Shock Absorber
| Shock Absorber | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Class | Hands |
| Tier | Tier 1 |
| Attribute | Cool |
| Capacity | 12 |
The Shock Absorber cuts the recoil of every gun V fires. Less recoil keeps the sights on target during long bursts. Assault rifles, submachine guns and machine guns benefit the most, because their recoil builds up shot after shot. It is a simple, steady upgrade for any gunfighter. A Cool character also gains headshot damage from it for each point of Cool. The Shock Absorber is an early game Hands implant that every ripperdoc in Night City and Dogtown sells.
Effect
The Shock Absorber is a passive implant. It lowers weapon recoil by a flat percentage. At Tier 1 the cut is 8%, and the highest tier reaches 24%.
Recoil pushes the weapon's aim upward and sideways as V keeps firing. With less recoil, more bullets from a long burst land where V aimed. That raises the real damage of fast-firing guns without changing their numbers. It also makes headshots easier to land in a row.
The Shock Absorber is attuned to Cool. Each point of Cool adds 0.2% headshot and weak spot damage. At 20 Cool, that is 4% more damage on every headshot.
Its stat bonuses add Melee Damage Resistance and, from Tier 2, extra Health.
How to Get Shock Absorber Guide
- Visit any ripperdoc clinic in Night City or Dogtown and open the Hands slot.
- Buy and install the Shock Absorber.
Shock Absorber Map Location
The map shows Viktor Vektor's clinic in Little China, one of the ripperdocs that sell it.
Shock Absorber map location:
Map credit by Map Genie.
Upgrades
The tier a ripperdoc stocks rises every 10 levels, up to Tier 5. An installed copy can be raised a tier at a ripperdoc with the matching item components. Each tier deepens the recoil cut. The Driver Update perk adds one more stat bonus. The Chipware Connoisseur perk offers a choice of bonuses when V upgrades the implant. V gains Cyberware Capacity with each level and from Cyberware Capacity Shards. The Edgerunner perk lets V go over the limit at the cost of some max Health.
The table shows what each tier step of Shock Absorber costs at a ripperdoc.
| Upgrade | Components | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 2 to Tier 2+ | 20 Tier 2 components | - |
| Tier 2+ to Tier 3 | 15 Tier 3 components | - |
| Tier 3 to Tier 3+ | 20 Tier 3 components | - |
| Tier 3+ to Tier 4 | 15 Tier 4 components | - |
| Tier 4 to Tier 4+ | 20 Tier 4 components | - |
| Tier 4+ to Tier 5 | 15 Tier 5 components | - |
| Tier 5 to Tier 5+ | 20 Tier 5 components | - |
| Tier 5+ to Tier 5++ | 50 Tier 5 components | Phantom Liberty |
Character Builds
The Shock Absorber suits any gun build, and it stacks with recoil perks. In Reflexes, Mind Over Matter cuts recoil by another 25% while aiming. Sharpshooter adds aim speed and better weapon control. Shoot To Chill adds armor penetration for automatic weapons with each Sharpshooter stack. Spray And Pray lowers the Stamina cost of hip-firing. Ready, Rested, Reloaded lowers the Stamina cost of shooting assault rifles and submachine guns.
A Cool build that fights with precision rifles or pistols also benefits. Steadier shots make it easier to chain headshots for the Deadeye perk and its follow-ups.
The Hands slot normally holds only one implant. The Ambidextrous perk in Technical Ability unlocks a second Hands slot. With it, V can pair the Shock Absorber with Smart Link or another Hands implant.
Select a Build
Headshots deal most of the damage, and Focus and Deadeye only work at full Stamina, so each fight starts with a full Stamina bar. The Sandevistan slows time so a whole group can drop one headshot at a time. A silenced pistol handles quiet kills before a fight, and a shotgun deals with enemies that get close.
Attributes: Body 20, Reflexes 18, Technical Ability 20, Intelligence 3, Cool 20.
The perks, cyberware and weapon mods for this build are listed below.
| Name | Image | Level | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painkiller | 
|
Body 4 | Slow Health regeneration in combat |
| Comeback Kid | 
|
Body 4 | Faster Health regeneration at low Health |
| Dorph-Head | 
|
Body 4 | Brief full Mitigation after using a Health item |
| Adrenaline Rush | 
|
Body 15 | More Health and the Adrenaline Rush mode |
| Juggernaut | 
|
Body 15 | More speed and damage during Adrenaline Rush |
| Calm Mind | 
|
Body 15 | Adrenaline lasts longer before it decays |
| Focus | 
|
Cool 9 | More headshot damage and free shots while aiming |
| No Sweat | 
|
Cool 9 | Kills cut the Stamina cost of Focus |
| Rinse And Reload | 
|
Cool 9 | Faster reload after a kill while aiming |
| Head To Head | 
|
Cool 9 | Kills reset Focus |
| Deep Breath | 
|
Cool 9 | Time slows while Focus is active |
| Pull! | 
|
Cool 9 | Easier to shoot grenades out of the air |
| Deadeye | Cool 15 | More headshot damage and no spread at high Stamina | |
| California Reaper | 
|
Cool 15 | Stamina back after a headshot kill |
| High Noon | 
|
Cool 15 | Fast slowed reload after a headshot kill |
| Long Shot | 
|
Cool 15 | Full damage at any range during Deadeye |
| Quick Draw | 
|
Cool 15 | Faster swaps to pistols and rifles |
| Nerves Of Tungsten-Steel | 
|
Cool 20 | Guaranteed crits on headshots during Deadeye |
| Run 'N' Gun | 
|
Cool 20 | Free hip fire and faster movement during Focus |
| Slippery | 
|
Reflexes 4 | Harder to hit while moving fast |
| Muscle Memory | 
|
Reflexes 4 | Reload while sprinting, sliding and vaulting |
| Dash | 
|
Reflexes 9 | Unlocks the Dash and makes it cheaper |
| Steady Grip | 
|
Reflexes 9 | Shoot while Dashing |
| Can't Touch This | 
|
Reflexes 9 | Full Mitigation Chance while Dashing |
| Glutton For War | 
|
Technical Ability 4 | Kills recharge Health items and grenades |
| Health Freak | 
|
Technical Ability 9 | One more Health item charge and faster recharge |
| All Things Cyber | 
|
Technical Ability 9 | Stronger cyberware stats |
| License To Chrome | 
|
Technical Ability 15 | Stronger cyberware, more armor and a Skeleton slot |
| Edgerunner | Technical Ability 20 | Cyberware past the capacity limit for a small Health cost |
| Name | Image | Slot | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Pump | 
|
Circulatory System | A Health item that heals over time |
| Clutch Padding | 
|
Circulatory System | Cheaper shooting |
| Kiroshi The Oracle Optics | 
|
Face | Scanning highlights enemies behind cover |
| Mechatronic Core | 
|
Frontal Cortex | More damage against drones, robots and mechs |
| Ballistic Coprocessor | 
|
Hands | More ricochets with Power weapons |
| Subdermal Armor | 
|
Integumentary System | More armor |
| Reinforced Tendons | 
|
Legs | Double jump |
| NeoFiber | 
|
Nervous System | More Mitigation Chance and Strength |
| Militech Apogee Sandevistan | Operating System | Slows time by 85% with crit bonuses | |
| Spring Joints | 
|
Skeleton | Stronger Mitigation |
| Bionic Joints | 
|
Skeleton | More armor |
The build opens from stealth and removes a few targets before the fight starts. Headshots and crits with thrown knives bring the knife back to hand through Juggler. When the character is detected, the Sandevistan or Kerenzikov slows time to finish the enemies who spotted it.
Attributes: Body 18, Reflexes 20, Technical Ability 20, Intelligence 3, Cool 20.
The perks, cyberware and weapon mods for this build are listed below.
| Name | Image | Level | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painkiller |
|
Body 4 | Slow Health regeneration in combat |
| Adrenaline Rush |
|
Body 15 | More Health and the Adrenaline Rush mode |
| Feline Footwork | 
|
Cool 4 | Faster and safer while crouched |
| Killer Instinct | 
|
Cool 4 | More damage with knives, axes and silenced guns before combat |
| Gag Order | 
|
Cool 4 | A quick hit after being spotted delays detection by others |
| Scorpion Sting | 
|
Cool 9 | Thrown crits and headshots apply Poison |
| Neurotoxin | 
|
Cool 9 | Poison also blinds and stops sprinting |
| Parasite | 
|
Cool 9 | Health back from thrown crits and headshots |
| Accelerated Toxin Absorption | 
|
Cool 9 | Strong attacks and throws on poisoned enemies deal a burst of Poison |
| Corrosion | 
|
Cool 9 | Poison works on mechs, robots, drones and turrets |
| Ninjutsu | 
|
Cool 15 | Sprint while crouched |
| Creeping Death | 
|
Cool 15 | Health, Stamina and speed from kills while hidden |
| Vanishing Act | 
|
Cool 15 | Optical Camo turns on while crouch-sprinting |
| Juggler | 
|
Cool 15 | Thrown headshots and crits return the weapon at once |
| Sleight Of Hand | 
|
Cool 15 | Crit Damage stacks each time Juggler triggers |
| Finisher: Act Of Mercy | 
|
Cool 15 | A thrown weapon Finisher that heals |
| Pay It Forward | 
|
Cool 15 | Big melee hit after picking up a thrown blade |
| Pounce | 
|
Cool 15 | Finishers from range after a throw |
| Style Over Substance | 
|
Cool 20 | Guaranteed crits when throwing on the move |
| Slippery |
|
Reflexes 4 | Harder to hit while moving fast |
| Dash |
|
Reflexes 9 | Unlocks the Dash and makes it cheaper |
| Air Dash | 
|
Reflexes 15 | Dash in midair |
| All Things Cyber |
|
Technical Ability 9 | Stronger cyberware stats |
| License To Chrome |
|
Technical Ability 15 | Stronger cyberware, more armor and a Skeleton slot |
| Ambidextrous | 
|
Technical Ability 15 | A second Hands cyberware slot |
| Edgerunner | Technical Ability 20 | Cyberware past the capacity limit for a small Health cost |
| Name | Image | Slot | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Mamba | 
|
Circulatory System | More damage against poisoned enemies |
| Kerenzikov Boost System | 
|
Frontal Cortex | Stronger Kerenzikov with free shooting Stamina |
| Mechatronic Core |
|
Frontal Cortex | More damage against drones, robots and mechs |
| Handle Wrap | 
|
Hands | More crit chance with throwables |
| Optical Camo | 
|
Integumentary System | Near invisibility for a few seconds |
| Defenzikov | 
|
Integumentary System | Mitigation after Kerenzikov ends |
| Kerenzikov | 
|
Nervous System | Slows time when aiming during a slide or dodge |
| Stabber | 
|
Nervous System | More crit chance with Blades and throwables |
| Militech Apogee Sandevistan | Operating System | Slows time by 85% with crit bonuses | |
| Dense Marrow | 
|
Skeleton | More melee damage |
| Spring Joints |
|
Skeleton | Stronger Mitigation |
A Blood Pump at the start of a fight triggers Adrenaline Rush for extra Health. An air Dash while aiming triggers Kerenzikov, and the Sandevistan follows once Kerenzikov ends. Headshots deal the bulk of the damage, and cover is the place to recover Health.
Attributes: Body 20, Reflexes 20, Technical Ability 20, Intelligence 3, Cool 18.
The perks, cyberware and weapon mods for this build are listed below.
| Name | Image | Level | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painkiller |
|
Body 4 | Slow Health regeneration in combat |
| Adrenaline Rush |
|
Body 15 | More Health and the Adrenaline Rush mode |
| Juggernaut |
|
Body 15 | More speed and damage during Adrenaline Rush |
| Unstoppable Force | 
|
Body 15 | Immunity to knockdown and other status effects during Adrenaline Rush |
| Calm Mind |
|
Body 15 | Adrenaline lasts longer before it decays |
| Slippery |
|
Reflexes 4 | Harder to hit while moving fast |
| Parkour! | 
|
Reflexes 4 | Faster climbing and vaulting |
| Dash |
|
Reflexes 9 | Unlocks the Dash and makes it cheaper |
| Steady Grip |
|
Reflexes 9 | Shoot while Dashing |
| Can't Touch This |
|
Reflexes 9 | Full Mitigation Chance while Dashing |
| Mean Streak | 
|
Reflexes 9 | Stamina back after a kill while Dashing |
| Ready, Rested, Reloaded | 
|
Reflexes 9 | Cheaper rifle and SMG fire and faster reloads |
| Spice Of Life | 
|
Reflexes 9 | Faster swaps and less spread after a swap |
| Tunnel Vision | 
|
Reflexes 9 | More range and accuracy |
| Mind Over Matter | 
|
Reflexes 9 | Less recoil when aiming |
| Air Dash |
|
Reflexes 15 | Dash in midair |
| Aerodynamic | 
|
Reflexes 15 | Stronger Mitigation in midair |
| Aerial Acrobat | 
|
Reflexes 15 | Better control in midair |
| Sharpshooter | 
|
Reflexes 15 | Faster aim and stacks that ease Stamina use |
| Shoot To Chill | 
|
Reflexes 15 | Armor penetration per Sharpshooter stack |
| Practice Makes Perfect | Reflexes 15 | Crit Chance and Crit Damage per Sharpshooter stack | |
| Gundancer | 
|
Reflexes 15 | No slowdown while aiming |
| Air Kerenzikov | 
|
Reflexes 15 | Kerenzikov in midair holds the character in the air |
| Salt In The Wound | 
|
Reflexes 20 | Seven hits on one target deal a bonus burst |
| Tailwind | 
|
Reflexes 20 | Stamina back from Air Dashes and double jumps |
| Glutton For War |
|
Technical Ability 4 | Kills recharge Health items and grenades |
| Health Freak |
|
Technical Ability 9 | One more Health item charge and faster recharge |
| All Things Cyber |
|
Technical Ability 9 | Stronger cyberware stats |
| License To Chrome |
|
Technical Ability 15 | Stronger cyberware, more armor and a Skeleton slot |
| Ambidextrous |
|
Technical Ability 15 | A second Hands cyberware slot |
| Edgerunner | Technical Ability 20 | Cyberware past the capacity limit for a small Health cost |
| Name | Image | Slot | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Pump |
|
Circulatory System | A Health item that heals over time |
| Kerenzikov Boost System |
|
Frontal Cortex | Stronger Kerenzikov with free shooting Stamina |
| Defenzikov |
|
Integumentary System | Mitigation after Kerenzikov ends |
| Reinforced Tendons |
|
Legs | Double jump |
| Kerenzikov |
|
Nervous System | Slows time when aiming during a slide or dodge |
| NeoFiber |
|
Nervous System | More Mitigation Chance and Strength |
| Militech Apogee Sandevistan | Operating System | Slows time by 85% with crit bonuses | |
| Spring Joints |
|
Skeleton | Stronger Mitigation |
Cyberware Categories
All Hands Cyberware
Every Hands implant is listed below. The Iconic ones come first, then the standard ones.
Iconic Hands Cyberware
| Name | Image | Attribute | Capacity | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immovable Force | 
|
35 | Dogtown |
Standard Hands Cyberware
| Name | Image | Attribute | Capacity | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballistic Coprocessor | 
|
Technical Ability | 2 | Little China |
| Handle Wrap | 
|
Cool | ||
| Microgenerator | 
|
Intelligence | ||
| Shock Absorber | 
|
Cool | 12 | |
| Smart Link | 
|
Intelligence | 4 | |
| Tattoo: Johnny's Special | 
|
Little China | ||
| Tattoo: Together Forever | 
|
Little China | ||
| Tattoo: Tyger Claws Dermal Imprint | 
|
0 |