I’ve spent way too many hours tearing through Night City’s neon-drenched chaos since Cyberpunk 2077 launched, and let me tell you—nothing beats the thrill of a power weapon turning a tight alley brawl into a ricochet-filled fireworks show. Tech and smart weapons have their uses, but power weapons? They’re the ones that make you feel like a true Night City legend, even if you’re just bailing out of a botched gig with a bunch of corpo goons hot on your heels.

First off, let’s get one thing straight: not all power weapons are worth the eddies you’d spend modding them, let alone the inventory space they take up. I’ve wasted way too much time testing duds that left me wishing I’d just stuck to my trusty old katana or a well-timed quickhack. So I decided to dig into the updated 2023 list of the best (and worst) power weapons, and rank them based on how they actually perform in the thick of it—no fancy marketing fluff, just real Night City experience.

Let’s start with the absolute worst of the bunch, the one that made me want to throw my controller across the room: 25. Plan B. This thing is a joke, and not the funny kind. Its base weapon is the Constitutional Arms Liberty, but its iconic effect? It fires eddies instead of ammo. Yeah, you read that right—every shot costs you hard-earned cash. It’s already weak on DPS, so why would I blow my eddies on a gun that’s basically a fancy paperweight? I looted it from Dexter DeShawn’s corpse at the Municipal Landfill in Act II, and I sold it faster than you can say “Johnny Silverhand.” My wallet thanked me, trust me.

Next up is 24. Problem Solver, which is anything but. Its base is the M221 Saratoga, and it’s got an 85-round magazine and a crazy high fire rate—sounds great, right? Wrong. The recoil is so bad that it’s barely controllable. I once tried to take down a Wraiths squad from 20 feet away, and half my bullets ended up hitting the wall behind them. Medium-range engagements are a hard pass with this thing; it’s only useful if you’re right in someone’s face, and even then, you’re just as likely to shoot yourself in the foot. It’s like the gun has a mind of its own, and it hates you.

Then there’s 23. Doom Doom, a revolver that thinks it’s a shotgun. Its base is the DR5 Nova, and it fires four rounds per shot—cool, until you realize it takes forever to reload. I picked it up from Dum Dum during the “Second Conflict” mission, and while it’s fun to watch enemies get dismembered, it’s just too slow for my playstyle. If you’re into close-range chaos and don’t mind waiting 10 seconds between shots, go for it. But I’d rather have something that lets me keep the pressure on.

22. Bloody Maria is next, and it’s a mixed bag. Its base is the M2038 Tactician, and it’s got a high knockdown chance, plus it makes enemies bleed and get dismembered. I got it after finishing all of El Capitan’s gigs, and I’ll admit, it’s fun to blast someone and watch their body parts go flying. But the real selling point is the knockdown effect—you can stun-lock tough enemies with it, which is great. But let’s be real, there are better shotguns that can just kill those enemies outright, so it’s more of a novelty than a go-to weapon.

Speaking of better shotguns, 21. Sovereign is a step up. Its base is the DB-4 Igla, and it blasts both shells at the same time when you aim down sights. I got the crafting spec from Shinobu Amai during the “Modern Labor Market” organized crime gig in Japantown, and it’s a beast in close quarters. Any enemy in the same room as you gets ripped to shreds, but you have to be careful with your aim—its reduced spread means you can easily miss if you’re not steady. The reduced reload speed is nice, but honestly, a good katana still does better DPS up close.

Now we’re getting into the good stuff. 20. Archangel is a pistol that’s perfect for when a gig goes sideways. Its base is the Malorian Arms Overture, and it deals electrical damage, has a 15% chance to shock enemies, and 40% reduced recoil. I got it from Kerry Eurodyne after the “A Like Supreme” mission, and it’s a game-changer. The reduced recoil makes it way more accurate than other revolvers, and the electrical damage shocks enemies both when you hit them and when the bullets ricochet. It’s like having a stun gun and a pistol in one—total win.

19. The Headsman is another shotgun that’s worth your time. Its base is the M2038 Tactician, and it increases the number of projectiles per shot from 6 to 16. Yeah, you read that right—almost triple the pellets. I got the crafting spec from a Militech mech during the “Privacy Policy Violation” gig in North Oah, and it turns even the toughest enemies into swiss cheese. It’s got a few penalties—slower reload, lower fire rate, smaller clip size—but who cares? When you can turn a corpo goon into confetti with one shot, none of that matters.

18. Pride is a pistol that rewards precision. Its base is the Constitutional Arms Liberty, and it has a 10% higher crit chance, a 50% higher headshot damage multiplier, and a 5% chance to stun. I found it near Rogue’s corpse during “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door,” and it’s great for taking down bosses. The stun effect pairs perfectly with power weapons, and a few well-placed headshots can take down even the toughest foe. But it’s got low base damage, so you have to practice your aim—no spray and pray here.

17. Mox is a precision shotgun that’s perfect for Reflex builds. Its base is the Budget Arms Carnage, and it requires 6 Reflexes instead of 10 Body to use. I found it on a table in Judy’s apartment after finishing “Pyramid Song,” and it’s great if you build for Reflexes. It has reduced reload speed and spread when aiming, and it fires extra projectiles per shot. But if you’re a Body build, it’s not worth it—you’ll have to skip all those awesome shotgun perks to use it. It’s a niche weapon, but it’s great for the right build.

Last but not least, 16. Hypercritical is a precision rifle that’s a blast to use. Its base is the Rostović Kolac, and it fires explosive rounds that are guaranteed to knock over enemies. I got it from Tiny Mike during the “Concrete Cage Trap” gig, and it’s perfect for taking down squads of enemies. The quick fire rate means you can blow over entire groups before they can fire back, and the best part? The last round in each clip always deals crit damage. It’s like a little surprise for your enemies—boom, headshot, game over.

At the end of the day, the best power weapon for you depends on your playstyle. If you’re a close-range brawler, go for The Headsman or Sovereign. If you prefer precision, Archangel or Pride are great. And if you’re a Reflex build, Mox is a solid pick. Just skip Plan B—your eddies will thank you. Night City’s chaos is waiting, so grab your favorite power weapon and go make some noise.