Let’s be honest for a second. When we first saw that teaser trailer for Cyberpunk 2077 years ago—the one with the lady popping those terrifying blades out of her forearms—we all thought the same thing: these blades allow for incredible combat versatility. I need those.
There is something viscerally satisfying about the Mantis Blades. Manufactured by Arasaka, these aren’t just weapons; they are a statement. They turn your V from a merc with a gun into a whirlwind of death. But if you are returning to Night City after a long hiatus, or maybe just jumping in for the first time with the Ultimate Edition, you need to know that the game has changed.
Update 2.0 and the Phantom Liberty The expansion completely overhauled how melee weapons function in combat. cyberware works. The old guides? They’re mostly trash now. You can’t just find legendary gear in a cardboard box anymore.
In this guide, I’m going to walk you through exactly how to get Mantis Blades in Cyberpunk 2077, how to snag the secret Iconic MaxTac version, and how to build a Mantis Blade build that shreds even the toughest Cyberpsycho.
What exactly are Cyberpunk Mantis Blades?
Mantis Blades are lethal Arasaka cyberware in Cyberpunk 2077. Installed in the forearms, these retractable melee weapons excel in close-quarters combat. They offer a high-risk, high-reward style with bleed effects and a unique leap attack for devastating damage.
Are Mantis Blades Worth It in Update 2.0?
Before you spend your hard-earned eddies, you might be wondering: are they actually good? Or should you just stick to a Katana?
It’s a valid question. If you look at raw numbers, some iconic Katanas (like the Byakko or Errata) technically have higher DPS or faster attack speed on paper. They also allow you to slot different weapon mods.
However, Mantis Blades offer things a sword can’t:
- Slot Freedom: They go in your arm slot, leaving your three weapon slots open for guns or throwing knives.
- Mobility: The leap attack is built-in. With the right perks, you can fly across the battlefield without needing to sprint.
- The Cool Factor: Lifting an enemy off the ground with a finisher animation never gets old.
Comparing them to Gorilla Arms? Gorilla Arms are great for blunt force and forcing open doors, but they lack the speed and bleed pressure of the blades. If you are running a Reflexes build, the Blades are usually the superior choice for pure killing power.
How to Get Mantis Blades in Cyberpunk 2077
Getting your hands on a standard set of blades is much more streamlined than it used to be, but it’s also more expensive.
Visiting the Ripperdoc (The Standard Way)
Forget looting bodies for these. The only reliable way to install standard Mantis Blades is to visit a Ripperdoc.
Since the 2.0 update, stock is generally standardized across Night City. You don’t need to hunt down a specific doc in a back alley of Pacifica to find the Chemical variant. Just walk into any clinic—whether it’s Viktor in Watson or a doc in Dogtown.
Here is how the availability works now:
- Tier 1 (Common): Available early game.
- Tier 5 (Legendary): Becomes available as your street cred and character level increase.
As you level up, the Ripperdocs automatically upgrade their stock of arms in Cyberpunk 2077. You buy the blades once, and you can upgrade them yourself using components, or just buy the higher Tier versions outright when you have the cash.
You can choose between four damage types:
- Physical: The classic. High base damage and a chance to enhance your attacks are crucial for melee combat. apply a bleed effect.
- Thermal: Sets enemies on fire.
- Chemical: Poison damage.
- Electrical: Great against drones and mechs.
For my money? Stick with Physical or Thermal. The physical damage scales beautifully with bleed perks, and there is nothing quite like watching a health bar melt away while you are already moving to the next target.
The Myth of the “Free Legendary Blades” Box
Okay, I need to stop you from wasting your time.
If you Google “Mantis Blades location,” you will find dozens of articles and You can find many tutorials on YouTube about the best implants to use. videos from 2020 telling you to go to the City Center, near a Cyberpsycho sighting called “Phantom of Night City.” They will tell you there is a box on the right side of the arena with free Legendary Mantis Blades that you can customize.
This is dead.
CD Projekt Red patched this out a long time ago. If you go there now, you might find some random components or a Tier 3 gun, but you absolutely will not find free cyberware. Don’t be the gonk running around Corpo Plaza looking for a loot chest that doesn’t exist anymore.
How to Get the Iconic MaxTac Mantis Blades
Now we are talking. Standard blades are fine, but you want the good stuff to inflict maximum damage. You want the blades used by MaxTac—Night City’s apex predators.
These are Iconic, meaning they have unique stats. Specifically, they have a massive boost to Bleeding chance and damage against bleeding enemies. Getting them, however, is a pain in the neck. There are two ways to do it.
Method 1: The Melissa Rory Encounter
Remember the woman from the original 2013 teaser trailer? That’s Melissa Rory. She is actually in the game.
- Visit the Jinguji clothing store in Downtown (City Center).
- Talk to Zane (the vendor).
- Leave and wait 24 hours. Zane will call you.
- Return to the store. A Cyberpsycho will attack.
- Survive the fight until MaxTac busts in.
Melissa Rory is the MaxTac lieutenant who talks to you afterward. Here is the crazy part: to get her blades, you have to fight her.
After the conversation ends, you need to attack her. Be warned: She is level-scaled and incredibly tough. Plus, you instantly get a 5-star wanted level and her squad will turn on you. If you manage to zero her, you can loot the MaxTac Mantis Blades from her body. It’s messy, but hey, that’s Night City.
Method 2: The Phantom Liberty Path
If you have the Phantom Liberty expansion, there is a slightly more “narrative” way to get them, but it requires specific choices.
- During the mission “Firestarter” is a powerful implant that can enhance your combat effectiveness., you must choose to betray Songbird and help Reed capture her.
- Later, you will get a mission called “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos”.
- Before the mission starts, call Mr. Hands. He will offer to help you ambush a MaxTac convoy.
- Pay him (15,000 eddies usually).
- Complete the ambush.
A few days after you finish the DLC main story, Mr. Hands will text you. He’ll leave a reward in your apartment in Megabuilding H10. Open the crate, and voilà: MaxTac Mantis Blades.
The Ultimate Mantis Blades Build (Update 2.1)
Having the blades is one thing. Using them without dying instantly is another.
In Cyberpunk 2077, melee combat is high-risk, high-reward. You are exposing yourself to fire every time you leave cover. To survive, we need a build that prioritizes speed, health regeneration, and pure aggression.
Essential Attributes
You need to dump points into two main stats:
- Reflexes (20 points): This is non-negotiable. Reflexes govern your maneuverability and Blade perks.
- Technical Ability (20 points): You need this for the “Edgerunner” perk. It allows you to exceed your Cyberware capacity. More chrome = more power.
Body is your third priority. Get it to at least 15 for the “Adrenaline Rush” perk tree, which gives you a buffer of extra health. You’re going to get hit; you need to be able to tank it.
The Blades Perk Tree
Head to the Reflexes tree and look for the right-hand branch. Grab everything related to blades.
- Lead and Steel: Reduces stamina cost for attacks.
- Finisher: Bladerunner: This is essential. It lets you instantly kill enemies with low health.
- Flash and Thunderclap: This is the bread and butter of the Mantis Blade build. It allows you to perform a leap attack from a distance.
The Relic Tree (Phantom Liberty)
If you own the DLC, this is where the magic happens. You need to spend your Relic points on the Jailbreak perk.
Jailbreak unlocks a new ability specifically for Arm Cyberware. For Mantis Blades, it grants a significant buff to your melee capabilities. charged leap attack.
- Reach: It extends your leap range to a massive 30 meters.
- Effect: This upgrade allows blades to inflict additional damage on strikes. The leap attack now cripples enemies and increases dismemberment chance.
- The Loop: Dismembering an enemy or using a finisher charges the next leap.
This creates a gameplay loop where you Leap -> Dismember -> Re-charge Leap -> Leap again. You basically turn into a pinball of death.
Best Cyberware to Equip
Your arms are sorted, but what about the rest of your cyberwares?
Operating System: You have two choices: Berserk or Sandevistan. Honestly? Go with the Sandevistan. Specifically, the Militech “Apogee” Sandevistan. Why? Mantis Blades rely on precise leaping. Using a Sandevistan slows time, allowing you to line up perfect leaps and avoid incoming fire. It makes you feel like a speedster, especially when using cyberware in Cyberpunk 2077. Berserk gives you invincibility, which is nice, but slowing time is just superior for crowd control.
Skeleton:
- Dense Marrow: Increases melee damage but costs stamina. Since we have high Reflexes, stamina isn’t an issue.
- Epimorphic Skeleton: More health.
Nervous System:
- Stabber: Increases Crit Chance with Blades.
- Adrenaline Converter: Speed boost when entering combat.
Circulatory System:
- Microrotors: This is a big one. It increases melee attack speed. There is some debate on forums about exactly how the math works in 2.1, but in practice, swinging faster is always better.
Combat Strategy: How to Slice Like a Pro
I remember my first time trying this build. I ran straight at a group of Tyger Claws and got flatlined in two seconds. I was playing it like a shooter.
Mantis Blades are about rhythm.
Mastering the Leap
You don’t just run up to people. You leap. Hold down the attack button (Left Click / RT). You will see a target indicator on the enemy. Release it to fly toward them.
If you have the Relic perks, try to target the legs or arms. A charged leap with the Jailbreak perk has a high chance to sever limbs. If you cut off a leg, they fall down. If they fall down, you can execute a finisher.
Managing Stamina and Finishers
Keep an eye on the prompt for a Finisher (usually the ‘F’ key or ‘Square/X’). When you trigger a finisher, you get a short animation. In the 2.0 update, you are NOT invincible during this animation (unless you have a specific perk or use the Sandevistan to ensure no one else can shoot you). Be careful using finishers in the middle of a crowded room on Very Hard difficulty.
However, finishers heal you. If you are low on health, find a weak enemy, leap, slice, and trigger the finisher to top up your health bar.
FAQ
Q: Can you unequip Mantis Blades? A: You can’t “unequip” them in the field to go back to bare fists. You have to visit a Ripperdoc and swap them for Gorilla Arms, Monowire, or just standard organic arms (if you’re boring).
Q: Do I need to use a Katana too? A: Not really. You can, but it’s redundant. I usually run Mantis Blades + a suppressed pistol (for stealth cameras) + a sniper rifle (for turrets).
Q: What mods can I put on Mantis Blades? A: In 2.0, mod slots on cyberware are different. You mostly upgrade the cyberware itself. However, you can find specific “Cyberware Mod” items like the “Electrifying” blade rotor. Check the Ripperdoc trade screen’s “Trade” tab, not the install tab, to see available mods.
Q: Which is better: Thermal or Physical? A: Physical is generally better for pure DPS builds because the “Bleed” status effect synergizes with more perks in the Reflexes tree. Thermal is great for crowd control because enemies panic when they are on fire, stopping them from shooting you.
Conclusion
The Mantis Blades in Cyberpunk 2077 have come a long way since launch. They went from being a buggy, cosmetic-heavy option to a legitimate endgame powerhouse.
With the 2.0 overhaul and the Relic tree from Phantom Liberty, you can finally live out that fantasy of being a chromed-out cyber-ninja. It takes a bit of practice to master the leap mechanics, and you definitely need to invest the eddies to get the Tier 5 versions, but the result is worth it.
So, head to your local Ripperdoc, get those arms chopped off, and install some Arasaka steel. Night City isn’t going to burn itself.
Wake up, Samurai.