Key Takeaways

• Lore-rich Cyberpunk 2077 features incredible characters in an unsafe Night City filled with gangs and powerful individuals.
• Throughout the main story and multiple side quests, V interacts with several powerful denizens of the city.
• From Rogue to Adam Smasher, these NPCs (and V) are undeniably some of the strongest characters in Cyberpunk 2077 according to the lore.

Cyberpunk 2077 has no shortage of incredible characters. While everybody’s reception of the game varies, one of the best aspects of the game that almost no one will discredit is its rich and deep lore, and this extends to some of the personalities fans meet in Night City. Night City, with all of its bells, whistles, and wonders, is also one of the most unsafe places on the planet. The city and its outskirts are filled with mercenaries, gangs, cyberpsychos, and suits with overpowered Ripperdoc upgrades which they use to kill without a second thought. Players will have to face a couple of them or step in their shoes in Cyberpunk 2077.

As V, players will encounter numerous powerful individuals who have all made a name for themselves in Night City. Everyone wants to become a legend in this urban landscape so that they can escape the poverty that’s rampant in this city and enjoy life to the fullest. A great way to achieve this is by being as strong as possible. Most people automatically earn the respect of others after they get to see how powerful said person is. There are many people in Night City who have attained this strength in many ways, becoming legends in their own right.

Updated on October 18th, 2024 by Jacob Buchalter: Night City is filled with all types of people. However, with a city this alive and chaotic, most people need to be exceptionally strong to survive. And that’s just for getting by day to day, to survive as a mercenary, runner, hit-men, bodyguard, or even as a solo people need to become even stronger. Whether this is through cyberware, gun skills, or netrunning skills, it doesn’t matter. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the all-time legends of Night City, icons of the industry who almost assuredly have their own drink at Afterlife, and talk about which ones are the strongest overall and why.

27 David Martinez

He’s Just Built Different

With the confirmation from CD Projekt that the cast of Cyberpunk Edgerunners is canon the the world of the Cyberpunk 2077 game, it only seemed apt to include the most memorable of the Edgerunners crew, starting with David Martinez. David Martinez, quite literally, was just ‘built different’, being able to handle and absurd amount of cybernetic implants before dealing with cyberpsychosis in any capacity. But, more than that, David was just an incredibly nice guy with a good head on his shoulders.

He had good decision-making skills, made the best decisions for his crew, and was great in a fight. Obviously, the guy wasn’t invincible and he had his fair share of problems but David Martinez absolutely achieved his goal of becoming one of Night City’s legends.

26 Lucyna Kushinada

Just An Incredible Netrunner

Next up is by far the most ‘professional’ person on David’s crew and the love of his life, Lucy AKA Lucyna Kushinada. Lucy is the netrunner of the crew and a fantastic one at that. Netrunners have to be judged on a different scale than solos or enforcers in Night City, as their ‘battlefield’ is different. And, at least in what was shown in Edgerunners, Lucy is an incredibly capable netrunner.

Even more than that, she’s a good fighter and in top physical form even outside of the net. Lucy’s childhood was rough, and she went through extensive training with Arasaka to become one of the best netrunners around. In fact, as a child, she was often forced to dive into the pre-DataKrash Net, a domain filled with all sorts of rogue AIs that would kill the other children in the program pretty often. However, Lucy made it out of there, escaped Arasaka, and ended up in Night City, eventually earning her spot as one of the city’s best netrunners overall.

25 Rebecca

A Powerhouse Hidden Within a Tiny Package

And last up for the Edgerunners representation is Rebecca, probably the most beloved fan-favorite character from the show and an absolute weapon of mass destruction hidden within the frame of a tiny woman. Rebecca is one of the ‘muscle’ members of the crew alongside Maine, and she absolutely demolishes in a gunfight despite not having a ton of cyberware installed. In fact, she basically just has her cyberarms (which were originally her brother’s), some cyber optics, and some EMP threading, which is pretty shocking for such a powerhouse character.

Of course, she also has some pretty hefty firearms with her Guts variant Carnage Shotgun that players can actually obtain in Cyberpunk 2077 as well as her Crusher Heavy Pistol and a whole host of other weapons from assault rifles to heavy machine guns. Funnily enough, despite being the one with the sharpest tongue, Lucy is actually the most emotionally mature and level-headed character in David’s entire crew.

24 Saul Bright

The Leaders Of The Aldecaldos

When players interact with Panam, they can form a bond with this character as they help out both her and the group she works for. The Aldecaldos are nomads with a common cause who band together to pool their resources and do what’s right for their group in the lawless area of the Badlands.

The leader of this group is Saul Bright, a character that Panam argues with time and time again that establishes their rapport pretty effectively. He’s a fairly level-headed character who may play it a bit too safe at times but isn’t afraid to get down and dirty when the situation calls for it. Saul is a valuable ally in battle who helps V out multiple times without fail.

23 Dexter DeShawn

A Legendary Fixer Who Sets Up V, Jackie, And T-Bug For The Heist Of A Lifetime

Dexter DeShawn makes a strong impression when he’s introduced. The fixer sets up V and their gang for the heist of a lifetime during the game’s prologue, with V being tasked with stealing a valuable package from Arasaka that turns out to be the relic for Johnny Silverhand’s engram.

When things go south, he doesn’t waste any time betraying V and looking out for himself when things get dicey. There’s no denying that his presence in Night City was strong at one point, but Dexter’s influence wasn’t enough to save him. After Takemura forces the fixer to show him where V is, Hanako Arasaka’s bodyguard shoots down the man in cold blood.

22 Jefferson Peralez

A Candidate Running For Mayor

Power in Night City doesn’t come from pure strength alone, even though it helps. No, what makes more of a difference is influence, and being a mayor of Night City would certainly mean something. However, despite all the love and support that Jefferson Peralez has, this doesn’t stop him from becoming a pawn in a larger game.

In a bid to misuse his reach, a mysterious organization has brainwashed the Peralez family, with Elizabeth pleading with V to not tell her husband about this revelation. It’s a disturbing moment that goes to show that even the strongest and most influential people in Night City are nothing more than pawns in the grand scheme of things.

21 Song So Mi

The Netrunner Known As Songbird

Phantom Liberty‘s narrative is as riveting as anyone would expect from a DLC by CD Projekt Red. Not only is this DLC properly woven into the central narrative of Cyberpunk 2077, but it also enables a new ending if V plays their cards right. During Phantom Liberty, one major character that plays a central role in the narrative is Song So Mi, an accomplished netrunner known by the alias Songbird.

Her netrunning skills make her a force to be reckoned with and also turn her into a tool that NUSA uses, because of her ability to tap into the Blackwall. Depending on V’s actions, they can either secure her safety, make sure she’s safe in Reed’s hands, or let her become a victim of her powers of accessing the Blackwall.

20 Hanako Arasaka

Saburo Arasaka’s Only Daughter

Despite not even being the heiress to the Arasaka throne, the sheer amount of power that Hanako wields is tremendous. Most people would argue that she has more sway over the corporation than Yorinobu. This can be seen firsthand if players decide to side with her near the end of the game.

Even if players don’t go down this route, Hanako has a ton of sway and influence in the game world, which shouldn’t be surprising. After all, she has the power of the Arasaka family in the palm of her hand, allowing her to do some incredible things. Taking her help to defeat Yorinobu may not be the best course of action, but it gives players a glimpse of how influential and respected this figure is.

19 Morgan Blackhand

A Solo’s Solo

Solos are respected mercs in the world of Cyberpunk 2077. Most reputed Solos are so competent and reliable that most people don’t have to worry about anything after assigning a task to them. So, it’s clear that Morgan Blackhand must have done something special to be considered the greatest Solo in Night City’s history.

Despite not even being seen in the events of Cyberpunk 2077, Blackhand’s influence can be felt in every part of the game. It ranges from the books he’s penned, to a clever in-game news report that alludes to his presence in Japantown. It’s easy to see why any Solo would aspire to reach the same level of notoriety as Morgan Blackhand, and why players who were invested in Night City’s lore were quite fascinated by this character.

18 Alt Cunningham

A Netrunner-Turned-AI

Alt is one of the most unique characters in Cyberpunk 2077. She’s a friend of Johnny who was also a talented netrunner before being abducted by Arasaka to develop Soulkiller. She became the first victim of this program. Her consciousness exists as a digital ghost on the Net.

The sheer amount of power Alt has as an AI shouldn’t be underestimated, especially since the world of Cyberpunk 2077 relies on the Net and everything connected to it. The fact that she could override Arasaka’s defenses after being freed by V and Johnny proves how powerful she is, even if she doesn’t have a physical body. Barring the Arasaka ending, every other path mandates that V use Alt’s help to hack into Mikoshi and help V and Silverhand embark upon the journey to finally separate their psyches and go their ways.

17 Kurt Hansen

The Leader Of The Barghest

Phantom Liberty has introduced some great characters who are all memorable. Kurt Hansen is one such persona, who serves as a major antagonist during this expansion. Suffice it to say, this individual is very powerful and showed how much influence he had when he used his skills to take over a section of Pacifica and turn it into Dogtown.

It takes someone really powerful to be a leader of this lawless area, and Kurt Hansen certainly fits the bill in this regard. He’s an intimidating figure and an imposing antagonist that players get introduced to. Every encounter with this character is nerve-wracking and proves how his combination of charisma and cold-bloodedness makes him fit to run these crime-laden streets.

16 Solomon Reed

FIA Agent

Idris Elba’s portrayal of Solomon Reed is an absolute masterclass, showing just how talented this actor is. The character of Solomon Reed required a professional and no-nonsense performance, and CD Projekt Red couldn’t have picked a more apt actor if they tried. This talented FIA agent is fiercely loyal to his country and will do everything in his power to protect it.

He forms a shaky partnership with V during the events of Phantom Liberty, which can culminate in a great partnership if the player wants this to happen. Regardless of how their relationship evolves throughout this expansion, players will see why Solomon Reed is considered to be one of the most effective agents in the FIA.

15 Jackie Welles

An Ex-Member Of The Valentinos

Jackie Welles is V’s close friend who meets an untimely end near the start of the game during a heist that goes wrong. He suffers a mortal injury after a huge drop that breaks the biochip and leads to a series of events that kickstart the game’s main plot.

The fact that he was grievously wounded yet still managed to shoot down waves of Arasaka agents competently proves that Jackie had a ton of grit. Unfortunately, he met an early demise before he could make the most of his potential., but it was clear for anyone to see that this character had a ton of guts and would’ve become a household name in Night City if he was given the same level of plot armor as V.

14 Panam Palmer

A Member Of The Aldecaldos

Panam is easily one of the most resourceful and hardy characters in the entire game. She has wild and crazy plans that almost always work out, and her romance with V is the icing on the cake that is her character. She might not boast any major cybernetic augments, but she more than makes up for it with a zeal to aspire for more instead of settling into a basic rhythm. This is one of the major reasons why players love her character, and consider interactions with her to be a highlight of the game.

It helps that Panam is a great shot with a gun and pretty good at surviving by any means necessary. She can hold her own with V, something that players can see time and time again when they battle against waves of enemies and see Panam showing everyone who’s boss with her accurate shooting.

13 Placide

The Leader Of The Voodoo Boys

Placide is the second-in-command of the Voodoo Boys, one of the most powerful and terrifying gangs of Night City. Most people who encounter Placide will attest to the man’s threatening aura as if he exudes power.

Placide is a man of few words, often relying on his actions to speak for him. Depending on the player’s actions in the game, Placide will either be an enemy or a hesitant neutral. Fighting him will make more sense to the story, but if the player isn’t powerful enough yet, they should avoid this encounter.

12 Razor Hugh

A Tough Brawler From The Animals

Razor Hugh is the final fighter V must face to complete the Beat on the Brat side gig. This side gig, of course, involves the players having to go around Night City to participate in and win fistfight matches. These matches aren’t exactly easy either. Each of the competitors V will have to face is tough in their way, and Razor Hugh is the toughest one of them all.

Razor is a member of the Animals gang. He was already a formidable fighter but became even tougher after receiving sponsorships for cyberware upgrades.

11 Chase Coley

Night City’s Most Dangerous Cyberpsycho

The cyberpsychos in Cyberpunk 2077 may not be mandatory encounters, but whenever V faces them, they’re often some of the hardest bosses this game has to offer. Thankfully, going through these side gigs will often reward players with incredible items that will help them on their journey. The hardest of these cyberpsycho encounters is Chase Coley.

Chase Coley is a cyberpsycho who fights players using a heavy and powerful mech suit. Defeating this enemy is easier said than done and will require a bit of strategizing. Facing him head-on is essentially suicide, but defeating him will be worth it.

10 Royce

Leader Of The Maelstrom

Being a leader of a gang is no small feat. The gangs of Night City are ruthless and are filled to the brim with powerful individuals who will waste no time in ensuring that they get what they want at the cost of any life, innocent or otherwise.

The leader of the Maelstrom, Royce, is one such individual. Players can ally with him and fight against Militech forces instead, but deciding to take on the Maelstrom ends up being a challenging endeavor, because Royce and his crewmates wreck the house.

9 Sasquatch

Leader Of The Animals

Sasquatch is the leader of the Animals that players can encounter while infiltrating the Grand Imperial Mall in the Pacifica district. The GIM is full to the brim with the Animals, who’ll waste no time in trying to shoot V down.

However, V is strong enough to take all of them on, leading to Sasquatch herself coming out in a bid to stop V in his tracks. This proves to be a challenging endeavor, but V has enough power to take Sasquatch while also dealing with the many aggressive hacks of an unknown Netrunner who turns out to be a member of NetWatch.

8 Sandayu Oda

Hanako Arasaka’s Personal Bodyguard

Sandayu Oda is a cyber ninja who acts as Hanako Arasaka’s bodyguard. In his youth, he was personally trained by Goro Takemura, the personal bodyguard of the head of the Arasaka empire.

Sandayu Oda set foot in Night City when Hanako was summoned after her father’s death. Oda reunites with his mentor on his visit, albeit in a less respectable setting. Despite being pleaded by Takemura, Oda refuses to get entangled in the politics and intricacies of Saburo’s murder, instead focusing on defending the woman he’s supposed to protect.