Cyberpunk 2077’s major 2.0 update retools many systems, and players are encouraged to restart the game to fully experience the changes. This guide dives into the newly expanded branches of passive skills, traits, and abilities, helping players quickly immerse themselves in Night City’s updated rhythm.
How to improve passive skills
The game features five linear skill lines that level up as specific abilities are used. Every five levels grants a new passive ability that sharpens play style and simplifies key actions.
How to improve the Killer skill
This branch shapes combat dynamics. As levels rise, damage grows and recoil eases, enabling accurate hip-fire and precise long-range shots. Improvement comes from defeating enemies with firearms. Landing headshots yields extra points toward this skill.
How to elevate the NetRunner skill
This branch expands hacking capabilities. At higher levels, netrunner skills become more frequent and effective. Hack everything possible to access new tiers. Each successful hack, whether in or out of combat, grants experience in this discipline.
How to strengthen the Shinobi skill
This branch focuses on endurance and speed. Engaging in acrobatic actions—running, sprinting, lifting—yields experience. In combat, wielding katanas adds further progress toward mastery.
How to improve the Solo skills
This skill specializes in melee prowess. Benefits include increased carrying capacity, extra fist damage, and higher health. In addition to hand-to-hand fighting, using a shotgun or light machine gun also contributes to experience in this branch.
How to advance the Engineer skill
Non-combat expertise that boosts customization and survivability. Craft consumables, attachments, and weapons, or deploy grenades in battle to gain experience in this branch.
How to improve attributes
Attribute mechanics were reworked, with many bonuses moved into passive skills. A new feature called the Biochip, available with the Ghost Freedom expansion, can be learned and upgraded within the add-on. Core concepts remain the same: increasing attributes enhances interaction with the world. For example, higher strength enables machine communication, breaking locked doors, and intimidation. Stronger attributes also unlock more skills within separate fields. Every time the main level rises, two stat points are earned to invest in a chosen parameter.
What skills to pick at the start
Initial choices depend on the intended playstyle. A balanced approach is advisable, spreading development across all areas. If a preferred style exists, selecting skills aligned to that preference makes sense.
To unlock an entire branch, the corresponding attribute must reach level 20. Screenshots show the optimal early skill set when starting a new playthrough with the Phantom Liberty expansion.
Is it possible to reset skills in Cyberpunk 2077?
Learned skills can be canceled at any time for free, allowing players to reallocate points to other branches. The process involves pressing the middle mouse button on the chosen ability to reclaim spent points.
Is it possible to reset stats and skills in Cyberpunk 2077?
Cyberpunk 2077 does not permit resetting or changing stats and skills after allocation. A new story with a fresh character is required. Passive skills continue to upgrade through use, while other skills can be enhanced by performing the appropriate in-game actions.
If experimentation is desired, players can use a save file approach. Create a save after accumulating 17 unused stat points. The number 17 ensures that starting from level 3 in each stat tree and maxing out to level 20 remains feasible. Saving at this point allows reallocation of points after reloading, though progress since the last save is lost.
Starting from that save and replaying boosts the level while reclaiming points, providing a simple stat reset method for Cyberpunk 2077.