Lizzie is an excellent early Tech pistol, Widow Maker rewards charged shots through cover, and Overwatch gives you a silenced sniper rifle through Panam's quests. Those are practical starting points for finding the best guns in Cyberpunk 2077. With Phantom Liberty, Her Majesty becomes a strong stealth pick, especially with Optical Camo. The harder part is collecting these weapons before their missions move on. This weapon guide organizes worthwhile pickups by when and how you get them, covers useful melee alternatives, and includes Update 2.5's Coronation.
What are the best guns in Cyberpunk 2077?
Choose Lizzie for charged handgun volleys, Widow Maker for penetrating cover, or Overwatch for suppressed long-range shooting. Your preferred combat style matters more than collecting every Iconic weapon immediately.
| Weapon | Type | Main reason to choose it | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lizzie | Tech pistol | Extra projectile per shot and charged volleys | Lizzie's Bar basement during Automatic Love |
| Widow Maker | Tech precision rifle | Fires two projectiles per shot and can poison enemies | Loot Nash during Ghost Town |
| Overwatch | Power sniper rifle | Custom silencer for long-range stealth | Complete Riders on the Storm |
| Fenrir | Power submachine gun | Accessible early automatic weapon | Maelstrom hideout near NID: Docks |
| Malorian Arms 3516 | Power pistol | Johnny Silverhand's distinctive handgun | Take it from Grayson during Chippin' In |
| Her Majesty | Power pistol | Silencer and bonuses while Optical Camo is active | Receive it during Get It Together in Phantom Liberty |
| Order | Tech double-barrel shotgun | Charged attack with an EMP trail above 66% charge | Buy it at Dogtown's Black Market Vendor |
| Prototype: Shingen Mark V | Smart submachine gun | Guided projectiles that can target multiple enemies | Shipping container at Arasaka Industrial Park |
Should you use Power, Tech, or Smart weapons?
Power weapons can ricochet bullets, while Tech weapons let you charge shots and penetrate cover. Smart weapons use guided ammunition with the appropriate cyberware. These differences explain why Widow Maker and Prototype: Shingen Mark V solve different problems, even though both are useful ranged weapons.
Most Iconic weapons trade normal modification freedom for unique effects and upgradeability. Pick one because its effect fits your approach, rather than assuming every named gun will accept your favorite mods.
Which weapons should you collect early?
Start with Dying Night and Fenrir
Dying Night is the straightforward first pickup. Once Wilson texts you about The Gun, visit his weapon shop in Megabuilding H10. The pistol appears alongside his regular stock and costs nothing.
For Fenrir, speak to the monk near the northern Watson docks and follow the job to rescue his brother. Inside the Maelstrom hideout near NID: Docks, check the medical table. This gives you an early Iconic submachine gun without waiting for a long character questline.
Check all three weapon pickups during The Heist
The Heist contains several weapons worth collecting during the same visit to Konpeki Plaza:
- Kongou: On the right-hand nightstand in Yorinobu Arasaka's penthouse bedroom.
- Nehan: On Saburo Arasaka's body.
- Satori: Inside Saburo's personal AV on the roof. Use the upstairs route through which he entered the penthouse.
Kongou's penthouse pickup
Grab Lizzie during Automatic Love
During Automatic Love, search the vacant basement room at Lizzie's Bar, near Judy's workspace. Lizzie fires an extra projectile with each shot, and charging it increases the volley. That makes it a useful early choice if you want a handgun with more going on than ordinary single-shot fire.
The same mission later takes you to Clouds, where you can collect Cocktail Stick. Look on the vanity near Evelyn Parker's jacket in the VIP dressing area before reaching Woodman.
Track Coronation in Update 2.5
Coronation is a Tech revolver found during Clampdown, a job added in Update 2.5. Complete the prologue and two gigs for Wakako Okada to unlock the mission, then search the bathroom duffle bag inside NC Prison in Arroyo, Santo Domingo. King's outfit is in the same bag.
Which character quests give you worthwhile guns?
Follow Panam for Widow Maker and Overwatch
During Ghost Town, agree to help Panam pursue Nash and his crew. Defeat him in the tunnel hideout, then loot Widow Maker from his body. Its two-projectile shots, Chemical damage, and poison chance make it worth checking Nash's loot before heading out.
If you skip that encounter, Nash can appear during the attack on the Aldecaldos' camp in Queen of the Highway, giving you another opportunity to collect Widow Maker.
Continue Panam's story through Riders on the Storm to receive Overwatch the following morning. Its custom silencer makes it the clearer choice for a stealth-focused sniper setup. You receive it even if you asked for payment at the start of the job.
While visiting the Wraith Camp for Riders on the Storm, loot enemies near the main entrance for Problem Solver. It drops from a Raffen Shiv rather than an obviously special boss, which makes it easy to overlook.
Finish Johnny, River, and Judy's questlines
Malorian Arms 3516 comes from Grayson aboard the Ebunike during Chippin' In. This is the route to owning Johnny Silverhand's pistol, rather than only using it during his story sequences.
River Ward gives you Crash, a Power revolver, at the end of his questline. You can also collect Tinker Bell from the security room at Edgewood Farms during The Hunt.
For Mox, stay on good terms with Judy and finish her questline. The shotgun appears on her apartment's kitchen counter after she leaves Night City, or after some time following Pyramid Song if you romance her. Access to her apartment is part of getting the reward.
Find Skippy for the talking-gun quest
Skippy lies beside a body in an alley in Vista Del Rey, Heywood. Pick him up and keep using him to progress Machine Gun. His talking AI and changing functionality are the main reasons to seek him out.
Later, Regina Jones can take Skippy, remove the AI, and return the gun. The returned version keeps its distinctive appearance but becomes an unmodifiable HJKE-11 Yukimura. Decide whether you value the talking companion before handing him over.
What are the best Phantom Liberty weapon picks?
Choose Her Majesty for Optical Camo stealth
Alex gives you Her Majesty during Get It Together. It comes with a silencer, and activating Optical Camo gives its shots perfect accuracy, increased damage, and guaranteed headshot critical hits. That explicit connection makes it a strong match for a camo-focused stealth build.
Her Majesty's Optical Camo bonus
Hawk offers a different approach. After Lucretia My Reflection, return to the Kress Street hideout once Reed and Myers leave. The rifle rests near the entrance. Its headshots mark and weaken enemies, slowing them, preventing ability use, and reducing their damage.
For operating-system planning alongside your gun choice, compare the options in the best cyberdeck stats and locations guide.
Choose Order or Rasetsu for charged attacks
Buy Order from the Black Market Vendor in EBM Petrochem Stadium. This Tech double-barrel shotgun has a 3-second charge time. Charging above 66% triggers its vaporizing attack and leaves an EMP trail, making that threshold the defining reason to choose it.
Rasetsu is available during You Know My Name. Its 1.5-second charge time supports charged rounds that penetrate enemies and bend toward additional targets. Choose it for charged, multi-target sniper shots rather than treating it as another Overwatch.
Ol' Reliable is another worthwhile handgun pickup if you favor headshots. Loot Dante during Shot By Both Sides. Swapping to the revolver increases headshot damage and effective range, while distant targets increase its headshot critical chance.
Which melee weapons and moddable guns are worth collecting?
Pick a katana through missions or fixer work
Scalpel is your reward for Big in Japan, which starts at the Afterlife once Rogue asks you to pay her. Its Electrical damage and interaction with Sandevistan make it a more deliberate build choice than simply grabbing the first sword you find.
Other useful blade routes include:
- Errata: Take it from the furnace near the end of Disasterpiece. The location remains accessible after the mission.
- Jinchu-Maru: Loot Oda after defeating him during Play It Safe. Killing him is not required.
- Byakko: Complete every Wakako gig in Westbrook, then check your storage.
- Tsumetogi: Collect it from the room with Maiko and the Tyger Claws during Pisces.
Win Lexington x-MOD2 if you want weapon mods
Lexington x-MOD2 is a useful exception to the usual Iconic modification restrictions. Win Wilson's shooting competition at his shop in Megabuilding H10 to receive it. The xMOD-2 family retains modification options while supporting upgrades.
Which weapons depend on your ending route?
Amnesty, Prejudice, and Pride require specific late-game routes. Plan those choices with the ending choices and unlocks guide before crossing the point of no return.
| Weapon | Required route or condition | Pickup requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Amnesty | Ask Panam and the Aldecaldos for help | Beat Cassidy's bottle challenge during We Gotta Live Together |
| Prejudice | Give Johnny control and attack with Rogue | Search the closer mortuary drawer at the Afterlife during For Whom the Bell Tolls |
| Pride | Follow Rogue's assault route | Collect it from Rogue's remains after defeating Adam Smasher during Knockin' on Heaven's Door |
| Ba Xing Chong | Finish the game and obtain Adam Smasher's Access Token | Open the locked room aboard the Ebunike and take the schematic from the case behind the desk |
Cassidy's Amnesty challenge has no quest marker. If you're taking the Aldecaldos route, actively look for his bottle-shooting activity during We Gotta Live Together rather than relying on the mission objective to lead you there.
How do you upgrade and recover Iconic weapons?
Keep useful Iconics and store the rest
Iconic weapons can be upgraded with crafting materials. Most cannot accept ordinary weapon mods, although some support a scope or muzzle. Put unused collectibles in your Stash; many have dedicated display spaces on apartment weapon walls.
Upgrade your Iconic weapons
Check Dogtown for missed mission pickups
If you missed an Iconic weapon during a mission, check the Black Market Vendor at EBM Petrochem Stadium in Dogtown after completing the associated quest. That gives you a recovery route for missed mission weapons when returning to the original room is no longer possible.
For a focused collection, start with Dying Night, collect the Konpeki Plaza weapons, grab Lizzie, and follow Panam for Widow Maker and Overwatch. Add Her Majesty if you're pursuing Optical Camo stealth in Phantom Liberty. Then use the Cyberpunk 2077 guide collection to plan the quests and equipment around your chosen weapon.
