At the start of the game, Cyberpunk 2077 players can choose one of three lifepaths: Corpo, Nomad, or Streetkid. All three lifepaths grant different introductions to the V character, starting gear, and weapons, as well as means of transportation. But there’s more to it, so we’ve ranked the best lifepaths in Cyberpunk 2077 for your convenience.
Best Lifepaths Ranked in Cyberpunk 2077
Nomad
Nomad is the best lifepath for complete beginners. You start at the outskirts of the Night City in the deserted Badlands, where it truly feels like the beginning of a journey. You start the game in the Thorton Galena vehicle, which you lose for a moment but then regain after Ghost Town after receiving its geolocation. At this point, all you need to do is go to the junk yard and pay Lana 100 eddies to buy it back.
There’s another significant advantage of the Nomad lifepath, which includes a unique Jackie’s Tuned ARCH motorbike. The other two lifepaths don’t have access to the tuned version and can only get the regular one. If you’ve chosen the Nomad lifepath, you need to talk to Jackie outside the All Foods plant during “The Pickup” quest and choose a Nomad-specific dialogue. I’d also recommend gaining at least 6 points in your Technical Ability beforehand, which will also allow you to switch the exhaust pipe and re-structure the ECU.
The Nomad lifepath gives you the Darra Polytechnic DR-5 Nova power pistol from the start and access to two unique missions:
- The Nomad
- These Boots Are Made for Walkin’
Related: How to Get the Buzzsaw in Cyberpunk 2077
Corpo
The Corpo lifepath is recommended for returning players who want to learn more about the world of Cyberpunk 2077. You’ll notice that there’s deeper immersion during almost every single quest, with a wider selection of dialogue options. This creates a better dynamic between V, Johnny, and all the antagonists in the game, since being able to negotiate is the foundation of this lifepath.
Here you start your journey on the corporate ladder of the Arasaka Corporation in the role of the second-in-command of the Counter Intelligence Division. You’ll receive a unique Apparition TECH pistol, which is a modified version of the Kenshin pistol, right after the prologue. You can take it from Frank Nostra right after you speak to Susan Abernathy. This pistol deals twice as much damage with charged shots and boosts your fire rate, reload speed, and damage if your HP is low.
The Corpo lifepath also gives you access to two unique missions:
- The Corpo-Rat
- War Pigs
Streetkid
The Streetkid lifepath loses to both Nomad and Corpo in terms of benefits. I wouldn’t recommend it above the other two unless you really like the outfits and you want a unique jacket, which you can get after speaking to Kirk Sawyer. In terms of weapons, all you get is a simple Unity pistol, which is alright for the beginning of the game but will need a better replacement as soon as possible.
You start the game in the Night City’s underground, which opens up some opportunities with a number of shady characters. Although many players consider it to be the original, canonical lifepath for V, this has never actually been confirmed by CDPR.
The Corpo lifepath grants you access to two unique missions:
- The Streetkid
- Small Man, Big Mouth
That’s it for our ranking of the best lifepaths in Cyberpunk 2077. Check out our Cyberpunk 2077 guide library for more help with the game, such as how to get Legendary Gorilla Arms and a Run This Town walkthrough.
