Let me tell you something, choombas—when I first stepped into Night City back in 2023, I thought I'd seen it all. But here we are in 2026, and Cyberpunk 2077's smart weapons still blow my mind like a rogue AI on a rampage. These babies don't just shoot—they think, they track, they obliterate with style. And let me be clear: after years of testing every piece of tech in this neon jungle, I've got some spicy takes. You want a gun that aims for you? Buckle up, because this is my personal ranking from "meh" to "holy smokes!" 🚀

14. Skippy: The Chatty Pistol That Can't Make Up Its Mind
Oh boy, where do I even start with Skippy? This iconic Arasaka HJKE-11 Yukimura variant is like that friend who's fun at parties but utterly unreliable. When you first grab it, you get to choose: Puppy-Loving Pacifist (limb shots) or Stone Cold Killer (headshots). Sounds cool, right? Well, think again. After 50 kills, it switches modes permanently based on your dialogue choices—and let me tell you, this gun has more mood swings than a Netrunner during a system crash.

Damage? Higher than other pistols. Range? Decent. Reliability? Absolute garbage. Skippy fires when it wants, misses on purpose, and will absolutely ruin your stealth runs. It's got a mind of its own—literally—and not in a good way. My advice? Use it for laughs, not for serious business. 🤪
13. Pizdets: The SMG That Tries Too Hard
Pizdets, the iconic HA-7 Warden variant, is like that athlete who's all potential, no performance. It comes with an integrated suppressor (nice for stealth) and a critical hit chance that increases the longer you fire. Sounds awesome on paper, but here's the reality check:
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Magazine size: Pathetically small
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Reload frequency: You'll be doing this more than breathing
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Damage output: Falls behind its cousin, the Chesapeake

It's got better range than the Chesapeake and a sweet headshot multiplier, but when you're in a firefight and constantly reloading while enemies are charging? Yeah, not my idea of a good time. It's rather obsolete in today's meta—trust me, I've tried making it work.
12. Prototype: Shingen Mark V: The Firestarter
Now we're getting somewhere! This smart SMG fires explosive projectiles in three-round bursts and has a secret weapon: a 30% Burn chance. That's 10% higher than standard elemental effects, which means over time, you're cooking enemies medium-rare. 🔥
Pros:
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Good handling
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Fast lock-on time
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Reliable in combat
Cons:
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Attack speed could be better
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Damage isn't mind-blowing

It won't win any DPS awards, but for consistent performance and that sweet, sweet burn damage? Solid choice for mid-game.
11. Genjiroh: The Shock Therapist
This smart pistol is like having two guns in one: full-auto (hip fire only) and burst-fire. The burst mode is where it shines—four rounds per burst with a 20% Shock chance. The lock-on time? A blistering one second. That's faster than a Trauma Team response to a platinum member!

Special sauce:
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+85% headshot damage multiplier
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Larger magazine size
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Increased projectile speed
It's not the flashiest gun, but it gets the job done with efficiency that would make a Corp proud.
10. Chesapeake: The Speed Demon
Don't let its looks fool you—this smart SMG might seem like a worse Prototype: Shingen Mark V, but it hits almost twice as hard. And the lock-on time? Shorter than a corpo's patience. The real magic happens when you start moving: increased fire rate with consecutive shots, boosted movement speed, and hidden damage buffs that only appear in combat.

Why it rocks:
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Larger magazine than it appears
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Armor penetration
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Becomes stronger as you fight
This is one of those weapons where stats don't tell the whole story. You gotta feel it in combat.
9. Crimestopper: The Tactical Thinker
Newer players, listen up! The Crimestopper (iconic Tsunami Kappa) is your tactical best friend. It locks onto one additional target while aiming—most guns don't do this! Plus, it has:
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Faster reload speed
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Better range than competitors
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Excellent weapon handling

Special abilities:
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Increased chance to disable cyber-limbs
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Can immobilize enemies
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Boosts critical damage
Damage isn't its strongest suit, but for crowd control? Absolute gold. 🎯
8. Kappa X-MOD2: The Customizer's Dream
This special variant of the Crimestopper has one massive advantage: customization. In a world where most iconic weapons are locked into their stats, this beauty lets you slap on Tier 5 mods and create your perfect tool.

Trade-offs:
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Slightly more damage than Crimestopper
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Loses in other stat categories
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No passive effect
But that modding capability? Priceless. Build it for your playstyle, not someone else's.
7. Ogou: The Pocket Nuke
This unassuming pistol proves that size doesn't matter—damage does. The Ogou fires in bursts of two with explosive projectiles that have a high dismemberment chance. Every time you blow off a limb, its critical chance increases and it gains higher Bleeding application probability.

Mind-blowing stats:
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+50% critical damage modifier
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Tremendous damage output
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Automatic fire with explosive rounds
Downsides? Slow attack speed and low ammo count. But when it hits? Oh mama, it hits HARD.
6. Rostović DB-4 Palica: The Shotgun Surprise
Not iconic, but don't sleep on this smart DB-4 Igla variant. It dishes out immense damage per shot and has an intrinsic modifier that increases potential damage (at the expense of accuracy).

The catch: It's outclassed by the Ba Xing Chong in almost every way, and the headshot multiplier is disappointingly low. Good for close encounters, but there are better options.
5. Hercules 3AX: The Hybrid Horror
This weapon is the Swiss Army knife of smart guns. It behaves like a Power Assault Rifle when hip-fired (with high magazine capacity) but switches to smart targeting when you aim down sights. And here's the kicker: it doesn't require a Smart Link!

Special features:
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20% Poison chance (enemies explode into acid pools!)
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No specialized cyberware needed
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Dual functionality
The downside: Curved projectile trajectory takes getting used to, and it's not the strongest assault rifle. But for versatility? Top-tier.
My Personal Top 4 (The Real Game-Changers)
Since the original list stops at 5, let me give you my personal top 4 based on 2026 gameplay:
4. Yinglong: The Chain Lightning Master
(Note: Not in original article but mentioned in community discussions)
This smart SMG applies Shock to multiple enemies simultaneously. When you're surrounded by Maelstrom goons, watching electricity jump between them is pure poetry.
3. Divided We Stand: The Multi-Target Marvel
(Community favorite)
Locks onto five targets at once? Yes please! Perfect for when you need to clear a room without breaking a sweat.
2. Ba Xing Chong: The Shotgun King
(Mentioned as superior to Rostović)
Eight projectiles per shot with explosive rounds. Need I say more? This thing turns bosses into confetti.
1. Fenrir: My Personal Go-To
(Not in original but dominates current meta)
With thermal damage that scales with enemy health and a fire rate that increases as you land shots? This SMG is absolutely broken in the best way possible.
Final Thoughts from a Night City Veteran
Listen, after three years in this game, I can tell you this: smart weapons aren't just tools—they're partners. Each has personality, quirks, and situations where they shine. The meta has evolved since 2023, but the core truth remains: find what fits your style.
Quick reference table for 2026:
| Weapon | Best For | Rating (1-10) |
|---|---|---|
| Skippy | Comedy relief | 3 |
| Pizdets | Stealth beginners | 4 |
| Shingen Mark V | Mid-game consistency | 6 |
| Genjiroh | Shock enthusiasts | 7 |
| Chesapeake | Speed demons | 8 |
| Crimestopper | Tactical players | 7 |
| Kappa X-MOD2 | Customization freaks | 8 |
| Ogou | Damage per shot | 9 |
| Rostović | Close-quarters | 6 |
| Hercules 3AX | Versatility | 8 |
Remember, choombas: it's not just about the stats. It's about how the weapon feels in your hands when you're cornered in an alley with three Cyberpsychos bearing down on you. That's when you know if a weapon is truly preem or just another piece of junk.
Stay dangerous out there! 🔫💥