Unlocking Ol’ Reliable in Cyberpunk 2077

The sprawling dystopia of Cyberpunk 2077 brims with iconic weapons that define V’s arsenal, and few stand out like Ol’ Reliable. This power revolver, introduced in the Phantom Liberty expansion, rewards precise headshots with devastating critical damage, making it a must-have for sharpshooters navigating Dogtown’s dangers. Gaining access requires progressing through specific side content, but the payoff transforms close-quarters battles into exhibitions of ballistic supremacy.

Quest Prerequisites and Activation

Ol’ Reliable becomes available only after key story milestones in Phantom Liberty. Players must first encounter a shadowy figure central to the expansion’s narrative, unlocking a slate of advanced side jobs. This meeting typically occurs mid-campaign, after initial Dogtown infiltrations. Once triggered, seek out the Shot by Both Sides gig, which originates near Darktown in Night City proper—not deep in the expansion zone.

• Complete main Phantom Liberty arcs until personal contact with the quest giver.
• Locate the job marker outside Darktown; no advanced Street Cred required.
• Follow breadcrumbs to an apartment for initial clue gathering.

Inside the residence, interact with environmental objects like a bamboo plant to reveal a hidden card, propelling the mission forward into tense tunnels and moral dilemmas.

Critical Choices in Shot by Both Sides

The quest crescendos in underground passages where alliances fracture. You’ll rendezvous with Brie, a key NPC, and face Dante Caruso, wielder of Ol’ Reliable. A pivotal decision arises: side with Brie by eliminating Dante, or spare him at her expense. To secure the revolver, prioritize neutralizing Dante swiftly—a time-sensitive encounter demands immediate action to avoid mission failure.

Post-combat, loot Dante’s corpse for the weapon. Opting to save Brie yields an additional iconic pistol, Riskit, left behind as gratitude. This dual-reward path maximizes loot without reloading saves, though aggressive playstyles shine regardless.

Dissecting Ol’ Reliable’s Power

Ol’ Reliable mirrors Dante’s trusted sidearm, boasting a design akin to other legendary revolvers in lore. Its power revolver classification delivers high-impact shots at moderate speeds, ideal for V’s netrunner or solo builds emphasizing precision over spray-and-pray.

Core stats include:

• Damage: 114.95 base, scaling with upgrades.
• Attack Speed: 2.50 for deliberate firing rhythm.
• Effective Range: 6.3m baseline, boosted dynamically.
• Reload Speed: 1.38, efficient for sustained fights.
• Weapon Handling: 4.16, stable under pressure.

Signature perks elevate it beyond standard fare. Swapping to the weapon activates a 10-second buff: +50% Headshot Damage Multiplier and +30% Effective Range. Permanent modifiers add +50% Critical Damage, +10% Effective Range, and a scaling Headshot Crit Chance (+1% and +1.2% damage per meter, capping at 35m). These synergize for one-shot potential against armored foes.

Optimal Builds for Ol’ Reliable

Harness Ol’ Reliable in builds prioritizing Reflexes and Cool attributes. Pair with Handguns perks like Deadeye for auto-headshots and Kinetic Reload for speed boosts. Netwatch Netdriver quickhacks amplify crits via system overloads.

Recommended Perk Tree Allocation:

• Handguns (10+ points): Enhances damage, reloads.
• Headhunter: Boosts headshot multipliers.
• Cold Blood: Stacks crit chance post-kills.
• Phantom Liberty exclusives: Risk-taker nodes for low-health surges.

Upgrade at crafting stations with Power components. Iconic status preserves mods like armor-piercing scopes, turning it into a boss-melter.

Combat Tactics and Playstyle Tips

In Dogtown’s ambushes, quick-swap into Ol’ Reliable after rifles for the activation buff. Target weak points on cyberpsychos; the range extension reaches distant snipers. Combine with Sandevistan for bullet-time headshots, chaining crits effortlessly.

Avoid hip-firing—ADS precision unlocks scaling bonuses. Against groups, prioritize elites; the revolver’s punch clears paths efficiently. In vehicles, it shreds pursuing convoys.

Comparisons with Peer Iconics

Ol’ Reliable outpaces base-game revolvers like Amnesty in crit focus, though Riskit offers faster fire for low-health gambles. Versus Lizzie, its power edges tech weapons in raw output.

Common Pitfalls and Fixes

Many miss Ol’ Reliable by rushing quest conclusions or siding incorrectly. Save before Dante’s showdown. If overlooked, Herold’s shop stocks missables post-trigger, but early acquisition prevents regret.

• Time Crunch: Act fast on Dante; delays trigger failsafes.
• Quest Lockout: Finish Phantom Liberty mains first.
• Low Damage Early: Upgrade pronto; base stats lag endgame.

Phantom Liberty Synergies

Dogtown’s gigs amplify Ol’ Reliable’s utility. Pair with new vehicles for mobile shootouts or Relic skills for melee hybrids. Expansion vehicles like the Quadra Type-66 amplify its vehicular dominance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get Ol’ Reliable without Phantom Liberty?

No, it’s expansion-exclusive, tied to Shot by Both Sides.

Is Ol’ Reliable missable?

Yes, specific choices lock it out; Herold vends post-quest.

Best mods for Ol’ Reliable?

Headshot scopes, crit damage neons, and ricochet for versatility.

Does it work in multiplayer?

Cyberpunk 2077 lacks multiplayer; single-player only.

Patch changes to stats?

Balanced in updates; check 2.0+ for optimizations.

Advanced Customization and Lore Ties

Cyberpunk’s lore positions Ol’ Reliable as Dante’s emblem, echoing fixer traditions. Customize with neon paints matching V’s chrome. Iconic effects persist through upgrades, ensuring longevity into Update 2.1 and beyond.

For theorycrafters, math out DPS: Base 114.95 * 2.5 (headshot) * 1.5 (crit) * 1.5 (swap) yields ~650 per shot, scaling higher at range. Sandevistan multiplies this exponentially.