Smart Link
| Smart Link | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Class | Hands |
| Tier | Tier 1 |
| Attribute | Intelligence |
| Capacity | 4 |
Smart Link connects V's eyes to the targeting system of Smart weapons. With it installed, Smart guns can lock onto enemies and steer their bullets toward them. Locked shots make Smart weapons very forgiving to aim. It is the core implant for any build that uses Smart guns. It also adds max RAM, which suits a netrunner. Smart Link is an early game Hands implant that every ripperdoc in Night City and Dogtown sells from the start.
Effect
Smart Link enables smart-targeting in Smart weapons. When V aims a Smart gun, the weapon locks onto enemies in view. Locked shots curve through the air toward the target.
From Tier 3, the implant adds two more bonuses. Target locks last longer, so V can duck behind cover and keep the lock. Crit damage with Smart weapons also rises. Both bonuses grow with each tier.
Smart Link also raises max RAM by one point at low tiers and two points from Tier 3. The extra RAM pays for another quickhack.
Smart Link is attuned to Intelligence. Each point of Intelligence adds 0.1% damage with Smart weapons. At 20 Intelligence, that is 2% more damage with every Smart gun.
Its stat bonuses add Quickhack Damage and, from Tier 2, RAM regeneration whenever V neutralizes an enemy.
How to Get Smart Link Guide
- Visit any ripperdoc clinic in Night City or Dogtown and open the Hands slot.
- Buy and install Smart Link.
Smart Link Map Location
The map shows Viktor Vektor's clinic in Little China, one of the ripperdocs that sell it.
Smart Link map location:
Map credit by Map Genie.
Upgrades
Ripperdocs stock Smart Link at Tier 1 below level 10, then Tier 2 from level 10, Tier 3 from 20, Tier 4 from 30 and Tier 5 from 40. An installed copy can be raised a tier at a ripperdoc with the matching item components. Tier 3 adds the lock duration and crit damage bonuses, and later tiers raise them. Smart Link has a very low capacity cost. 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 Smart Link costs at a ripperdoc.
| Upgrade | Components | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 to Tier 1+ | 10 Tier 1 components | - |
| Tier 1+ to Tier 2 | 7 Tier 2 components | - |
| Tier 2 to Tier 2+ | 10 Tier 2 components | - |
| Tier 2+ to Tier 3 | 7 Tier 3 components | - |
| Tier 3 to Tier 3+ | 10 Tier 3 components | - |
| Tier 3+ to Tier 4 | 7 Tier 4 components | - |
| Tier 4 to Tier 4+ | 10 Tier 4 components | - |
| Tier 4+ to Tier 5 | 7 Tier 5 components | - |
| Tier 5 to Tier 5+ | 10 Tier 5 components | - |
| Tier 5+ to Tier 5++ | 25 Tier 5 components | Phantom Liberty |
Character Builds
Smart Link belongs in an Intelligence build that uses Smart weapons. Acquisition Specialist widens the target reticle and speeds up lock-on. Targeting Prism enables several locks at once. No Escape lets V reset a lock that is about to end by shooting the target. Precision Subroutines adds accuracy for each point of max RAM, which the implant's own RAM bonus raises. Recirculation restores RAM after a Smart weapon kill. Terminal Velocity raises bullet speed and lock-on range after a kill.
With Overclock active, Smart Synergy gives instant target locks and extra damage against hacked enemies. Both the hacking and the shooting then draw on the same attribute, Intelligence.
The Hands slot normally holds only one implant. The Ambidextrous perk in Technical Ability unlocks a second Hands slot. With it, V can pair Smart Link with another Hands implant, such as the Shock Absorber.
Select a Build
Each fight starts with Overclock, then a control quickhack, then a combat quickhack. Smart guns lock on and finish the hacked enemies while Dashes and air Dashes keep the character moving. Silenced Smart guns and stealthy quickhacks also handle quiet gigs.
Attributes: Body 18, Reflexes 20, Technical Ability 20, Intelligence 20, Cool 3.
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 |
| Optimization | 
|
Intelligence 4 | Faster RAM recovery |
| Embedded Exploit | 
|
Intelligence 9 | Quickhacks hit harder on controlled enemies |
| Precision Subroutines | 
|
Intelligence 9 | Smart weapon accuracy scales with max RAM |
| No Escape | 
|
Intelligence 9 | Shooting a fading lock resets it |
| Recirculation | 
|
Intelligence 9 | Smart weapon kills restore RAM |
| Acquisition Specialist | 
|
Intelligence 15 | Wider Smart reticle and lock kept through reloads |
| Overclock | 
|
Intelligence 15 | More quickhack damage and the Overclock mode |
| Power Surge | 
|
Intelligence 15 | Overclock heals on activation |
| Sublimation | 
|
Intelligence 15 | RAM recovery heals during Overclock |
| Target Lock Transfer | 
|
Intelligence 15 | Wider Smart reticle and locks kept on swap |
| Targeting Prism | 
|
Intelligence 15 | Lock onto more targets |
| Terminal Velocity | 
|
Intelligence 15 | Faster Smart rounds after a kill |
| Smart Synergy | 
|
Intelligence 20 | Instant lock and more damage during Overclock |
| Spillover | 
|
Intelligence 20 | Quickhacks spread during Overclock |
| Dash | 
|
Reflexes 9 | Unlocks the Dash and makes it cheaper |
| Ready, Rested, Reloaded | 
|
Reflexes 9 | Cheaper rifle and SMG fire and faster reloads |
| Sharpshooter | 
|
Reflexes 15 | Faster aim and stacks that ease Stamina use |
| Air Dash | 
|
Reflexes 15 | Dash in midair |
| Submachine Fun | 
|
Reflexes 20 | SMG swaps reload and raise fire rate |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Heal-On-Kill | 
|
Circulatory System | Health back from each kill |
| Memory Boost | 
|
Frontal Cortex | Kills restore RAM |
| 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 |
| Visual Cortex Support | 
|
Nervous System | More crit chance at long range |
| Militech Paraline | 
|
Operating System | Cyberdeck with Smart weapon bonuses |
| RAM Recoup | 
|
Skeleton | Damage taken restores RAM |
Overclock goes on first, then a quickhack, then Adrenaline Rush, then another quickhack. Smart guns mop up whatever is left.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painkiller |
|
Body 4 | Slow Health regeneration in combat |
| Adrenaline Rush |
|
Body 15 | More Health and the Adrenaline Rush mode |
| No Escape |
|
Intelligence 9 | Shooting a target keeps its Smart lock |
| Precision Subroutines |
|
Intelligence 9 | Smart weapon accuracy grows with max RAM |
| Recirculation |
|
Intelligence 9 | RAM back after a Smart weapon kill |
| Target Lock Transfer |
|
Intelligence 15 | Smart locks survive weapon swaps and hip fire |
| Targeting Prism |
|
Intelligence 15 | Lock on to more targets at once |
| Terminal Velocity |
|
Intelligence 15 | Faster Smart rounds and longer lock range after a kill |
| Smart Synergy |
|
Intelligence 20 | Instant Smart lock during Overclock |
| Acquisition Specialist |
|
Intelligence | Bigger reticle and faster lock on for Smart weapons |
| Dash |
|
Reflexes 9 | Dash replaces the dodge |
| Air Dash |
|
Reflexes 15 | Dash in midair |
| All Things Cyber |
|
Technical Ability 9 | Stronger cyberware stats |
| Chrome Constitution | 
|
Technical Ability 9 | Less damage taken with full Skeleton and Integumentary slots |
| Cyborg | Technical Ability 15 | Shorter cyberware cooldowns with every slot filled | |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
Quickhacks deal most of the damage, with Reboot Optics, Memory Wipe and Sonic Shock for stealth. In combat, Cyberware Malfunction goes out again and again while Yinglong and Chesapeake fire. Sonic Shock and Synapse Burnout keep Overclock running.
Attributes: Body 15, Reflexes 20, Technical Ability 20, Intelligence 20, Cool 6.
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 |
| Calm Mind | 
|
Body 15 | Adrenaline lasts longer before it decays |
| Juggernaut | 
|
Body 15 | More speed and damage during Adrenaline Rush |
| Unstoppable Force | 
|
Body 15 | Immunity to knockdown and blinding during Adrenaline Rush |
| Precision Subroutines |
|
Intelligence 9 | Smart weapon accuracy grows with max RAM |
| Recirculation |
|
Intelligence 9 | RAM back after a Smart weapon kill |
| Target Lock Transfer |
|
Intelligence 15 | Smart locks survive weapon swaps and hip fire |
| Targeting Prism |
|
Intelligence 15 | Lock on to more targets at once |
| Smart Synergy |
|
Intelligence 20 | Instant Smart lock during Overclock |
| Acquisition Specialist |
|
Intelligence | Bigger reticle and faster lock on for Smart weapons |
| Ready, Rested, Reloaded |
|
Reflexes 9 | Cheaper rifle and SMG fire and faster reloads |
| Spice Of Life | 
|
Reflexes 9 | Faster swap and tighter spread after a swap |
| Steady Grip | 
|
Reflexes 9 | Shooting while dashing |
| Tunnel Vision | 
|
Reflexes 9 | More range and accuracy |
| Dash |
|
Reflexes 9 | Dash replaces the dodge |
| Practice Makes Perfect | Reflexes 15 | Crit chance and crit damage per Sharpshooter stack | |
| Sharpshooter |
|
Reflexes 15 | Faster aim and Stamina stacks on hits |
| Shoot To Chill | 
|
Reflexes 15 | Armor penetration per Sharpshooter stack |
| Air Dash |
|
Reflexes 15 | Dash in midair |
| Submachine Fun |
|
Reflexes 20 | SMG swaps reload and raise fire rate |
| Tailwind |
|
Reflexes 20 | Stamina from air dashes and double jumps |
| All Things Cyber |
|
Technical Ability 9 | Stronger cyberware stats |
| Ambidextrous | 
|
Technical Ability 15 | A second Hands cyberware slot |
| 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 |
| Axolotl | 
|
Frontal Cortex | Kills cut all cyberware cooldowns |
| Reinforced Tendons |
|
Legs | Double jump |
| NeoFiber |
|
Nervous System | More mitigation chance and strength |
Lore
The in-game text describes cyberware that allows a swift, direct, low-latency connection with compatible objects, such as firearms or implants. It also raises their effectiveness and handling. The implant links the user's optical implant directly to the weapon's system. That link shows real-time weapon info.
Notes
- Tattoo: Tyger Claws Dermal Imprint is a Hands implant with the same smart-targeting link.
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 |