I still remember the first time I got my hands on the Rasetsu. It was late 2023, Phantom Liberty had just dropped, and I was sneaking through the Black Sapphire sewers like every other V out there. Fast forward to 2026, and you’d think weapon metas would have shifted a hundred times by now. But somehow, this peculiar Tech Sniper Rifle refuses to fade into the background. Let me tell you why it's still one of the most satisfying guns to whip out in Night City.
How do you actually get this iconic weapon? If you’re worried about missing it – don’t be. The Rasetsu is a guaranteed reward during the main Phantom Liberty questline. Specifically, it lands in your inventory after the sniper overwatch segment of the “You Know My Name” mission. You infiltrate the Black Sapphire, climb into a sniper’s nest, and guide Solomon Reed through a heavily patrolled area. At that moment, the Rasetsu is still mounted on a mechanical platform, suppressed, and rocking infinite ammo. It feels almost unfair. But the second the segment ends, V yanks that beast right off its mount, and suddenly the rules change. No more suppressor, no more bottomless magazine. You now own a weapon that holds a mere three rounds per clip. Sounds limiting, right? Well, that’s where the real fun begins.
Believe me, three bullets seem criminally low on paper, especially when you’re used to spraying and praying through NCPD patrols. But the Rasetsu isn’t your average Longshot or Overwatch. It’s essentially a portable railgun that thinks cover is a polite suggestion. Fully-charged shots punch straight through walls, barricades, and enemy armor, turning what looked like an isolated target into a two-for-one special. And here’s the kicker – those charged shots have a slight homing capability. The projectile will actively seek a nearby enemy after hitting the first target, albeit within a limited angle. That means collateral kills go from accidental miracles to something you can actually plan for. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve aimed at a gangoon’s chest, only to have the follow-up shockwave drop the choom standing right behind him.
Of course, not everything is a guaranteed one-hit kill. The initial target will certainly regret their life choices, but secondary enemies often survive unless the homing round connects with their head or a vulnerability sweet spot. This keeps the gun balanced even in 2026, where max-level V’s can stack all sorts of damage buffs. You still need to line up your shots carefully, which is exactly what makes the Rasetsu so engaging. You’re not just clicking on heads – you’re engineering miniature catastrophes.
Now, let’s talk about why the Rasetsu still holds up in the current build of Cyberpunk 2077. By 2026, we’ve seen the revamped Technical Ability skill tree mature, and the Tech Weapon branch remains a powerhouse. The Rasetsu can’t be modded (it’s iconic, after all), but it fully benefits from those passive skills. Take Bolt, for instance – it trades some penetration power for a massive boost to direct damage. If you’re dealing with a single chunky cyberpsycho, switch your playstyle to Bolt shots and watch their health bar evaporate. Then there’s Chain Lightning, which makes Bolt-fired projectiles arc electric damage between clustered enemies. Combine that with the Rasetsu’s innate piercing and homing, and you’ve got a weapon that clears three-man patios without even trying. The ammo efficiency skyrockets, and that three-round magazine suddenly feels positively generous.
What surprises me most is how this weapon has stood the test of time. We’ve had multiple updates since Phantom Liberty launched. Some iconic guns got nerfed, others got stealth buffs. Netrunner builds became even more bonkers, and Sandevistan setups keep pushing the speed meta. Yet the Rasetsu remains untouched at its core because it simply works. It rewards positioning, patience, and a little bit of trigger discipline. Do you want to snipe from two blocks away and then vanish before scavs even find the body? The Rasetsu has you covered. Prefer to play aggressively and crack open a firefight by deleting both the sniper on the roof and his spotter in the same shot? Also yes.
I often wonder if newer players fully appreciate what this rifle offers. The learning curve is minimal, but the skill ceiling is surprisingly high. Miss your first charged shot and you’re left with two rounds, frantically repositioning while a breach protocol ticks down. Hit it perfectly, and you’ve effectively removed an entire patrol without anyone sounding an alarm. It’s that tension that keeps me coming back.
If you’re still on the fence about dedicating a weapon slot to the Rasetsu, consider this: how many sniper rifles in the game let you counter enemy cover so aggressively while also delivering potential multi-kills with a single trigger pull? Not many. Even in 2026, the only real competitor for that specific niche might be the Breakthrough sniper rifle, but that one demands much more investment into crafting and doesn’t offer the same cinematic, magnetic bullet feeling. The Rasetsu is ready to perform the moment you rip it out of that mount.
So, whether you’re a returning veteran revisiting Dogtown or a fresh-faced merc who just downloaded Cyberpunk 2077 during last month’s sale, do yourself a favor. Play the Phantom Liberty expansion, finish “You Know My Name,” and give the Rasetsu a proper field test. Three bullets are all you need when each one rewrites the rules of engagement.