The Hunt Quest Guide: Complete Strategy

The Hunt stands as one of the most demanding and intricate side missions available in Cyberpunk 2077, requiring players to navigate complex objectives, solve investigative puzzles, and execute tactical rescues. This mission becomes available after completing the preceding “I Fought The Law” side quest and waiting a full in-game day cycle. River Ward, a detective and key ally, will contact V to begin this harrowing investigation into a kidnapping operation. The mission combines stealth mechanics, hacking challenges, investigation elements, and combat sequences, making it essential for players to understand each phase thoroughly before committing to the objective.

Prerequisites and Initial Setup

Before embarking on The Hunt, players must satisfy specific requirements to unlock access to this mission. Completing the “I Fought The Law” side quest is mandatory, as it establishes the relationship between V and River Ward while introducing the criminal elements that factor into this investigation. After finishing that quest, players need to advance time by approximately 24 in-game hours—this can be accomplished through activities like resting at a safe location, engaging in other missions, or simply waiting.

Once sufficient time has passed, River will initiate contact with V via communication device. This trigger occurs in Heywood, specifically in the Glen district. The mission itself takes place across multiple locations including the NCPD facility, a classified research laboratory, and ultimately a remote farm location. The quest rewards include 643 experience points and 2175 Street Cred upon successful completion, though these figures may vary depending on specific outcomes and choices made during the mission.

Phase One: The Rendezvous and Laboratory Infiltration

The Hunt begins with a nighttime meeting. Players must travel to meet River Ward at a designated location during evening hours. Upon arrival, River will be waiting with his vehicle—a Thorton automobile. Players should approach and enter the vehicle to initiate the dialogue sequence that explains the mission parameters. River’s briefing covers the kidnapping case involving his nephew and the need to investigate a suspicious NCPD laboratory facility that may contain evidence related to the disappearance.

After discussing the plan, players must exit the vehicle and proceed toward the laboratory structure. The building’s main entrance is secured and inaccessible, necessitating an alternative route. This is where player choice and character build become relevant factors.

Entry Routes to the Laboratory

Three distinct methods exist for gaining access to the laboratory facility, each requiring different character attributes or resources:

• Technical Skill Route: Players with Technical Ability at level 12 or higher can locate a locked door in the rear alley adjacent to the laboratory. Using their technical expertise, they can bypass the electronic lock mechanism and enter directly through this secured passage.
• Physical Strength Route: Characters with elevated Body attribute can discover a door on the alternative side of the building entrance that requires physical force to breach. This approach is more direct but requires significant character investment in physical capabilities.
• Acrobatic Route: For players without specialized attributes, climbing presents an option. Containers stacked in the rear alley area can be used as platforms to climb over nearby walls, leading to an internal garage area. From there, players can climb a ladder and access the facility through an open window on an upper level.

Once inside the laboratory, River will join V and explain the next objective. The facility is undergoing maintenance, which provides cover for the infiltration. River will direct V to search for specific documentation related to a suspect named Anthony Harris, known by the alias “Peter Pan.” A cabinet in one of the back rooms adjacent to the main research area contains the critical data files needed to progress.

Phase Two: Evidence Collection and Cabinet Investigation

Locating the correct cabinet requires careful observation of the laboratory layout. After entering, players should proceed through the research area toward the rear sections of the building. The cabinet will be highlighted once players are in proximity, but visual scanning may be necessary to identify it among other storage units.

Upon approaching the cabinet, players can use their scanner functionality to examine the contents. This interaction triggers a cutscene where River appears and comments on the findings. Immediately following this interaction, an NPC named Yawen will enter the area. This encounter is brief but important—Yawen serves as a witness to your presence, though the situation does not immediately escalate to combat.

The data retrieved from the cabinet will reveal crucial information: Anthony Harris engaged in online manipulation of a victim named Randy, whom he subsequently kidnapped. The evidence includes communications between Harris and Randy, establishing the predatory nature of Harris’s actions and confirming Randy’s location as a priority rescue target.

Phase Three: Braindance Investigation and Clue Synthesis

The investigation progresses into the braindance phase, where River arranges for V to experience recorded memories from Harris. The braindance scenes are crucial because they contain environmental clues scattered throughout each sequence. Players must carefully scan specific objects and elements to gather intelligence about Harris’s activities and ultimately determine the location of the farm where Randy is being held.

Braindance Scanning Objectives

Multiple braindance sequences present different environments, each containing scannable elements:

Scanning all available clues across all braindance sequences provides significant advantages. If players successfully identify all environmental clues, River will independently deduce that the location is Edgewood Farm, automatically advancing the mission toward the rescue phase. Alternatively, if players miss clues or fail to complete the scanning objective, they will be prompted to select from multiple choice options when determining the farm’s identity. The correct answer in this scenario remains Edgewood Farm, though selecting incorrectly will result in visiting the wrong location initially, requiring additional travel and investigation time.

Phase Four: The Farm Assault and Tactical Approach

Upon arrival at Edgewood Farm, the environment presents multiple defensive obstacles. The farm is fortified with armed security measures, including automated turrets positioned strategically around the property perimeter and the main residence. Additionally, the grounds contain anti-personnel mines that can cause significant damage if triggered carelessly.

Security Neutralization Strategies

Players have several tactical approaches available for managing the farm’s security systems:

• Stealth Approach: Using scanner functionality to identify mine locations, players can navigate carefully around explosive devices by taking wide paths and avoiding direct approach routes. This method minimizes alerts and reduces immediate threats.
• Hacking Strategy: The farm contains a security control system accessible through a computer terminal. Players with hacking capabilities can use this system to deactivate turrets and disable mines remotely, clearing a safe passage toward the barn structure.
• Direct Engagement: Players with strong combat stats can destroy turrets through conventional firepower, though this approach risks raising alarms and escalating the situation.

The barn structure requires entry through an upper level. Players can access this by locating and climbing a ladder on the left side of the barn, which leads to an opening that provides internal access without alerting ground-level defenses.

Phase Five: Rescue Operations and Final Confrontation

Inside the barn, players will discover multiple victims connected to braindance machines—consciousness recording and playback devices that are being used to torture the captives. River will locate Randy, the primary rescue target. However, Randy remains connected to an active braindance machine that must be deactivated before River can safely disconnect him.

Players must search for the control room containing the braindance machine activation switch. This switch is typically located in a back section of the barn and is essential to disable before proceeding with the rescue. Upon deactivation, River can begin freeing Randy from the device.

After disconnecting Randy, there are typically additional victims present in the facility. Some may still be alive and in need of rescue. River will call for V’s assistance to help the other captives. This phase combines combat, rescue mechanics, and decision-making, as players must determine how to handle multiple objectives simultaneously.

Critical Decision Point and Mission Completion

A pivotal moment occurs after successfully freeing Randy. River will ask V, “Stayin’, Right?” This dialogue choice is significant—selecting affirmative options signifies V’s commitment to helping Randy pursue justice against Anthony Harris, which triggers continuation toward subsequent related quests and story developments. The choice made here influences River’s character arc and shapes the narrative trajectory of future interactions.

Upon successfully rescuing the victims, authorities arrive on scene. River and V coordinate with police officers who begin transporting rescued victims to medical facilities. This marks the completion of The Hunt’s primary objectives, though the broader storyline involving Anthony Harris may continue in related missions depending on player choices.

Strategic Tips and Optimization

• Thoroughly scan all braindance clues to avoid the wrong farm selection penalty
• Choose entry routes that match your character’s developed attributes to avoid unnecessary difficulty
• Use scanner functionality liberally to identify mines and turret positions before committing to movement
• Prioritize disabling turrets via hacking if your build supports this approach, as it reduces combat encounters
• Assist all rescued victims to maximize story consequences and character development
• Prepare healing items and ammunition before entering the farm area, as combat may become necessary
• Accept River’s assistance rather than attempting solo approaches, as his support significantly improves tactical outcomes

Mission Rewards and Progression Impact

Completing The Hunt provides meaningful rewards that progress character development. Players receive 643 experience points toward their current level, directly contributing to attribute increases and perks. The 2175 Street Cred earned through mission completion enhances V’s reputation in Night City, unlocking access to specialized vendors and improving merchant prices across the city. These rewards scale based on the character level and difficulty settings selected.

Beyond numerical rewards, completing The Hunt establishes crucial character relationships. River Ward becomes significantly more invested in V’s journey, with potential for deeper personal connections depending on V’s decisions and dialogue choices throughout the mission sequence. This relationship serves as foundation for future quests and dialogue options that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I select the wrong farm during the multiple choice?

You will travel to an incorrect location and must explore it before realizing the error. This results in additional travel time but does not create a mission failure. You can then select the correct location (Edgewood Farm) and proceed normally.

Can I complete The Hunt without finding all braindance clues?

Yes, but you will need to select the farm location from dialogue options rather than having River deduce it automatically. The correct answer remains the same regardless of clue completion.

What is the minimum character level recommended for The Hunt?

While no strict requirement exists, having combat attributes and hacking skills at reasonable levels (approximately 10+) significantly improves success chances and reduces difficulty spikes.

Can I avoid combat entirely during The Hunt?

With careful stealth, proper route planning, and successful hacking of security systems, you can minimize combat encounters substantially, though complete avoidance may be difficult during the farm infiltration phase.