In the neon-drenched streets of Night City, The Pickup stands as one of the earliest main story missions in Cyberpunk 2077 that introduces players to high-stakes corporate intrigue and gang warfare. This quest revolves around acquiring a stolen Militech Flathead robot from the cyberpsychotic Maelstrom gang, but your decisions here ripple through the entire game, affecting alliances, romances, and exclusive loot.
Quest Overview and Starting Decisions
The mission kicks off after Dexter DeShawn tasks you and Jackie Welles with retrieving the Flathead from All Foods factory, controlled by Maelstrom. Before linking up with Jackie, you face an optional but pivotal choice: contact Militech agent Meredith Stout.
- Call Meredith (Recommended): She meets you in a tense ambush, providing a credchip laced with malware to use in the deal. This opens multiple paths, including potential romance later.
- Skip the Call: Limits options to paying with your own 10,000 eddies or fighting, potentially avoiding early combat if handled diplomatically.
Regardless, head to All Foods to scan for entry. Inside, navigate the gang-infested plant, dealing with optional encounters like Brick or Dum Dum to gather intel on Royce, Maelstrom’s leader.
Key Choice: Handling the Credchip
If you took Meredith’s chip, decide its fate before meeting Royce. This branches the mission dramatically.
| Action | Outcome | Rewards/Consequences |
|---|---|---|
| Decrypt/Copy Malware | Militech detects it post-deal, assaults the factory | Unlocks Synapse Burnout quickhack; fight Militech agents |
| Leave Malware Intact | Royce scans and detects it, triggers Maelstrom fight | Meredith appears at exit for alliance/romance path; Royce becomes boss |
| No Chip (Own Funds or Skip) | Flexible payment or refusal | Peaceful exit possible if diplomatic |
Decrypting grants immediate cyberware perks but escalates to corpo raid. Keeping it intact preserves Maelstrom relations for later content.
Confronting Royce: Payment or Betrayal?
In Royce’s chamber, tensions peak. Jackie refuses to sit, so intervene to calm him. Then choose:
- Pay Royce (10k Eddies or Chip): If chip is clean (decrypted), deal succeeds peacefully. Intact chip leads to betrayal detection and brawl.
- Refuse Payment/Shoot Royce: Instant combat; grab Flathead amid chaos. Secures iconic pistol Chaos from Royce’s body.
- Side with Militech (Corpo Lifepath): Warn Royce about malware before paying—unique dialogue avoids immediate fight.
Shooting Royce simplifies escape but locks out Maelstrom side jobs. Paying (clean chip) is cleanest short-term.
All Possible Mission Endings
The Pickup boasts over 11 variations based on prior choices. Here’s a breakdown:
- Peaceful Deal (No Meredith Contact): Pay own eddies without chip—Royce accepts, no fights.
- Militech Ambush (Decrypted Chip): Post-deal, corpos storm in; battle out with Flathead.
- Maelstrom Betrayal (Intact Chip): Royce flips, fight gang; Meredith rewards loyalty at exit.
- Royce Killed Early: Shoot him—grab Chaos, escape via vents or front.
- Full Maelstrom Alliance: Avoid killing, complete Second Conflict later for Doom Doom revolver on Dum Dum.
Post-escape, reactivate Flathead. Exit reveals your ‘benefactor’: Meredith (if sided with her) or Gilchrist (if not).
Iconic Weapons and Exclusive Rewards
Choices dictate loot:
- Chaos (Iconic Pistol): Kill Royce or side Militech.
- Doom Doom (Iconic Revolver): Ally with Maelstrom, finish Second Conflict.
- Synapse Burnout Quickhack: Copy credchip malware.
Maelstrom path maximizes future gains, tying into side jobs.
Romance and Long-Term Impacts
Meredith Stout Romance (Venus in Furs): Use intact chip, pay Royce without killing early. She waits outside, hints at partnership—leads to intimate scene later. Requires not shooting her agent Gilchrist.
Siding Maelstrom preserves gang ties for quests like Lightning Breaks the Clouds. Militech path boosts corpo rep but may kill Meredith if Gilchrist survives.
Best Overall Path for Rewards and Story
For optimal playthrough:
- Contact Meredith, take chip.
- Decrypt for quickhack.
- Pay Royce (clean chip) or shoot for Chaos.
- Prioritize Maelstrom survival for Doom Doom and side content.
This balances immediate loot, romance options, and Act 2 quests.
Tips for Combat and Stealth
- Stealth: Use vents, distract with quickhacks.
- Combat: Target optics first; Flathead assists post-activation.
- Builds: Netrunner for chip hacks; Blades for gang fights.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring Meredith—misses romance and chip perks.
- Killing all Maelstrom early—loses future jobs.
- Not intervening for Jackie—triggers unwanted fights.
FAQ
Q: Does shooting Royce affect the ending?
A: Yes, it spawns Meredith outside and grants Chaos, but hurts Maelstrom relations.
Q: How to romance Meredith?
A: Use her intact chip, avoid killing her contacts.
Q: Best weapon choice?
A: Chaos for power, Doom Doom for Maelstrom path.
Q: Can I avoid all fights?
A: Yes, skip Meredith and pay own eddies diplomatically.
Q: Impacts in 2.0 Update?
A: Maelstrom siding unlocks more side content.
Advanced Strategies for Multiple Playthroughs
To experience all 11 outcomes, save before Royce. Nomad/Corpo lifepaths unlock unique dialogues, like exposing moles. In 2.0, Flathead controls enhance combat branches.
This mission exemplifies Cyberpunk 2077’s branching narrative—small choices forge your legend in Night City.
References
- All ‘The Pickup’ Mission Outcomes Comparison – Cyberpunk 2077 — YouTube. 2020.
- Best Cyberpunk 2077 Pickup choices with Meredith Stout and Royce — GamesRadar. 2023-09-21. https://www.gamesradar.com/cyberpunk-2077-the-pickup-mission-walkthrough/
- The Pickup Quest Walkthrough and Rewards | Cyberpunk 2077 — Game8. 2023. https://game8.co/games/Cyberpunk-2077/archives/Quests-The-Pickup
- Cyberpunk 2077 – The Pickup – All 11 Choices and Outcomes — YouTube. 2020.
- What Is the Best Outcome in ‘The Pickup’ in Cyberpunk 2077 2.0? — Siliconera. 2023-09-26. https://www.siliconera.com/what-is-the-best-outcome-in-the-pickup-in-cyberpunk-2077-2-0/