Let me tell you about the time I became Night City's most unlikely taxi wrangler. It all started when I nearly got pancaked by a rogue Delamain cab with a serious attitude problem. That first meeting, bless its digital heart, was like being greeted by a malfunctioning vending machine that decided throwing cans was better than dispensing them. This little encounter kicked off the "Epistrophy" quest, a city-wide scavenger hunt for seven AI taxis that have decided the corporate life isn't for them. Think of it as a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek, but the seekers are armed, and the hiders are two-ton vehicles having existential crises. The prize? A hefty chunk of Street Cred, Experience Points, and enough Eddies to make even the most chrome-plated fixer raise an eyebrow. But here's the kicker: after that first marked encounter, the map goes blank. You're on your own, choom, armed with nothing but a Scanner from the main Delamain AI and a whole lot of patience.
How To Find The Rogue Fleet
You can officially start this wild goose chase once the "Epistrophy" Gig pops up on your map. Head to the marker, have a chat with the first rebellious taxi, and it'll direct you to the Delamain HQ. There, you'll meet the main AI, a digital dispatcher more stressed out than a Netrunner during a Blackwall breach. It hands you a Scanner—your new best friend for tracking down its wayward children. Some of these cabs are a breeze to find; others are like trying to catch a greased-up Maelstrom ganger in a dark alley. A word of warning from someone who's been there: these aren't your average joyrides. Each taxi has developed its own unique... personality. Some are angry, some are depressed, and one has a bizarre hatred for lawn ornaments. You'll need more than just driving skills to bring them home.
The Great Taxi Roundup: Location by Location
Wellsprings: The Aggressive One
This cab doesn't want to talk; it wants to turn you into street pizza. Roll up to its location, and it'll try to run you over before speeding off with a digital mouth dirtier than a scav's basement. Chasing it on foot is about as useful as a screen door on a tank. Hop in your own ride and give chase. Your goal? Punish its bumper until it surrenders. Ram it, shoot it—if you've got a car from the Phantom Liberty expansion with mounted guns, even better. It's like playing a violent game of tag where you're it, and the prize is a compliant AI.
Northside: The Panic Attacker
This one's playing a nervous game of statue in a Northside alley. Get close, and it bolts like a startled cat, weaving through industrial zones. Your job here is simple: follow it. Don't bother attacking. Just tail it through the dirt and debris until it inevitably crashes into a junk pile, concluding its dramatic escape attempt. It was less of a chase and more of a guided tour of the city's less scenic routes.
North Oak: The Sophisticated Runaway
Ah, North Oak. Where the rich live and the cabs get philosophical. Find this one doing endless, melancholic laps in a roundabout. It complains about the city's noise and bustle, refusing to drive itself home. Its request? You have to get in and drive it back to HQ yourself. No fast travel allowed. It's a long, peaceful drive—a nice break from the usual chaos, honestly. Just you, the open road, and an AI passenger judging your driving skills.
Rancho Coronado: The Flamingo-Hater
This is where things get weird. This cab is tormented, not by traffic, but by pink plastic flamingos in people's yards. To appease it, you must become Night City's least-understood vandal and destroy every marked flamingo in the neighborhood. Run them over, shoot them, whack them with a baseball bat—it's cathartic, in a strange way. The cab watched, satisfied, as I turned suburban kitsch into scrap plastic.
Badlands & The Glen: The Talkers
These two are the easy ones. They just need a friend. Or a therapist.
-
Badlands: Find the cab, get in the backseat, and listen. A short chat later, and it's ready to go home. Easier than ordering a synth-burger.
-
The Glen: Same deal. Pull up, listen to its digital lamentations about existence, and you're done. Consider it a therapy session where the patient is a car.
The Finale: Coastview's Ambush
The last cab is a sneaky one. It starts with a chase through Pacifica, but it's leading you into a trap. It stops under an overpass, and a gang of Gangoons ambushes you. The fight's difficulty scales to your level, so come prepared. Use the environment for cover, take them out, and then have a final chat with the treacherous taxi. Convince it to go home, and your roundup is complete!
After the Hunt: What's Next?
Once you've returned the final taxi and the Scanner, the "Epistrophy" quest concludes. You'll get your well-earned rewards. But Delamain's story isn't over. To continue the saga with the "Don't Lose Your Mind" quest, head to Corpo Plaza. You'll find a traffic jam caused by three more Delamain cabs. Johnny Silverhand will pipe up, suggesting you check the HQ. This kicks off the next chapter, where you'll face a major decision about the fate of the Delamain AI itself. It's a choice heavier than a MaxTac assault unit, so choose wisely.
So there you have it. Hunting these cabs is like herding cats made of metal and existential dread, but it's one of Night City's most memorable odd jobs. Now, if you'll excuse me, I still have the urge to destroy flamingos on sight.