Cyberpunk 2077: Killing in the Name Guide

Unlocking the mysteries of the Bartmoss Collective leads players into the intriguing side job Killing in the Name in Cyberpunk 2077. This quest blends exploration, combat, and netrunning challenges across Night City’s diverse districts, revealing encrypted signals and sparking conversations with the iconic Johnny Silverhand. Triggered after specific story progress, it rewards 3960 eddies and quickhack components while deepening the lore around rogue hackers.

Quest Prerequisites and Activation

Before diving in, ensure you’ve completed the A Like Supreme side job in the Rogue and Kerry questline. This unlocks a series of messages from Swedenborg-Riviera, culminating in a Bartmoss Collective link accessible via the computer in V’s apartment. Click the ‘Net’ tab, select ‘Read more’ to investigate the site, fulfilling the initial objective.

Next, phone Nancy (also known as Bes Isis) to inquire about Swedenborg. She provides coordinates in Santo Domingo, marking the start of your signal-tracing adventure. Save manually here, as hacking can glitch, preventing jacking in—try switching cyberdecks if issues arise.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough: Tracing the Signals

The core loop involves traveling to four signal sources, scanning environments, hacking routers, reading messages, and chatting with Johnny. Each spot hides a router in plain sight, demanding sharp observation.

First Location: Santo Domingo Rooftop Router

Fast travel to Almunecar & Jerez in Santo Domingo and approach the mission marker in an empty lot. No obvious clues appear at ground level, so scan the area—look right for external fire-exit stairs draped in cables.

Climb to the level below the top floor; a buzzing fuse box signals the router nearby. Hop the railing, scan or interact directly with the wall-mounted device beside a window, and jack in or quickhack it. This nets eddies, components, and a message forwarding the next lead. Johnny chimes in, dismissing it as a chase—listen fully.

• Tip: Use Kiroshi optics in scan mode to highlight the fusebox early.
• Combat: None required here.

Second Location: Badlands RV Camp

Head to the Fuel Station or Autowerks fast travel in the Badlands. Combat kicks in: clear Wraiths guarding an RV amid solar panels. Stealth takedowns work if your build favors silence.

Post-clearance, climb the RV’s side ladder to its roof, revealing the router. Hack it for another message and Johnny dialogue. He grows skeptical, but the trail continues.

Third Location: Badlands Tower Climb

Travel to the next Badlands marker near a giant ‘1’ sign. Ascend multiple service ladders to the summit under the Technica billboard. The router awaits at the top platform.

Scan to confirm, hack, read the incoming data, and converse with Johnny. This elevated spot offers panoramic views but demands precise jumping—falling resets progress.

• Path Summary: Ladder 1 (ground), Ladder 2 (mid), Jump to platform, Ladder 3 (top).

Fourth Location: Pacifica Fortuneteller

Fast travel to West Wind Apartments in Pacifica. Near dancing NPCs, find an ad board with a fortuneteller bot—approach and listen to its spiel. Johnny appears immediately; heed his words.

Scan the sign’s side for the router. Optional: Hear your fortune for flavor. Hack to receive the final message, triggering choice time with Johnny.

Key Choices and Quest Resolution

At the end, options diverge:

• Chill Option: Tell Johnny, “Chill. Not gonna ruin your fun.” Call Nancy, report no new info. Quest completes cleanly.
• Connect Option: ‘Connect to the router’ then ‘Disconnect from Net.’ Call Nancy with “Not exactly.” Similar closure, slight dialogue variance.

Phone Nancy regardless to wrap up. Rewards: 3960 eddies, components. No major branching impacts, but it ties into netrunner lore.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Bugs plague this quest:

• Hack Fails: Reload save, switch cyberdecks (e.g., from NetWatch to Stephenson Tech).
• Clue Not Scanning: Ensure full scan mode; approach within 5 meters.
• Johnny Missing: Complete message read first.
• Stuck Ladders: Align perfectly; mantle if glitched.

Build Recommendations for Success

Optimize for netrunning and mobility:

Cyberware like Kiroshi Mk.3 optics and a strong deck (Raven or higher) shine. Weapons: Smart SMGs for Wraiths.

Lore Deep Dive: Bartmoss and Netrunners

Killing in the Name nods to Rache Bartmoss, the netrunner who ignited the DataKrash, collapsing the Old Net. Swedenborg-Riviera’s signals echo his collective, hunting fragmented data ghosts. Johnny’s involvement hints at his own hacker past, enriching Phantom Liberty ties.

Pacifica’s fortuneteller evokes voodoo netrunning cults, contrasting corpo tech. Rewards bolster quickhack builds, ideal for late-game gigs.

Related Quests and Progression

• Preceding: A Like Supreme (Rogue arc).
• Follow-ups: Boosts netrunner jobs like I Walk the Line.
• Level: Mid-game (20+ recommended).

FAQs

Q: When does Killing in the Name start?
A: Post-A Like Supreme, via apartment computer and Nancy call.

Q: What if I can’t hack the router?
A: Manual save, cyberdeck swap, or reload.

Q: Are there missable rewards?
A: No, all eddies/components auto-granted.

Q: Does choice affect ending?
A: Minor dialogue only; quest completes either way.

Q: Best fast travel points?
A: Almunecar & Jerez, Fuel Station, West Wind Apartments.

Advanced Tips for Replayability

Replay with different lifepaths: Nomads excel in Badlands combat, Streetkids spot urban clues faster. Pair with Panam storyline for Badlands synergy. Modded runs? Use router-reveal mods sparingly to preserve challenge.

For 100% completionists, this feeds into the 100+ side jobs, unlocking achievements like The Gift of Gab via Johnny interactions.