Night City is a concrete jungle where only the strong survive. Whether you’re a stealthy Netrunner, a time-slowing Solo, or a heavy-hitting Techie, your success comes down to the gear you wield.
Forget the generic iron you can pull off any corpse, we’re talking Iconic Weapons. These rare guns and blades boast unique effects that can completely define your build. If you’re looking to dominate the streets of Night City and Dogtown, here are the top 10 weapons you absolutely must track down.
1. Skippy (Smart Pistol)
Skippy is more than just a Smart Pistol; it’s a character in its own right and a highly effective weapon. Its greatest strength is its perfect auto-aim, allowing you to completely ignore the challenge of manual targeting. Once you set it to its “Stone Cold Killer” mode, it prioritizes headshots, making it one of the most efficient, low-effort damage dealers in the entire game, freeing you up to focus on hacking or dodging.
- The Killer Feature: Homing bullets with near-perfect accuracy and high rate of fire.
- How to Get It: Found in a side alley in Vista Del Rey (Heywood). Look for the “❓” (question mark) on your map in a nearby alleyway behind a few crates. It initiates the unique side job Machine Gun.
2. Malorian Arms 3516 (Power Pistol)
This Power Pistol is steeped in lore, being the signature weapon of the legendary rocker boy, Johnny Silverhand. Beyond its incredible style, the Malorian Arms 3516 delivers massive raw kinetic damage. It’s a power weapon with a high headshot multiplier, making it a fantastic choice for Solo builds looking for classic, hard-hitting firepower. A bonus: its unique reload animation is one of the coolest things you’ll see in the game.
- The Killer Feature: High base damage, incredible style, and an integrated thermal scope/sight.
- How to Get It: Looted from one of Grayson’s thugs during the side job Chippin’ In, which becomes available late in the main story.
3. Comrade’s Hammer (Tech Revolver)
The Comrade’s Hammer is less a revolver and more a pocket-sized cannon. It fires a devastating, single-shot explosive round that penetrates cover and often ignores enemy armor, making it the ultimate “delete button” for tough opponents, particularly those with heavy armor or shields. Though you must reload after every shot, the sheer destructive force is unmatched, perfect for players specializing in high damage, explosive Tech builds.
- The Killer Feature: Devastating explosive rounds that penetrate cover. It’s built for an “exploding head” build.
- How to Get It: You must obtain the crafting spec by completing a Suspected Organized Crime Activity in the Arroyo (Santo Domingo) district, specifically the one marked as a key criminal operation.
4. Guts (Power Shotgun)
Named after the protagonist of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, this shotgun embodies chaotic, close-quarters violence. The Guts features a uniquely massive spread, but it compensates with an incredibly high chance to apply Poison damage. It’s a terrifying choice for high-mobility builds, as it grants V a movement speed buff upon neutralizing an enemy, allowing you to chain kills and clear rooms in seconds.
- The Killer Feature: High Chemical damage, extreme firepower, and a movement speed buff upon neutralizing an enemy.
- How to Get It: Found at Corpo Plaza, specifically in the Memorial Park area near Arasaka Tower.
5. Widow Maker (Tech Precision Rifle)
A true staple for any Tech-focused V, the Widow Maker is one of the most versatile rifles in the game. It fires two projectiles simultaneously with every shot, effectively doubling your damage output, and applies Chemical damage with a chance to Poison. Its Tech attribute allows it to charge up and shoot through cover, giving you a massive tactical advantage against enemies foolish enough to hide.
- The Killer Feature: Fires two shots simultaneously, with a chance for poison and the ability to shoot through walls.
- How to Get It: Looted from Nash during the main story mission Ghost Town (when working with Panam in the Badlands). Ensure you grab it before leaving the area.
6. Byakko (Katana)
The Byakko is the premier choice for players who want to embrace the Cyberpunk Ninja fantasy. This high-speed Iconic Katana is the perfect complement to a high-Reflexes build. Its unique ability grants a speed boost and allows you to perform blazing-fast leap attacks, rapidly closing the distance to your target. This makes it exceptional for chaining kills and darting through groups of enemies with deadly precision.
- The Killer Feature: A unique ability that grants a burst of speed with every enemy neutralized, letting you chain attacks.
- How to Get It: Reward for completing the side job Professionalism (given by Wakako Okada in Westbrook after completing a series of gigs).
7. Overwatch (Power Sniper Rifle)
For the stealthy assassin, the Overwatch is unmatched. Unlike most high-damage sniper rifles, the Overwatch comes equipped with a built-in, custom silencer, allowing you to eliminate targets from a distance without alerting their allies. This combination of suppressed fire and high Power Sniper Rifle damage makes it the essential tool for clearing enemy installations quietly before the heavy fighting even starts.
- The Killer Feature: Integrated Silencer, high headshot damage, and increased reload speed.
- How to Get It: Gifted by Panam after completing her side mission Riders on the Storm (you must assist her during the mission to receive it).
8. Fenrir (Power Submachine Gun)
The Fenrir is a high-speed, highly reliable SMG that is particularly easy to acquire early in the game. Its main advantage is its high rate of fire combined with guaranteed Thermal damage and a strong chance to apply the Burn status effect. Burning enemies are stripped of their armor and take consistent damage, making the Fenrir a fantastic option for rapidly overwhelming and weakening groups of armored foes.
- The Killer Feature: High thermal damage, increased chance to inflict Burn, and reduced bullet spread.
- How to Get It: Found on a table during the side job Losing My Religion (near a distressed monk in a warehouse) in the Northside (Watson) industrial area.
9. Her Majesty (Power Pistol)
Note: This weapon requires the Phantom Liberty DLC. The Her Majesty is the ultimate assassin’s tool, a sleek Power Pistol tailor-made for stealth builds. When V’s Optical Camo (Invisibility) is active, every shot fired is guaranteed to be a Critical Hit and boasts perfect accuracy. This synergy makes it the single most reliable weapon for eliminating targets during stealth sequences or immediately after breaking cover.
- The Killer Feature: Guaranteed Crit Hits while Optical Camo is active.
- How to Get It: Given to you by Alex during the Get It Together main story mission in the Phantom Liberty DLC.
10. Ba Xing Chong (Smart Shotgun)
The Ba Xing Chong is the ultimate endgame status symbol, a Max-Tac grade Smart Shotgun that transforms an already dangerous weapon type into an area-of-effect terror. It fires explosive rounds that lock onto and hit multiple enemies at once, essentially turning the weapon into a guided rocket launcher. For players who want maximum chaos and crowd control, nothing beats the power of the Ba Xing Chong.
- The Killer Feature: Fires explosive, homing rounds for maximum chaos.
- How to Get It: The crafting spec is looted from Adam Smasher’s secret room aboard the Ebunike ship after defeating him during the main story path.
