Cyberpunk 2077 Builds: Ultimate Guide for Melee Combat
In our guide to the Cyberpunk 2077 builds you will learn:
- What the best melee build is in Cyberpunk 2077
- Where to find the legendary Mantis Blades
- How to do the maximum DPS (damage per second)
In Cyberpunk 2077, there are no classic character classes like in other role-playing games. Instead, you'll have to match Vs attributes, advantage points and cyberware if you want to make it as a melee fighter, tank, hitman or assassin.
If you're a born netrunner, check out our separate hacker build guide. Below we present one of the best Cyberpunk 2077 builds for melee fighters.
Best melee weapon: Mantis blades, Monowire or Knife?
To be a successful melee fighter in Cyberpunk 2077, you need to be fast and persistent. And more importantly, you need to deal as much damage per second (DPS) as possible. That's why you'll first have to choose the right weapon. Since the best Cyberpunk 2077 builds for close combat rely on cyberware weapons, there are only two left on the shortlist.
You can either implant a monowire or mantis blades. The monowire has the advantage that you have a greater range in close combat. However, the Mantis blades are easier to skill and much faster. Since we want to get the maximum DPS out of our Cyberpunk 2077 build, we rely on the Mantis Blades.
This causes so much damage in melee that even in the endgame and on high difficulty, you simply run through the enemies and slaughter everything that moves - even bosses can only withstand the build for a few seconds.
But first things first: First, secure the legendary Mantis Blades. You can find them in the city center (see screenshot).
If possible, head to Corpo Plaza right after the prologue. There you will find the legendary version of the powerful melee weapon in the only large crate in the area.
Don't bother with the mini-boss at the back of the room - you won't have a chance to defeat him on a low level anyway. Instead, head to the nearest Ripperdoc, who will implant the Mantis Blades into your arms.
Skill Attribute Points and Advantage Points for Melee Combat
Although almost all of Cyberpunk 2077's builds will have their full effect only in the endgame, you have to pay attention to the correct distribution ofattribute points already at the beginning of the game. Unlike advantage points, attribute points cannot be reset or redistributed in Cyberpunk.
Attribute | Target value | Effect |
Constitution | 20 points | Constitution provides the necessary stamina and health points, which are indispensable in close combat. |
Reflexes | 20 points | Reflexes improve your crit chance and increase the damage of mantis blades (DPS). It also increases your movement speed, which is essential for a good melee build. |
Intelligence | 16 points | You need intelligence to be able to use the appropriate cyberware components. |
Coolness | 12 points | Coolness boosts your crit damage. Also, a solid Coolness level ensures that you can use your Cyberpunk 2077 builds with the Monowire. |
Technical Skills | 3 points | You have to save on the technical skills, they don't help you in close combat. |
You invest your advantage points especially in the "Athletics" skill tree under Constitution. You can see the optimal distribution in the screenshot (see below). In addition, improve all "Blade Skills" under Reflexes, which will allow you to get the maximum damage from the Mantis Blades.
Put the last remaining advantage points into the skill tree "Battle Machine", which you can find under Coolness. This will optimize your movement speed in melee. If you stick to the above distribution of attribute and advantage points, you will have one of the best Cyberpunk 2077 builds for melee fighters almost complete.
Cyberpunk 2077 Builds: Which cyberware for melee?
Now all you need is the right cyberware for the perfect Cyberpunk 2077 melee build, which we present below:
Mission | Cyberware | Effect |
Frontalcortex | Heal-On-Kill | Instantly restores 10% of your health after neutralizing an enemy. |
Frontalcortex | Improved limbic system | Increases critical strike chance by 25 percent. |
Frontal Cortex | Visual cortex support | Increases critical damage by 45 percent. |
Circulatory System | Second Heart | Instantly restores 100 percent of your maximum health when it drops to 0. |
Circulatory System | Biomonitor | Instantly restores 100 percent health when your health drops below 15 percent. |
Circulatory System | Synlunge | Increases stamina regeneration by 25 percent. |
Immune System | Cataresist | Increases all resistances by 25 percent. |
Immune System | Inductor | When affected by electrocution and EMP, you take no damage and your armor increases. |
Mission Location | Cyberware | Effect |
Nervous System | Reflex Modulator | Slows down time when your health drops below 25 percent. |
Nervous System | Synapse Accelerator | Slows down time when enemies notice you. |
Integument System | Subdermal Armor | Increases armor. |
Integument System | Fireproofcoating | Gives immunity to burning. |
Skeleton | Synaptic Signal Optimizer | Increases health. |
Skeleton | Bionic Lung | Increases endurance. |
Arms | Mantis Blades | The best choice for all melee builds, buff Mantis Blades with the Blade Thermal Damage modifier to deal extra fire damage. |
Operating System | Qiant "Warp Dancer" Sandevistan Mk. 5 | Slows time by 10 percent for eight seconds. |
Optics | Freely selectable | According to your preferences. |
By the way: You can find all the cyberware components you need at the Ripperdocs. You will automatically encounter them in the course of the story. However, your reputation may be too bad and you may not find certain items on offer yet. In this case, we'll tell you how to increase your Street Cred in Cyberpunk 2077 in a separate guide.
Furthermore, the cyberware components are available in different versions. If you want to own all parts in iconic quality, you'll have to dig deep into your pockets. If you don't have the necessary Eurodollars at hand right now, settle for legendary components for now, which are significantly cheaper.
More Cyberpunk 2077 guides at GameZ
- Cyberpunk 2077: The best mods and how to install them
- Cyberpunk 2077 Romances: All the relationships you can form
- Cyberpunk 2077: Find Skippy - location of the talking gun
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