Night City runs on two things: eddies and firepower. While you can survive a while picking up random scavenged rifles in Cyberpunk 2077, true legends know that you need the right tool for the job.
Enter Iconic Weapons. These aren’t just guns with slightly better stats; they possess unique intrinsic perks that fundamentally change how you play the game. They are the centrepieces of the best builds in Cyberpunk 2077.
With the massive changes brought by Update 2.0 and Phantom Liberty, the meta shifted.
Some old favourites fell off, and new contenders rose up. While “best” often depends on your specific build (Netrunner, Solo, Ninja, etc.), some weapons are just undeniably top-tier across the board.
Here are our picks for the 5 best Iconic weapons currently in Cyberpunk 2077, why they rule, and exactly where to find them.
1. Malorian Arms 3516 (Johnny’s Pistol)
Type: Power Pistol (with Tech characteristics)
You can’t make a “best of” list without Johnny Silverhand’s hand cannon. It is easily the most stylish weapon in the game, featuring unique reload animations and a sound design that makes every shot feel impactful.
Why It’s Top 5:
The Malorian received a significant rework in Update 2.0. It is technically a Power weapon (bullets can ricochet), but when aiming down sights, it gains Tech properties, allowing it to punch through cover.
But the real star is the quick-melee attack. Instead of a standard pistol whip, V performs a short-range, explosive burst of fire from the barrel.
This deals massive damage and has a high chance to knock down enemies, making it incredible for close-quarters crowd control when you get swarmed.
It’s a versatile hybrid weapon that looks incredibly cool in action.
How to Get It:
You can’t miss this if you follow the main story, but you won’t get it until late in the game.
- Progress the main story until you unlock the side quest “Chippin’ In.” This usually happens after the “Tapeworm” quests are completed.
- Follow the questline involving Rogue and Jeremiah Grayson.
- At the end of the confrontation with Grayson on the cargo ship, you will take the gun directly from him. (Make sure to get the key from him too so you can unlock Johnny’s Porsche nearby!)
2. Overwatch
Type: Power Sniper Rifle
If you plan on playing any type of stealth build, the Overwatch is mandatory equipment.
Why It’s Top 5:
The Overwatch has one simple, defining feature that no other sniper rifle in the base game possesses: it comes with a custom, built-in silencer.
In Cyberpunk 2077, putting a generic silencer on a standard sniper rifle drastically reduces its damage output, often making one-hit kills impossible on higher difficulties. The Overwatch suffers no such penalty.
It hits like a freight train, maintains complete silence, and has an incredible reload speed for its class. It is the ultimate tool for clearing an entire enemy outpost before they even know you’re there.
How to Get It:
This is tied to Panam Palmer’s major side-quest chain.
- Complete Panam’s main story quests (“Ghost Town,” “Lightning Breaks,” “Life During Wartime”).
- Wait for her to call you for her side-quest, “Riders on the Storm.”
- Help Panam rescue Saul. At the very end of the quest, during a conversation sitting on motorcycles overlooking the camp, Panam will gift you her cherished rifle.
3. Byakko
Type: Katana
Before Update 2.0, the Satori was the undisputed king of blades. But with the reworking of melee combat and stamina, the Byakko has taken the throne as the most fun and effective sword for a Sandevistan “ninja” build.
Why It’s Top 5:
The Byakko’s unique perk is unparalleled mobility. It allows you to leap toward enemies from a significant distance when performing a Strong Attack.
In practice, this turns V into a teleporting blur of death. You lock onto an enemy, leap instantly to them, slice them apart, and immediately leap to the next target. It closes gaps instantly, preventing enemies from shooting you while you run toward them.
It also features a faster attack speed than standard katanas.
How to Get It:
This requires some legwork in Japantown.
- You must complete all 8 Gigs offered by the fixer Wakako Okada.
- Once the final gig is turned in, check your apartment stash. The Byakko will be waiting for you as a reward for your dedicated service.
4. Fenrir
Type: Power Submachine Gun
Some Iconics are great because they are late-game powerhouses. The Fenrir is incredible because you can get it almost immediately in Act 2, and it remains viable for almost the entire game.
Why It’s Top 5:
The Fenrir looks like a standard SMG with some cool decals, but its unique perk is devastating: it deals Thermal damage and has an extremely high chance to apply Burn.
Even if your initial bullets don’t kill an enemy, the damage-over-time burn effect usually will. Better yet, enemies on fire usually panic, stopping them from shooting back at you.
It has a high rate of fire, manageable recoil, and absolutely melts through early-to-mid-game bosses like butter.
It’s the ultimate Cyberpsycho starter kit.
How to Get It:
Available very early in Act 2 in the Watson district (Northside).
- Look for a side quest marker near the docks in Northside for a quest called “Losing My Religion” (or sometimes it just appears as an unmarked event where you see a monk being held hostage by Maelstrom gangers).
- Defeat the gangers. You will find the Fenrir sitting on a small table right next to where the monk is being held.
5. Guts (Rebecca’s Shotgun)
Type: Power Shotgun
Added as part of the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime tie-in content, this shotgun belonged to the fan-favourite character Rebecca. It is chaos incarnate.
Why It’s Top 5:
Guts is a carnage shotgun, meaning it shoots a massive spread of pellets. Its unique trait is simple: raw, unfiltered violence. It deals significantly more damage than its standard counterparts, has a faster rate of fire, and a larger magazine.
The trade-off is that the recoil is absolutely immense—it will literally kick your camera toward the sky if you spam it. But if you are playing a tanky “Solo” build using a shotgun build (especially with the Body attribute tree maxed out to manage recoil), Guts is a close-range eraser.
It feels incredible to use and pays homage to a great character.
How to Get It:
You don’t need a quest for this one; you just need to know where to look. It is available from the very start of Act 2.
- Go to Corpo Plaza in the City Centre district.
- Head to the centre ring where the giant holographic fish fly around (Memorial Park).
- Look for three meditating monks on the south side of the park. Behind them are some bushes.
- Lying in the bushes, hidden from casual view, is Guts, waiting for a new owner.