You've probably seen it sitting in your quest log for hours. "The Gig." It feels like one of those early-game chores that you'll get to eventually, right? Well, honestly, if you're waiting around for Wakako Okada to just hand you a pile of eddies for sitting through that lockdown in Watson, you’re going to be waiting a long time. Cyberpunk 2077 The Gig reward is one of those specific instances where the game doesn't really hold your hand, and if you aren't paying attention to the subtext of your inventory, you’ll miss the best part of the deal.
Most players think the reward is just the 3,400 Eurodollars. Sure, the money is fine. It helps pay back Viktor Vektor—though let’s be real, most of us took our sweet time paying that debt back anyway. But the actual "juice" of this quest is a specific piece of cyberware that changes how smart weapons feel in the early game. It's tucked away in a menu you might not check.
Why Everyone Gets Confused About The Gig
Here is the thing. The quest triggers after the prologue, specifically after the lockdown in Watson lifts. You get a call. Wakako tells you she has the money she owes you for the Sandra Dorsett job. You go to her parlor in Jig-Jig Street, she gives you some cash, and then she tells you she's sent a "compatibility reward" to a ripperdoc.
This is where people trip up.
She doesn't give you an item. She doesn't give you a voucher. She gives you a digital "discount" that exists only at a specific shop. If you go to any old ripperdoc in Night City, you'll see the item, but it'll have a price tag attached. You have to go to Cassius Ryder’s shop in Northside.
I’ve talked to plenty of people who played through half the game wondering why they never got their "free gift." It’s because the game expects you to remember a specific name mentioned in passing. Cassius is a bit of a jerk, too, which doesn't help.
Tracking Down Cassius Ryder
Northside is a mess. It’s industrial, gray, and full of Maelstrom gangers who would rather look at you through a red lens than talk. You’ll find Cassius's shop tucked into a corner near a fast travel point.
Once you’re in the chair, you need to look at the "Hands" slot. This isn't a weapon or a quickhack. It’s a dermal imprint. Specifically, it’s the Tattoo: Tyger Claws Dermal Imprint.
Wait. A tattoo?
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Yeah. It sounds lame compared to a Mantis Blade or a Gorilla Arm. But in the context of the Cyberpunk 2077 The Gig reward, this tattoo is actually a functional piece of Smart Link technology.
The Actual Value of the Tyger Claw Dermal Imprint
Basically, smart weapons in Night City are useless without a hand implant. You pull the trigger on a Divided We Stand or a Shingen, and the bullets just fly off into the drywall unless your hand can talk to the gun.
Normally, a Smart Link costs a few thousand eddies. Early in the game, that’s a lot.
The Tyger Claw Dermal Imprint does two things:
- It allows you to use the smart-aiming modules on Smart weapons.
- It prevents Tyger Claw gang members from using their own smart tech against you.
That second part is huge. Have you ever wondered why those neon-soaked bikers in Charter Hill seem to miss you more often than the Scavs do? It’s likely because you’ve got their own jammer etched into your skin. It’s a flavor-heavy reward that actually has a mechanical impact on how you survive shootouts in Westbrook.
Does It Still Matter in Version 2.0 and Beyond?
With the massive 2.0 overhaul and the Phantom Liberty expansion, CD Projekt Red changed how armor and cyberware work. Everything is about "Cyberware Capacity" now.
Is the Cyberpunk 2077 The Gig reward still worth the inventory space?
Kinda.
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If you're running a "Cool" or "Reflexes" build and you want to use the smart submachine guns, it’s a great bridge. It costs zero Eurodollars. In a game where every Tier 5 upgrade costs a fortune, getting a functional Tier 1 or Tier 2 smart link for free is a win. However, eventually, you’ll want to replace it. The "real" Smart Link implants you buy later have better crit chances and faster target acquisition. But for the first 15 hours? The tattoo is king.
Step-by-Step: Claiming the Reward Without the Headache
Don't overthink it. Just follow this flow:
- Complete "The Rescue" (the very first mission with Jackie).
- Wait for Act 2 to start.
- Check your journal for "The Gig."
- Visit Wakako Okada in Westbrook. Talk to her. Get the cash.
- Open your map and find the Ripperdoc in Northside (Cassius Ryder).
- Open his "Trade" or "Inventory" menu.
- Navigate to the Hands section.
- Look for the Tyger Claws Dermal Imprint. It should have a price of 0.
- Equip it.
If it’s not showing up as 0, you probably haven't talked to Wakako yet. Or, you're at the wrong ripper. Cassius is the only one who honors the deal. It’s a "pro bono" thing because of your history with the fixer.
Common Bugs and Fixes
Sometimes the quest feels stuck.
I’ve seen reports where players go to Cassius and the tattoo isn't there. Usually, this happens if you try to go to him before the quest objective specifically tells you to "Check the Ripperdoc's inventory." If you just run there as soon as you get the money from Wakako, the script might not have flipped yet.
Give it a minute. Walk outside, skip time by an hour in the menu, and walk back in. Night City is glitchy—both in the lore and in the code.
The Narrative Weight of Wakako’s "Gift"
Let's talk about why this reward exists from a story perspective. Wakako is the queen of the Tyger Claws. By giving you their dermal imprint, she isn't just giving you a tool; she's "marking" you.
In the world of Cyberpunk, nothing is free. When you wear that tattoo, you're essentially wearing a badge that says you've done work for the most dangerous woman in Japantown. It’s a subtle bit of world-building that most people ignore because they’re too busy looking at the DPS stats on their katana.
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But that's the beauty of the Cyberpunk 2077 The Gig reward. It’s one of the few times where a side quest reward feels like it belongs in the world, rather than just being a random loot drop from a chest.
Why You Shouldn't Skip This Early Game
You might think, "I'll just wait and buy a better one."
Don't.
Early game Night City is brutal. If you’re playing on Very Hard, you need every advantage. Having the ability to curve bullets around corners while staying behind a dumpster is a life-saver. Plus, you can sell the other junk you find to save up for the double-jump legs (Reinforced Tendons), which are arguably the most important purchase in the entire game. By getting your smart-link tech for free, you're effectively subsidizing your own parkour abilities.
Actionable Insights for Your Playthrough
To make the most of this, you should prioritize "The Gig" as soon as you finish the heist and the dust settles. It’s easy to get distracted by Takemura or Judy, but taking five minutes to swing by Northside pays off immediately.
Immediate Next Steps:
- Check your Journal: Under the "Side Jobs" tab, locate "The Gig." If it says "Wait for the lockdown to be lifted," go sleep in V’s apartment or progress the main story slightly.
- Visit Wakako First: You cannot go straight to the ripperdoc. The flag triggers only after the conversation in her parlor.
- Equip a Smart Weapon: The reward is useless if you're only using Power revolvers or Tech snipers. Find a "Yukimura" or a "Shingen" to actually see the tattoo in action.
- Look at Your Hands: Use the photo mode. The tattoo actually shows up on V's skin. It’s a neat visual detail that stays there until you replace the implant with a higher-grade version.
The Cyberpunk 2077 The Gig reward isn't going to make you an overnight legend of the Afterlife, but it’s a foundational piece of your early-game kit. It’s the difference between struggling with recoil and watching your bullets hunt down enemies with predatory precision. Go get your ink.