How to Complete Every Main Job in Cyberpunk 2077 and Edgerunners

Navigating the neon-soaked streets of Night City requires a clear understanding of your objectives. Whether you are tracking the digital ghost of Johnny Silverhand in the video game or exploring the tragic backstory of the edgerunner crew in the Netflix anime, the "main" elements of the Cyberpunk franchise are deeply interconnected. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of the primary mission structure, the optimal narrative order for the 2.12 game version, and a look at the character who defined the Edgerunners legacy.

Distinguishing Between Main Jobs and Maine the Character

When searching for "main cyberpunk," users often fall into two distinct categories. The first group is looking for the Main Jobs , which are the primary story missions in the Cyberpunk 2077 video game. These quests follow V, a mercenary who becomes entangled in a corporate conspiracy involving a "relic" chip that is slowly overwriting their consciousness with the personality of rockerboy-turned-terrorist Johnny Silverhand.

The second group is often searching for Maine , a central character in the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime. Maine is a veteran mercenary who leads the crew that the protagonist, David Martinez, eventually joins. His story is a cautionary tale about the physical and mental toll of excessive cybernetic enhancement, a condition known as cyberpsychosis. Understanding which "main" you are looking for is the first step to mastering the lore of Night City.

Total Count of Main Jobs in Cyberpunk 2077

The mission structure of Cyberpunk 2077 is divided into three distinct acts, plus a prologue that varies based on your chosen Lifepath. According to IGN's comprehensive walkthrough , there are roughly 30 Main Jobs in the base game. These missions are mandatory to reach the credits, though the choices you make in side content significantly influence which endings become available.

Story Segment	Mission Count	Estimated Time (Rush)
Prologue (Lifepath)	1	30 Minutes
Act 1 (The Heist)	6	3–4 Hours
Act 2 (The Search)	~20	10–15 Hours
Act 3 (The Endings)	3	2–4 Hours

It is important to note that Act 2 is the largest portion of the game. It branches into three parallel storylines: the search for Evelyn Parker with Judy Alvarez, the hunt for Anders Hellman with Panam Palmer, and the investigation into Arasaka with Goro Takemura. While you can tackle these in any order, some sequences offer a more cohesive narrative experience.

Recommended Order for Playing Main Story Missions

To maximize narrative impact and character progression, many veteran players suggest a specific "Master Chronology." This approach ensures that you don't miss time-sensitive events and that the introduction of the Phantom Liberty expansion feels like a natural extension of the story rather than a jarring detour.

Phase One: The Takemura Priority

Immediately after the title card drops and Act 2 begins, your first priority should be the quest "Down on the Street." Meeting Takemura early is widely considered a top choice for new players because it opens up the city and provides essential context for the Arasaka plotline. Completing these early missions also grants significant XP, making the more difficult combat encounters in other branches more manageable.

Phase Two: The Time-Sensitive Panam Arc

Once you have established a foothold in Act 2, you should begin the questline involving Panam Palmer and the Aldecaldos. A critical piece of community wisdom involves the mission "Riders on the Storm." According to Game-Maps documentation , this quest is time-sensitive. If you ignore Panam’s call for more than 24 in-game hours, you may be locked out of her romance and the specific ending associated with her clan. Completing her arc early ensures your alliance with the Nomads is secured.

Phase Three: The Pacifica Bridge to Phantom Liberty

The final major branch of Act 2 involves the Voodoo Boys in Pacifica. You should delay the quest "Transmission" until you are ready to engage with the Phantom Liberty DLC. This mission serves as the narrative gateway to Dogtown. By waiting until you have met Alt Cunningham in the base game, the dialogue options within the expansion become more nuanced and impactful, providing a deeper connection between V's survival and the political intrigue of the New United States of America (NUSA).

Unlocking the Phantom Liberty Main Quests

The Phantom Liberty expansion adds a parallel main questline that integrates directly into the middle of the base game. It is triggered by a mysterious caller named Songbird, who contacts V after the completion of the Voodoo Boys storyline. This expansion introduces 21 new Main Jobs, though the path you take can lead to entirely different outcomes and even a brand-new ending for the base game.

Experts suggest that you should not rush into Dogtown the moment it becomes available. Instead, spend time building your character's level and gear. The combat encounters in Phantom Liberty are notably more challenging than those in the early Acts of the base game. Furthermore, the expansion's story carries more weight if you have already established a relationship with Johnny Silverhand, as his commentary on the NUSA and the concept of loyalty is a highlight of the experience.

Essential Missable Items Found in Main Jobs

While the Main Jobs are mandatory, many of the most impactful items in the game are hidden within them and can be permanently missed if you are not careful. These items often rank among the top-tier gear available to players.

• The Iguana Egg: During "The Heist," search the left side of Yorinobu’s penthouse near the window. You can find an egg that, when placed in V’s apartment, eventually hatches into a pet iguana.
• Satori Katana: Before leaving the penthouse during "The Heist," head up the stairs to the helipad. The blade is inside the AV and is widely regarded as one of the strongest melee weapons for critical hit builds.
• Jackie’s Tuned Arch: If your V has a high Technical Ability during the early conversation with Jackie outside All Foods, you can suggest specific modifications to his bike. This results in a unique, "Tuned" version of the Arch motorcycle later in the game.
• Kongou Pistol: Found on Yorinobu’s nightstand during "The Heist." It allows players to use ricochet technology without the required cyberware.

"Night City is a beast that feeds on the distracted. If you aren't looking at the details during the big jobs, you're leaving the best parts of the city behind." — Common community sentiment regarding missable loot.

Realistic Time Estimates for Completing the Main Story

There is a significant discrepancy between "rushing" the story and "experiencing" it. As noted in Steam community discussions , players who only follow the yellow mission markers often finish the game in under 20 hours. However, this approach often leads to the "worst" endings because V lacks the allies and resources necessary to secure a better future.

The game presents a "false sense of urgency." While the narrative suggests V is dying within weeks, there is no mechanical penalty for spending 100 hours completing side gigs, police hustles, and character arcs. In fact, the most acclaimed way to play is to treat the Main Jobs as anchors for exploration. A balanced playthrough that includes the major companion quests (Judy, Panam, River, and Kerry) typically lasts between 50 and 60 hours. For those who want to see everything Night City has to offer, including the Phantom Liberty content, 100+ hours is a standard expectation.

Understanding the Point of No Return in Nocturne Op55N1

The final mission of the main story is titled "Nocturne Op55N1." It begins when V goes to meet Hanako Arasaka at the Embers restaurant. The game will provide a clear on-screen prompt stating that this is the "Point of No Return." Once you enter the restaurant, you are locked into the endgame sequence, and all open-world activities, side quests, and romance options become inaccessible until the credits roll.

It is highly recommended that you treat this mission as a bookmark. Do not enter Embers until you have finished every other activity you wish to complete. After the ending, the game will return you to the point just before you entered the restaurant, allowing you to keep any unique rewards earned during the finale, but the narrative weight of the "final choice" is best experienced when all other loose ends are tied up.

The Legacy of Maine in Cyberpunk Edgerunners

For those searching for the character, Maine is a central pillar of the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners story. As a former soldier, Maine represents the veteran class of mercenaries in Night City. He is physically imposing, utilizing a Projectile Launch System and heavy muscular enhancement to dominate combat. His role as a mentor to David Martinez is what drives the first half of the series.

Maine’s character is a personification of the "Live Fast, Die Young" mantra of Night City. His leadership style is based on a mix of tough love and professional reliability, but his eventual descent into cyberpsychosis highlights the inherent dangers of the mercenary lifestyle. Even years after the anime's release, Maine remains a popular figure in the community, often cited as one of the most tragic and well-developed characters in the franchise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Takeaways for Your Night City Journey

Whether you are tackling the Main Jobs of the game or studying the history of Maine the edgerunner, the depth of this universe is its greatest strength. Here are the key points to remember:

1. Don't rush the story: The 15-hour "main story" is a trap that leads to less satisfying endings.
2. Prioritize Panam: Her quests are time-sensitive and essential for one of the top-rated endings.
3. Grab the Iguana Egg: It is one of the few permanent missables in "The Heist" and adds flavor to V's apartment.
4. Wait for Phantom Liberty: Start the DLC after the Voodoo Boys arc for the most seamless narrative flow.
5. Respect the Point of No Return: Treat "Nocturne Op55N1" as your final save point.
6. Maine is a legend: His story in Edgerunners provides the emotional context for the world V inhabits.

Before you head to Embers to meet Hanako, ensure you have explored every side street and completed every companion arc to truly experience the breadth of Night City.