How do I stealth netrunner?

[xyrkies]

I've raised my cyberdeck and sonic shock to purple tier, and this was supposed to fix the problem of getting discovered by the incredibly lame unblockable, unstoppable trace that starts up the moment you use a hack on anyone. What is the method now to hack people and not get traced?

If there is no method, and the devs have completely ruined stealth netrunner, is there a mod or a way to load the game as an older version so I can play it the way I want to again?

[markdb92]

Use Arasaka Mk.1-5 and just use burn hack with overclock. Most battles npcs will be knocked out before they finish the trace, mindwipe purple is most likely what your after. But that usually means all your ram to take out one npc

[★REM★]

Be aware, stealth netrunner is super ultra boring, there's no challenge at all.

[Ffabbia]

If you're getting traced it means enemies are spotting you, it means you alerted them.

[BoxingBud]

A lot of netrunning is ranged too, as a netrunner I focus on staying outside/away and hijacking cameras to spread pain and suffering even if I can't see the enemies initially, and I'm outside. That being said stealth is a great compliment for that build over anything melee (except monowire!)

I've done "drive by hackings" where I'm just in the car and melt away mobs. Netrunner is such a fun build, I would invest in any cool that makes it harder to detect you, but nothing like takedown or knife throwing.

Also there's a "protein powder" forget the name that you can craft that boosts your ram for a while.

I wake up, shower, take my powder, have a bite and a drink, head out, melt mobs.

[lordclipsus]

Synapse burnout does not trace if, and only IF, it instakills the target. Any hack used before or after SB starts a trace like normal (if it is a traceable hack), but SB itself can be used from stealth without starting a trace, as long as the enemy does not survive it.

Aside from that, covert quickhacks are untraceable, of course, and any hack used in a queue after tier 4 or above (so purple or orange) memory wipe becomes untraceable. That means you can mem wipe into a combat quickhack and not start a trace.
For an easy, non lethal knockout, you can go tier 4 memwipe, any tier reboot optics, into legendary sonic shock. Memory wipe makes reboot optics untraceable, and legendary sonic shock knocks out the target if they are affected by both mem wipe and reboot optics. The whole combo is of course untraceable.

[Okihara Jones]

My 400-hour-run stealth netrunner is my OP fave. I don't even carry a gun anymore, I just break down weapons into components.

[mistahbungle]

'...the devs have completely ruined stealth netrunner...'

Not this again 🙄

[Okihara Jones]

Originally posted by mistahbungle:

Not this again 🙄

+1

my choom, I say that about 85% of cyberpunk forum posts these days

[valium]

CDPR added an extra layer to the stealth mechanic interacting with quickhacks in an attempt to make it more engaging, totally ruined, unplayable. Not sarcasm in the least, nope, not at all.

[tbloyzz]

The cheapest (in terms of RAM) stealth runner take out is probably Wipe4 - Reboot Optics2 - Sonic iconic.
Takes only 8+2+2=10 (default values) but can even be reduced with perks.

As REM mentioned, it makes the game pretty boring.

[Balekai]

I thought I would post a quote of my full build from a 2023 Stealth (and evolved into Stealth Netrunner) debate topic.

Some minor things may have changed like the functionality of some Implants and new ones being added in with further patches. In those cases just use common sense on what's optimal implant slot wise. I can also quickly go into 2077 and post any changes I made to the below by loading up my last save. I will post any if I feel they're noteworthy with a fixed planner.

Originally posted by Balekai:

I forgot I saved this from just the other day from a post on another topic. I updated it with my progress since then because it was before I started working hard on getting my skill rank ups and Iconic Malfunction:

A full stealth quickhack build with an insane Blood Pump and great layered defences. The only thing missing is Optimal Camo's level 60 headhunter mechanics, which should allow super fast/instant cooldowns of Optical Camo (it's bugged/not working atm in 2.01). This build at late levels can take tons of damage, on hardest difficulty and with near total up time of adrenaline/Blood Pump uses. It neutralizes most targets and entire missions with ease and without starting combat in the first place. If it does start combat, it can exit combat at will.

The most basic stuff first:

Stat Allocation 20 INT, 20 Tech, 15 Cool, 20 Body (you can go with 15 until level 55ish), 6 Reflex (dump attribute keep at 3-4 until level 55+. Since the first post I went 6 for extra crit chance, to balance out the crit chance to crit damage DPS ratios that are near universal in almost all games with crit chance/damage):

Cyberpunk Build Planner [www.cyberpunk.net]

I was able to get to get enough perk points by level 60 with skill level perk points, to get Ticking Time Bomb for when I use Overclock. I don't know if that's doable "normally" or not since my character is from before 2.0. There may have been some changes to perk shards etc. that I don't know about. Anyways Ticking Time Bomb isn't needed and kind of wastes 2-3 perk points for it (and it does some damage to you too when goes off). You can put any of those perk points in something else, but there's damage reduction for 3 seconds while it charges and it's pretty meaty.

Deck/Operating System: Arasaka MK5++ [cyberpunk2077.wiki.fextralife.com] (++ stands for fully upgraded). At ++ the time it takes to be detected is 100% longer not just 40%. Translation: It takes forever for tracing to end.

Hacks:

- T5 Iconic Ping (Well, it's Ping)

- T4 Memory Wipe (We don't need T5 which adds like 18 RAM costs for something we do easily already which is reduce tracing progress. We want it cheap at 10 RAM -2 Deck discount for combos and making everything untracable in queues that start with Memory Wipe. This also by itself, can allow you to exit combat regularly and return to stealt/non-combat RAM regeneration. especially when combined with Reboot and Sonic combo which will likely neutralize target too).

- T5 Iconic Reboot Optics (You can go for T2-3 for cheaper RAM cost, but I like the idea of full blind which along with Sonic Shock, allows Memory Wipes to be a lot more impactful if they don't out right neutralize the enemy due to combo).

- T5 Iconic Sonic Shock (costs only 2 RAM at Iconic. If you use this after Memory Wipe and Reboot, your target falls unconscious like System's Collapse. The combo can become almost free with Arasaka Deck compared to Collapse, while also doing crowd control. Great to use in between Overclocks as a cheaper collapse).

- T5 Iconic System's Collapse (faster and more dependable than the Memory Wipe/Reboot/Sonic Shock combo. Use this when overclocked to deal with high cost and get those RAM discounts form the hack too).

- T5 Iconic Cyberware Malfunction (Normal T5 works fine and when I originally posted this its all I had. The difference being Iconic gives a 15% damage bonus instead of 5% on Malfunction stack (or per stack?). On bosses stack this to 7 stacks MAX, not 8, until you know the boss is in its last phase or you will be locked out from using it again).

- T5 Iconic Short Circuit (All you really need for a quick offensive damage quickhack for bosses and normies. Especially when paired with the Cyberware Malfunction combo that does EXTREME damage. Use Memory Wipe before Circuit to make everything untraceable).

- T5 Iconic Synapse Burnout (Another really good damage hack for bosses. Replaceable but I wouldn't. Off the top of my head it also adds some damage boosts etc. based off stacks like Collapse).

Monowire Hack Slot: I like Iconic Cripple Movement the best. Even more RAM and health on finisher when in slutch situations (which is the only time you use Monowire anyways). Nothing like a really hard melee boss that you can't shake off for some reason being stoppe din their tracks unable to move. Keeps enemies in place so you can get to cover easier if need be to cloak and overclock. Finishers are super easy to pull off as they trigger at like 50% enemy health. Cybernetic Malfunction and Weapon Glitch are also good Monowire control hacks.

Cyberware:

Prioritize getting "RAM regeneration on neutralizing an enemy" as passive bonuses on anything you can. On the Cyberware you just can't roll that on for some reason, prioritize health, health item recharge, detection time, and quickhack dmg bonuses and the like. It can take multiple cyberware upgrade attempts and purchases to get the right bonuses. Some more rare than others on certain cyberware.

Operating System: Again Arasaka Deck MK5 for reasons above and in the Deck wiki link.

Frontal Cortex: RAM Upgrade, Ex-Disk, RAM Reallocator (We don't need Self-Ice or the iconic COX-2 optimiser because A) Enemy tracing/hacks never really work out and B) We don't depend on raw damage and when we do, we need lots of RAM and RAM regen to get lots of hack stacks and spamming. The Arasaka deck's downside is 9 base RAM for like 31 total. Also we do so much damage anyways spamming hacks, that we don't need no stickin crit chance at the expense of -6 RAM!! We also need even more RAM regen thus RAM Upgrade cyberware). :p

Arms: Again Monowire as only weapon + Iconic Cripple Movement. (Restores insane amounts of RAM on hitting multiple enemies. Restores tons of HP and RAM on finishers as well).

Face: Kiroshi Oracle of course as we get all the effects of normal versions of Kiroshi optic variants except one and the iconic crit chance. Crit chance for us is not a thing save for wire. Especially since we're using only quickhacks with this build + Monowire that does just fine with 10%ish crit chance.

Skeleton: RAM Recoup (Important when you're taking lots of incoming damage from afar and it gives +1 max RAM), Universal Booster, Epimorphic Skeleton (stacking our armour higher with the last two Cyberware).

Hands: Smart Link (+2 RAM), Just put Tygerclaw, V+J tattoo or Devil tattoo here just to fill slot for 0 Cyber capacity costs midgame. Only if you're tight on capacity of course and don't need the extra RAM).

Optional other hand slot: Microgenerator (if you think you may use a gun at "some" point. Also useful for just getting more passive bonuses from cyberware).

Nervous System: Atomic Sensors, Neofiber, Synapse Accelerator (Atomic makes V super fast while performing takedowns in stealth or to kite enemies easily. Should also seriously boost mitigation chance due to some mitigation chance boosts based on movement speed. checking in-game while stealth sprinting I had 72%-80%ish + mitigation chance doing just that. Neofiber for more extra mitigation for layered defence. Accelerator for slow time at 50% health).

Circulatory System: Blood Pump (Must have), Heal-on-Kill, Biomonitor

Integumentary System: Shock-n-Awe, Optical Camo (Must Have), Countershell (Awe for extra DPS when hit in close quarters, Camo for cloak of course, Countershell for mitigation mechanics thus more layered defence on top of armor).

Playstyle: Just covert hack everything to death quickly, quietly and efficiently. When you somehow become exhausted of RAM/Overclock, hide and take a rest so your RAM regen from neutralizations kicks in. Or start sneaking up on enemies with sneaksprinting (which is super fast with our cyberware) to do takedowns that act like Monowire Finishers with our deck, giving +5 RAM per takedown and 100% tracing restart.

If enemy starts to trace for ANY reason it doesn't matter. You have about 2-3 minutes before it will finish and can thus deal with an entire mission in that time if you had to. Memory Wipe and other hacks will reduce trace by 25%-100% on their use (which is always) and any takedowns as mentioned will also reduce trace 100% with our deck (Edit: It's actually from a perk in intel, which is better). The only issue I ever have is when there's that ONE enemy I just can't find or see and after 3 minutes of looking/pinging, traces me... But I don't care because it's one enemy and that trace usually reveals them and they're dead a second later. Encounter over.

Link to old discussion:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1091500/discussions/0/3878218962819752360/?ctp=23#c3879347492852883187



Anyways this character was and still is a god. All bosses on hardest difficulty don't even have a chance lol, let alone normal enemies which you kill without even starting combat most of the time.

Edit: Oh quickly as a first edit I did end up going full Iconoic Memory Wipe after levelling up more and getting more goodies late/endgame. At least for roaming. Yes it is a lot more expensive RAM wise, but propagates Memory Wipe throughout the battle making doing the Memory Wipe --> Reboot Optics --> Sonic Shock Combo a lot easier to pull off in mass, right off the bat. Rather than doing a few gimmicky things and spending a whole bunch of time setting up cheap memory wipes individually.

Edit: 2: Implant Changes:

Feen-X which was added after post, for 250% faster Ram regen when below 7 RAM. Replaces Epimorphic skeleton or Universal Booster.

Cogito Lattice instead of Shock and Awe for 250+ armour when below 12 RAM (again build above is obviously before we got new Implants etc. from a post PL patch).

Lynx Paws for Legs I forgot in initial post I believe. These are great for lowering detection in heavy combat (or sneaking around) since they can't see you half the time with cloak/reboot optics, can't hear you because they're dead from memory wipe combo or deaf from Sonic Shock and those that can hear you, hardly can. Helps with added stealth vs. ending/very tough bosses to keep them guessing while you sprint from cover to cover.

Edit 3:

Build Planner update:

https://www.cyberpunk.net/en/build-planner?a=k6kkf&b=11111000000000000000031110000001&r=&i=1111111121111121111000031111311100011&t=101020110210011310010311010000011&c=01011000000000000000000003011&e=313000131

If build planner link doesn't show skill allocation like for me when just following the link, copying/pasting into web browser url does (steam breaks the 110001110101s and forgets them).