You’re standing in the middle of a Pacifica parking lot. Scavs are closing in from three different sides. You could pull out a sniper rifle, but they're too close. You could go for a katana, but there are too many of them. This is exactly where the Moron Labe earns its keep. Most people look at the stats on a generic Militech rifle and think they’ve seen it all. They haven't. This thing is a monster. It is fundamentally a modified Militech M221 Saratoga, but calling it just a "submachine gun" or a "rifle" doesn't do justice to how it actually handles in the heat of a Night City firefight.
Honestly, it’s the iconic weapon that defines the "spray and pray" meta while actually rewarding you for hitting your shots.
What Actually Makes the Moron Labe Different?
If you look at the base M221 Saratoga, it’s a standard-issue Power weapon. It’s reliable. It’s boring. The Moron Labe, which you loot from the boss Anton Kolev during a Suspected Organized Crime Activity in West Wind Estate, flips the script. The name itself is a cheeky nod to the Greek phrase Molon Labe—"come and take them." Fitting, right?
The fire rate is the first thing you’ll notice. It’s fast. Like, "oops I’m out of ammo" fast. But unlike the standard Saratoga, the Labe has a much higher chance to dismember enemies. This isn't just a visual gore effect. In Cyberpunk 2077, dismemberment often triggers instant kills or massive stagger. It stops an charging Animal or a Maelstrom psycho right in their tracks.
The Crafting Barrier
You can’t just find this gun lying in a crate. You have to craft it. This means your build needs to lean into the Technical Ability tree. If you're running a pure "Body" or "Reflex" build without any investment in crafting, you're basically looking at a blueprint you can't use. That’s the trade-off.
Back in the early days of the game (patch 1.5 and 1.6), you could just slap some mods on any legendary gun and be a god. Post-Phantom Liberty and the 2.0 update, the weapon tier system changed everything. Now, the Moron Labe scales with your level much more aggressively if you keep it upgraded at the workbench. It feels heavy. The recoil is vertical but predictable. If you've played any competitive shooters, you’ll find the spray pattern almost nostalgic.
Comparing the Giants: Moron Labe vs. Psalm 11:6
This is the debate that never ends on Reddit. You’ve got the Moron Labe in one corner and the Psalm 11:6 in the other.
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The Psalm is a Copperhead variant that deals thermal damage. It’s great for crowd control because it sets people on fire. But here is the thing: fire is a "Damage Over Time" (DOT) mechanic. In high-level play, especially on Very Hard difficulty, you don't want to wait for a DOT to tick down. You want the target dead now.
- Moron Labe focuses on raw physical impact and dismemberment.
- The Psalm 11:6 relies on burning and status effects.
- Impact beats status when you're being swarmed by MaxTac.
The physical damage of the Labe also means it interacts better with certain perks in the Reflexes tree. Specifically, the "Sharpshooter" perks that reward successive hits. Since the Labe fires so quickly, you reach max stacks of your buffs almost instantly. It's a synergy that most players overlook because they're too busy looking at the "DPS" number in the inventory screen. Don't trust that number. It’s a lie. It doesn't account for the "stagger" factor that keeps you alive.
The Secret Sauce: Why It Still Dominates in 2026
Night City has changed a lot since the game launched. We've had the Edgerunners update, the 2.0 overhaul, and the expansion. Through all of it, the Moron Labe stayed relevant because it’s a Power weapon.
Power weapons have the "Ricochet" mechanic. If you’re using the Ballistic Coprocessor cyberware in your hands slot, your bullets bounce off floors and walls. This turns the Moron Labe into a room-clearer. You don't even need a direct line of sight. You can aim at the ground in front of a piece of cover and watch the red lines guide your bullets right into a Tyger Claw’s shins.
It’s satisfying. It’s crunchy.
Performance Under Pressure
Let’s talk about the recoil. Most people hate the M221 frame because it kicks like a mule. If you aren't pulling down on your mouse or thumbstick, you’ll be staring at the ceiling after five rounds. But that’s the beauty of it. The Labe encourages short, controlled bursts that lead into a full-auto execution.
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I’ve found that pairing it with the "Pyromania" perk (if you’re running a hybrid build) or simply focusing on the "Lead and Steel" tree makes you feel untouchable. It's not about the gun in isolation. It’s about how the Moron Labe acts as a delivery system for your specific character build.
If you’re running a Sandevistan, the Labe becomes hilarious. You can track individual bullets as they leave the barrel. Because the fire rate is so high, you can basically paint a target with lead before they even realize you've drawn your weapon.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Build
You’ve got the gun. Now what?
First, stop using the default iron sights. They’re claustrophobic and the muzzle flash will blind you in dark alleys like the ones in Dogtown. Slap a Kanetsugu or a clear reflex sight on there. You need to see the dismemberment happening so you can switch targets quickly.
Second, focus on your Cyberware. The "Adrenaline Converter" is a must. If you start a fight with a speed boost, the Moron Labe’s fire rate allows you to drop the first three enemies before the combat music even hits its crescendo.
Third, don't ignore the "Submachine Fun" perk if you're mixing weapons. Even though it's classified as an Iconic Assault Rifle in many players' minds because of its utility, its base is an SMG. This means it benefits from the "Automatic Scopes" and "Steady Hand" buffs that usually apply to the lighter class of weapons. It’s a bit of a hybrid, and that’s where its power lies.
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Common Misconceptions About the Labe
"It's just a Saratoga with a skin." No. It really isn't. The internal multiplier for limb damage is significantly higher.
"The Fenrir is better." Look, the Fenrir is a great early-game gun. It applies Cyberware Malfunction, which is cool for taking down netrunners. But the Fenrir falls off in the late game when enemies have massive health pools. The Moron Labe scales. It’s a weapon you can take from level 15 all the way to level 60 and still feel like you're holding a powerhouse.
Some people complain about the ammo consumption. And yeah, it’s a pig. You will be crafting ammo in the middle of missions. But in a game where you’re literally swimming in crafting components and Eddies, that’s a small price to pay for the sheer stopping power.
The Verdict on the Moron Labe
It isn't the "fanciest" gun in the game. It doesn't talk to you like Skippy. It doesn't have the high-tech glowing bits of a Tsunami Kyubi. It’s an ugly, loud, brutal piece of machinery that does exactly what it was designed to do: end fights.
If you want a weapon that rewards aggressive play and makes you feel like the most dangerous person in the room, go to Pacifica. Find Anton Kolev. Take the blueprint. Craft it.
You won't go back to standard rifles after you've seen what this thing does to a group of Barghest soldiers.
Actions to Take Now
To maximize the potential of this weapon, follow these specific steps in your next session:
- Hunt the Blueprint: Head to the far south of Pacifica (West Wind Estate). Look for the "Suspected Organized Crime Activity" icon. Clear the camp and loot the boss.
- Invest in Technical Ability: Reach at least Level 12 in Tech to unlock the "Chipware Connoisseur" and weapon upgrade perks. This allows you to push the Moron Labe into Tier 5+ and Tier 5++ territory.
- Equip the Ballistic Coprocessor: Visit a Ripperdoc (Vik or Cassel) and ensure your hands slot has the ricochet generator. This is non-negotiable for Power weapons.
- Calibrate Recoil: Spend five minutes at a shooting range or against a wall practicing the "pull down" motion. The Labe’s fire rate is high enough that mastering the first 10 bullets of the spray will double your effective range.
- Sync with Reflexes: Focus on the middle branch of the Reflexes perk tree. You want the perks that reduce stamina cost for firing while moving, as the Labe is best used while sprinting and sliding.