Lucy Build - Edgerunners

Lucy Build - Edgerunners - Cyberpunk 2077

By zanuffas
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This post covers the Best Lucy Build for Cyberpunk 2077. She is one of the main characters in the anime - Edgerunners. Being an expert netrunner she is David Martinez's friend and later becomes lover. Through the anime we see her using quickhacks, diving to the NET, and using her iconic weapon - Monowire. I will also leave the build for some personal interpretation.

Lucy Build

This was quite a hard build to make. Representing an anime character where the world rules may be different from what the Cyberpunk 2077 game offers. Lucy is a highest-tier netrunner, capable of uploading Daemons and quickhacks in a very quick manner.

She also uses Monowire throughout the anime, which is even deadlier - tearing enemy limbs or shredding them to pieces. In the game it is also a very powerful weapon and has huge synergies with Netrunning - recover RAM, quickhack upload through melee attacks, etc.

The difficult part of making this build comes from a simple thing - pistols. You would think this sounds strange. Unfortunately, they hardly fit in the Netrunner theme, because you have to invest in Cool attribute.

This would not be a problem, but by the time you get Cool to 15, to get the good pistol perks, your Monowire and Quickhacks will be at a different level. This leaves no need for Pistols at all, maybe just for some boss encounters. For this reason, I decided to concentrate on recreating Lucy's theme with Monowire and quickhacks but leaving some leeway for the player

Let's jump into the build.

Attributes

First, let's go through attributes, they will decide the direction of the build and give access to different tiers of perks. The higher tier gives better actions and passives to further support the build. Let's take a look at what we need for the Lucy Build.

lucy cyberpunk 2077

Starting Game

Here are what attributes you should be taking at the start of the game.

Attribute Allocation Description
ico_intIntelligence +3 The main attribute of the build will give increased RAM and quickhack-related perks.
ico_bodyBody +2 Unlocks the first tier of perks
ico_refReflexes +1 Unlocks the first tier of perks, and will give some mobility perks.
ico_techTechnical Ability +1 You will mainly need to unlock the first-tier perks for now.

End Game Attributes

Here is the goal of Lucy Build. The build is already powerful by level 41, and this is where I leave it. After that you are free to invest where you prefer - Cool for Pistols, Technical Ability, for more Cyberware, Body, for more HP and improved Adrenaline RushAdrenaline Rush

Attribute Total Allocation Description
ico_refReflexes 9 I don't think I can play this game without DashDash​ anymore.
ico_bodyBody 15 I think the body attribute is crucial for any Netrunner-type build. Once you use OverclockOverclock​ the additional layer of HP from Adrenaline RushAdrenaline Rush​ will do wonders for survivability.
ico_techTechnical Ability 15 I think it is appropriate that Lucy is not as chromed as David Martinez, leaving it at 15 is perfect balance.
ico_coolCool 3 Although Lucy uses a Pistol, it's not something that has been used to a large extent, just one of the ways she intimidates foes
ico_intIntelligence 20 The main attribute of Netrunning gives proficiencies with quickhacks and Monowire.

Leveling Progression

To improve the build understanding and give you some direction here is the recommended leveling progression. Use it more as a guideline to create your Lucy build. Once you start "Feeling" your playstyle you can deviate and pick your perks to better suit your style!

Level Attribute Perk
1 +3 Intelligence
+2 Body
+1 Reflexes
+1 Technical Ability
-
2 +1 Intelligence 7 OptimizationOptimization
3 +1 Intelligence 8 PainkillerPainkiller
4 +1 Intelligence 9 Embedded ExploitEmbedded Exploit
Support me on Ko-Fi or Patreon to access Lucy's Build optimal level-by-level progression. Avoid picking the wrong attributes, for the best experience!

Perks

Let's go through the perks of the Lucy Build. We will go through about 45~ perk points for the build, and the game awards about 80. So you will have perk points left to adjust the build to your needs. However, the core of it is enough with the former.

Intelligence Perks

This is the main perk tree for the Lucy build to work. It will unlock both melee combat perks and quickhacking ones.

lucy build intelligence perks cyberpunk 2077

Level 4 Perks

Perk Description
Eye in the Sky perk icon cyberpunk 2077Eye in the Sky You mainly take it for progression, it is also useful early in the game when you do not have much RAM capacity. So using cameras saves a little. I do not use them.
Warning: Explosion Hazard perk icon cyberpunk 2077Warning: Explosion Hazard This is a very cool perk. You can create explosions from various containers around the world by hacking them. This will boost that damage, sometimes doing even more than dedicated combat quickhacks.
Optimization perk icon cyberpunk 2077Optimization Simple RAM recovery increase. We need the perk to progress further

Level 9 Perks

Perk Description
Embedded Exploit perk icon cyberpunk 2077Embedded Exploit To fully utilize the damage potential, be sure to first upload something like Ping, Cyberware Malfunction, or Sonic Shock. This will easily boost your damage, I recommend this combo against elite foes.
ICEpick perk icon cyberpunk 2077ICEpick Some bonus RAM savings when mixing quickhacks.
Siphon perk icon cyberpunk 2077Siphon One of two main perks specifically for Monowire. Now each hit restores RAM. I recommend also activating Contagion on them and using Thermal Monowire for the explosion combo as a side effect.
Hack Queue perk icon cyberpunk 2077Hack Queue Allows the creation of some sweet combos and utilizes unique effects with the next perks.
Feedback Loop perk icon cyberpunk 2077Feedback Loop Easy bonus RAM recovery rate.
Data Recycler perk icon cyberpunk 2077Data Recycler With OverclockOverclock and Blood DaemonBlood Daemon, this perk will allow us to obtain RAM from health
Counter-a-hack perk icon cyberpunk 2077Counter-a-hack Reveals enemy netrunners when they are hacking you, but we are taking this for the next perk.
Copy-Paste perk icon cyberpunk 2077Copy-Paste This is a huge perk, that can instantly upload Suicide or Burnout Synapse to all of the enemies.

Level 15 Perks

Perk Description
Overclock perk icon cyberpunk 2077Overclock The ultimate perk of Lucy's build. You can sacrifice HP to obtain additional RAM. Pairing it with Hack QueueHack Queue, Blood DaemonBlood Daemon, and Burnout Synapse, allows you to sustain this effect infinitely.
Sublimation perk icon cyberpunk 2077Sublimation Improves survivability and unlocks the next perk in the tree
Race Against Mind perk icon cyberpunk 2077Race Against Mind More damage to the lower HP? This is auto-pick for the build
Queue Acceleration perk icon cyberpunk 2077Queue Acceleration Further improves queue size, allowing the creation of even more powerful combos
Finisher: Live Wire perk icon cyberpunk 2077Finisher: Live Wire This perk will take the Monowire to the next level. It will give a big RAM regeneration, activate synergy with Suicide quickhack, and also give a brief period of invulnerability while doing the finisher
Queue Hack_Root perk icon cyberpunk 2077Queue Hack_Root Nothing special, just a small improvement to save RAM. It will also unlock the next perk.
Blood Daemon perk icon cyberpunk 2077Blood Daemon This is a bad boy. It unlocks huge potential for OverclockOverclock allowing you to regain your lost health.
Queue Prioritization perk icon cyberpunk 2077Queue Prioritization Faster upload speed for the first Quickhack, when you fill up the queue.

Level 20 Perks

Perk Description
Queue Mastery perk icon cyberpunk 2077Queue Mastery Once you get this perk, be sure to always fill the queue for lockdown. I recommend using Cyberware Malfunction as it is cheap. This will result in +15% higher damage against the target.
Spillover perk icon cyberpunk 2077Spillover Occasional double hack? No reason not to take it as OverclockOverclock will be constantly active.

Body Perks

This is a very important perk tree. Although we will only take a few perks, they will play a huge role in higher survivability. First, as this is half a melee build, enemy bullets will hit you often. Second, while OverclockOverclock is active, having some survivability will ensure that Lucy's build will not die once spending all HP on quickhacks.

lucy build body perks cyberpunk 2077

Level 4 Perks

Perk Description
Painkiller perk icon cyberpunk 2077Painkiller Allows regenerating HP during combat. This is very valuable, especially in the early game, where you often may not have healing items.
Comeback Kid perk icon cyberpunk 2077Comeback Kid Faster HP regeneration the closer to the death you are.
Dorph-head perk icon cyberpunk 2077Dorph-head A brief damage reduction from mitigation for 2 seconds. Very valuable once you are in a shootout

Level 15 Perks

Perk Description
Adrenaline Rush perk icon cyberpunk 2077Adrenaline Rush Gives a huge survivability boost by unlocking a new health bar after activating a healing item. It will ensure that you don't die while using OverclockOverclock and with the next perks gives some good bonuses.
Juggernaut perk icon cyberpunk 2077Juggernaut Once Adrenaline RushAdrenaline Rush is up and running this will give a decent boost to all damage and faster movement speed
Calm Mind perk icon cyberpunk 2077Calm Mind Delay of Adrenaline RushAdrenaline Rush decaying.

Technical Ability Perks

In anime Lucy has a decent amount of cyberware implants, of course, it was not as much as David Martinez. So we are replicating partially this setup and also improving what we can use with the build.

Level 4 Perks

Perk Description
Glutton for War perk icon cyberpunk 2077Glutton for War As healing items play an important role in this build, the perk ensures that you regain them faster.

Level 9 Perks

Perk Description
All Things Cyber perk icon cyberpunk 2077All Things Cyber Lower cyberware capacity cost for some slots and bonus stat modifier increase.
Renaissance Punk perk icon cyberpunk 2077Renaissance Punk Additional cyberware capacity based on the attributes invested.

Level 15 Perks

Perk Description
License to Chrome perk icon cyberpunk 2077License to Chrome A new cyberware slot and bonus armor

Reflexes Perks

This tree will give a small boost to critical chance with Monowire. Moreover, we want to unlock DashDash for greater traversal and mobility capabilities.

lucy build reflexes perks cyberpunk 2077

Level 4 Perks

Perk Description
Slippery perk icon cyberpunk 2077Slippery We mainly take this for progression

Level 9 Perks

Perk Description
Dash perk icon cyberpunk 2077Dash The main perk that improves the mobility of Lucy's build.

What to do with the rest of the Perks and Attributes?

The Lucy build is more or less done by level 45 or earlier, depending on your skill progression and collected perk shards. Here are some suggestions on how you may evolve the build further:

  • Going for Pistols and Cool Tree. This would be somewhat relevant to the anime, as Lucy has used the Pistol weapon occasionally. However, at this level, you will probably be taking out enemies left and right with quickhacks, which leaves the pistols somewhat useless.
  • Going more in Tech Tree to get PyromaniaPyromania, Health FreakHealth Freak,​ and Ticking Time BombTicking Time Bomb​ for huge bonuses to defensive stats and explosions you make. You could also pick EdgerunnerEdgerunner​ in the meantime, but I would leave it for David Martinez build if you want to stay true to the source material.
  • Take more perks in Reflexes, to unlock Air Dash for very high mobility to move around the Night City and the battlefield. This will allow you to create some sick combos and gain huge defensive boosts while moving around.

Perks - Relic

These perks are available with Phantom Liberty DLC. They will give further improvements to some of the game mechanics. It is especially powerful with Arm cyberware giving them unique effects.

monowire build relic perks cyberpunk 2077

Priority Perk Description
1 Jailbreak perk icon cyberpunk 2077Jailbreak With the new relic perk, arm cyberware gets powerful enhancements. Monowire specifically, can upload control quickhacks with Strong attacks.
2 Data Tunneling perk icon cyberpunk 2077Data Tunneling Improvement to quickhack uploads for Monowire.
3 Vulnerability Analytics perk icon cyberpunk 2077Vulnerability Analytics Shows vulnerabilities, that allow for huge damage boosts when hit with Monowire. Especially useful against stronger enemies.
4 Machine Learning perk icon cyberpunk 2077Machine Learning Increases the frequency of vulnerabilities.

Combat and Tips

Here I would like to share some suggestions on how to utilize the Lucy build to the maximum.

The Early Game problems

Unfortunately, early games with Lucy build, especially on Very Hard can be brutal. First, you don't get a Monowire until level 10. Second, low RAM and limited netrunning capabilities allow only a few quickhack uploads, while you have to wait for the recovery.

For this reason, I recommend using or carrying a pistol, to make the early level easier. Also, don't forget about grenades. You will be getting better and better and it starts becoming easier from level 15. Do not let this deter you as you can see from the showcases, Lucy is a beast in later levels.

Monowire to fuel quickhacks

The beautiful part of the monowire is that it's not just a tool to mindlessly spam attacks. It now synergizes with some perks and quickhacks. The main roles it is used:

  • Regenerate RAM with basic attacks and Finisher: Live WireFinisher: Live Wire
  • Decreases costs of ultimate quickhack Suicide.
  • JailbreakJailbreak and Data TunnelingData Tunneling to cripple or disable enemies with instant quickhack uploads
  • Detonating explosions with Thermal Monowire
  • And many more

The weapon unlocks multiple strategic approaches and gives a breath of fresh air to general Netrunner build, where you would use just quickhacks. This allows easily to take out something like MaxTac

Quickhack Combos

The major aspect of playing a character that uses Quickhacks is combining them. I recommend reading the Quickhack Combo guide as there are many of them. The ones that are worth using with Monowire build are:

  • Melee Finishers + Suicide
  • Contagion + Overheat or Thermal Monowire
  • 2x explosions from the above or gas tanks + Detonate Grenade.
  • OverclockOverclock + Burnout Synapse

Using quickhacks alone really impedes any type of netrunner build, because they cost a lot and many of them don't reveal their full potential before that. This is why you have to create combos.

Install Lucy Mod

If you are willing to be Lucy yourself, why not also have it as a companion? An amazing Lucy mod was created by xBaebsae. There are also other mods related to her on Nexus Mods that you can try. Have fun!

Equipment

Because this is a netrunner-type build, for the late game there is not a big need for weapons. However, there are a few considerations, first early levels before you unlock Monowire. Second, some encounters may need a ranged weapon to make it easier. Third, Lucy carried a Pistol with her

So I list a few options that you could pick throughout the game

Pistols

Item Description
unity cyberpunk 2077Unity
A basic pistol, that Lucy uses in the anime. Be sure to get the highest tier that drops.
scorch cyberpunk 2077Scorch Iconic pistol that can be charged up to release three burning shots.
dying light cyberpunk 2077Dying Light The first iconic ranged weapon that you will obtain. For maximum effectiveness hold the trigger as it has a fast fire rate and deals decent damage with headshots.

Cyberware

Cyberware is a unique mechanic that allows us to fill the build with implants. Early games can be quite difficult as you will have limited capacity. However, as you progress and drop more Capacity Shards, you will be able to equip more. I will be covering here what is your goal for the end game, to make the build as powerful as possible

First Priority Cyberware

This is what is essential to make the build work. I would even recommend dropping everything else to equip these if cyberware capacity doesn't allow it. These cyberware selections make the core of the build.

Slot Cyberware Description
Frontal Cortex 1 COX-2 Cybersomatic Optimizer cyberware cyberpunk 2077COX-2 Cybersomatic Optimizer The all-powerful cyberware that makes quickhacks deal critical hits. It is also currently somewhat bugged giving a crazy 1000% damage boost.
bioconductor cyberpunk 2077Bioconductor The inferior version of COX-2 Cybersomatic Optimizer, however, comes with less cyberware capacity cost and less RAM reduction.
Arms thermal monowire cyberpunk 2077Thermal Monowire
The main melee weapon of Lucy Build appears in Ripperdoc inventories from level 10.
Skeleton 1 epimorphic skeletonc cyberpunk 2077Epimorphic Skeleton Gives a boost to armor and health. This will allow using more quickhacks with OverclockOverclock​ active.
Integumentary System 1 subdermal armor cyberpunk 2077Subdermal Armor Gives a huge armor boost compared to cyberware capacity cost.
Operating System 1 militech paraline cyberdeck cyberpunk 2077Militech Paraline Mk. 4 Ultimate cyberdeck if you heavily use Monowire. Gives bonus damage based on RAM used up. Moreover, while in OverclockOverclock, grants a huge boost to damage.
tetratronic rippler cyberpunk 2077Tetratronic Rippler Mk.5 The best cyberdeck for pure damage with quickhacks like Short Circuit and Burnout Synapse.
biotech cyberdeck cyberpunk 2077Biotech Σ Mk.4 This option synergizes well with Monowire and quickhacks like Contagion or Overheat. You constantly want to have these active so that monowire would get bonus damage.
raven microcyber cyberdeck cyberpunk 2077Raven Microcyber Mk.3 Watch Contagion spread to all enemies, and use Thermal Monowire to explode them one by one. The Cyberdeck does not give any benefits to Monowire directly, but greatly boosts spreading quickhacks.
Face 1 kiroshi sentry optics cyberpunk 2077Kiroshi "Sentry" Optics
We mainly take this one for damage scaling based on Intelligence. It's not much, but having Face cyberware is necessary.
Circulatory System 1 biomonitor cyberpunk 2077Biomonitor Automatically restores health by using healing items. I started loving this one, as you do not need to waste time and concentrate just on the combat.
Circulatory System 2 bloodpump cyberpunk 2077Blood Pump The best health regeneration item and cyberware. It will also activate Adrenaline RushAdrenaline Rush for us.
Legs reinforced tendons cyberpunk 2077Reinforced Tendons My personal favorite makes traversing much easier.
fortified ankles cyberpunk 2077Fortified Ankles Gives the highest jumps and high boost to armor compared to cyberware capacity cost. But you need to hold the jump button.

You can also equip quickhacks. Here are the recommended ones for Monowire:

Item Description
cripple movement cyberpunk 2077Cripple Movement Glues enemies in place, but more importantly increases melee damage and Finisher effectiveness.
weapon glitch cyberpunk 2077Weapon Glitch Disables enemy primary weapon making most of them very weak.

I recommend reading the Quickhack Combo guide, to decide on the most relevant quickhacks for you. These are my recommended options for Cyberdeck:

Item Description
contagion cyberpunk 2077Contagion This is a very powerful combo. First, you upload Contagion, followed by Overheat. This will create an explosion that removes contagion but should either kill or greatly weaken enemies. The good thing is that Contagion in the meantime will start spreading to other enemies. You can also use a Thermal Monowire as an alternative
overheat cyberpunk 2077Overheat
detonate grenade cyberpunk 2077Detonate Grenade It is an ultimate quickhack so you may not get access to it early. However, once you get pick it you can use it very cheaply after creating explosions with the above combo.
burnout synapse cyberpunk 2077Burnout Synapse The main damage dealer quickhack. Allows extending OverclockOverclock and deals heavy damage the less RAM you have.
short circuit cyberpunk 2077Short Circuit A very powerful quickhack that deals electrical damage. It is very effective against robots, drones, mechs, etc.
suicide cyberpunk 2077Suicide
With Monowire Finisher: Live WireFinisher: Live Wire, it is easy to reduce the cost of this quickhack to 4 RAM. This instantly kills most normal and Elite foes.
sonic shock cyberpunk 2077Sonic Shock
With this Quikchack you can easily isolate an enemy and it will not activate tracing. Follow it with combat quickhacks to ensure a kill without drawing any attention.
cyberware malfunction cyberpunk 2077Cyberware Malfunction I recommend using this one as a filler, to activate Blood DaemonBlood Daemon or get bonus damage from Embedded ExploitEmbedded Exploit. Moreover, by itself, this perk also increases the damage dealt.

Secondary Cyberware

These cyberware, are upgrades to the core of the build. Gives better defenses, more HP, and better RAM recovery

Slot Cyberware Description
Frontal Cortex 2 ram reallocator cyberpunk 2077RAM Reallocator
A very powerful cyberware that you will be able to activate very often thanks, to OverclockOverclock​ and Data RecyclerData Recycler. Also, getting Axoltl will greatly reduce the cooldown, allowing you to constantly regain RAM. it has 15 base cooldown
camillo ram manager cyberpunk 2077Camillo RAM Manager
The normal version has a much longer cooldown, but can also be effective due to its low cyberware cost.
Frontal Cortex 3 newton module cyberpunk 2077Axolotl
This cyberware will take the build to the ultimate level. It has a very steep cyberware capacity cost, and probably without EdgerunnerEdgerunner,​ you will need tons of farming. But it gives cooldown reductions for everything - OverclockOverclock, RAM Reallocator, and any other cyberware.
newton module cyberpunk 2077Newton Module Gives a cyberware cooldown reduction after taking out an enemy. It is not much, however, with multiple kills, the effect adds up.
Skeleton 2 ram recoup cyberpunk 2077RAM Recoup
The build will get hit and shot a lot, so use that to regain RAM
Skeleton 3 dense marrow cyberpunk 2077Dense Marrow
Increases melee damage of Monowire
Nervous System 1 neofiber cyberpunk 2077Neofiber Gives bonus survivability by increasing mitigation chance and strength.
Nervous System 2 synaptic accelerator cyberpunk 2077Synaptic Accelerator
This will give you some breathing room when you are close to being detected. You can initiate quickhacks or attacks and get an advantage on your foes.
Integumentary System 1 carapace cyberpunk 2077Carapace Has a really good armor boost ratio compared to cyberware cost. Moreover, has an additional effect when attacked from flanks.
Hands smart link cyberpunk 2077Smart-Link
If you plan on using Smart weapons, otherwise skip it.
Circulatory System 3 heal on kill cyberpunk 2077Heal-on-Kill Each target killed will additionally restore HP. This may be optional in the late game, as you will be already overpowered.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading this post on the best Lucy build in Cyberpunk 2077. I hope you enjoyed reading this build and it gave you an inspiration to replicate this amazing character from Edgerunners anime.

Feel free to leave a comment below!

Discussion

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Post author zanuffas avatar zanuffas
Gamestegy Founder. I have been writing game guides and builds for 4 years. I like to push myself to create something wonderful for the readers!