Best Cyberdecks Ranked: Tier List for Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty

The Top 10 Cyberdecks Ranked

1. Tetratronic Rippler MK.5 

This is it. The best cyberdeck in Cyberpunk 2077, period. I don’t care what build you’re running – pure netrunner, hybrid gunslinger, stealth ghost – the Tetratronic Rippler MK.5 at Tier 5++ outperforms everything else when you max it out.

What you’re getting:

• RAM: 20 units (yes, twenty – that’s ridiculous)
• Quickhack Slots: 8
• Buffer Size: 4
• Cyberware Capacity: 16

Special abilities that actually matter: Here’s where it gets stupid good. You can hack while scanning (standard now), but you also get +12 max RAM on top of the base amount. That’s exclusive to this deck. Then there’s the +15% weapon damage against anyone you’ve hit with non-combat quickhacks, which creates some nasty combos if you’re running a hybrid build.

But the real kicker? When you activate Overclock, this thing automatically uploads Reboot Optics and Weapon Glitch to every enemy within 8 meters. Just… instant crowd control before the fight even starts. I’ve walked into rooms full of Maelstrom gangers, popped Overclock, and watched them all go blind and drop their weapons simultaneously. It’s beautiful.

Why it’s ranked #1: That 20 RAM capacity isn’t just a number – it means sustained quickhacking without constantly waiting for regen. You can chain System Collapse, Contagion, Overheat, whatever you want, and still have RAM left for utility hacks. The automatic Overclock uploads handle crowd control, the damage bonus rewards tactical thinking, and the massive RAM pool gives you room to breathe.

Where to actually find it: Any Ripperdoc once you hit Level 40. Base Tier 5 version costs around 35,000 eddies. Then you upgrade it to Tier 5++ using crafting components – specifically Tier 5 and Tier 5+ materials you get from disassembling high-tier weapons and gear.

Build synergy: Works with literally everything. Pure netrunner? Check. Smart weapons hybrid? Check. Monowire melee? Still check. This deck doesn’t force you into a corner.

2. Militech Canto MK.6

Now we’re getting into the weird stuff. The Militech Canto MK.6 is an urban legend among netrunners in-universe, and honestly? It lives up to the hype. This is Phantom Liberty exclusive and requires some specific choices during the campaign to even access.

Stats breakdown:

• RAM: 11 units 
• Quickhack Slots: 4-5 (one slot permanently locked to Blackwall Gateway)
• Buffer Size: 4
• Cyberware Capacity: 33

The Blackwall Gateway ability: This is why you want this deck. Blackwall Gateway is basically weaponized corruption from beyond the Blackwall – it spreads to 5 enemies within 30 meters and causes lethal damage to cyberware and neural systems. It instantly shuts down mechs, robots, drones, turrets. Just gone.

Each spread consumes RAM with increasing cost, but upload time gets shorter. And here’s the trade – you can cut RAM cost in half by paying with your health instead. High risk, massive reward.

Oh, and there’s a rogue AI living in this thing that occasionally talks to you. Which is totally not concerning at all. 😉

Why it’s ranked #2: Lower RAM and fewer quickhack slots would normally drop this down the list, but Blackwall Gateway is so absurdly powerful it doesn’t matter. You can clear entire rooms in seconds when surrounded by cyberware-heavy enemies. The instant mech shutdown alone makes certain missions trivial.

Where to get it (important – easy to miss): You need Phantom Liberty DLC. Then:

1. Side with Reed (not Songbird) during “Firestarter” – this is permanent, no going back
2. Complete “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos”
3. During “Somewhat Damaged”, find the crafting spec in the Experimental Prototyping room (access code: 714212)
4. Loot the Behavioral System Component from the Cerberus robot at mission’s end
5. Wait 24 hours in-game, visit Yoko’s shop in Kabuki Market to decrypt it
6. Craft using 12 Tier 5 Quickhack Components + 50 Tier 5 Item Components + decoded component

Miss any of these steps and you’re locked out permanently. No second chances.

Build focus: Blackwall-centric netrunner, crowd elimination, anti-tech warfare. This thing makes you feel like a digital reaper.

3. NetWatch Netdriver MK.1

NetWatch agents use this exclusively, and after testing it extensively I understand why. The NetWatch Netdriver is pure offense – maximum quickhack damage with instant multi-target uploads.

Core stats:

• RAM: 13 units
• Quickhack Slots: 8 
• Buffer Size: 4
• Cyberware Capacity: 25

What makes it lethal:

Why it’s #3: This cyberdeck makes you a ghost in the machine. The real power comes from hacking through devices. Any combat quickhack you channel through a camera or turret gets a massive +30% damage boost and +50% effect duration. Your Contagion will spread further and last longer, and a simple Overheat becomes a delayed death sentence. On top of that, all Device and Vehicle quickhacks cost 50% less RAM, making the world your tactical playground for a fraction of the cost.

Entire Maelstrom dem was cleared without stepping inside. Find a camera, upload an empowered Overheat on one gonk, then use the cheap device hacks to distract the others with a vending machine while the fire spreads. The -20% traceability bonus from cameras means you can cause chaos and they’ll have a harder time pinpointing your location. It’s a completely different, more strategic way to netrun.

Location: Can be purchased from any Ripperdoc at level 40 or higher.

Pro strategy: Forget direct assaults. Your best friend is any security camera you can find. Pair this deck with quickhacks that benefit from both damage and duration, like Contagion and Overheat. Initiate your attack from a camera to get the damage and duration bonus, then use the cheap Distract Enemies or Initiate Overload on nearby devices to keep them confused while your hacks cook them from the inside.

4. Arasaka MK.5 (Shadow)

If you’re running stealth netrunner like I do on second playthroughs, Arasaka MK.5 is your best friend. This deck is specifically designed for covert operations where getting detected means mission failure.

Statistics:

• RAM: 9 units
• Quickhack Slots: 8
• Buffer Size: 4
• Cyberware Capacity: 14

Stealth-focused abilities: -2 RAM cost for all covert quickhacks (Memory Wipe, Reboot Optics, Whistle, etc.). +5 RAM restored after any takedown (lethal or non-lethal). And here’s the big one – +100% increased time for enemies to trace your location when hacking.

That trace resistance is huge. Normally when you upload quickhacks, enemies start tracing your location and if they complete the trace they know exactly where you are. This deck doubles the time they need, which gives you massive breathing room to either finish uploads or reposition.

Why it’s #4: The -2 RAM cost creates a perfect feedback loop for stealth players. Covert quickhacks become cheaper, so you disable more enemies. Each takedown refunds +5 RAM, so you can keep going without waiting for natural regen. The trace resistance means even if things go sideways, you’ve got time to adapt.

I used this during a full ghost run of Arasaka Industrial Park and never got detected once despite quickhacking about 30 enemies. The RAM efficiency is just that good.

Where to buy: Buck’s Clinic in Kabuki, Watson district. Available at Level 40+, upgradeable to Tier 5++.

Synergy tip: Combine with Memory Wipe for actual invisibility. The reduced RAM cost means you can spam it, and the doubled trace time means you’re basically untraceable. Or use System Collapse for silent knockouts that feed RAM back for continuous operations.

5. Raven Microcyber MK.3

The Raven Microcyber is a netrunner’s dream for crowd control, as it fundamentally changes how quickhacks spread. Most cyberdecks require you to wait for the first upload to finish before it spreads this one makes the infection instantaneous.

Stats:

• RAM: 9 units
• Quickhack Slots: 8
• Buffer Size: 4
• Cyberware Capacity: 20

Spread mechanics: The key here is the +100% spread distance, which doubles the range of your spreading quickhacks. But the real game-changer is that quickhacks spread to all valid enemies immediately, without waiting for the initial upload to finish. This completely transforms the battlefield. Furthermore, while Overclock is active, every quickhack has a +15% chance to spread to 2 additional nearby enemies, turning a single cast into a potential plague.

But here’s the game-changer – instant spread activation. All enemies in range get affected immediately without needing the first target to die. This completely changes Contagion builds.

Why it’s #5: That instant spread is absolutely devastating with a Contagion build. You can upload Contagion to one enemy in a group, and every single gonk within the massive, doubled range gets poisoned simultaneously. Follow that up with an Overheat, and you’ll trigger a chain reaction of poison explosions, creating a toxic cloud that melts anyone left standing. It’s pure, chaotic carnage. This cyberdeck turns you into a walking biohazard, capable of wiping out entire groups before they can even fire a shot.

Location (post-2.0 update): Dr. Chrome’s clinic in Kabuki, Watson (southwest of Kabuki Market). Requires Street Cred 40 now (used to be 14 pre-2.0). Price ranges from 28,000-35,000 eddies.

Important note: It can be difficult to find the MK.4 version after Update 2.0 since CDPR changed tiering systems. You might need to buy a lower tier and upgrade it manually using crafting components.

Tactical application: This deck was built for Contagion. Start a fight by targeting one enemy in the middle of a pack. The instant, long-range spread will infect everyone. While they’re choking, activate Overclock and cast it again for a high chance to spread to even more targets, blanketing the area in poison. It’s the ultimate way to control the crowd and assert your dominance as the premier netrunner in Night City.

6. Militech Paraline MK.4

You start with this cyberdeck. Most players toss it immediately. That’s a mistake. When upgraded to Tier 5++, the Militech Paraline MK.4 becomes one of the most versatile hybrid decks in the game.

Base statistics:

• RAM: 9 units
• Quickhack Slots: 8
• Buffer Size: 4
• Cyberware Capacity: 14

Hybrid synergies: +10% quickhack damage (unlocks at Tier 2 – flat bonus regardless of build). +2% monowire damage per RAM unit used (maximum +30%). Shooting smart weapons accelerates quickhack upload speed. During Overclock: smart weapons and monowire deal +25-60% bonus electrical damage (scales with tier).

Why it’s #6: This is the only cyberdeck specifically designed for hybrid netrunner-gunfighter builds. You upload a quickhack, then finish enemies with smart weapon fire that deals bonus electrical damage during Overclock. Or you burn through RAM with quickhacks, then switch to monowire which now deals massive bonus damage based on RAM spent.

The smart weapon upload acceleration is kinda brilliant – you start uploading a hack, then shoot the target with smart weapons to make it upload faster. It’s active, it’s tactical, and it feels way more interactive than just waiting for uploads.

Acquisition: You already have it. Just upgrade it at any Ripperdoc as you level. Don’t discard this thing.

Weapon recommendations: Pair with Yinglong SMG, Pizdets, Prototype Shingen Mark V, or Divided We Stand. The auto-tracking smart weapon fire combined with electrical damage during Overclock shreds enemies.

Build tip: This works really well for players who get bored of pure netrunning. Upload quickhacks to soften targets, then finish with smart weapons. Or go monowire when you’re low on RAM since each point spent increases monowire damage.

7. Fuyutsuki Tinkerer

The Fuyutsuki Tinkerer MK.3 is a unique cyberdeck purpose-built for hybrid netrunners who weave Monowire attacks between their damage-over-time quickhacks. It’s for those who like to watch their enemies burn while they close in for the kill.

Core stats:

• RAM: 8 units 
• Quickhack Slots: 8
• Buffer Size: 4
• Cyberware Capacity: 20

DOT and Monowire Synergy:Increases cyberdeck RAM recovery rate by 3 units per 60 seconds, +10% damage-over-time with quickhacks, +25% Monowire damage against enemies already affected by a damage-over-time effect., +2% Monowire damage per used RAM unit (max. +30%)

Why it’s #7: his cyberdeck creates a deadly feedback loop between your quickhacks and your Monowire. The strategy is simple: soften up a group with a DOT quickhack like Contagion or Overheat, and then wade in with your Monowire to deal an extra 25% damage to all the suffering enemies.

The real beauty is the second Monowire perk. After you’ve emptied your RAM with a flurry of hacks, your Monowire can gain up to an additional 30% damage. This encourages an aggressive rhythm: unleash your quickhacks from a distance, then, while your RAM is low and your enemies are burning, you become a melee powerhouse. The passive RAM recovery ensures you’re ready to start the cycle again after you’ve sliced through the survivors.

Location: Ripperdoc at West Wind Estate, Pacifica. Requires Street Cred 40 and costs 35,000 eddies. Its no longer sold after 2.0, so use this mod to restore it and this store mod.

Post-2.0 availability note: Some Ripperdocs no longer sell this directly after Update 2.0. You might need to check specific vendors or… yeah, there are mods that restore availability if you’re desperate.

Build strategy: This is the ultimate deck for a Monowire/Netrunner hybrid. Initiate combat with Contagion to apply a DOT effect to a group. As they start taking damage, your Monowire is primed to do an extra 25% damage. Use Overclock to fire off more DOTs, draining your RAM and boosting your Monowire damage even further (up to +30%). The synergy between sustained quickhack damage and high burst melee attacks makes this one of the most satisfying and aggressive netrunning builds in the game.

8. Stephenson Tech MK.4

The Stephenson Tech MK.4 is built for the ultimate stealth netrunner who loves to control the battlefield with non-combat quickhacks before unleashing a devastating offensive. It’s about setting up your victory in the shadows.

Statistics at Tier 5:

• RAM: 9 units
• Quickhack Slots: 8
• Buffer Size: 4
• Cyberware Capacity: 20

Cooldown-focused abilities: All quickhack cooldowns reduced by 45% (absurd reduction). Combat quickhack duration increased by 50%. Quickhack upload time reduced by 25%.

Why it’s #8: This cyberdeck is all about preparation and execution. The massive 75% duration increase for non-combat quickhacks lets you control the environment for extended periods. You can reboot optics, disable weapons, or bait enemies into traps and have those effects last long enough to set up your attack. The near-instantaneous 45% faster upload speed means you can deploy these control hacks without being detected.

Once your targets are vulnerable, the fun begins. Any enemy affected by a non-combat hack takes an extra 15% damage from your follow-up combat quickhacks. Activate Overclock to get a huge pool of bonus RAM, then start neutralizing targets. Each takedown extends Overclock’s duration, allowing you to sustain your assault and clear rooms methodically.

Location: Was available at Ripperdoc at West Wind Estate, Pacifica. Requires Street Cred 37 and costs 28,000-35,000 eddies depending on version. Now use Stephenson Tech mod.

Pro tip: This deck is perfect for a “ghost” playstyle. Start an encounter by using non-combat hacks like Reboot Optics or Weapon Glitch on a group of enemies. With the massive duration bonus, you’ll have a wide window to act. Activate Overclock, then target the debuffed enemies with a high-damage quickhack like Synapse Burnout. The 15% damage bonus will make short work of them, and each kill will refresh Overclock, letting you chain your attacks across the entire combat zone.

9. Biotech Σ Mk.4

Don’t let the lower RAM fool you; the Biotech Σ MK.4 is a specialized monster designed for a relentless damage-over-time (DOT) and Monowire assault. This deck thrives on keeping your enemies constantly burning, poisoned, or shocked.

Core stats:

• RAM: 9 units 
• Quickhack Slots: 8
• Buffer Size: 4
• Cyberware Capacity: 16

Relentless DOT Synergy: Enjoy a +60% duration for combat quickhacks and +10% damage-over-time, while your Monowire deals +25% damage against enemies suffering from those effects. Best of all, activating Overclock resets the duration of all your active damage-over-time quickhacks, keeping the pain train rolling.

Why it’s #9: This cyberdeck is all about maximizing your DOTs. The +60% duration for combat quickhacks like Contagion and Overheat is already massive, ensuring your enemies cook for an exceptionally long time. This pairs perfectly with the +10% DOT damage, making each tick hit harder.

But the real killer feature is the Overclock synergy. Activating Overclock instantly resets the duration of all your active DOTs. This means you can apply Contagion to an entire group, let it tick down, and just as it’s about to expire, hit Overclock to make it start all over again. This allows for near-permanent uptime on your most powerful damage effects. And while they’re suffering, your Monowire gets a sweet +25% damage boost against them, letting you clean up any stragglers with ease.

Acquisition: Can be purchased from any Ripperdoc after level 10.In Phantom Liberty Can be obtained from a scripted airdrop in the parking lot outside the Akebono hotel in Luxor Heights.

Strategy: Start by applying Contagion and Overheat to a priority target or a cluster of enemies. Let the DOTs work their magic. Just before the effects wear off, activate Overclock. This will not only refresh their duration but also give you the health and RAM to go on the offensive with your Monowire, which will now be hitting for extra damage. It’s a devastating one-two punch that combines tactical netrunning with aggressive melee.

10. Tetratronic Rippler MK.4

This cyberdeck is a netrunner-mercenary’s dream, perfectly blending devastating quickhacks with potent gunplay. It’s designed for the choom who likes to soften up targets with hacks before finishing them off with a well-placed bullet.

Statistics (Legendary):

• RAM: 13 units
• Quickhack Slots: 8
• Buffer Size: 4
• Cyberware Capacity: 16

Ultimate quickhack focus: Ultimate quickhacks can spread once to an additional target. Quickhack upload time reduced by 75% (nearly instant uploads). Ultimate quickhack RAM cost reduced by 3. Quickhack cooldowns reduced by 45%.

Why it’s #10: The Tetratronic Rippler MK.4 excels at creating powerful one-two punches. The core strategy revolves around its unique queuing bonus: hit an enemy with a non-combat quickhack like Reboot Optics or Weapon Glitch, then immediately queue up a combat quickhack like Short Circuit. That second hack will hit for a massive +40% damage.

But it doesn’t stop there. While that enemy is blinded or fumbling with their weapon, you also gain a +15% weapon damage bonus against them. This allows for a brutal and efficient combat loop: debuff an enemy, hit them with a high-damage hack, and then finish them off with your firearm while they’re still reeling. The bonus +5 Max RAM gives you a deeper pool to draw from, ensuring you can execute these powerful combos consistently.

Location: Can be purchased from any Ripperdoc.

Upgrade path: Use this as a bridge between Level 30-39, then upgrade to MK.5 at Level 40. The reduced ultimate quickhack costs make mid-game elite enemies and bosses significantly easier to handle.

Cyberdeck Tier List Side-by-Side

Summing up My Thoughts on Decks

The Tetratronic Rippler MK.5 is likely the best overall deck if you’re min-maxing for versatility, but specialized decks like the Arasaka MK.5 for stealth or the NetWatch Netdriver MK.1 for device-based offense can outperform it in specific scenarios. The Militech Canto MK.6 with its Blackwall Gateway is in a league of its own for clearing cyberware-heavy groups, but its strict acquisition requirements mean most players won’t see it.

What surprised me most was how viable hybrid decks have become. The Militech Paraline MK.4 (your starter deck) and the Fuyutsuki Tinkerer MK.3 both offer incredible synergies for players who want to blend quickhacking with Monowire or Smart Weapon combat. You no longer have to be just a pure netrunner; these decks reward a more dynamic playstyle.

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