Street Cred is an important currency in Cyberpunk 2077. Though it can’t be directly spent on anything, building a reputation on the streets gives the player access to better vendors and better gear from those vendors. It also unlocks better Gigs as the player establishes a name for themselves.
Building that Street Cred takes time and can be quite the grind. There are a number of ways to increase Street Cred and there are different strategies to make it more efficient. At the end of the day grinding Street Cred takes time but these tips will help things along.
10 Samurai Jacket
The Samurai Jacket is a helpful item in the game when building Street Cred. If the player is wearing it when performing an activity that generates Street Cred they’ll receive 5% more than they normally would. It may not mean much with a single Gig, but 5% adds up over time.
Players get the Jacket by completing the side quest Chippin’ In. It unlocks as part of the main story so players should progress far enough that Rogue will want to meet with them. Once the task is completed the player is rewarded with the Samurai Jacket. It’s advised to get this first before seriously undertaking any Street Cred grind.
9 Do The Story
In fact, the best thing the player can do right away is play through the main story. There are multiple missions in the game that will lead to the player earning Street Cred and building a name for themselves.
It also unlocks helpful items like weapons, cars, implants, and the aforementioned Samurai Jacket that will make the process easier. Players don’t need to finish the entire story, but they should at least progress far enough to complete the Chippin’ In side quest.
8 Help NCPD With Crimes
Helping the NCPD with various crimes is a good way to earn some Street Cred. Whether it’s busting a few violent criminals heads or solving a murder players can make the streets a bit safer and earn some Cred for their efforts.
Of course players will have to come across crimes that are happening to be able to earn Street Cred this way. There are tips to find crimes in the making, but it’s largely a random event that requires patience. Players should think of this as a bonus method of earning Street Cred instead of a reliable grind.
7 Wanted Criminals
Any individual with a bounty on their head will provide the player with a bit of Street Cred when taken in alive or dead. Alive can be tricky, but it tends to provide more Cred so its often worth trying to take everyone alive whenever possible.
Finding a person with a bounty on their heads is a bit random, but various activities will have the player organically finding these individuals. The main story missions, Gigs, and crimes in the making tend to revolve around wanted individuals.
6 Complete Gigs
In reality the best way to reliable grind Street Cred is to complete the various Gigs in the game. There are 66 Gigs in the game for players to complete and come in multiple flavors that require different playstyles to complete.
SOS are about rescuing missing and kidnapped individuals. Search and Recover is finding and retrieving lost items. Thievery Gigs are about stealing items. Gun For Hire turns the player into a hitman. Agent Saboteur has the player sabotage a client. Special Deliver is about transporting an item or person.
5 Gun For Hire Gigs
Arguably the best Gigs for players to perform to earn Street Cred are the Gun For Hire Gigs. Often times they will send the player after particularly wanted individuals with large bounties on their head.
Successfully completing these Gigs will result in the player getting Street Cred for the kill and for the Gig. These targets will often have henchmen with them who also have bounties leading to even more gains. They can be some of the toughest Gigs in the game, but they’re worth it for earning Street Cred.
4 Multi-Task
Smart players will find ways to string activities together. Gun For Hire Gigs are a great example of this as they combine multiple activities that earn Street Cred. But even having multiple Gigs in the same location or near main mission quest locations can save time and be efficient.
Players will learn to go through the game with their head on a swivel. It’s possible to break up a robbery and bag a few criminals with bounties all while enroute to deliver a package. Learning to chain together activities and seize on opportunities can really cut down on the grind time.
3 Region By Region
Unfortunately not all Gigs will be available when the player enters the game. Some individuals will prefer someone with a bigger reputation to tackle their problems and will require someone with more Street Cred.
Because of this it helps to tackle Gigs on a regional basis. The best order is to complete Gigs in Watson, Badlands, City Center, Westbrook, Pacifica, Heywood, and finishing in Santo Domingo. Every region has Tier 1 Gigs available, but players need a Street Cred of 21 to unlock Santo Domingo’s Tier 2 Gigs and only 15 to do everything in Watson.
2 Jack Of All Trades Approach
For players who are tackling mostly Gigs to grind up their Street Cred it pays to be well rounded. Having a build that caters to violent approaches as well as stealthy ones will be needed. Each Gig has their own requirements and challenges and being adaptable is critical to completing them all.
It’s recommended to have a variety of weapons, Cyberware abilities, and a fast car that handles well. It also pays to be invested in each of the skill trees to some degree to have access to both hacking and damaging abilities.
1 Aggressive Bounty Hunter
Alternatively players can gear their character for violence and then focus on tracking down those with bounties on their heads. In this case players will want the best guns and implants money can buy to give them an edge in combat.
Then it’s a matter of completing Gun For Hire Gigs, help the NCPD clean up the streets with some vigilante justice, and scout the city looking for anyone with a bounty. It’s not as efficient as doing all Gigs, but it’s arguably more interesting and doesn’t involve any escort missions.