Smart weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 lock bullets onto enemies automatically once you have the right cyberware and aim long enough to “tag” a target. With the proper build (especially post‑2.0), they become incredibly strong for agile, hack-heavy playstyles.

What smart weapons are

  • Smart weapons fire micro‑projectiles that curve toward tagged enemies rather than traveling in a straight line.
  • They typically deal less raw damage than Power or Tech guns, but compensate with tracking, multi‑targeting, and easy hits on moving or partially covered enemies.
  • Most smart guns are pistols, SMGs, ARs, shotguns, and a few sniper rifles, plus several Iconic variants like Shingen or Ashura that greatly boost the archetype’s potential.

Requirements to use smart features

  • Install Smart Link hand cyberware; without it, smart weapons behave like normal guns with no homing.
  • Smart Link is available from ripperdocs but requires a minimum Street Cred (commonly level 14) and some eddies, or can be obtained for free as a reward from the early side quest “The Gig” after meeting Wakako in Westbrook.
  • The targeting system interfaces with V’s optics, highlighting enemies so the projectiles know where to curve.

Basic how‑to in combat

  • Equip a smart weapon, then aim so enemies sit inside the large targeting box/reticle on your HUD; after a brief lock‑on delay, small markers show targets are tagged.
  • Fire while maintaining lock, and the bullets arc toward those enemies, often curving around partial cover or tracking them as they move.
  • You still need some line of sight: shots can miss if enemies hide fully behind cover or leave the lock area before the projectiles reach them.

Hip‑fire vs aiming

  • Hip‑fire mode: you can lock multiple enemies at once inside the reticle; bullets distribute across all tagged targets, great for crowd control but less focused damage.
  • Aiming down sights: you lock onto a single enemy’s head or weak points , concentrating fire for burst kills and heavy damage on elites and bosses.

Strategy, perks, and builds

  • In patch 2.0 and beyond, smart weapons synergize strongly with Intelligence and Reflex trees, especially in “Net‑Gunner” style builds that combine quickhacks and homing fire.
  • Intelligence perks can grant instant or faster target lock, extra damage to hacked enemies, and RAM refunds on smart‑weapon kills, letting you chain hacks and shots continuously.
  • Reflex perks boost AR/SMG range and lock distance, stack damage with sustained fire, and let you swap SMGs quickly for near‑constant spraying while locks persist.

Tips, pros, and cons

  • Pros:
    • Extremely forgiving aim and excellent versus mobile enemies or when playing on a controller.
* Can tag and hit enemies behind partial cover; great synergy with wallhacking quickhacks like Ping.

* Very strong for kiting, sliding, and aerial movement since you don’t need perfect crosshair alignment while dodging.
  • Cons:
    • Lower base damage and slower projectiles compared to many Power/Tech guns; bad if you want pure burst DPS without investment.
* Requires cyberware, Street Cred, and perk investment before they truly shine, especially on higher difficulties.

* Lock‑on delay can feel clunky if you’re used to instant‑hit Power weapons.

Where to get early smart gear

  • A basic smart weapon can be looted early in the game in fixed locations, giving you a starter gun once you have Smart Link.
  • Main and side missions tied to Arasaka and various gangs (such as early Takemura content or Tyger Claw encounters) can drop prototype or Iconic smart SMGs and pistols worth building around.

TL;DR: Install Smart Link, aim until enemies are locked in your targeting box, then let the homing rounds do the work—hip‑fire for multi‑target chaos, ADS for precise head‑tracking death, especially powerful in an Intelligence‑heavy Net‑Gunner build.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.