Dogtown is a dump. Let’s just be honest about that right out of the gate. It’s a walled-off, sovereign combat zone where the trash piles are taller than the people and the law is whatever Kurt Hansen says it is. But if you’ve picked up the expansion, you aren’t there for the scenery. You’re there because Songbird promised you a cure for the ticking Relic bomb in your head.
The thing about a cyberpunk phantom liberty walkthrough is that most people approach it like a checklist. Go here. Talk to Reed. Kill the bad guys. But CD Projekt Red didn't build this like a standard DLC. It’s a spy thriller. If you play it like a generic shooter, you’re going to miss the nuanced, heartbreaking stuff that actually makes the expansion better than the base game.
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I’ve spent hundreds of hours in Night City. I’ve seen every ending. And the reality is that your choices in the "Firestarter" mission don't just change the loot you get—they fundamentally rewrite the genre of the game you’re playing. You’re either playing a high-octane escape flick or a slow-burn tragedy.
Getting Into Dogtown Without Dying Immediately
The quest "Dog Eat Dog" starts with a frantic phone call. You have to get to the border of the Pacifica sub-district. Don't bother trying to talk your way through the front gate; the NCPD and Barghest don't care about your street cred. You’re sneaking in through the construction tunnels.
A lot of players struggle with the verticality here. You’ll be doing a fair bit of platforming on yellow-painted ledges. If you see yellow, you can climb it. It’s a classic gaming trope, but in the dark, rainy atmosphere of Dogtown’s entrance, it’s easy to lose your way. Once you reach the stadium roof, things go south. Space Force One—the President’s orbital shuttle—gets swatted out of the sky.
This is your first real test. You aren't just fighting scavs anymore. Barghest soldiers use coordinated tactics, smoke grenades, and heavy suppressive fire. If you’re running a glass cannon Netrunner build, you better have your Overclock ready.
Meeting Solomon Reed and the FIA Grind
After you rescue President Rosalind Myers—who, by the way, is way handier with a rifle than any politician has a right to be—the game slows down. This is where the cyberpunk phantom liberty walkthrough shifts gears. You meet Solomon Reed, played by Idris Elba.
Reed is a ghost. He’s been deep undercover for seven years, washing dishes while waiting for a signal that never came. Working with him feels different than working with Johnny Silverhand. Johnny is all punk rock and nihilism; Reed is duty, even when that duty is clearly toxic.
You’ll spend a lot of time in the "The Damned" and "Get It Together" missions just setting the stage. You need to recruit Alex, another sleeper agent. Pro tip: when you’re at her bar, "The Moth," actually listen to the dialogue. The game rewards you for paying attention to the history between these characters. It makes the eventual betrayals hurt way more.
The Black Market and Gear
While you're waiting for Reed to make his moves, go to the EBM Petrochem Stadium. This is the heart of Dogtown. There are vendors here who sell Iconic weapons you might have missed in the base game. Missed Saburo Arasaka’s katana? You can buy it here. It’s expensive, but it’s a nice safety net for completionists.
The Firestarter Pivot Point
This is the big one. If you’re looking for a cyberpunk phantom liberty walkthrough, this is the section you need to bookmark. During the mission "Firestarter," you’ll be deep inside the Barghest stronghold, disguised as a French netrunner.
You have a choice:
- Help Songbird escape.
- Help Reed capture Songbird.
There is no "good" choice.
If you side with Songbird, you’re committing to a frantic, beautiful, and chaotic breakout. You’ll eventually end up at the orbital spaceport in a mission called "The Killing Moon." It is arguably the best level CDPR has ever designed. The lighting, the tension, and the final confrontation on the maglev train are incredible.
If you side with Reed, the game turns into a literal horror movie. You’ll find yourself in an underground facility being hunted by a rogue AI-driven maintenance robot that you cannot kill. You have to hide. You have to crawl. It’s stressful as hell, and it leads to "Somewhat Damaged," a mission that dives deep into Songbird’s traumatic past.
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The New Ending to the Base Game
One of the biggest draws of this expansion is that it can unlock a brand-new ending for V’s entire story. Without spoiling the specifics, let’s just say that the "cure" Songbird talks about is real. But in Night City, nothing is free.
To get this ending, you generally need to side with Reed or make a specific deal at the end of Songbird’s path. It is the most polarizing ending in the game. Some people find it incredibly depressing; others find it peaceful. It strips away the legend of V and leaves you with something much more human.
If you want the "Tower" achievement, you have to be willing to give up everything. Your chrome, your reputation, your friends. It’s a gut punch.
Combat Nuances You’re Ignoring
Don't ignore the Relic tree. You get these points by finding Militech Data Terminals scattered around Dogtown.
The "Vulnerability Analytics" perk is broken in the best way. It highlights weak spots on enemies. Hit those spots, and they explode for massive AOE damage. If you’re struggling with the boss fight against the Chimera (that giant tank early on), this perk makes the fight 50% faster.
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Also, look into the "Emergency Tunneling" perk if you like blades. It lets you leap toward enemies from a huge distance. It makes the combat feel more like Dishonored and less like a standard cover shooter.
The Side Gigs Are Actually Important
Mr. Hands is your fixer in Dogtown. Unlike Wakako or Dino, Hands feels like a puppet master. His side gigs aren't just "go kill this person." They often involve choosing the next ruler of Dogtown or deciding the fate of bio-engineered athletes.
Do the quest "Run This Town." You get to use a behavior implant to literally become someone else. It’s a trip. Plus, the rewards for these gigs often include some of the best Tier 5++ cyberware in the game.
Making the Most of Your Walkthrough
To truly see everything, you need multiple save files. Right before you enter the stadium with Reed and Alex for "Firestarter," make a manual save. Call it "THE CHOICE."
Play out the Songbird path first. It feels more in line with the "blaze of glory" theme of Cyberpunk. Then, go back and play the Reed path. The "Cynosure" bunker in Reed’s path contains lore about the Blackwall that explains exactly why the world is so terrified of rogue AIs. It’s essential reading for anyone who cares about the world-building.
Key Takeaways for Success:
- Invest in Technical Ability. You need it to open doors and bypass security systems in almost every major DLC mission.
- Watch the Skies. Supply drops fall randomly in Dogtown. They are marked by orange smoke. Fighting off the scavs for these crates is the best way to get high-tier weapon mods.
- Talk to Johnny. He has a lot to say in Dogtown. His perspective on the FIA and the NUSA is cynical, but he’s usually right about the politics.
- Don't Rush. The atmosphere of the heavy rain and neon in the Longshore Stacks is what you paid for.
Go into the "Firestarter" mission with your favorite build fully upgraded. Whether you choose the path of the spy or the path of the rebel, you're going to need every bit of armor and RAM you can get your hands on. Dogtown doesn't let go of people easily, and neither does the NUSA.
Once you finish the main story of the DLC, check your messages. Several side characters will reach out to wrap up their arcs, and these small moments often provide the closure the main endings lack. Make sure to visit the memorial at the Columbarium if things go south for your favorite characters; the developers actually added unique niches for them.