don’t think this slight reduction is worth paying 4x the capacity.

Stabber increases your critical chance with Blades and throwables, so it’s a great option if your build makes use of Katanas, Knives, or Axes.

However, it’s unclear if it affects the critical chance of grenades. I am leaning towards no since grenade buffs generally refer to explosives, and this definitely wouldn’t apply to the Projectile Launch System, but I haven’t tested it, so I can’t say for sure.

Upgrading the Stabber increases the critical chance it provides.

Synaptic Accelerator gives you more time to think if an enemy is about to notice you by slowing time. It’s similar to Atomic Sensors in its use case, but it slows everything down instead of speeding you up.

It’s detection-based, so it’s mainly valuable for stealth builds. There’s a long-ish cooldown, so it’s more for recovering from mistakes and not something you can rely on for offense.

Upgrading Synaptic Accelerator increases the amount by which time is slowed and reduces the cooldown for triggering the effect.

Tyrosine Injector increases your headshot damage and movement speed for 15s after executing a Takedown against an enemy.

The builds that do the most takedowns benefit a lot from many of the Nervous System implants, so this implant faces some steep competition.

Make sure you’re using takedowns and landing headshots frequently if you use this implant. If you’re not, then you either aren’t triggering the buff or making use of it.

Upgrading Tyrosine Injector increases the headshot damage and movement speed boosts provided by the implant.

Visual Cortex Support increases your critical chance depending on how far away from the enemy you are. It’s most useful to builds that spend most of their time far away from enemies and rewards you for taking long shots.

Give that it only increases your chance to crit, and only at long range, and has a heftier capacity requirement, I really don’t think it’s worthwhile unless you deal the vast majority of your damage at range.

Upgrading this implant increases the critical chance it provides.

Deep-Field Visual Interface is the Iconic version of Visual Cortex Support. It allows the critical chance to scale up to 90m instead of maxing out at 30m, so you can get an autocrit if you’re far away. It also has a different Cool attunement effect that increases your critical damage dealt.

Carapace provides some armor directly, and the armor that protects your back and sides is more effective, like a turtle. It’s most consistently useful in protecting you against melee attackers and grenades (just turn around), especially when your front is protected by cover.

The armor and its effectiveness boost can be increased by upgrading the tier.

Cellular Adapter is an incredibly powerful implant, but it has the unique requirement that you need to have the Built Different perk in order to equip it at all. In order to reach that perk, you have to invest in Technical Ability and take a bunch of perks in the Edgerunner branch.

In addition, all of its effects scale with your Technical ability stat, so you really should max that out. Upgrading Cellular Adapter increases the armor it provides and, just like all other attunements, increases the magnitude of the boost provided by each point of Technical Ability,

Even if you aren’t using Tech Weapons, I still think Cellular Adapter is worth using if you can get it.

Countershell protects you after you’ve taken a big spike of damage (or spent a lot of HP on Overclock).

It helps prevent you from dying unexpectedly and buys you time to scramble to a safe location, but it doesn’t offer much in the way of active protection.

Upgrading this piece of cyberware increases the amount of mitigation chance and rate limit on how often that boost can be given. It can also increase the armor it provides.

Defenzikov makes you take significantly less damage after activating Kerenzikov by providing effectively guaranteed mitigation for a few seconds. This enables you to enter the fray safely, so long as you do it with style and panache.

Upgrading the tier of Defenzikov can increase the armor and mitigation chance it provides.

I think it’s pretty obvious, but PLEASE do not use Defenzikov if you aren’t also using Kerenzikov.

Nano-Plating gives you a small chance to block a projectile and guarantees you’ll block some projectiles for a very short time after dodging or dashing, effectively extending the duration of survivability provided by dodging or dashing in the first place. It also provides some armor.

It’s more useful for melee-focused builds but not so useful for ones that spend most of their time hiding behind cover.

Upgrading Nano-Plating increases the armor and chances to block a projectile., but not the rate limit or duration.

Optical Camo gives you a bit of armor and significantly reduces your visibility to enemies. While it starts out pretty weak, you’ll be able to walk past enemies while it’s on at higher tiers.

It is unique as the only non-Arm cyberware that acts as an active ability. Effectively, it has the same sort of synergy with a specific attribute as the Arms cyberware because it gets buffed by a few perks in the Cool and Relic trees.

Since it’s an active ability, you have to give up explosives if you want to make yourself invisible since it occupies the same slot, but that’s not a huge deal for a stealth build.

Upgrading Optical Camo makes you less visible more often and for longer. It can also increase the armor it provides.

Great fit for our Blade Assassin Build for Update 2.0+!

Pain Editor gives you a bunch of armor and reduces damage indiscriminately, though the effect isn’t as strong as the situational alternatives.

I only recommend using it if you really want something that just works. Typically, there is another implant you could use instead that would provide a greater benefit.

Upgrading Pain Editor can increase the armor and damage reduction it provides.

Painducer gives you a bunch of armor and converts a minority proportion of the damage you take into damage over time. It’s valuable if you are better equipped to mitigate damage over time (DoT) rather than big spikes or otherwise gain some benefit whenever you take damage.

There aren’t a whole lot of effects that directly protect you from DoTs, but it does synergize with heal over time effects like you’ll fine in builds that spend a lot of perks in the Body and Technical Ability attributes.

I want to note that it does not directly synergize with RAM Recoup, because that implant recovers RAM based on the amount of damage taken, not just each time you take damage.

Upgrading Painducer can increase the armor and damage conversion rate it provides.

Proxishield is effectively the opposite of Rangeguard. It protects you from damage dealt by enemies that are near you. You’ll benefit consistently from this piece of cyberware as a melee build.

However, I think there are better options that provide more consistent value if you’re just vulnerable to melee enemies but don’t find yourself in melee range very often.

Upgrading this implant increases the amount of close proximity protection as well as the armor it provides.

Peripheral Inverse is the Iconic version of Proxishield. It provides double the melee damage resistance compared to the non-Iconic version in exchange for quadruple the capacity cost.

Rangeguard is effectively the opposite of Proxishield. It increases your armor when there are no nearby enemies.

You’ll benefit consistently from this piece of cyberware as a ranged build.

However, I think there are better options that provide more consistent value if you’re just vulnerable to ranged enemies but don’t find yourself out of range very often.

Upgrading this implant increases the amount of armor it provides.

Shock-N-Awe gives you a small chance to release an EMP whenever you take damage. It also provides a fair bit of armor. It is attuned to Technical Ability, but I think it should synergize better with melee builds as well as the Painducer implant because you’ll be taking damage from nearby enemies pretty consistently.

Upgrading this implant increases the armor it provides, chance to trigger an EMP, and the amount of damage dealt by that EMP.

Subdermal Armor provides a bit of armor in exchange for a tiny bit of cyberware capacity. It’s a husk of its former self.

It’s so low-impact that I think it’s really only worth taking if you’ve nearly maxed out your capacity and you happen to have a spare Integumentary System cyberware slot. Otherwise, you’ll get more survivability with something else.

Upgrading Subdermal Armor only upgrades the armor it provides.

Chitin is the Iconic version of Subdermal Armor. It is the full-bodied version that’s reminiscent of its strength prior to 2.0, providing a huge amount of armor and getting an absurdly powerful Body attunement that increases your health regeneration rate by up to 200%.

The Cogito Lattice was introduced to the game in Update 2.1. It provides a gargantuan boost to Armor when your available RAM drops below a certain amount.

It’s most useful to Netrunner builds that spend RAM constantly, and should be active for the entire duration of a well-used Overclock, making you far more resilient while spending your health as RAM.

The Cogito Lattice is less effective when paired with the other implant added with 2.1, Feen-X, because you are less likely to be in a state where this implant provides its Armor.

Upgrading this implant increases the armor boost and raises RAM threshold before the armor boost kicks in.

Fortified Ankles offers about twice as much armor as your alternatives and seems to enable you to jump slightly farther than you can with Reinforced Tendons.

These advantages are meant to compensate for the additional challenge and reduced control. I think Fortified Ankles is worth using if you can deal with

Upgrading the Fortified Ankles can improve the jump and armor.

Jenkins’ Tendons makes you run faster, but only in short bursts and only while sprinting. In a way, this implant brings back the stamina cost that sprinting used to have, so you can’t always run that fast.

If you don’t need jumping and wanna go fast, Jenkins’ Tendons is a great option. Upgrading Jenkins’ Tendons can increase the armor provided and starting sprint speed.

The Leeroy Ligament System is the spiritually Iconic version of Jenkins’ Tendons. You get a weaker, flat movement speed boost that’s active all the time instead of one that only works while sprinting. Instead of spending significantly more on capacity, you give up ~75% of the armor provided by the non-Iconic version.

Lynx Paws is the stealth option, as it makes you move more quietly and faster while crouching. It’s directly combat oriented without any cost, so it offers the least armor, but it also has a slightly lower cyberware capacity cost and is the only type of leg cyberware that’s attuned to Cool.

Upgrading the tier increases the armor provided, makes your movement quieter, and makes you move faster while crouching.

Reinforced Tendons gives you a double jump. The max jump height is slightly lower than that of Fortified Ankles, but it’s not by much, and you get a lot more flexibility with your aerial movement.

You are giving up about half the armor you could have with Fortified Ankles, but you’re less vulnerable. I’d recommend taking this if you have the Air Dash perk from the Reflexes tree so you have more control over your aerial mobility.

Upgrading Reinforced Tendons improves the jump height and armor provided.

Adrenaline Booster gives you a chunk of stamina whenever you defeat an enemy. Its name and category are misleading. Adrenaline Booster has absolutely nothing to do with the Adrenaline perk effect from the Body tree that overheals you when using a healing item.

It’s primarily useful for builds that invest primarily in Reflexes since you need high stamina to get the gun buffs, and you can defeat enemies with blade finishers.

Upgrading Adrenaline Booster increases the amount of stamina it refunds.

Biomonitor improves the effectiveness of your health item and makes it automatically trigger whenever your health drops below 35%, so you won’t die if you just forget to heal yourself.

If you only have a single spare slot, Biomonitor provides much less of a benefit than Blood Pump, though it is much easier to use. Don’t forget that you can absolutely combine them for maximum effect!

Upgrading Biomonitor increases the buff to your health item effectiveness.

Black Mamba effectively converts your Poison damage into a general damage boost. It’s more valuable the weaker your Poison effects are, but it only works against Poisoned targets.

Upgrading the Black Mamba increases the damage boost and reduces the penalty.

Blood Pump is a more powerful replacement for your healing item. It activates instantly (no animation) and combines the benefits of both types of healing consumables into a single package that offers more overall healing than either of the alternatives.

Even though the relevant perks only refer to health items in the Technical Ability tree, they do work with Blood Pump just like the ones for Adrenaline Rush do in the Body tree.

Upgrading Blood Pump increases the amount of healing it deals.

Clutch Padding reduces the Stamina cost for shooting by a percentage. Like Adrenaline Booster, it’s valuable if you get buffs from having high Stamina.

Upgrading this implant increases the stamina cost reduction.

Isometric Stabilizer is the Iconic version of Clutch Padding. It expands the same stamina cost reduction to all attacks, enabling more flexibility if you need it. In addition, it provides a Reflexes attunement instead of Body that further reduces all Stamina costs by up to 10%.

Feedback Circuit heals you for a percentage of your maximum health when you hit an enemy with a charged Tech weapon shot, and it should work with the Bolt Perks, though I haven’t tested to verify.

If you’re using Tech weapons, this is a clear winner, but if you’re not, it’s useless.

Upgrading Feedback Circuit increases the amount of healing provided per hit.

Electromag Recycler is the Iconic version of Feedback Circuit. It makes you recover additional HP per shot and adds an equal amount of Stamina recovery as well. It also features a much stronger Attunement that increases health item effectiveness by up to 20%!

Heal-on-Kill does exactly what it says on the tin. Every time you defeat an enemy, you are healed for a percentage of your maximum health.

It’s valuable if your health is fluctuating a lot, but it might not be as useful for builds that get their survivability from mitigation or not getting hit in the first place.

Upgrading this implant increases the healing provided per enemy defeated.

Microrotors increases your melee attack speed. However, attack speed is capped at 2 attacks per second, so if you don’t notice a difference when you equip it, the implant probably isn’t doing anything and you should pick something else.

Upgrading Microrotors increases the magnitude of the attack speed boost.

Second Heart gives you a second life every few minutes, though it doesn’t work on fall damage. Upgrading this implant reduces its cooldown.

This implant is really nice, but it costs quite a lot of cyberware capacity for not actually providing a benefit most of the time. Think about how often you actually use it and if it’s worth so much capacity. If you aren’t using your health item on cooldown, Biomonitor is probably a better choice.

It’s an easier sell if you’re already playing fast and loose with your health, like you would be with an Intelligence (Overclock) or Body build.

Threatevac increases your movement speed when your health drops to 25%, and it increases more as your health drops further. It’s similar to Reflex Tuner, but offers a speed boost instead of a time slow. Unlike Reflex Tuner, it does not have a rate limit.

It’s attuned to Intelligence, but I think the options that offer healing are more valuable while Overclock is active, so it would make sense to use it in the same situation as Reflex Tuner instead.

Upgrading Threatevac increases the movement speed boost provided.

Ballistic Coprocessor boosts the damage you deal with ricocheting bullets fired from a Power weapon and gives you a preview of where ricocheting bullets will go.

Given its negligible capacity cost, if you’re using Power Weapons, Ballistic Coprocessor is a no-brainer.

Upgrading the Ballistic Coprocessor adds functionality and increases ricochet chance as well as damage.

The Handle Wrap will increase the crit chance with throwable weapons for a short time after equipping or using them, so the idea is that you get rewarded for being speedy with your throws.

It’s a great option if you have invested a lot in the Cool tree branch that buffs knife and axe throwing.

Upgrading the Handle Wrap increases the critical chance it provides.

Microgenerator enables you to deal AoE damage with your next shot after emptying a full clip.

It’s geared towards gun builds, but make sure that your build actually makes you fire all of the bullets from your weapon. It does nothing if you reload early or get ammo refunded.

Upgrading this implant allows it to deal more electrical damage to enemies near the point of impact.

Shock Absorber lowers the recoil of your weapon, allowing you to fire multiple shots in a row more accurately.

If you notice you’re missing shots as a result of recoil, you should use this implant.

I don’t think Shock Absorber is all that useful if you’re using Tech or Smart weapons. The former needs to be charged, so you have time to manage the recoil while the latter aims for you anyway, so you don’t have to worry about it.

Upgrading Shock Absorber increases the magnitude of the recoil reduction.

Immovable Force is the Iconic version of Shock Absorber. It offers the same recoil and bullet spread reductions that normally only occur when you’re behind cover, making it significantly stronger than the non-Iconic version.

Smart Link allows you to use smart-targeting when you use Smart Weapons. Without Smart Link, Smart weapons don’t offer their unique advantage and end up being weaker than alternative weapon classes.

Make sure you use Smart Link if you’re using Smart Weapons, but there’s no point in using it if you’re using other types of weapons.

The higher the tier of the Smart Link, the longer the target lock will last. Critical damage and RAM are also added as you upgrade the implant.

The Basic Kiroshi Optics makes it take longer for cameras to detect you and enables optical zoom functionality on your scanner and scopes.

The reduced camera detection speed makes this eyeball best suited for stealth builds and enables you to sneak around more easily.

Upgrading the Basic Kiroshi Optics makes it take even longer for cameras to detect you and increases the maximum magnification level of your optical zoom.

The “Clairvoyant” highlights any nearby enemies within its listed range for a minute after activating the scanner.

The highlight effect reveals enemies through walls, but you’ll only ever see enemies that are within the listed range of you, so it’s kind of like a lantern.

This has a significantly higher cyberware capacity cost compared to the other eyeballs, but it’s helpful for most builds and is especially helpful for stealthers.

“Sentry” reveals nearby sentries, namely cameras and turrets. It is most valuable to builds that use the Cyberdeck in the early game before you get the Eye in the Sky perk in the Intelligence tree because it allows you to focus on getting perks that upgrade your RAM recovery first and lets you spend one of your precious Quickhack slots on something other than Ping.

However, Eye in the Sky lets you see cameras and access points, and turrets are rare enough that it’s not enough of a benefit, so ditch it for one of the alternatives when applicable.

The “Stalker” version of Kiroshi Optics highlights enemies in the center of your field of view being cover while aiming if you’re using a Tech weapon.

“Stalker” differentiates itself from “Clairvoyant” by having a considerably lower cyberware capacity cost and significantly longer reveal range.

“The Oracle” combines all of the effects of all the other Kiroshi Optics models (except the Basic version) in exchange for added costs.

The first cost is the cyberware capacity. It costs almost as much capacity as the other optics combined.

The second cost is the visual noise. “The Oracle” highlights quite a lot, and the more you highlight, the less value highlighting has. You will have a hard time making use of the information provided by this implant unless you’re able to move slowly.

This version of Kiroshi optics is not available until your Street Cred is high enough.

The Kiroshi “co*ckatrice” Optics are unique from the Iconics in the other categories in that they aren’t a direct upgrade to another implant for the slot. Instead, “co*ckatrice” offers you a damage boost in the form of a significantly increased critical chance as an alternative if you aren’t interested in any of the visibility improvements provided by the others.

Keep in mind that several other builds can spike their crit up super high with other Cyberware and Perks, so make sure that the boost from this eyeball might be wasted before you use it.

The Arasaka Cyberdeck is most useful for stealthy builds where you deal damage with weapons and use Quickhacks for debuffs. It synergizes best with the middle Overclock branch in the Intelligence Tree.

Takedowns are most prevalent with stealth builds, and you get RAM each time you perform one. There is also a perk called Shadowrunner in the Overclock branch that resets trace progress each time you perform a Takedown.

On top of that, your Arasaka Cyberdeck eventually makes all of your Quickhacks less traceable and not increase trace progress at all while Overclock is active, so you should be able to remain undetected easily.

Your Covert Quickhacks (Bait, Request Backup, Ping, Memory Wipe, and Sonic Shock) also cost slightly less RAM, so those are great Quickhacks to equip with this Cyberdeck.

The Biotech Σ (sigma) focuses on boosting the effectiveness and synergy of your Combat Quickhacks that deal damage over time (DoT), namely Contagion and Overheat.

Technically, Short Circuit applies a small DoT too, but it’s pretty irrelevant.

It also significantly increases the damage dealt by the Monowire against targets affected by a DoT, so the idea is to apply Contagion to all regular enemies along with Overheat to ones that have more HP and then run in and whip everything with the Monowire.

You want to use the regular Monowire with this build as it can apply a unique DoT, Bleeding, and deals the most damage outright.

The Militech Paraline is the Cyberdeck you start with. It’s meant to be an all-rounder for Netrunner builds by offering a variety of buffs that match the synergies that exist between the branches of the Intelligence tree.

However, in my opinion, the Militech Paraline’s universality makes it a suboptimal choice for the late game. The buffs provided by this Cyberdeck are too generalist. You can get stronger effects if you focus your build into a more defined playstyle.

Since most of the buffs affect the Monowire and Smart weapons, I get the impression that this Cyberdeck brings your non-Quickhack offensive capabilities to be as powerful as your Quickhacks are, so it could be the best option for a Netrunner that likes to mix things up.

The Raven Microcyber Cyberdeck is all about spreading your Quickhacks, particularly Contagion, so it’s meant for Netrunner builds.

It increases the spread distance of all Quickhacks and makes the spreads happen all at once instead of sequentially. In addition, any of your Quickhacks have a small chance to spread while Overclock is active.

In my opinion, it is the best non-Iconic Cyberdeck for Netrunner builds because you can get most of the benefit provided by the Biotech Σ by using a Thermal Monowire and using it to detonate the Contagion you spread.

You do need to be a lot more careful with the Raven Microcyber compared to the Biotech Σ because you can easily spread Contagion to nearby cops, and blow up civilians caught in the crossfire.

The Tetratronic Rippler is the Cyberdeck for non-stealthy builds that deal most of their damage with weapons. With guns, you’ll be using Overclock defensively when enemies get too close, and with melee weapons and shotguns, you’ll be using Overclock offensively once you get in range.

The main idea is to use Control Quickhacks (Cripple Movement, Cyberware Malfunction, Reboot Optics, and Weapon Malfunction) against your enemies to give you an edge in combat and then defeat the enemy with weapons.

The third effect that boosts the damage dealt by Combat Quickhacks by 40% is a bit confusing. In order to get that buff, you need to apply a Combat Quickhack immediately followed by a Control Quickhack that is queued up before the Combat Quickhack finishes uploading. Otherwise, you don’t get the damage boost.

This effect is mostly useful with Contagion and Overheat (DoTs) so that the effect non-Combat Quickhack you use after isn’t wasted.

The Netwatch Netdriver MK.1 is the sole Iconic Cyberdeck. It is not available until later in the game, though I am not sure if the unlock requirement is dependent on your average upgrade tier, level, or Street Cred.

This Cyberdeck improves damaging Quickhacks that are uploaded through cameras and reduces the RAM cost of the device and vehicle Quickhacks that are built into the Cyberdeck.

The fact that its buffs are dependent on being uploaded through cameras forces you to rely on them. It can feel a bit tedious at first, but after you get comfortable cycling through the camera feeds, you’ll feel more like a Netrunner than you ever did before.

The Dynalar Sandevistan takes after the style of most Sandevistans pre-2.0. It increases your critical chance and critical damage dealt.

At tier 5, it has a maximum uptime of 22.5% with a time slow of 50%, giving it the median uptime and the strongest time dilation effect out of all the non-Iconic options.

The numbers vary based on your build, but the buffs this Sandevistan provides to critical chance and critical damage should result in an approximate 13.5% damage increase when used with a build that invests into both Reflexes and Cool.

Very useful as your Operating System implant if you use our Blade Assassin Build.

The Qiant Warp Dancer Sandevistan acts as defensive ability rather than an offensive one because it barely slows time at all and boosts your survivability rather than damage output.

At tier 5, it has a maximum uptime of 16%, which is the shortest uptime out of any of the non-Iconic options. It also has the weakest time dilation effect by far.

I can’t think of a build that would want to use this one unless you were less concerned with damage optimization and just wanted an emergency button without having to think about it.

That said, the fact that the others dilate time more and have higher uptime allows them to give a hefty chunk of survivability too. You don’t need to mitigate the damage from a bullet if you can just step to the side in time.

The Zetatech Sandevistan is designed to make you stronger while you’re in the air.

At tier 5, it has a maximum 33% uptime and 30% time dilation on the ground, giving it the highest uptime and median time dilation out of the non-Iconics, though the dilation becomes the strongest while you’re in the air.

The damage loss is pretty minimal compared to the Dynalar while on the ground, but the increase is massive while you’re in the air. As a result, the Zetatech is harder to use, but you are rewarded for taking on the challenge.

The Militech “Falcon” Sandevistan is the first of the 2 Iconic Sandevistans. It offers significantly better stats than any of the non-Iconics, at the cost of having roughly double the capacity cost.

Both Iconics are able to have significantly higher uptime than that of the non-Iconics because their duration is extended whenever you defeat an enemy.

Compared to the Militech “Apogee” Sandevistan, the “Falcon” is a tad weaker, but offers more straightforward effects that are easier to use.

It lasts a bit longer, but the duration extension per enemy defeat is less significant, and its cooldown is longer.

The Militech “Falcon” Sandevistan is the second of the 2 Iconic Sandevistans. It offers significantly better stats than any of the non-Iconics, at the cost of having roughly double the capacity cost.

Both Iconics are able to have significantly higher uptime than that of the non-Iconics because their duration is extended whenever you defeat an enemy.

Compared to the Militech “Falcon” Sandevistan, the “Apogee” is stronger but also a bit harder to use. It has a slightly higher capacity cost associated with it as well.

Its base duration is shorter, but so its its cooldown, so it can have more uptime if you really know what you’re doing.

The Moore Tech Berserk is the cheapest in terms of Cyberware Capacity, and that’s really its only redeeming quality. It has the same duration and cooldown as Biodyne Berserk but doesn’t provide any additional bonuses.

It does offer a Body attunement instead of one for Reflexes, but this does not compensate for the lack of other effects in the slightest, especially if you aren’t investing heavily in Body.

The only reason you’d want to use Moore Tech Berserk is if you can’t afford the Cyberware Capacity cost of an alternative and can’t bear to go another second without Berserk for some reason.

The Biodyne Berserk is tied with the Moore Tech Berserk in the cooldown and duration categories, but the similarities stop there.

This Berserk is attuned to Reflexes and offers actual unique buffs while it’s active. The attunement is inconsequential next to the power of those buffs.

The only drawback of Biodyne’s Berserk is that it has a higher Cyberware Capacity cost than either of the alternatives.

This item works well in our Solo Berserker build. It is a great option before you can get the Iconic Militech Berserk version.

Zetatech Berserk occupies the middle ground between the alternatives, both in terms of Cyberware Capacity cost and overall buff provided. In addition, it offers a lower cooldown than the non-Iconic alternatives.

Zetatech’s offering gives you early access to part of the Quake perk, which is located pretty high up the right branch of the Body tree, so it’s most valuable at the beginning of the game before you can unlock Quake.

However, once you do unlock Quake, you’re better off switching to Biodyne Berserk.

Militech’s offering is the crème de la crème of the Berserks, though it is significantly more challenging to use and costs 75% more Cyberware Capacity compared to Biodyne Berserk.

Militech Berserk makes you fully invulnerable to damage instead of just stopping your health from dropping at 25%. However, you must leverage that invulnerability because the damage boost from this implant is dependent on your health being low, so you need to activate Berserk right before you die in order to get the max benefit.

The damage boost from Militech is almost double what you get from Biodyne, and you get higher uptime thanks to a longer duration and shorter cooldown, as well as a small movement speed boost.

If you don’t want to play that fast and loose with your life, I don’t blame you, and the Biodyne Berserk is a great implant too, with far less risk.

If you don’t want to use an Operating System, you can give up the slot and equip a Chrome Compressor instead in exchange for an additional 38 additional Cyberware Capacity.

Since the Chrome Compressor doesn’t cost any Capacity itself and you’re not spending any on Iconic Operating System, you’re really getting another 25-44 Cyberware Capacity on top of the 38, which is enough combined to allow you to equip a couple of strong implants, assuming you have a spare slot.