Cyberpunk 2077 has undergone various enhancements and modifications since its initial release. The 2.0 update and Phantom Liberty expansion have completely revamped the game's skill tree and RPG elements. Among the notable changes, the armor system has particularly undergone a significant transformation. In previous versions, the overall defense of V, the protagonist, relied on the clothing equipped. However, since the 2.0 update, clothing has become predominantly cosmetic, allowing players to freely customize their character without worrying about stats. While armor continues to play a crucial role, players must now explore alternative avenues to reinforce their defenses. Refer to this guide for diverse approaches to augmenting armor in Cyberpunk 2077.
Cyberware
The armor system has been incorporated into the Cyberware customization. Each piece of cyberware now includes an armor value that contributes to the armor meter displayed on the right side of the cyberware screen. The maximum armor limit is 1500, although reaching this threshold is not necessary, especially on the normal difficulty level. To comfortably progress through the game, players should aim for an armor range of 500-800. It is advisable to prioritize investing in Skeleton and Integumentary system cyberware as they offer the highest armor values.
Technical Ability
License to Chrome Perk
Investing points into Technical Ability is crucial for V to enhance one's armor level. Each level upgrade grants the player a +2 armor boost. Furthermore, Technical Ability plays a significant role as it offers perks enabling V to augment their cyberware implant capacity limit.After reaching a Technical Ability of 15, players can unlock the coveted License to Chrome perk. This exceptional perk comprises three distinct levels of advancement. The second level graciously grants the player an additional +40 armor, while the third level goes a step further by introducing an extra skeleton cyberware slot. It is highly recommended that players seeking robust defense swiftly acquire this perk to fortify their capabilities.
Engineer Skill
Armored Clothing
The use of the correct abilities and technology in the game allows players to improve various skills. By utilizing tech weapons and cyberware arm weapons to defeat enemies, players can enhance their Engineering skill. When reaching level 5 engineering, players will receive a +15 armor boost, which further increases to +25 at level 25.
Certain garments serve as protective armor, such as the tactical vests commonly discovered throughout the expanding region of Dogtown. Despite their limited defensive capabilities, they typically provide a maximum armor value of +25.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.