How come V so powerful ?

[Uboa]

If John whick himself can't defead Adam Smasher . David with years of experience and top of the line Arasaka exo sekeleton can't defeat him . Then there is no reason a dying man with a montage of doing street level stuffs and some cyberware he picked up from the local ripper docs have any real chance to defeat Adam Smasher .

[Irinka]

V is not at all how you described her/him. She is just as much of a cyborg as Adam Smasher but he/she has a minimalist style which throws enemy's off guard. And the reason why he/she doesn't go full cyberpsycho with all the implants is because of the relic in her brain

[Æɴɪsᴏ]

A lot of people say the cyberpsychosis thing being mitigated by the relic.

But does it actually state it anywhere or most of you just assume it?

Genuine question.

[Uboa]

Originally posted by Irinka:

V is not at all how you described her/him. She is just as much of a cyborg as Adam Smasher but he/she has a minimalist style which throws enemy's off guard. And the reason why he/she doesn't go full cyberpsycho with all the implants is because of the relic in her brain

Adam Smasher was the guy who can jump from building to building . His landing collapsed entire floor creating a shock wave send cars flying away while taking no damage .David can blow up hundred of vehicels , take missiles in the face , make crater and still can not defeat Adam . There is no reasonable way for V to be 10th the power of Adam let alone taking him alone .

[Homer]

Have you even watch the show? David was not in his prime, he was dying there before he met and fight Adam.

[Uboa]

Originally posted by CPU - EASY:

Have you even watch the show? David was not in his prime, he was dying there before he met and fight Adam.

yeah , i watched the show . David even dying still far far more powerful than anything V can complish . If V was surrounded by the convoy David faced , he would be dead in 10 seconds .

[EJR]

Adam Smasher has been outfitted cybernetics and borged out so many times in an effort to upgrade himself to the point where he stopped doing so cause he has effectively become the most powerful person in the world. Or at least Night City. No joke, he has been upgraded with military-grade and exclusive hardware that he is unstoppable.

Johnny Silverhand - or "John Wick," if you want to use that tasteless character from the films - was just an angsty ex-soldier-turned-musician with a chip on his shoulder against the corporations of the Cyberpunk world. Don't let the game fool you, in the wider lore of Cyberpunk he isn't really that big of a deal (Really, only Adam Smasher and Rogue are).

David had a higher chance than Johnny being a match for Smasher solely because he was naturally more durable for the more 'dangerous' and experimental cybernetics (Like the Sandevistan that he outfitted himself with). But due to Smasher upgrading himself since the 2010s, he just has so much higher tech and implants that he kills David without trying. If it makes you feel better, Smasher did acknowledge the potential David had.

Really the only reason why V can kill Smasher is because of video game plot, otherwise he would have been stomped and killed like everyone else. This has been a criticism of the game for those who know the lore.

Originally posted by Luna☀:

A lot of people say the cyberpsychosis thing being mitigated by the relic.

But does it actually state it anywhere or most of you just assume it?

Genuine question.

It is just a fanmade rumor/headcanon. It makes sense but it is nothing more than.

[PanPan]

Relic > Smasher

Stop looking for nonsense in fantasy, you will find a lot...

[Nar!]

Here's what we know. The cyberware you are able to implement on V, builds up V's strength over time, reaching capabilities to incredible levels. V does not start out OP, which is typical for many RPGs out there.

Ultimately however, it's up to the user (the player in control of V) to determine what these abilities can do for them and how to combine them in order to achieve the most strength stats.

I watched a playthrough not long ago by a casual gamer who kept dying to Adam, despite having a decent set of cyberware and weaponry. It was a skill issue that needed practice (and I say this with utmost respect to that player). This is a big factor in whether or not V is actually stronger than Smasher (or anyone else for that matter).

Your comment kinda takes that important part out of the equation. Remember we are playing a game here, not a movie and each person may have varying experiences with it. The ability to actually be better or stronger than Adam is reliant on the player's combat skill and awareness to their surroundings.

But once you do level up your combat abilities, you will be stronger than Adam and rightfully so. Adam has killed many and deserves to be stomped by a cyber god like yourself.

David Martinez - show spoiler ahead - had a powerful piece of chrome we all know as Sandevistan. Moves so fast it slows down time for you in order to achieve multiple hits without consequence. He also had Maine's arm cannon cyberware. Later we saw him install the Arasaka secret weapon, which had serious problems. One of which was imminent cyberpsychosis to anyone who installs it, which David was able to overcome for much longer than expected. He required chems to re-stabilize himself, though.

He ran out of these chems to keep him steady and in control. He was also hindered by his own determined disposition, trying to live to other's expectations and goals, which brought in bad choices despite seemingly with good intentions. His defeat was sadly already written on the wall from the start and it wasn't due to lack of strength.

@Luna Michael Pondsmith himself suggested that Johnny Silverhand's engram, may have helped V battle cyberpsychosis. But I can't find anything more outside of that statement.

[Æɴɪsᴏ]

Originally posted by CPU - EASY:

Have you even watch the show? David was not in his prime, he was dying there before he met and fight Adam.

To be honest even if he was, smasher would've 1 tapped him anyways.

[Irinka]

Originally posted by EJR:

Adam Smasher has been outfitted cybernetics and borged out so many times in an effort to upgrade himself to the point where he stopped doing so cause he has effectively become the most powerful person in the world. Or at least Night City. No joke, he has been upgraded with military-grade and exclusive hardware that he is unstoppable.

Johnny Silverhand - or "John Wick," if you want to use that tasteless character from the films - was just an angsty ex-soldier-turned-musician with a chip on his shoulder against the corporations of the Cyberpunk world. Don't let the game fool you, in the wider lore of Cyberpunk he isn't really that big of a deal (Really, only Adam Smasher and Rogue are).

David had a higher chance than Johnny being a match for Smasher solely because he was naturally more durable for the more 'dangerous' and experimental cybernetics (Like the Sandevistan that he outfitted himself with). But due to Smasher upgrading himself since the 2010s, he just has so much higher tech and implants that he kills David without trying. If it makes you feel better, Smasher did acknowledge the potential David had.

Really the only reason why V can kill Smasher is because of video game plot, otherwise he would have been stomped and killed like everyone else. This has been a criticism of the game for those who know the lore.

Originally posted by Luna☀:

A lot of people say the cyberpsychosis thing being mitigated by the relic.

But does it actually state it anywhere or most of you just assume it?

Genuine question.

It is just a fanmade rumor/headcanon. It makes sense but it is nothing more than.

Don't really agree. Yes it's debatable but I wouldn't say impossible.
Several factors make it plausible for V to defeat Adam Smasher:

-V’s Unique Background and Skills
V is a highly skilled mercenary with a diverse background depending on the chosen lifepath (Nomad, Streetkid, or Corpo). This background provides V with extensive combat experience, street smarts, and survival skills, which are crucial in a fight against a formidable opponent like Adam Smasher.

-Cyberware Enhancements
V has access to a wide range of cutting-edge cyberware, including enhancements that improve combat abilities, hacking skills, and physical prowess. In the lore, V’s cyberware can be highly advanced, rivaling or even surpassing that of Adam Smasher, who is known for his extensive cybernetic modifications. If you check the cyberware menu you can see that below the skin it's all implants

-Silverhand’s Influence
Johnny Silverhand, whose engram is embedded in V’s mind, provides V with unique insights and combat knowledge. Silverhand’s direct experience with Adam Smasher and his deep-seated vendetta against Arasaka offer V not only strategic advantages but also personal motivation to defeat Smasher.

Allies
Throughout the game, V builds strong alliances with various influential figures in Night City, such as Panam Palmer and the Aldecaldos and Rogue. These alliances provide V with crucial support, resources, and information that can be leveraged in the battle against Smasher. For instance, Rogue's knowledge of Smasher's tactics and weaknesses can be instrumental in planning the confrontation. And in all endings except one V fights Smasher with someone

-Personal Vendetta
V’s quest is deeply personal, driven by the need to survive and reclaim their life. Adam Smasher represents a direct obstacle to this goal. Smasher's role as Arasaka's enforcer and his past actions, including the murder of key characters, add a layer of personal vendetta to V's motivation, fueling their determination to defeat him.

-Smasher’s Overconfidence
Adam Smasher is notorious for his overconfidence, stemming from his near-total cybernetic body and combat superiority. This arrogance can lead him to underestimate V, giving V opportunities to exploit his vulnerabilities and devise a winning strategy.

-Inherent Weaknesses of Smasher’s Cybernetics
Despite his formidable appearance, Smasher’s heavy reliance on cybernetics also introduces potential weaknesses. Cybernetic enhancements can be hacked, disrupted, or otherwise exploited. V’s experience and capabilities with cyberware and hacking provide a strategic advantage in identifying and exploiting these weaknesses.

In summary, within the lore of "Cyberpunk 2077," V’s diverse background, cyberware enhancements, alliances, personal vendetta, strategic insight from Johnny Silverhand, and the inherent flaws in Adam Smasher’s cybernetics all contribute to V’s ability to defeat him. This combination of factors creates a compelling narrative that supports V's victory over one of the most feared figures in Night City.

As for the relic thing, yes it's fan made. But as you said it makes sense and if someone has a better explanation im waiting to hear it

[EJR]

Originally posted by Nar!:

...

I think OP was asking more from an in-universe perspective for V to win rather than a gameplay one. Looking at it through gameplay then it will make sense because it's a game, you build and develop V with certain perks and implants that make him/her stomp noname thugs and mercs in NC. But that itself has issues when you consider the story of the game and the overall lore of the series when you consider how juiced up Smasher is compared to V, which is the in-universe perspective I mentioned. It made almost no sense for Smasher to be killed by V outside of plot armor, leaving us and the writers trying to come up with ways on why it can happen but in the end just makes no sense to those who read the lore as deeply as they would a legal document.

[EJR]

Originally posted by Irinka:

...

I read all that and I still believe that V, no matter what combination of things you have listed, will never have enough to beat Smasher.
Literally everything you said boils down to gameplay over lore and in-universe reasoning. I can read the CRBs, wiki, etc and find no reason for V to win outside of plot armor for a video game.

[Giganx]

It's because you're a fusion. V is strong and Johnny is strong, but when they fuse they become a being that's exponentially more powerful than both of them.

Haven't you all watched DBZ?

[Uboa]

Originally posted by EJR:

Originally posted by Irinka:

...

I read all that and I still believe that V, no matter what combination of things you have listed, will never have enough to beat Smasher.
Literally everything you said boils down to gameplay over lore and in-universe reasoning. I can read the CRBs, wiki, etc and find no reason for V to win outside of plot armor for a video game.

yeah , if V have no plot armor , 1 single Adam's missle would blows up the whole room . He would smash the ceiling collapsed and V would dies in the rubble .

[Irinka]

Originally posted by EJR:

Originally posted by Irinka:

...

I read all that and I still believe that V, no matter what combination of things you have listed, will never have enough to beat Smasher.
Literally everything you said boils down to gameplay over lore and in-universe reasoning. I can read the CRBs, wiki, etc and find no reason for V to win outside of plot armor for a video game.

You said that it's impossible for V to beat Smasher. And pointed out that this is a criticism for those that know the lore. And as I pointed out the possibility is there, whether it's high or low is another matter. Gave you a list of all lore loyal points nothing to do with gameplay 😅. I even had several more like, for example, Song unlocking the relic potential. Allowing V to download tons of military black ops data into their brain. But it's clear you don't want to debate and are already set on your opinion so won't waste more effort🤷🏼‍♀️