You know that feeling when you're looking for something legendary in Night City and everything feels like a reskin? Well, the MaxTac Mantis Blades aren't just a reskin. They're a piece of history. Specifically, the history of a woman named Melissa Rory.
Most players remember the 2013 teaser trailer for Cyberpunk 2077. You know the one—a woman covered in blood, blades extended, sitting in the street while the NCPD aims at her. That's Melissa. Fast forward to the actual game, and she's not the victim anymore. She’s the hunter. She’s part of MaxTac. And honestly, she's probably the only person in the city who can make those blades look that terrifying.
But here is the kicker. For years, you couldn't actually get her specific blades. They were just an NPC asset, a "look but don't touch" bit of lore. That changed with the 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty expansion. Now, you can actually slice through Scavs with the same chrome used by the city's most elite psycho-squad.
Why MaxTac Mantis Blades Still Matter
It’s easy to look at the stats and think they're just another Tier 5 melee option. They aren't. While katanas like Errata or the Byakko usually win the DPS race on paper, the MaxTac Mantis Blades offer a specific kind of chaos. They feel "unhinged."
There is a psychological edge to using them. You aren't just a mercenary; you're carrying the gear of the people who come when the mercs go crazy. They have a unique, darker aesthetic compared to the standard Arasaka-branded models. No corporate logos here. Just cold, tactical steel designed for "rehabilitated" cyberpsychos.
The Hidden Stats
Basically, these blades are Reflex-attuned. If you've been dumping points into your Reflexes tree, you're going to see a massive leap in lethality. We’re talking about a base 20% bleeding chance. That might not sound like much when you're used to instant-kill headshots, but in a prolonged fight with a boss or a heavy-duty NCPD squad, that bleed damage ticks away while you’re busy dodging.
- Attack Speed: 2.44 (Standard for Mantis Blades)
- Damage: Scales with Tier (Tier 5++ is the goal)
- Special Perk: Massive leap range (especially with the Relic tree)
If you've played with the new Relic tree from Phantom Liberty, you know about the "Jailbreak" ability. This allows you to perform a massive leap from nearly 30 meters away. When you combine that with the MaxTac variant, you become a human blur. It’s less like a fight and more like a butcher shop.
What Really Happened with the "Bullets" Mission
Most guides will tell you to just go to the Jinguji clothing store in the City Center. You speak to Zane, the posh vendor, leave, and wait for a quest marker called "Bullets" to appear. Simple, right?
Not really.
👉 See also: Why the Mass Effect Shadow Broker Lore Still Matters Ten Years Later
The encounter with the cyberpsycho inside the store is the easy part. The hard part is what happens when MaxTac shows up. Melissa Rory walks in, looking cool as hell, and starts questioning you. In the old versions of the game, this was just a chat. Now? It’s a loot opportunity.
How to Actually Get Them from Melissa
There is a lot of misinformation about whether this drop is random. It isn't. But it’s tricky.
- The Trigger: Complete the "Bullets" quest.
- The Threshold: After the dialogue ends, walk out of the store. Just cross the doorway.
- The Ambush: Immediately walk back in.
- The Take-down: You need to neutralize Melissa Rory.
Here is the thing: if you just start shooting, you’re going to get an instant 5-star wanted level. MaxTac doesn't take kindly to people jumping their officers. The community has found that a non-lethal takedown (sneaking up behind her) or using Optical Camo to lose the heat quickly is the only way to survive. Once she’s down, the blades should be on her body.
Wait. Be warned. The moment you grab them, every MaxTac unit in the district is going to be on your case. I’m talking about the heavy hitters. If you aren't prepared to air-dash across rooftops or dive into the nearest river, don't even try it.
The Phantom Liberty "Easy Way"
If fighting a whole MaxTac squad sounds like a suicide mission, there is a second way. It requires the Phantom Liberty DLC and a specific set of choices.
📖 Related: Good PS2 Horror Games: What Really Happened to Survival Horror
During the "Firestarter" mission, you have to choose to betray Songbird and side with Reed. This leads to a mission where you ambush a MaxTac convoy. If you play your cards right and follow the optional objectives—specifically calling Mr. Hands for help with a netrunner—you can get these blades as a reward later.
Mr. Hands is a man of his word. He’ll leave them in your apartment. No 5-star bounty. No running from Maxtac. Just a clean transaction for a job well done.
Are They Better Than Katanas?
Honestly? It depends on your vibe.
Katanas like the Errata have better single-target DPS. That’s just a fact of the game's math. However, the MaxTac Mantis Blades thrive in crowd control. When you have ten enemies in a room, the "Jailbreak" leap lets you bounce from target to target like a pinball.
Also, they don't take up a weapon slot.
This is the biggest advantage that people forget. You can carry a sniper, a shotgun, and a pistol—and still have the MaxTac blades ready to go in your arms. It gives you an extra tool in your belt that a katana just can't match because it occupies one of your three primary slots.
The Verdict on the MaxTac Chrome
If you’re building a "Death Ballerina" Reflex build, these are a must-have. They represent the peak of Night City’s tactical cyberware. They aren't just tools; they are a statement.
You're essentially saying you can handle the same chrome that usually ends up in a psych ward. It’s about the aesthetic, the history of Melissa Rory, and the sheer fun of leaping 30 meters to turn a Maelstrom ganger into confetti.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your level: Don't try to take on Melissa Rory before Level 30 unless you're a parry god. The blades she drops scale, but you want to be strong enough to actually escape the 5-star heat.
- Invest in the Relic Tree: Specifically unlock "Jailbreak." The MaxTac blades are "fine" without it, but they are "god-tier" with it.
- Clear your inventory: If you’re going the Jinguji route, make sure you aren't over-encumbered. You need to be fast when those stars start flashing.
- Decide your path: If you want them "free," wait for the Phantom Liberty convoy raid. If you want the thrill (and the lore), go pick a fight at the clothing store.
The MaxTac Mantis Blades are one of the few items in the game that still feels like a secret, even years after launch. Go get them. Just make sure your health insurance is paid up first.