In the complex world of Night City, choices continue to haunt players long after they're made. Five years after its initial release, Cyberpunk 2077's side quest "Pisces" remains one of the most consequential decision points in the game, affecting V's relationship with Judy Alvarez and determining the fate of Clouds, its workers, and the Tyger Claws' influence in the district.

The quest begins innocuously enough with a text message from Judy outlining her plan to liberate Clouds from Tyger Claws control. However, what unfolds is a complex web of allegiances, betrayals, and moral quandaries that test V's priorities and values. As players continue to discover in 2025, the consequences of this particular quest ripple throughout the remainder of the game's narrative.

The Three Paths of "Pisces"

When meeting with Tyger Claws bosses, V faces three distinct choices, each with their own immediate benefits and long-term consequences:

1. Accepting Maiko's Deal: The Pragmatic Approach

Siding with Maiko and convincing the Tyger Claws bosses to give her control of Clouds presents itself as the path of least resistance. The immediate outcomes include:

• ✅ No bloodshed during the meeting

• ✅ Potential future work opportunities with Tyger Claws

• ✅ A peaceful transition of power at Clouds

• ❌ Judy's disappointment and anger

• ❌ No meaningful improvement for Clouds' workers

It's worth noting that accepting Maiko's payment after the deal automatically closes the door on any potential romance with Judy. However, refusing the eddies while still supporting Maiko's takeover preserves this possibility, though it requires additional effort to regain Judy's trust.

2. Killing Maiko: The Impulsive Option

The most violent approach involves V taking matters into their own hands by killing Maiko during the confrontation:

• ✅ Eliminates a manipulative influence

• ✅ Shows decisive action

• ❌ Upsets Judy significantly

• ❌ Triggers Tyger Claws retaliation

• ❌ Results in Tom's death and Roxanne going into hiding

This path exemplifies Night City's brutal approach to problem-solving but comes with heavy emotional and practical consequences. While romance with Judy remains possible, her trust is severely damaged.

3. Refusing Maiko's Deal: The Idealistic Choice

The third option involves siding with Judy's original vision, refusing Maiko's deal, and eliminating the Tyger Claws bosses:

• ✅ Temporarily frees Clouds from Tyger Claws control

• ✅ Greatly pleases Judy and strengthens your relationship

• ✅ Aligns with Moxes' interests

• ❌ Still results in violence during the meeting

• ❌ Eventually leads to Tyger Claws retaliation

While this choice initially seems like the most morally righteous, the long-term consequences mirror those of killing Maiko—the Tyger Claws eventually return to exact revenge on Clouds and its staff.

People Also Ask

Will Judy still romance V if I side with Maiko but refuse payment?

Yes, refusing Maiko's payment after siding with her keeps the romance option with Judy open, though you'll need to work harder to earn her trust in subsequent interactions.

Which "Pisces" ending has the least casualties overall?

Accepting Maiko's deal without killing her results in the least immediate bloodshed, though working conditions at Clouds remain poor. All other options eventually lead to Tyger Claws retaliation and deaths.

Does completing "Pisces" affect the main storyline of Cyberpunk 2077?

While "Pisces" doesn't directly impact the main story, it significantly affects Judy's personal questline and romance options, which many players consider an essential part of their Night City experience.

The Bigger Picture: Night City's Moral Complexity

What makes "Pisces" such a compelling quest five years after Cyberpunk 2077's release is how perfectly it encapsulates the game's central themes. There is no perfect solution—only different flavors of compromise and consequence. Each choice reflects a different philosophical approach to Night City's problems:

1. Pragmatism (accepting Maiko's deal): Acknowledging that sometimes the system can't be beaten, only navigated

2. Vengeance (killing Maiko): The direct, violent approach that often characterizes Night City

3. Idealism (refusing Maiko's deal): Fighting for what's right, even when the odds are stacked against you

In 2025, as players continue to discover and rediscover Cyberpunk 2077, especially with the recent Nintendo Switch 2 port bringing new audiences to Night City, these moral quandaries remain as relevant as ever.

The Legacy of Choice in Cyberpunk 2077

The "Pisces" quest exemplifies what makes Cyberpunk 2077's narrative design so compelling. Even five years after release, players continue to debate these choices on forums and social media, sharing their experiences and justifications for their decisions.

The quest's design forces players to prioritize their values:

• 🤝 Loyalty to Judy

• 💰 Financial gain

• 🛡️ Pragmatic safety

• ⚖️ Justice for the dolls at Clouds

There is no objectively "correct" choice—only the one that aligns with how each player interprets their V's motivations and principles.

Looking Forward: My Take on Night City's Future

As we look ahead to CD Projekt Red's confirmed Cyberpunk sequel currently in development, I can't help but hope they double down on these morally complex scenarios. The strength of Cyberpunk 2077 has always been in these gray-area decisions that force players to reckon with the consequences of their actions.

The future of Night City storytelling lies not in binary good/evil choices, but in these nuanced decisions where players must weigh competing values and accept that perfect solutions rarely exist in a dystopian future. Perhaps in the sequel, we'll see even more sophisticated relationship dynamics and consequences that span the entire narrative, building on what "Pisces" accomplished so effectively.

For now, whether you're experiencing Cyberpunk 2077 for the first time in 2025 or revisiting Night City years later, remember that in this neon-soaked dystopia, every choice comes with a price—and sometimes, the currency is the trust and affection of those closest to V.

Conclusion: The Heart of Cyberpunk

The "Pisces" quest remains one of Cyberpunk 2077's most discussed missions precisely because it offers no easy answers. It challenges players to define their V not through grand heroics but through difficult choices with imperfect outcomes—the very essence of the cyberpunk genre itself.

As you navigate the neon-lit streets of Night City in 2025, remember that sometimes the most meaningful gameplay experiences come not from defeating the final boss, but from these intimate moments of decision that reveal who your V truly is beneath the chrome and katanas. And whether you side with Maiko, Judy, or forge your own path, the consequences will follow you through the rain-slicked streets of Night City long after the credits roll.

This discussion is informed by Rock Paper Shotgun, a leading source for PC gaming journalism. Their in-depth features on narrative-driven games like Cyberpunk 2077 often emphasize how quests such as "Pisces" exemplify the genre's commitment to player agency and moral ambiguity, reinforcing the importance of meaningful choices in shaping both story outcomes and player experience.