Through Pain to Heaven Quest Guide

This pivotal main quest in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty serves as a bridge to one of the expansion’s exclusive endings. Triggered by specific choices in prior missions, it involves a tense meeting that shapes V’s fate in Night City. Below, we break down every aspect to ensure you navigate it flawlessly.

Quest Prerequisites and Unlock Conditions

To access Through Pain to Heaven, players must follow a precise path through the Phantom Liberty storyline. This quest activates exclusively if you side with certain characters and make critical decisions.

• Complete the Firestarter mission by helping Songbird against Kurt Hansen.
• In The Killing Moon, choose to save Songbird but ultimately surrender her to Solomon Reed instead of letting her escape or killing her.
• After handing her over, resume free exploration in Night City; the quest will trigger automatically after a waiting period.

These choices lock you out of other Phantom Liberty endings but open the path to Who Wants to Live Forever, a fresh conclusion to V’s story.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

The quest is concise yet impactful, focusing on dialogue and timing rather than combat. Here’s how to progress:

1. Wait for Reed’s Call: After The Killing Moon, wait at least 24 in-game hours. Use the skip time feature, sleep, or complete side gigs in Dogtown. Reed may take longer—up to several days—so engage in other activities like fast travel or combat to advance the timer.
2. Travel to the Meeting Spot: Reed calls to arrange a rendezvous at a CHOOH2 gas station in Rancho Coronado, Santo Domingo. Fast travel to the nearby Piez dataterm for quick access.
3. Converse with Reed: Discuss recent events, Songbird’s fate, and V’s impending surgery. Dialogue options are flexible and don’t alter outcomes—choose based on role-playing preference.
4. Final Chat with Johnny: After Reed departs, speak with Johnny Silverhand in a cutscene, reflecting on choices and futures.
5. Second Wait Period: Another 24+ hours pass before Reed contacts you again, finalizing the quest and unlocking the next phase.

Upon completion, Who Wants to Live Forever becomes available, directing you to Misty’s Esoterica rooftop—a point of no return leading to surgery and the new ending.

Key Decisions and Their Impact

While Through Pain to Heaven has no branching choices mid-quest, its prerequisites demand commitment. Here’s a comparison of paths:

This table highlights why surrendering Songbird is crucial for the Phantom Liberty-exclusive finale.

Tips for Smooth Progression

• Time Management: If Reed doesn’t call after 24 hours, skip more time or do gigs. Avoid overloading your journal with unfinished quests.
• Exploration During Waits: Use downtime for Dogtown side content, vehicle collection, or cyberware upgrades to maximize playtime.
• Save Frequently: Before meetings, as this path commits to a specific ending.
• No Combat Required: Purely narrative, so focus on immersion via dialogue.

Rewards and Loot

Through Pain to Heaven offers no direct items or XP, emphasizing story over loot. However, it gates the new ending with unique cutscenes, character arcs, and closure for V and Johnny. Post-quest, expect narrative rewards like NUSA surgery promises and altered epilogues.

Quest Context in the Main Story

This mission slots into Act 2 of Phantom Liberty, post-Nocturne Op55N1. It’s part of Songbird’s arc, contrasting mercenary paths with government alliances. Completing it shifts focus from Night City chaos to international intrigue, culminating in transformative events.

Common Issues and Fixes

Players often face delays in Reed’s calls. Troubleshooting:

• Ensure no conflicting main quests are active.
• Complete nearby side jobs to “refresh” the phone.
• Reload a save pre-Killing Moon if glitched.
• Update the game to the latest patch for Phantom Liberty stability.

Integration with Base Game Endings

Phantom Liberty expands Cyberpunk 2077’s narratives. Through Pain to Heaven feeds into a finale rivaling Arasaka Tower assaults, offering hope via experimental tech. It respects base game lifepaths (Street Kid, Nomad, Corpo) without restrictions.

Why This Quest Matters

Beyond mechanics, it deepens themes of loyalty, survival, and redemption. Reed’s arc humanizes NUSA agents, while V’s vulnerability heightens stakes. Ideal for players seeking bittersweet resolutions over chaotic triumphs.

FAQs

How long to wait for Reed’s call in Through Pain to Heaven?

Minimum 24 in-game hours; sometimes days. Skip time or do activities to trigger.

Does killing Songbird block this quest?

Yes, it prevents Through Pain to Heaven and the new ending.

What happens after completing the quest?

Unlocks Who Wants to Live Forever, leading to surgery and a unique epilogue.

Can I replay this ending?

Use save editors or New Game+ (if available in updates) post-completion.

Is Phantom Liberty required for base game?

No, but it enhances story with new paths like this quest.