As a die-hard Netrunner in Cyberpunk 2077, I've spent more time frying enemy brains with quickhacks than a chef at a greasy spoon diner flipping burgers. But let's be real—sometimes, you need a good old-fashioned weapon to back you up when the digital chaos hits the fan. Relying solely on quickhacks is like trying to win a bar fight with just witty comebacks; it's fun, but when things go south, you'll wish you had a solid piece of hardware to complement your cyber-sorcery. That's where smart weapons come in, blending seamlessly with our Netrunner builds to turn V into a walking nightmare for any gonk dumb enough to cross us. In 2025, with all the latest updates, these babies are hotter than a malfunctioning fusion core in the Badlands.
Buzzsaw: The Limb-Shredding Beast
Oh, Buzzsaw—this SMG is like a rabid squirrel on caffeine, tearing through enemies with its extra damage to limbs and headshot multiplier. Most Netrunners overlook SMGs, but with the Ping quickhack, I can spot foes through walls like a psychic plumber finding leaks. Then, Buzzsaw's high-penetration rounds let me fire through cover, turning hiding spots into Swiss cheese. It's not just a gun; it's a symphony of destruction that syncs perfectly with my quickhack frenzy. Plus, its handling is smoother than butter on a hot knife, making it a must-have for when I need to delete enemies in style.
Headhunter: The Boomerang of Doom
Who says Netrunners can't have a little fun with knives? Headhunter is this throwable blade that's as loyal as a well-trained puppy—toss it, and it always comes back. It might not pack a punch in close combat, but when I mark an enemy with it, any headshot deals a whopping 200% extra damage with a 150% multiplier. Pair that with my quickhacks melting crowds, and it's like having a personal assistant who fetches kills for me. Throw, mark, boom—rinse and repeat. It adds variety to my build without slowing me down, proving that even in 2025, old-school tricks can still rock the digital world.
Genjiroh: The Lock-On Lover
If I need a Smart Link weapon that feels like cheating, Genjiroh is my go-to pistol. This smart beauty locks onto four enemies at once and fires a 4-round burst that's more efficient than a spreadsheet wizard at tax time. Each hit has a high chance to induce Shock and deal Electrical damage, turning foes into twitching light shows. With Smart Link cyberware, it's lightweight and deadly, letting me focus on quickhacks while Genjiroh handles the rest. It's the perfect sidekick for when I'm toppling gang empires, making me feel like a conductor orchestrating a symphony of sparks.
Yinglong: The EMP Enforcer
For those moments when I want to disable cyberware without lifting a finger, Yinglong is my EMP-spitting SMG. It deals moderate damage but fires faster than a gossip in a corpo lobby, with electrical bullets that cause EMPs on impact. This turns attackers' lives into a living hell—worse than Night City's traffic jams—by frying their implants. It's like having a portable microwave for enemy tech; just point, shoot, and watch them short-circuit. Combined with quickhacks, it ensures no one escapes my wrath, making it a staple in my 2025 arsenal.
Byakko: The Dash-and-Slash Dynamo
After unleashing a cyberware attack on clustered enemies, Byakko lets me clean up survivors with katana flair. This weapon is as graceful as a ballet dancer on steroids—dash, slash, and leap towards foes, saving bullets for bigger fights. Its iconic modifier speeds up attacks with each kill, so after a quickhack massacre, I'm slicing through stragglers with brutal ease. It's the ultimate finisher, proving that even Netrunners can get hands-on when the digital dust settles.
Erebus: The Blackwall Beast
Ah, Erebus—this SMG is the crown jewel of Netrunner weapons, like a pet AI that's gone feral and loves to kill. Only available if you side with Solomon Reed in Phantom Liberty, it's easy to miss but worth every eddie. Inside it, there's a rogue AI from beyond the Blackwall, dealing great damage and triggering lethal quickhacks on its own. Low-health enemies get infected with the Blackwall Gateway hack, melting their brains mid-scream. It's not just a weapon; it's a nightmare in gun form, making me feel like a digital god in 2025.
To wrap it up, here's a quick comparison of these bad boys for us Netrunners:
| Weapon | Key Feature | Best With Quickhack | Fun Factor 🔥 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buzzsaw | High-penetration rounds | Ping | 9/10 |
| Headhunter | Marking for extra headshot damage | Any crowd control | 8/10 |
| Genjiroh | 4-enemy lock-on & Shock damage | Smart Link | 9/10 |
| Yinglong | EMP on impact | Disabling cyberware | 8/10 |
| Byakko | Dash and leap attacks | Post-quickhack cleanup | 7/10 |
| Erebus | Auto-trigger Blackwall quickhacks | Blackwall Gateway | 10/10 |
In the end, mixing these weapons with quickhacks turns V into an unstoppable force. Remember, chooms, in 2025, it's all about balance—like a tightrope walker juggling chainsaws. Stay sharp, and keep those synapses firing! 😎💥