Cyberpunk 2077 The Pickup Best Outcome And Choices
Navigating the early hours of Night City presents players with one of the most mechanically complex missions in the entire game. The Pickup requires V to secure a high-tech military spider-bot from the volatile Maelstrom gang at the All Foods factory. Because this quest involves multiple corporate and criminal factions, your choices here ripple forward into future side stories and romance options.
Meeting Meredith Stout and Hacking the Militech Shard
Before stepping into the Maelstrom hideout, players have the optional opportunity to meet with corporate agent Meredith Stout. She provides V with a credential shard containing enough credits to buy the Flathead robot peacefully from the gang. However, this corporate encrypted currency card is secretly laced with a malicious virus designed to fry Maelstrom systems.
If you choose to use the network browser or inventory menu to crack the security encryption on the card, you can safely remove the virus while keeping the money. Doing this gives you maximum flexibility once you walk through the factory doors. Players looking to maximize their financial profit often choose this path to double-cross both factions simultaneously.
The Standoff with Royce and Dum Dum
Inside the meatpacking plant, negotiations quickly turn tense when the current Maelstrom leader named Royce interrupts the meeting. You are forced to make a split-second decision when a gun is pointed directly at your head. Accepting the infected corporate card without warning Royce will instantly trigger a massive firefight inside the facility.
Alternatively, you can choose to tell Royce that the Militech card is hot, which prompts him to clean the file manually. This peaceful resolution aligns V with Maelstrom, forcing you to fight your way out against incoming corporate automated drones. Choosing to pay with your own eddies or using the cleaned card will yield a similar combat layout against corporate agents.
Rescuing Brick and Unlocking the Best Rewards
While escaping the chaotic industrial complex, exploring the side rooms allows you to discover the former Maelstrom boss named Brick trapped in a cell. He is held captive by a specialized laser mine puzzle that can be defused using your scanning tools or a nearby detonator laptop. Freeing him ensures his survival, which pays off significantly during a subsequent side mission involving Nancy later in the game.
The absolute best mechanical outcome typically depends on your personal narrative goals and desired gear drops. Siding with corporate interests gives you access to a unique weapon drop from Royce and unlocks a memorable encounter with Meredith Stout at the No-Tell Motel. Keeping Dum Dum alive provides unique vendor opportunities and rare iconic weapons later in your journey.