So you’ve survived your lifepath’s chaotic introduction to Night City. Whether you started as a Nomad, Streetkid, or Corpo, the prologue funnels you into the same critical path: a rescue job with your new choom, Jackie Welles. Your immediate next steps are to complete the mission called 'The Rescue,' get acquainted with your apartment, and then head straight to a Ripperdoc named Victor to get your first essential cyberware implants. This sequence isn't just a tutorial; it's the foundation for your entire journey as V.
This guide breaks down the essential missions and mechanics you'll encounter in your first few hours, ensuring you start your life as a mercenary on the right foot, chromed-up and ready for whatever the city throws at you.
Your First Real Gig: 'The Rescue'
No matter how you got here, you and Jackie are now sitting in a car, about to save a high-value target from a building full of Scavengers. This mission, 'The Rescue,' is your first taste of real combat and introduces you to a key ally: the netrunner T-Bug. She'll be your eye in the sky, guiding you through the mission objectives.
Pay close attention to your mini-map during combat. Red circles are hostiles, and small 'X' marks indicate dropped loot. Get in the habit of looting everything—bodies, containers, random junk. Every eurodollar ('eddie') and crafting component counts, especially early on. The combat itself is straightforward, designed to teach you the basics of cover, shooting, and using your scanner. Follow T-Bug’s instructions, clear out the Scavs, and extract the client. The mission concludes with you being dropped off at your apartment building, officially ending the game's extended prologue.
A Morning in Megabuilding H10
Waking up in your apartment for the first time marks the true beginning of your adventure. The main quest, 'The Ripperdoc,' will prompt you to meet Jackie downstairs. Before you rush out, take a moment. You can use the shower for a 'Refreshed' buff that grants health regeneration, and sleeping in your bed provides the 'Rested' buff, which boosts Skill XP gain for 60 real-world minutes. Always sleep then shower to stack both buffs.
On your way down to the ground floor, you'll run into a few important distractions:
- Coach Fred: This boxing enthusiast will offer you the 'Beat on the Brat' side quest, a series of fistfights across Night City. You can start it now or save it for later.
- 2nd Amendment Gun Shop: Just before the exit, pop into this weapon vendor. The owner, Robert Wilson, will offer you a free iconic pistol. Iconic weapons are unique firearms with special properties that can be upgraded throughout the game, making them valuable long-term investments. Unlike regular guns, they cannot be equipped with different mods.
- Your Stash: Jackie is waiting outside with your wheels. Every vehicle you own has a shared stash accessible from the trunk. If you're over-encumbered with loot, call your car and dump your excess gear here. It’s a universal storage space accessible from your apartment and any owned vehicle.
An Appointment with Victor: Getting Your First Chrome
With Jackie, you'll drive to Victor Vector's Ripperdoc clinic. Ripperdocs are Night City's surgeons and mechanics, the only people who can install the cybernetic implants that define this world. Victor is a legend and a friend, and he’s about to give you your first critical upgrades. He'll offer them on credit, so don't worry about the 21,000 eddies you don't have; you can pay him back whenever you want.
Cyberpunk 2077 in-game screenshot
He offers two essential pieces of starting cyberware:
- Kiroshi Optics MK.1: An ocular system implant that acts as your primary scanner, allowing you to see enemy weaknesses, tag hostiles, and analyze the environment. This is non-negotiable.
- Ballistic Coprocessor: A hands implant that ricochets shots from Power weapons. It's a fantastic boost to your combat effectiveness right out of the gate.
Installing these will use up most of your starting Cyberware Capacity, a stat that limits how much chrome you can install. You'll see your meter is nearly full, something like 22/27. This capacity increases as you level up and find special Cyberware Capacity Shards, allowing you to install more powerful implants later.
Setting Up the Heist: 'The Ride' and 'The Gift'
After leaving Victor's, the main quest becomes 'The Ride.' Jackie will introduce you to Dexter DeShawn, a legendary fixer with a line on the score of a lifetime. This mission is mostly a conversation, setting up the next two main jobs: 'The Pickup' and 'The Information.' Before you dive into those, however, you have a crucial text from an old friend.
Cyberpunk 2077 in-game screenshot
T-Bug, the netrunner from 'The Rescue,' sends you a message for a side job called 'The Gift.' It's located right next to your apartment building and is an absolute must-do. This short quest directs you to a netrunning vendor who gives you a free 'Ping' quickhack. Quickhacks are the offensive and utility programs you'll use to manipulate the digital world. The quest teaches you how to install quickhacks onto your cyberdeck and guides you through your first Breach Protocol minigame. This simple puzzle involves selecting sequences of characters from a grid to upload daemons that can weaken all enemies on a network. Completing 'The Gift' not only gives you a powerful recon tool but also demystifies the basics of hacking.
Understanding How V Grows
As you complete these first few missions, you'll be leveling up, but Cyberpunk 2077 has several parallel progression systems that can be confusing at first. Understanding them is key to building an effective character.
Cyberpunk 2077 in-game screenshot
Character Level & Attribute Points
This is your main level, increased by gaining XP from completing missions and neutralizing enemies. Each time you level up, you get one Attribute Point. These are spent on the five core attributes: Body, Reflexes, Technical Ability, Intelligence, and Cool. Investing in these attributes is the most significant way you define your build, unlocking new abilities and perk tiers.
Perk Points
You also earn Perk Points by leveling up and by increasing your individual skills (like Handguns, Blades, Hacking). These points are spent within the skill trees of your main attributes. For example, to unlock powerful handgun perks, you'd spend Perk Points in the Reflexes tree. You can't access higher-tier perks (like 'Pro' and 'Phenom') until your corresponding attribute reaches a certain level (e.g., 9 for Pro, 15 for Phenom).
Street Cred
This is your reputation on the streets of Night City. You earn Street Cred by completing gigs, NCPD scanner hustles, and taking down wanted targets. Street Cred does not make you stronger directly. Instead, leveling it up unlocks access to better gear at weapon vendors, higher-tier cyberware at Ripperdocs, and more lucrative gigs from fixers. Certain items and quests won't even appear until your Street Cred hits a specific threshold.
The Road Ahead
With your first cyberware installed and a handle on the basic systems, you're ready to tackle Dex's setup missions. The Watson district is currently under lockdown, and you won't be able to leave until you complete this main story arc. Use this time to your advantage. As you travel to your objectives for 'The Pickup' and 'The Information,' take detours to complete the blue NCPD scanner hustles that litter the map. These quick encounters are a fantastic source of early XP, Street Cred, and eddies. Don't just rush the main story; let the city's chaos guide you. Clear out a gang hideout, grab some new gear, and build your legend one gig at a time.