Cyberware Malfunction
| Cyberware Malfunction | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Class | Control Quickhack |
| Tier | Tier 2 |
| RAM Cost | T2 3 / T3 4 |
| Upload Time | 0.3 s |
| Duration | 10 s |
Cyberware Malfunction shuts down an enemy's implants and makes them take more damage. It is cheap and nearly instant, so V can upload it again and again. Each upload adds a stack, and the stacks build toward stronger effects. At the highest tier the enemy's own cyberware finally overloads and blows up. It suits an Intelligence build that fights tough enemies and bosses who rely on their implants. Cyberware Malfunction is an early to mid game quickhack that every netrunner vendor sells from Tier 2 onward.
Effect
Cyberware Malfunction is a control quickhack. V uploads it to one enemy, and their cyberware stops working for ten seconds. The enemy also takes 5% more damage from all sources for each stack. The upload is very quick and the RAM cost is low.
The stacks are the heart of this quickhack. Each new upload adds a stack, and higher tiers raise the stack limit. Tier 3 allows three stacks. At two stacks, the enemy's cyberware is disabled for good. Tier 4 allows five stacks. At three stacks, the enemy takes Electrical damage over time, and each new upload refreshes the effect. Tier 5 allows eight stacks. At the maximum, the enemy's cyberware overloads and deals massive damage. After that overload, Cyberware Malfunction cannot be used on the same enemy again.
The Iconic variant raises the damage bonus from 5% to 15% for each stack. A target with many stacks then takes far more damage from every weapon and quickhack.
Control quickhacks such as this one matter most against bosses and minibosses. Many tough enemies rely on implants, and Cyberware Malfunction takes those implants away.
How to Get Cyberware Malfunction Guide
- Buy Cyberware Malfunction or its crafting spec from any netrunner vendor.
- Breach Access Points with Breach Protocol for a chance at quickhacks.
- With Phantom Liberty, watch netrunner stock for the Iconic variant from around level 51.
Cyberware Malfunction Map Location
The map shows the netrunner vendor in Kabuki, one of the netrunner vendors that sell it.
Cyberware Malfunction map location:
Map credit by Map Genie.
Crafting Spec
Netrunner vendors sell the Cyberware Malfunction spec. The spec lets V craft Cyberware Malfunction in the crafting menu. Every spec in the game is listed on the Crafting Specs page.
Upgrades
Cyberware Malfunction comes in Tiers 2 to 5, plus an Iconic variant. Each tier raises the stack limit and adds a new effect at a set number of stacks. Tier 3 disables cyberware for good. Tier 4 adds Electrical damage over time. Tier 5 adds the final overload. The Iconic variant keeps every effect and triples the damage bonus per stack.
Netrunner vendors sell Cyberware Malfunction and its crafting specs. Higher tiers need quickhack components of the matching tier to craft. Breach Protocol on an Access Point can also reward quickhacks. Enemy netrunners can drop quickhacks and specs as well. The Iconic variant needs Phantom Liberty. Netrunners begin to offer Iconic quickhacks at around level 51, and their stock rotates. Crafting the Iconic variant takes Tier 5 quickhack components.
Character Builds
Cyberware Malfunction belongs in an Intelligence build. Short Circuit at Tier 3 gains 10% damage for each stack of Cyberware Malfunction on the target. That extra damage also makes the enemy's weakspot explode. Cyberpsychosis becomes cheaper for a short time each time V applies a stack. The two quickhacks therefore work well in the same deck.
Subordination doubles the duration of Control quickhacks on enemies at full Health. Embedded Exploit adds quickhack damage against enemies affected by Control quickhacks. Icepick lowers the RAM cost of Combat quickhacks against those same enemies. A stack of Cyberware Malfunction at the start of a queue therefore makes the following Combat quickhacks stronger and cheaper.
Hack Queue and Queue Acceleration let V line up several quickhacks on one enemy. Feedback Loop raises RAM recovery for each quickhack in a queue. Queue Hack Root lowers the RAM cost of the first quickhack of each category in a queue.
Select a Build
Quickhacks do most of the damage, chained from cover before enemies find the character. Contagion goes on first and Overheat sets it off, and Cyberware Malfunction stacks make Short Circuit hit harder. Overclock spends Health in place of RAM, and a smart weapon finishes anyone left standing.
Attributes: Body 16, Reflexes 15, Technical Ability 15, Intelligence 20, Cool 15.
The perks, cyberware and weapon mods for this build are listed below.
| Name | Image | Level | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrenaline Rush | 
|
Body 15 | More Health and the Adrenaline Rush mode |
| Calm Mind | 
|
Body 15 | Adrenaline lasts longer before it decays |
| Juggernaut | 
|
Body 15 | More speed and damage during Adrenaline Rush |
| Acquisition Specialist | 
|
Intelligence | Wider Smart reticle and lock kept through reloads |
| Encryption | 
|
Intelligence 4 | Quickhacks are harder to trace |
| Eye In The Sky | 
|
Intelligence 4 | Highlights cameras and makes camera quickhacks cheaper |
| Optimization | 
|
Intelligence 4 | Faster RAM recovery |
| Proximate Propagation | 
|
Intelligence 4 | Cheaper quickhacks at close range |
| Subordination | 
|
Intelligence 4 | Control quickhacks last longer on enemies at full Health |
| Warning: Explosion Hazard | 
|
Intelligence 4 | Stronger explosions from hacked devices |
| Counter-A-Hack | 
|
Intelligence 9 | Counter quickhacks on enemy netrunners through walls |
| Data Recycler | 
|
Intelligence 9 | RAM back from queued quickhacks after a kill |
| Embedded Exploit | 
|
Intelligence 9 | Quickhacks hit harder on controlled enemies |
| Feedback Loop | 
|
Intelligence 9 | Faster RAM recovery for each queued quickhack |
| Hack Queue | 
|
Intelligence 9 | Queue two quickhacks on one enemy |
| Icepick | 
|
Intelligence 9 | Cheaper Combat quickhacks on distracted or controlled enemies |
| Precision Subroutines | 
|
Intelligence 9 | Smart weapon accuracy scales with max RAM |
| Recirculation | 
|
Intelligence 9 | Smart weapon kills restore RAM |
| Siphon | 
|
Intelligence 9 | Monowire hits recover RAM |
| Speculation | 
|
Intelligence 9 | Combat quickhack kills recover RAM |
| System Overwhelm | 
|
Intelligence 9 | More quickhack damage for each effect on the target |
| Blood Daemon | 
|
Intelligence 15 | Health back for each queued quickhack on a kill during Overclock |
| Overclock | 
|
Intelligence 15 | More quickhack damage and the Overclock mode |
| Power Surge | 
|
Intelligence 15 | Overclock heals on activation |
| Queue Acceleration | 
|
Intelligence 15 | More RAM and cheaper device quickhacks |
| Queue Prioritization | 
|
Intelligence 15 | Faster upload for the first quickhack in a queue |
| Race Against Mind | 
|
Intelligence 15 | More quickhack damage at lower Health during Overclock |
| Sublimation | 
|
Intelligence 15 | RAM recovery heals during Overclock |
| Target Lock Transfer | 
|
Intelligence 15 | Wider Smart reticle and locks kept on swap |
| Queue Mastery | 
|
Intelligence 20 | A longer quickhack queue that can be locked |
| Smart Synergy | 
|
Intelligence 20 | Instant lock and more damage during Overclock |
| Spillover | 
|
Intelligence 20 | Quickhacks spread during Overclock |
| Air Dash | 
|
Reflexes 15 | Dash in midair |
| Extended Warranty | 
|
Technical Ability 15 | Cyberware effects last longer |
| License To Chrome | 
|
Technical Ability 15 | Stronger cyberware, more armor and a Skeleton slot |
| Name | Image | Slot | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monowire | 
|
Arms | Arm whip that hits several enemies from a distance |
| Thermal Monowire | 
|
Arms | Monowire that deals Thermal damage and can burn |
| Heal-On-Kill | 
|
Circulatory System | Health on each kill |
| Kiroshi Sentry Optics | 
|
Face | Scanning highlights cameras and turrets |
| Ex-Disk | 
|
Frontal Cortex | More max RAM and faster uploads |
| Smart Link | 
|
Hands | Turns on Smart weapon tracking |
| Optical Camo | 
|
Integumentary System | Near invisibility for a few seconds |
| Reinforced Tendons | 
|
Legs | Double jump |
| Kerenzikov | 
|
Nervous System | Slows time when aiming during a slide or dodge |
| Tetratronic Rippler | 
|
Operating System | Cyberdeck that raises quickhack and weapon damage |
| RAM Recoup | 
|
Skeleton | Damage taken restores RAM |
Reboot Optics and Sonic Shock keep enemies from seeing the character, and Cripple Movement holds them in place. Blade perks from Reflexes and the Blue Fang knife finish them up close. Ping shows where the next targets stand.
Attributes: Body 12, Reflexes 20, Technical Ability 15, Intelligence 20, Cool 14.
The perks, cyberware and weapon mods for this build are listed below.
| Name | Image | Level | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proximate Propagation |
|
Intelligence 4 | Cheaper quickhacks at close range |
| Optimization |
|
Intelligence 4 | Faster RAM recovery |
| Eye In The Sky |
|
Intelligence 4 | Highlights cameras and makes camera quickhacks cheaper |
| Forcekill Cypher | 
|
Intelligence 4 | Shorter sequences when hacking Access Points |
| Hack Queue |
|
Intelligence 9 | Queue two quickhacks on one enemy |
| Feedback Loop |
|
Intelligence 9 | Faster RAM recovery for each queued quickhack |
| Embedded Exploit |
|
Intelligence 9 | Quickhacks hit harder on controlled enemies |
| Icepick |
|
Intelligence 9 | Cheaper Combat quickhacks on distracted or controlled enemies |
| Counter-A-Hack |
|
Intelligence 9 | Counter quickhacks on enemy netrunners through walls |
| Queue Acceleration |
|
Intelligence 15 | More RAM and cheaper device quickhacks |
| Queue Prioritization |
|
Intelligence 15 | Faster upload for the first quickhack in a queue |
| Queue Hack Root | 
|
Intelligence 15 | Cheaper quickhacks when the queue mixes categories |
| Air Dash |
|
Reflexes 15 | Dash in midair |
| Finisher: Bladerunner | 
|
Reflexes 15 | Faster blade attacks and a finisher that restores Health |
| Opportunist | 
|
Reflexes 15 | Easier finishers on stunned, blinded or bleeding enemies |
| Flash Of Steel | 
|
Reflexes 15 | Speed and attack speed after a finisher |
| Aerial Acrobat | 
|
Reflexes 15 | Better control in midair |
| License To Chrome |
|
Technical Ability 15 | Stronger cyberware, more armor and a Skeleton slot |
| Name | Image | Slot | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Pump | 
|
Circulatory System | A Health item that heals over time |
| Microrotors | 
|
Circulatory System | Faster melee attacks |
| Ex-Disk |
|
Frontal Cortex | More max RAM and faster uploads |
| Handle Wrap | 
|
Hands | Crit chance for throwable weapons |
| Reinforced Tendons |
|
Legs | Double jump |
| Stabber | 
|
Nervous System | Crit chance with blades and throwables |
Overclock goes on first, then a round of quickhacks, then Adrenaline Rush, then more quickhacks. Smart weapons such as the Ba Xing Chong and the Yinglong clean up whatever is left. Body perks keep the character standing while Overclock drains Health.
Attributes: Body 20, Reflexes 20, Technical Ability 18, Intelligence 20, Cool 3.
The perks, cyberware and weapon mods for this build are listed below.
| Name | Image | Level | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrenaline Rush |
|
Body 15 | More Health and the Adrenaline Rush mode |
| Eye In The Sky |
|
Intelligence 4 | Highlights cameras and makes camera quickhacks cheaper |
| Optimization |
|
Intelligence 4 | Faster RAM recovery |
| Proximate Propagation |
|
Intelligence 4 | Cheaper quickhacks at close range |
| Hack Queue |
|
Intelligence 9 | Queue two quickhacks on one enemy |
| Embedded Exploit |
|
Intelligence 9 | Quickhacks hit harder on controlled enemies |
| No Escape | 
|
Intelligence 9 | Shooting a target keeps its Smart lock |
| Precision Subroutines |
|
Intelligence 9 | Smart weapon accuracy scales with max RAM |
| Icepick |
|
Intelligence 9 | Cheaper Combat quickhacks on distracted or controlled enemies |
| Speculation |
|
Intelligence 9 | Combat quickhack kills recover RAM |
| System Overwhelm |
|
Intelligence 9 | More quickhack damage for each effect on the target |
| Recirculation |
|
Intelligence 9 | Smart weapon kills restore RAM |
| Data Recycler |
|
Intelligence 9 | RAM back from queued quickhacks after a kill |
| Feedback Loop |
|
Intelligence 9 | Faster RAM recovery for each queued quickhack |
| Queue Acceleration |
|
Intelligence 15 | More RAM and cheaper device quickhacks |
| Overclock |
|
Intelligence 15 | More quickhack damage and the Overclock mode |
| Target Lock Transfer |
|
Intelligence 15 | Wider Smart reticle and locks kept on swap |
| Terminal Velocity | 
|
Intelligence 15 | Faster Smart rounds after a kill |
| Targeting Prism | 
|
Intelligence 15 | Lock on to more targets at once |
| Race Against Mind |
|
Intelligence 15 | More quickhack damage at lower Health during Overclock |
| Power Surge |
|
Intelligence 15 | Overclock heals on activation |
| Blood Daemon |
|
Intelligence 15 | Health back for each queued quickhack on a kill during Overclock |
| Queue Hack Root |
|
Intelligence 15 | Cheaper quickhacks when the queue mixes categories |
| Sublimation |
|
Intelligence 15 | RAM recovery heals during Overclock |
| Queue Prioritization |
|
Intelligence 15 | Faster upload for the first quickhack in a queue |
| Queue Mastery |
|
Intelligence 20 | A longer quickhack queue that can be locked |
| Spillover |
|
Intelligence 20 | Quickhacks spread during Overclock |
| Smart Synergy |
|
Intelligence 20 | Instant lock and more damage during Overclock |
| Acquisition Specialist |
|
Intelligence | Wider Smart reticle and lock kept through reloads |
| Air Dash |
|
Reflexes 15 | Dash in midair |
| Cyborg | Technical Ability 15 | Shorter cyberware cooldowns with every slot filled | |
| License To Chrome |
|
Technical Ability 15 | Stronger cyberware, more armor and a Skeleton slot |
| Extended Warranty |
|
Technical Ability 15 | Cyberware effects last longer |
| Name | Image | Slot | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biomonitor | 
|
Circulatory System | Uses a Health item when Health runs low |
| Blood Pump |
|
Circulatory System | A Health item that heals over time |
| Heal-On-Kill |
|
Circulatory System | Health on each kill |
| Ex-Disk |
|
Frontal Cortex | More max RAM and faster uploads |
| Smart Link |
|
Hands | Turns on Smart weapon tracking |
| Nano-Plating | 
|
Integumentary System | Chance to block incoming bullets |
| NeoFiber | 
|
Nervous System | More mitigation chance and strength |
| Feen-X | 
|
Skeleton | Faster RAM recovery when RAM runs low |
Lore
The in-game description asks what better way there is to discourage an enemy. Its answer is to turn their implants into literal pounds of dead weight that they have to carry around.
Notes
- The Tier 5 overload can only happen once per enemy, since Cyberware Malfunction cannot be applied to that enemy again afterwards.
Quickhack Categories
All Control Quickhacks
Every control quickhack is listed below.
| Name | Image | RAM | Upload | Perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cripple Movement | 
|
T2 3 / T3 4 / T4 6 | 0.3 | Eye In The Sky, Subordination, Embedded Exploit, Icepick, Queue Hack Root |
| Cyberware Malfunction | 
|
T2 3 / T3 4 | 0.3 | Eye In The Sky, Subordination, Embedded Exploit, Icepick, Queue Hack Root |
| Reboot Optics | 
|
T1 2 / T3 5 / T4 7 | 0.3 | Eye In The Sky, Subordination, Embedded Exploit, Icepick, Queue Hack Root |
| Weapon Glitch | 
|
T2 3 / T3 4 / T4 6 | 0.3 | Eye In The Sky, Subordination, Embedded Exploit, Icepick, Queue Hack Root |