You’re staring at the Technical Ability tree in Cyberpunk 2077. Maybe you’re hovering over the "All Things Cyber" node, or perhaps you've wandered into the high-tier perks of the 2.0 update. Then you see it. An icon that looks familiar. It’s David Martinez. It’s Rebecca. It’s Lucy. These aren't just random drawings to fill space; the cyberpunk skill tree reference edgerunners fans have obsessed over is CD Projekt Red’s way of weaving the anime's tragedy directly into your character's DNA.
Honestly, it’s rare to see a tie-in that feels this earned. Usually, when a game gets an anime, you get a mediocre DLC skin and a "thanks for watching" splash screen. Not here. In the 2.0 overhaul, the developers basically rebuilt the progression system to acknowledge that Cyberpunk: Edgerunners saved the game's reputation. If you’re playing V today, you aren't just playing a merc; you’re playing a legend who is literally walking in the footsteps of the Sandevistan-wielding kid from Santo Domingo.
The Iconography of Trauma
The most obvious cyberpunk skill tree reference edgerunners players notice is the "Edgerunner" perk itself. It sits at the top of the Technical Ability tree. It requires 20 points. It’s the ultimate "high risk, high reward" mechanic. The icon is unmistakable: David Martinez, back turned, looking over his shoulder with that haunting, neon-infused silhouette we saw in the Studio Trigger opening credits.
But it’s not just about the art.
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The mechanic mirrors David’s actual descent into cyberpsychosis. When you take this perk, you can exceed your Cyberware Capacity. You get more power, sure, but you pay for it with your health. Your screen glitches. You start to hear that distorted, manic laughter. It’s a mechanical representation of the "Chrome or Meat" debate that defined the show. You’re literally choosing to lose your humanity for a chance at being a legend. It’s brutal.
Look Closer at the Perks
If you go into the Reflexes tree, you’ll find Lucy. She’s often associated with the Finisher: Live Wire or specific Monowire buffs. It makes sense. In the anime, Lucy’s Monowire wasn’t just a weapon; it was an extension of her grace and her lethality as a netrunner. By putting her image there, the game tells you exactly what kind of "vibe" that build is going for. You aren't just clicking a button to do 15% more damage. You’re channeling a specific character’s legacy.
Then there’s Rebecca. Poor, chaotic Rebecca. You’ll find her icon lurking around the "Die! Die! Die!" perk in the Body tree. It’s perfect. It fits her "shoot first, ask questions while reloading" personality. The icon captures her manic energy, usually involving a shotgun or some kind of heavy ordinance. It’s a subtle nod that acknowledges the fans’ favorite gremlin-energy mercenary without needing a 5-minute cutscene to explain why she’s there.
Why CDPR Chose the 2.0 Update for These References
When Cyberpunk 2077 launched, it was... well, you know the story. It was a mess. The skills were boring. Most of them were just "increase crit chance by 3%" or "reload 10% faster." It lacked soul. When Edgerunners dropped on Netflix, it gave the world a reason to care about Night City again. It provided the emotional context that the base game’s launch was missing.
The 2.0 update was a total lobotomy of the old systems. They ripped out the boring stuff and replaced it with "Power Fantasies."
The inclusion of the cyberpunk skill tree reference edgerunners icons was a deliberate choice to align the game with the anime’s tone. The anime showed us that cyberware has a cost. The game finally reflected that. Before 2.0, you could just slap on every piece of chrome in the city with no consequences. Now? Now you have a capacity bar. You have to manage your sanity, essentially.
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The "Edgerunner" Perk Mechanic
Let’s talk about the actual gameplay impact of that David Martinez perk.
- You go over your limit.
- Your max health drops by a percentage for every point you’re over.
- You get a chance to enter a "Fury" state.
In Fury, you deal more damage, you move faster, and you feel invincible. It is exactly how David felt right before the end. It’s a genius piece of ludonarrative harmony. You aren’t just reading about a character; you are experiencing his mechanical struggle. If you push too hard, V’s vision starts to fray at the edges. The sound design changes. It’s claustrophobic and exhilarating at the same time.
More Than Just Icons: The Hidden Details
It’s not just the skill tree. The cyberpunk skill tree reference edgerunners extends into the world, but the perks act as the bridge. For instance, when you find David’s jacket in the "Over the Edge" quest, the game doesn't just hand it to you. It makes you watch a Braindance that is literally the opening scene of the anime.
The skill tree icons act as a permanent reminder of that quest.
The Monowire and Lucy
For the netrunners out there, the 2.0 changes to Monowire were massive. Before, it was just a weird whip. Now, it can upload Quickhacks. This is a direct reference to how Lucy used her wire to hack opponents mid-combat. If you build your V with the Reflexes and Intelligence perks that feature her icons, you end up with a character that plays almost exactly like she did in the show. You’re jumping, dashing, and uploading "Short Circuit" through a glowing piece of string.
The Shotgun Meta and Rebecca
Rebecca’s influence is all over the Body tree. The "Rip and Tear" style of gameplay—where you're using a shotgun at point-blank range to trigger finishers—feels like a tribute to her final stand. There’s even a specific shotgun you can find, Guts, which has massive recoil. If you don't have the Body perks (the ones with her face on them), the gun literally knocks you backward when you fire it. It’s hilarious, dangerous, and perfectly "Becca."
The Emotional Weight of a JPG
It sounds silly to get emotional over a tiny icon in a menu. But for people who watched the show, seeing those faces while leveling up hits a nerve. The Edgerunners story is about being forgotten or being remembered for the wrong reasons. By putting them in the skill tree, CDPR made sure they are never forgotten by the players.
They became part of the fundamental "rules" of Night City.
The cyberpunk skill tree reference edgerunners fans love isn't just fanservice. It’s an admission that the anime’s vision of the world was, in many ways, more focused than the original game’s vision. The show understood that Night City is a meat grinder. The 2.0 skill tree finally turned the game into that same meat grinder.
How to Build Your "Edgerunner" V
If you want to actually use these references for a themed build, you have to commit. You can't just dabble.
For a David build:
Focus entirely on Technical Ability and Reflexes. You need the "Edgerunner" perk (obviously) and every Sandevistan-related node you can find. Your goal is to keep the "Fury" state active as long as possible. It’s a twitchy, high-speed playstyle that requires you to constantly monitor your health bar.
For a Lucy build:
Go deep into Intelligence and Reflexes. Look for the Monowire specific perks. You want to be able to dash (Reflexes) while uploading hacks (Intelligence). It’s about being untouchable.
For a Rebecca build:
It’s all Body and Tech. You want the perks that reduce recoil and increase fire rate for shotguns. Grab the "Obliterate" perk. It’s messy, loud, and incredibly effective at clearing rooms in seconds.
The Verdict on the Edgerunners Legacy
The way the cyberpunk skill tree reference edgerunners was handled shows a level of respect for the source material that is rare in the industry. It wasn't a cash grab. It was a reconstruction. The 2.0 update took the "cool factor" of the anime and grounded it in RPG mechanics that actually mean something.
When you see David's face at the top of that tree, it's a warning. It’s telling you that you can have all the power in the world, but it will cost you everything. And in a game about the dark future, that’s the most honest thing the developers could have done.
If you're starting a new playthrough, don't just rush to the "meta" builds. Take a second to look at the art on those perk nodes. There's a story there. It's the story of a group of kids who tried to take on the world and lost, but in doing so, they gave Night City its soul back.
What You Should Do Next
- Check your Cyberware Capacity: If you haven't taken the "Edgerunner" perk yet, go to a Ripperdoc and see how much "room" you have left. Pushing into the red is where the real fun (and danger) starts.
- Find the Guts Shotgun: Head to Memorial Park in Arasaka Tower. It’s hidden in the bushes. It’s the ultimate companion piece to the Body tree perks.
- Watch the Braindance: If you haven't done the "Over the Edge" quest, look for a trash can near Megabuilding H4 in Santo Domingo. It triggers the whole connection between the game and the show.
- Experiment with Fury: Triggering the "Edgerunner" state isn't just about damage; it's about the visual experience. Pay attention to the audio cues when V "snaps." It’s some of the best sound design in the game.
Night City doesn't give happy endings, but at least with the right perks, you can go out in a blaze of glory.