If you've been cruising through Dogtown in the Phantom Liberty expansion, you've likely stumbled across the side job "Balls to the Wall." It pops up early in your adventure, and while initially it might seem like just another gig, the choices you make here carry some serious narrative weight. Two BARGHEST goons, Paco and Babs, have found themselves in hot water, and Paco is really the one in need of a lifeline. V can step in and reshape his fate, but not all outcomes are created equal — some are downright brutal. Let's break down each path, what goodies you'll snag, and why two of the options are total no-brainers while the third is basically a death sentence.
Sizing Up the Situation
The lowdown is this: Paco has gotten himself tangled in a mess with his superiors, particularly a bloke named Yuri, who happens to be Kurt Hansen's right-hand man. The whole ordeal smells fishy, and V has to decide how to play it. There are three ways to steer this ship: frame Yuri for treason, get Paco out of Dodge, or call in a favour from one of your contacts. Combat-wise, it's a cakewalk — only one path forces you to pull the trigger — but the ripple effects are huge.
Option One: Frame Yuri — The Worst Call You Can Make
If you're in the mood for grim drama and want to see just how low things can go, go ahead and pick "Frame Yuri." The plan sounds slick on paper: V and Paco cook up a scheme to make it look like Yuri is disloyal to Kurt Hansen. V mentions that Yuri doesn't seem too tight with the big boss, based on some surface-level intel. Bad move. People who have played through this will tell you — it's a trap.
You'll meet Paco under some dodgy underpass at night, ready to put the plan in motion. But plot twist: Hansen already sniffed out Paco's betrayal. What happens next is seriously messed up. Yuri doesn't just kick the bucket — he gets decapitated and hung upside down as a grim warning to anyone else thinking about crossing Hansen. And poor Paco? He ends up dead too. The shard you find later spells out the cold truth: Hansen knew everything from the start. On the upside, you do get a pair of guns for your trouble — the M-10AF Lexington and the M-76 Omaha. They're decent, sure, but they're nothing to write home about. When you factor in a dead ally and the sheer brutality, it's clear this path is a raw deal.
Option Two: Get Out of Town — The Clean Escape
Now, this is where things get miles better. Choosing "Get out of town" is as straightforward as it sounds, and it's a solid way to save Paco's bacon. V stuffs him into the trunk of his own ride and hauls him out of Dogtown without much fuss. It's the simplest plan, and sometimes simple is best. No backstabbing, no bloodbaths — just a clean break.
After a couple of in-game days, you'll get a text from Paco and can meet up with him again. To your surprise — and maybe a little disappointment — he's chosen to become a Scav and ditch his old life entirely. While that may ruffle your moral feathers, the payoff is pretty sweet: you pocket 8,000 eddies and the Carmen Power Assault Rifle. The rifle alone is a beast compared to the dual pistols from the first ending, making this choice a winner for players who care about firepower. The only potential downer is the future tension: Babs stays loyal to BARGHEST, so there's a chance these two could end up staring each other down one day. That's some high-quality narrative spice, though.
Option Three: Call in Some Favors — The Crew Comes Through
If you've been buttering up your allies or have a romantic partner in the picture, you can blow the whistle and have them lend a hand. This path is all about who you know. The outcome shifts depending on who you ring up, but generally, it's a clean rescue mission. For instance, if you call Rogue, she'll help replace some generators to cover the escape. If Panam is your choom (and maybe more), she'll smuggle Paco and Babs right out of Night City territory. Other allies come through in similar fashion, ensuring both characters make it out with their skins intact.
Once the dust settles, you'll need to head back to the BARGHEST camp to claim your reward. There, you'll snag that same Carmen Power Assault Rifle plus a Solo Skill EXP shard. Sure, you miss out on the cash, but the skill boost can be a game-changer if you're leveling up your Solo tree. It's a feel-good ending with a tangible perk.
The Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?
Let's be real — unless you're roleplaying a complete stone-cold merc who holds a personal grudge, option one is a dumpster fire. You lose Paco, the whole operation goes belly-up, and you're left with second-rate hardware. So cross that one off your list right out of the gate.
Between the second and third choices, it's pretty much a coin flip with different flavors. If you're hurting for eddies and want a killer rifle to blast your way through Dogtown, getting Paco out of town is your best bet. The 8,000 credits can fund a nice chunk of cyberware upgrades, and the Carmen rifle is a workhorse. On the other hand, if you're all about that sweet, sweet skill progression, calling in a favour nets you a Solo EXP shard that can help you unlock those juicy combat perks faster.
Personally, I went with the second option in my first serious playthrough, thinking I'd give Paco a shot at reinventing himself. Him turning Scav kind of stung, but hey, he's alive and kicking, and the rewards were well worth it. Many players since 2023 have echoed this sentiment — even now in 2026, community chats still point to these two endings as the clear winners. So, next time you're faced with the "Balls to the Wall" gig, just remember: keep it simple or call your ride-or-die. Both paths leave Dogtown a little less messy and your inventory a whole lot brighter.
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