Quickhacks

Quickhacks are the programs a netrunner uploads into enemies and devices. They run on a cyberdeck, the operating system implant that turns V into a netrunner. While scanning, V picks a target and sends a quickhack into its cyberware or into the local network. A quickhack can reveal a room, blind a guard, set an enemy on fire or make a target turn its gun on itself. Quickhacking belongs to the Intelligence attribute. A netrunner build fights from cover and through cameras, often without firing a shot.

RAM and Upload

Every quickhack costs RAM. RAM is the pool of memory on the cyberdeck. Uploading a quickhack spends some of it, and the pool refills over time. Stronger quickhacks cost more. Perks and cyberware can lower the cost, and some effects refund RAM after a kill.

Each quickhack also has an upload time. The effect starts only when the upload finishes. Ultimate quickhacks take the longest. Covert quickhacks usually cost the least RAM. Many quickhacks have a duration, and some have a cooldown before they can be used again.

Most Combat and Control quickhacks are traceable. When V uploads one, enemy netrunners start a trace. A finished trace reveals V's position to the enemies. Using more quickhacks during a trace fills it faster. Untraceable quickhacks, such as most Covert ones, avoid this. Encryption lowers the traceability of every quickhack. Shadowrunner removes all trace progress after a takedown.

Overclock is the answer to an empty RAM pool. This Intelligence perk opens a mode in which V can keep casting with too little RAM. Each missing unit of RAM costs Health instead.

Quickhack queues let V stack several quickhacks on one enemy. Hack Queue allows two at once, and later perks raise the limit. Queued quickhacks upload in order, and the later ones upload faster.

Max RAM grows from several sources. The table lists them.

The COX-2 Cybersomatic Optimizer and the Bioconductor work the other way. They let quickhacks deal Crit Hits but lower max RAM.

Quickhack Categories

Best Quickhacks

The strongest quickhacks of every class, taken from the Best table of each class page.

Name	Image	Class	Why
Ping		Covert	Reveals every enemy on the network
Memory Wipe		Covert	Ends combat for every enemy at Tier 5
Synapse Burnout		Combat	Damage grows with spent RAM
Contagion		Combat	Poison that spreads across a group
Cyberware Malfunction		Control	Shuts down implants, overloads at Tier 5
Reboot Optics		Control	Blinds and spreads on headshot kills
Blackwall Gateway		Ultimate	Jumps between enemies with lethal damage
System Collapse		Ultimate	Silent, untraceable knockout
Self-destruct		Vehicle	Blows up the target vehicle
Take Control		Vehicle	Remote driving of the target

Cyberdecks

A cyberdeck is an operating system implant, so it takes the place of a Sandevistan or a Berserk. Each deck sets three numbers. RAM decides how much hacking V can do before the pool runs dry. Quickhack slots decide how many quickhacks V can carry into a fight. The buffer sets the longest code sequence V can enter in Breach Protocol. Higher tiers of a deck raise these numbers and add a new bonus. A higher tier also unlocks more device and vehicle quickhacks.

Every cyberdeck comes with Breach Protocol and a set of device quickhacks already installed. Breach Protocol is a puzzle played on Access Points. Its daemons can lower RAM costs on the whole network or pay out money, crafting components and new quickhacks.

Name	Image	Strength
Militech Paraline		Quickhacks mixed with Smart weapons and the Monowire
Raven Microcyber		Quickhacks that spread much farther
Tetratronic Rippler		Bonuses for quickhacks that blind or disable
Biotech Σ		Longer, stronger damage over time
Arasaka Shadow		Slower traces, cheaper Covert quickhacks
NetWatch Netdriver		Stronger hacks through cameras and devices
Militech Canto		The only deck with Blackwall Gateway

The Militech Paraline is the deck V starts the game with. Ripperdocs sell the other common decks, and their stock improves every few levels. The NetWatch Netdriver is an Iconic deck sold late in the game. The Militech Canto Mk.6 is crafted on Reed's side of Phantom Liberty.

Quickhack Classes

Quickhacks fall into five classes. Each one does a different job in a fight.

Covert quickhacks open a fight on V's terms. Control quickhacks weaken the enemies who notice. Combat quickhacks deal the damage. Ultimate quickhacks end a fight with a single upload. Vehicle quickhacks come from the Carhacker perk and handle cars and bikes.

New quickhacks come from netrunner vendors and from Breach Protocol datamines. Their crafting specs come from the same places. Crafting a quickhack needs quickhack components of the matching tier.

Character Builds

• Stealth netrunner. The Arasaka Shadow, Covert quickhacks and the Encryption and Shadowrunner perks. Ping and Memory Wipe open the way, and System Collapse finishes guards silently.
• Room clearer. The Raven Microcyber with Contagion and Overheat. Spillover gives quickhacks a chance to spread further during Overclock.
• Overclock caster. Overclock with Power Surge, Sublimation and Race Against Mind. Synapse Burnout turns spent RAM into a heavy finisher.
• Hybrid gunner. The Militech Paraline or Tetratronic Rippler with Smart weapons. Weapon Glitch and Reboot Optics soften enemies before the shots land.
• Camera runner. The NetWatch Netdriver with Eye In The Sky. Quickhacks go through cameras and other devices instead of line of sight.
• Blackwall runner. The Militech Canto Mk.6 and Blackwall Gateway, backed by as much RAM as the build can hold.

Every netrunner build needs a deep pool of RAM. The Frontal Cortex holds most of the RAM implants. Optimization raises the RAM recovery rate. Data Recycler, Speculation and Memory Boost refund RAM after kills.