Cyberpunk 2077 Netrunner Build — Quickhack Guide (2026)
The best Netrunner build in Cyberpunk 2077: Intelligence 20, Cyberdeck, Contagion + Memory Wipe quickhacks, and RAM optimization. Complete guide with attributes, perks, cyberware and level progression. Covers Patch 2.3 and Phantom Liberty Relic perks.
Published September 15, 2026 · Last updated September 15, 2026
Quick Answer: Best Netrunner Build in Cyberpunk 2077 (Patch 2.3)
The Netrunner build uses quickhacks as primary damage and crowd control. You can defeat entire rooms of enemies without ever drawing a weapon. This build maximizes RAM capacity and hack upload speed through Intelligence 20 and a high-tier Cyberdeck. The Netrunner has the highest skill ceiling — early game feels weak, but by level 30+ you become a ghost that erases rooms without breaking a sweat. See the main builds hub for all other archetypes.
| Category | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Core Attributes | Intelligence 20 / Cool 12 / Technical Ability 12 / Body 8 / Reflexes 3 |
| Key Intelligence Perks | Queue Scaling, RAM Recovery, Hack Ramp-Up, Cyberpunk (all Quickhack tiers) |
| Key Cool Perks | Dead Silence (stealth synergy), True Aim, Low Profile |
| Primary Damage | Quickhacks: Contagion, Short Circuit, Synapse Burnout, Reboot Optics |
| Operating System | Top-tier Cyberdeck: Tetratronic Rippler or Arasaka HAK-5 (4+ RAM slots) |
| Must-have Quickhacks | Contagion (spread to groups), Short Circuit (turrets), Memory Wipe (full erase), Ping (see through walls), Weapon Glitch |
| Key Cyberware | Biosystem Monitor (slow-mo while hacking), Kiroshi Optics, RAM-recovery implants |
| Playstyle | Ping enemies through walls first. Contagion spreads to groups. Never enter combat directly — stay at range and let hacks do the work. |
Tip
The Netrunner build requires patience. Levels 1-20 feel underpowered — you have limited RAM and hacks do modest damage. But by level 30+, with Contagion multi-target and high RAM Cyberdeck, you become the most powerful build in the game. Invest in Intelligence first, always.
Attributes: Intelligence-Focused Distribution
Intelligence is the Netrunner's lifeblood — it determines RAM capacity, quickhack tier unlocks, and hack damage. Every Intelligence perk directly improves your hacking effectiveness.
| Attribute | Target | Why | Key Perks Unlocked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 20 (max) | RAM capacity, quickhack tiers, hack damage scaling | Queue Scaling, RAM Recovery, Hack Ramp-Up, all Cyberpunk tiers |
| Cool | 12 | Stealth synergy — Dead Silence + Low Profile for invisible hacking | Dead Silence, Low Profile, True Aim |
| Technical Ability | 12 | Cyberware capacity for Cyberdeck + RAM implants | License to Chrome, Edgerunner, Cyborg |
| Body | 8 | Minimum health pool to survive if hacks fail | Painkiller, Adrenaline Rush |
| Reflexes | 3 | Not needed — you never engage in direct combat | None |
Quickhacks: Complete Arsenal by Tier
Quickhacks are your weapons. Each tier unlocks more powerful hacks. This is the complete arsenal organized by when you unlock them.
| Quickhack | Tier | RAM Cost | Effect | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ping | 1 | 3 | Reveal enemy positions through walls | ⭐ Mandatory — always keep equipped |
| Reboot Optics | 1 | 4 | Blind a single enemy temporarily | High — disables threats without combat |
| Weapon Glitch | 1 | 4 | Jam enemy weapons temporarily | High — neutralizes armed enemies |
| Short Circuit | 2 | 6 | Damage robotic enemies and turrets | ⭐ Mandatory — essential for turrets |
| Contagion | 2 | 6 | Infect target — spreads to nearby enemies | ⭐⭐ Mandatory — your main AoE damage |
| Synapse Burnout | 3 | 8 | High damage to organic targets | High — single-target nuker |
| Memory Wipe | 3 | 10 | Completely erase an enemy (stealth) | ⭐ Mandatory — removes enemies without alert |
| Cyberware Malfunction | 4 | 8 | Disable enemy cyberware temporarily | Medium — situational |
| Suicide | 4 | 16 | Force enemy to kill themselves | ⭐ Mandatory — ultimate single-target delete |
| System Collapse | 4 | 14 | Massive AoT damage over time | High — room-clear with Contagion spread |
Tip
Contagion is the most important quickhack in the game. At Tier 2, it infects one target and spreads to all nearby enemies. With the Phantom Liberty Data Wipe relic perk, Memory Wipe also spreads — transforming it from single-target to room-clear.
Cyberdeck: Best Options by Level
The Cyberdeck is your Operating System — it determines RAM slots, quickhack slots, and upload speed. Upgrading your Cyberdeck is the single biggest power increase for this build.
| Cyberdeck | RAM Slots | Quickhack Slots | Best For | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Cyberdeck | 2 | 2 | Levels 1-10 (early game) | Default — replace ASAP |
| Kiroshi "Ursine" | 3 | 3 | Levels 10-20 (mid-game) | Affordable upgrade — good RAM increase |
| Netwatch "NetBurner" | 3 | 4 | Levels 15-25 (transition) | More quickhack slots for versatility |
| Tetratronic "Rippler" | 4 | 4 | Levels 25+ (endgame) | ⭐ Best overall — max RAM + slots |
| Arasaka "HAK-5" | 4 | 5 | Levels 30+ (endgame) | ⭐ Best quickhack capacity — 5 hack slots |
| Militech "Paraline" | 4 | 4 | Levels 25+ (endgame) | Balanced — good upload speed |
Tip
The Arasaka HAK-5 is the ultimate Netrunner Cyberdeck — 4 RAM slots + 5 quickhack slots means you can queue Contagion + Memory Wipe + Ping + Weapon Glitch + Short Circuit simultaneously. Save up for it — it transforms the build from "good" to "erase rooms without trying".
Cyberware: Netrunner Loadout by Slot
Netrunner cyberware focuses on RAM recovery, hack damage bonuses, and survivability while hacking. You are fragile in direct combat — your cyberware must keep you safe while you hack from range.
| Slot | Recommended Cyberware | Effect | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Arasaka HAK-5 Cyberdeck | 4 RAM + 5 quickhack slots — maximum hacking capacity | ⭐⭐ Mandatory |
| Arms | Projectile Launch System | Emergency ranged option when hacks are on cooldown | Medium |
| Skeleton | Ex-Disk | Quickhack upload speed bonus — faster hack execution | High |
| Nervous System | Biosystem Monitor | Slow-mo while hacking — keeps you safe during hack upload | ⭐ Mandatory |
| Circulatory | RAM-recovery implant | Faster RAM regeneration — more hacks per encounter | ⭐ Mandatory |
| Eyes | Kiroshi Optics | Enemy highlighting through walls — scope targets before hacking | ⭐ Mandatory |
| Integumentary | SubDermal Armor | Passive damage reduction — survive if stealth breaks | Medium |
| Frontal Cortex | Smart Link (optional) | Auto-targeting backup weapon — only if you want combat fallback | Low |
Level-by-Level Progression
Netrunner ramps up slowly but becomes overwhelmingly powerful by mid-game when you have enough RAM and hack tiers unlocked.
| Level | Focus | Attributes | Key Perks | Cyberdeck/Quickhack Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-10 | Hack Basics | Intelligence → 8, Cool → 4 | Basic Quickhack tier, Ping, Reboot Optics | Starter Cyberdeck + Contagion (single target) |
| 11-20 | RAM Expansion | Intelligence → 14, Tech → 8 | Queue Scaling (queue 2 hacks), RAM Recovery | Kiroshi Ursine Cyberdeck + Contagion (multi-target) |
| 21-30 | Crowd Control | Intelligence → 18, Cool → 10 | Hack Ramp-Up, Cyberpunk tier 2, Memory Wipe | Tetratronic Rippler + Memory Wipe + Synapse Burnout |
| 31-40 | Power Spike | Intelligence → 20, Tech → 12 | Full Cyberpunk tree, RAM regen perks, Suicide hack | Arasaka HAK-5 + all damage quickhacks unlocked |
| 41-50 | Stealth Synergy | Cool → 14, Tech → 14 | Dead Silence, stealth damage perks, Optical Camo | Combine with Optical Camo for invisible hack-spam |
| 51-60 | Min-Max Polish | Max remaining attributes | Remaining Cool/Tech perks, Phantom Liberty Relic perks | Full quickhack arsenal — every enemy dies before seeing you |
Tip
Key milestone: at level 30, you should have Intelligence 18 + Tetratronic Rippler + Contagion multi-target + Memory Wipe. This is the power spike — from here, you can clear most encounters without drawing a weapon. The final 10 levels polish the build with stealth and cyberware synergies.
Stealth + Netrunner: The Ultimate Hybrid
The most powerful variant of the Netrunner build combines hacking with stealth. Optical Camo keeps you invisible while you hack from safety. Dead Silence ensures any remaining kills (for enemies resistant to hacks) are silent. This hybrid is what Google's PASF recommends as "stealth netrunner build" — and it is the optimal endgame configuration.
| Component | Stealth Netrunner Choice | Why | vs Pure Netrunner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attributes | Cool 12 instead of Body 8 | Dead Silence + Low Profile for invisible hacking | More survivability in stealth, less health |
| Cyberware | Optical Camo + Silent Running | True invisibility while hacking from range | Adds 2 cyberware slots vs pure hack focus |
| Quickhacks | Add Weapon Glitch + Memory Wipe | Disable enemies without triggering combat | Same hacks, but used more strategically |
| Playstyle | Invisible hacker — never seen, never detected | True ghost mode | Pure Netrunner may be detected if hacks fail |
Tip
The Stealth Netrunner is the build that Google's "People Also Search For" recommends alongside "stealth build" — and it is the optimal endgame configuration. Ping sees enemies through walls, Contagion spreads to groups, Memory Wipe erases stragglers, and Optical Camo keeps you invisible throughout. By level 50, you can clear MaxTac without being detected.
Phantom Liberty: Relic Perks for Netrunner
The Phantom Liberty Relic skill tree adds powerful perks that complement the Netrunner build. Biosynergy and Terminal Realtime are the crown jewels — they directly enhance quickhack effectiveness.
| Relic Perk | Effect | Netrunner Synergy | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biosynergy | Quickhack damage increased based on target cyberware count | Chrome-heavy enemies take bonus hack damage — most enemies in late game are heavily augmented | ⭐ High |
| Cyberverse | Killing with a quickhack reduces all cyberware cooldowns | Rewards hack-spam play — Optical Camo and RAM recover faster after each kill | ⭐ High |
| Data Wipe | Memory Wipe spreads to nearby enemies | Transforms Memory Wipe from single-target to room-clear — massive AoE upgrade | ⭐⭐ Mandatory |
| Terminal Realtime | Quickhacks upload instantly while Relic is active | No upload delay — instant crowd control with hacks, no Biosystem Monitor needed | ⭐ High |
| Ghost | Remaining invisible after killing an enemy | Extends Optical Camo on hack-kills — chain invisibility through encounters | Medium |
Netrunner Build FAQ
Answers to the most common questions about the Cyberpunk 2077 Netrunner build.
- **Is netrunner good in 2026 / Patch 2.3?** — Yes, Netrunner remains one of the most powerful builds in Patch 2.3. The Phantom Liberty Relic perks (especially Data Wipe and Terminal Realtime) significantly enhance quickhack effectiveness. Contagion multi-target spread is still the best AoE in the game.
- **What cyberdeck is best for netrunner?** — The Arasaka HAK-5 (4 RAM + 5 quickhack slots) is the ultimate endgame choice. The Tetratronic Rippler (4+4) is the best mid-game option. Avoid starter decks — they severely limit your hack queue capacity.
- **How to make a netrunner build?** — Raise Intelligence to 20 first. Take Queue Scaling, RAM Recovery, and Hack Ramp-Up perks. Buy the best Cyberdeck you can afford. Equip Ping + Contagion + Memory Wipe + Short Circuit + Weapon Glitch. Add Biosystem Monitor and RAM-recovery cyberware.
- **Is stealth netrunner better than pure netrunner?** — Stealth Netrunner (with Optical Camo + Dead Silence) is better for endgame — it adds invisibility to your hacking toolkit, ensuring you are never detected even if hacks fail. Pure Netrunner is simpler for beginners but lacks the safety net of invisibility.
- **What quickhacks should I prioritize?** — Ping (always equipped — reveals enemies), Contagion (main AoE damage — spreads to groups), Memory Wipe (removes enemies without alerts), Short Circuit (essential for turrets and robots), Weapon Glitch (disables armed enemies). Suicide and System Collapse are endgame luxury hacks.
- **How much RAM do I need?** — Minimum 4 RAM slots for effective play (Contagion 6 + Memory Wipe 10 + Ping 3 = 19 RAM needed for full queue, but RAM recovers between hacks). The Arasaka HAK-5 with 4 RAM slots + RAM-recovery cyberware is optimal.
- **Can netrunner solo MaxTac?** — Yes, at level 50+ with full quickhack arsenal, Optical Camo, and Phantom Liberty Relic perks. Ping to locate, Contagion to spread, Memory Wipe to erase stragglers, Suicide for priority targets. Never engage directly — stay invisible and let hacks do the work.
- **What is the best starting attribute for netrunner?** — Intelligence. Always. Raise it to 8 by level 10, 14 by level 20, 18 by level 30, and 20 by level 40. Every Intelligence point directly improves RAM, hack damage, and quickhack tier unlocks. Do not split points early — go full Intelligence.