Alright, chooms, let's talk about how to survive in Night City in 2026. Back when Cyberpunk 2077 launched, it was... rough. But CD Projekt RED has done the impossible—they've fixed it. Seriously, the game is now a masterpiece. The combat feels slick, the world is immersive, and the crafting system? Totally revamped. Gone are the frustrating old days. If you want to dominate the streets, you need the best gear, and that means legendary weapons. Let me walk you through the new, improved way to craft your own arsenal of destruction.

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First, the biggest change you need to wrap your head around: Tiers, not Rarities. Remember the old Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary labels? Scrapped. Now, everything is based on a Tier system from 1 to 5. The color coding is still there to help you out, thankfully. It's a much cleaner system that makes loot feel more meaningful as you progress.

The New Tier System (2026):

Tier Color Power Level
Tier 1 White Basic, starter gear
Tier 2 Green A solid step up
Tier 3 Blue Reliable and powerful
Tier 4 Purple High-end, preem gear
Tier 5 Orange Legendary, best-in-slot

And here's the best news: you no longer need to max out your Technical Ability stat! 🎉 The old requirement of 20 Tech just to craft a legendary item was a massive roadblock. CDPR listened and removed that gate entirely. Now, crafting is accessible to all builds. Want to be a netrunner who also forges killer shotguns? You can do that.

So, how do you actually make these Tier 5 beauties? The process is more streamlined now, focused on two key things: Blueprints and Components.

Step 1: Acquire Blueprints

This is your recipe. You can get them in a few ways:

  • Complete Main Gigs and Side Jobs: Loot those secret stashes! They often hold schematics.

  • Visit Vendors: A couple of specific merchants in Night City sell rare blueprints. Keep your eddies ready.

  • The Discovery Bonus: This is a huge quality-of-life feature. The first time you pick up any weapon, you permanently unlock its blueprint. Even if you sell or dismantle it later, you can craft a new one anytime. No more fear of accidentally scrapping a unique find!

Step 2: Gather Tier 5 Components

This is the grind, but it's a fair one. You'll find components scattered all over Night City—in containers, on enemies, as mission rewards. The key thing to know: Tier 5 components are rare early on. The game drip-feeds them to you. Don't get frustrated if you can't craft a legendary weapon at level 10.

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As you level up your character and gain Street Cred, the world starts offering better loot. Higher-level enemies and activities will drop more Tier 4 and Tier 5 components. It's a natural progression that ties directly to your power growth in the world.

My Personal Crafting Strategy:

  1. Early Game (Levels 1-15): Don't stress about legendaries. Use what you find, upgrade your favorite blue (Tier 3) or purple (Tier 4) weapons. Start hoarding every component you see. Dismantle old gear instead of selling it!

  2. Mid Game (Levels 15-30): This is when you start targeting specific legendary blueprints. Focus on gigs from fixers like Wakako or Dino that promise "valuable schematics." Your component stockpile should be growing.

  3. End Game (Level 30+): By now, you should have a healthy supply of Tier 5 components and several killer blueprints. This is where the fun begins. Craft that perfect Sovereign shotgun or a silenced, legendary Nue pistol for your stealth build. Experiment!

The beauty of this system is that it respects your time. It's no longer a stat-check but a rewarding part of the gameplay loop. You explore, you fight, you loot, and you're constantly working towards crafting that next piece of iconic gear. It makes every component pickup feel valuable.

Remember, choom, Night City is all about style and substance. Walking in with a custom-crafted, orange-tier weapon isn't just about stats—it's a statement. It says you've mastered the city's chaos and forged your own path. So get out there, scan every nook, complete those contracts, and build the arsenal of a legend. See you in the Afterlife. 🍸

Quick Recap Checklist:

  • ✅ Forget old rarities, learn the Tier 1-5 system.

  • ✅ No Technical Ability requirement for crafting.

  • ✅ Get blueprints from gigs, vendors, or picking up a weapon once.

  • ✅ Farm Tier 5 Components from high-level content.

  • ✅ Dismantle, don't sell, your old gear for parts!

  • ✅ Crafting scales with you—it's an endgame powerhouse.