Screenshot by Destructoid

How airdrops work in Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty

Manna from heaven, loot from the sky

Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty introduces a new area, and with it, a special new mechanic for gaining loot. Finding and raiding airdrops is one of the best ways to get good loot in Cyberpunk 2077, and you can make a killing quick.

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While fairly straightforward, there’s a few things you should know going in to each encounter. Here’s how the airdrops work, and how to get the most out of them. It’s also important to note that, because they take place in Dogtown, you will need the Phantom Liberty expansion for Cyberpunk 2077 to nab some airdrops for yourself.

What are airdrops in Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty?

After staying the night in the hideout during the quest “Lucretia My Reflection,” you’ll head outside to Dogtown for the first open-world section and learn about airdrops. If Jacob is still alive from the night before, he’ll be the one explaining the concept.

Essentially, goods will occasionally be dropped in, with residents of Dogtown working to secure them. These packages have goods that Kurt Hansen’s forces will be trying to obtain, as will the scavengers and marauders of Dogtown. Inside, you can find weapons, armor, outfits, cash, and more.

You’ll know there’s an airdrop nearby due to the telltale red smoke. If it drops around you, you can also hear the flying craft dive in and drop it.

Screenshot by Destructoid

Different airdrop sites will have varying levels of chaos and enemies, but they will be hostile. I’ve run into situations where Hansen’s men were securing it and I needed to pick them off, as well as all-out firefights over a fresh drop. Either way, you’ll need to remove other raiders before taking the drop for yourself.

What’s inside the airdrops?

Once you’ve cleared the area, you’re ready to approach and jack in. Perform a speedy hack on the drop to open it up, and the goods are yours.

The nice part is that raiding these airdrops is very worth your time and ammo. In my experience, I’ve frequently found Legendary tier gear, as well as some nice upgrades.

Because these are often well-guarded or contested, airdrops are also a great way to loot a bunch of weapons and gear, for either crafting components or selling to vendors. Enemies also frequently dropped shards, which can help boost certain skills like netrunning or aspects like carrying capacity.

Screenshot by Destructoid

Whatever your reasons may be, airdrops are very worth your time. They essentially became a late-game loot mine for me, and they drop frequently enough throughout Dogtown that you’re never too far from another stash.


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Author
Image of Eric Van Allen
Eric Van Allen
Senior Editor - While Eric's been writing about games since 2014, he's been playing them for a lot longer. Usually found grinding RPG battles, digging into an indie gem, or hanging out around the Limsa Aethryte.