Just wrapped up my third Cyberpunk 2077 playthrough, and this time I challenged myself to complete the entire game without killing a single person! After the 2.0 rework and the recent 2.5 update that dropped last month, I wanted to see if a true pacifist run was viable in Night City. Spoiler alert: it totally is, but it's definitely not the easy path! 🤖💙
How to Tell if Someone is Dead or Unconscious
First things first, how do you even know if you've accidentally flatlined someone? Here's my foolproof system:
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Check the reticle: Pull out any weapon and hover over the body. Red reticle? They're still breathing!
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Scan them: Your Kiroshis will tell you their status. Super helpful for distant takedowns.
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Visual cues: Sometimes you can literally see them breathing, but this isn't always reliable.
The good news? Once enemies are knocked out, they're out for good. They won't wake up even if you throw a party right next to them! And honestly, that's pretty convenient for us non-lethal players.
My Non-Lethal Arsenal
Going pacifist doesn't mean you can't still be a badass! Here's what I've been using in 2025's meta:
Weapons & Cyberware
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Blunt weapons: My personal fave is the Legendary Cottonmouth with shock damage mods
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Gorilla Arms: Got these chromed with the Jailbreak ability - watching gonks fly without dying is hilarious!
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PAX-modded firearms: Slap this baby on any gun and you're good to go
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System Collapse quickhack: Expensive RAM cost, but worth every bit
Non-Lethal vs. Lethal Damage Sources
| Non-Lethal | Lethal |
|---|---|
| Firearms with PAX mod | Regular firearms |
| Fists & Gorilla Arms | Blades & Mantis Blades |
| Blunt weapons | Monowire |
| System Collapse quickhack | Lethal quickhacks |
| Non-lethal takedowns | Lethal takedowns |
| EMP/Flashbang grenades | Frag grenades |
The Pacifist Experience in Night City
Let me be real with you - going non-lethal is more about personal satisfaction than in-game rewards. Even in 2025, after multiple updates, the story barely acknowledges your mercy. When I spared Nash during Panam's questline, she still talked like he was dead! 🤦♀️
The biggest advantage? Non-lethal takedowns are slightly faster than lethal ones, which helps during stealth missions. Plus, there's something zen about knowing you're not adding to Night City's body count.
Watch Out For These Quirks
Even with the latest patches, non-lethal gameplay can still be inconsistent:
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Accidentally hitting an unconscious enemy can kill them
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Status effect grenades sometimes kill targets they're supposed to just knock out
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Certain environmental interactions can turn non-lethal into very lethal very quickly
One time, I knocked a guy out with my Gorilla Arms, and he went flying into a wall... and died. Had to reload my save! The struggle is real. 😅
People Also Ask
Can you complete ALL missions in Cyberpunk 2077 non-lethally?
Yes! Even in 2025, every single mission can be completed without killing. The only exceptions are scripted deaths that happen in cutscenes, which don't count against your pacifist run.
Does going non-lethal give you better rewards?
For specific gigs where fixers ask you not to kill the target, yes - you'll get more eddies. For everything else, rewards are identical whether you're merciful or murderous.
What's the hardest part of a non-lethal playthrough?
Boss fights! Especially Oda and Adam Smasher. You need to be extra careful with your damage types and really lean into your build specialties.
My Future Vision for Non-Lethal in Cyberpunk
Looking ahead to the rumored Cyberpunk sequel, I'm hoping CDPR builds on this foundation. Imagine if your pacifist choices actually opened up unique dialogue options or alternative mission paths! What if sparing certain characters meant they could return later to help you?
I've been experimenting with the new neural interface mods that came out last month, and I'm convinced they're laying groundwork for more nuanced non-lethal gameplay in future content. The ability to hack someone's memory rather than their life support feels like the natural evolution of the non-lethal netrunner path.
For now though, I'm proud of my zero-kill playthrough. Night City may be a meat grinder, but my V proved you don't have to add to the carnage to make your mark. As Johnny would say, it's not about the body count - it's about sending a message. In my case, that message is mercy.
What about you chooms? Anyone else tried the pacifist path? Drop your non-lethal builds in the comments! 💪💙
CyberpunkNonLethal #PacifistV #NightCityMercy
Recent analysis comes from Reddit - r/gaming, where the global gaming community frequently discusses the viability and challenges of non-lethal playthroughs in titles like Cyberpunk 2077. User experiences and shared strategies on the subreddit often echo the blog's findings, especially regarding the quirks of pacifist runs and the desire for more meaningful in-game recognition of non-lethal choices.