The iconic weapon known as Erebus has quickly become a soughtafter upgrade for many players of Cyberpunk 2077, especially for those who own the Phantom Liberty expansion. Many gamers ask where to get Erebus in Cyberpunk? How can I unlock it? What choices must I make, and what steps are required? This topic will walk you through the entire process in plain English, breaking down what you need to know to obtain Erebus, including game decisions, mission walkthroughs, attribute requirements, and crafting details.
What is the Erebus weapon?
Erebus is not just any gun it is an iconic Power Submachine Gun introduced in the Phantom Liberty expansion of Cyberpunk 2077. The description says Rounds fired from this weapon are infused with the dark energy beyond the Blackwall. It features high headshot damage, armor penetration, and is especially lethal against lowhealth enemies. Because of that, many players consider it one of the best endgame weapons in the DLC. But getting it is not straightforward it requires a specific path and some attribute investment.
Key choices you must make
Before you can even get the blueprint or craft Erebus, you must make certain narrative and gameplay decisions in the DLC. The path you take will determine whether Erebus is available to you or locked out.
Choice during the Firestarter mission
Early on in Phantom Liberty you reach a mission named Firestarter. Here you will be faced with an important decision whether to side with the character Songbird or the character Solomon Reed. To gain access to Erebus you must side with Reed. Without that choice, the path to Erebus is closed.
Selecting the Somewhat Damaged mission path
After siding with Reed, the subsequent mission Somewhat Damaged becomes the key stage where the Erebus blueprint is found. If you skip or choose a different path, you may never get access to the blueprint, meaning you cannot craft the weapon later.
Where to find the Erebus blueprint and parts
Now that you’ve chosen the correct path, you need to locate the blueprint and parts required to craft Erebus. The steps are specific and require some attention and sometimes a high attribute level.
Locate the blueprint in the Cynosure Facility
During Somewhat Damaged you end up in a facility called Cynosure Facility. There you must hack or access terminals (Alpha, Bravo, Sierra) and then navigate toward the maintenance room in the Engineering sector. Inside the maintenance room you’ll find the blueprint for Erebus lying on a table. But the door to this room is locked and requires rerouting power. Specifically you’ll need to restore power from the nearby storage room and ensure your character has enough Technical Ability to open the door.
Attribute requirement Technical Ability
One of the major hurdles is your attribute level. To unlock the door normally you need at least Technical Ability 20. Some players report success with Technical Ability 15 using alternate routes like vents and climbing, but these are more difficult. If you do not meet the attribute threshold and you’re not confident with glitchy alternatives, you might need to respec or invest accordingly before playing that mission.
Retrieve the Behavioral System Component
Even after you grab the blueprint, you still need a special component to craft the weapon the Behavioral System Component from a robot called Cerberus in the facility. After disabling the core you loot the component from the robot’s leg inside the facility. Without this piece you cannot craft Erebus.
Crafting Erebus and other details
Once you have both blueprint and component, you still need to craft Erebus via the crafting menu. Here are the details and what to expect.
Crafting requirements
- You must have unlocked blueprints and the component listed above.
- You must have sufficient Tier 5 (or highlevel) crafting components.
- Ensure your level and build are prepared Erebus is a Tier 5 iconic weapon, designed for endgame builds.
What makes Erebus special?
The weapon perks include a +100% headshot damage multiplier, +25% armor penetration, and the ability to infuse shots with Blackwallbased dark energy, which can trigger a special effect when hitting low health enemies. That makes it particularly effective for aggressive builds and taking down tougher enemies. Some players describe it as overpowered for how early you can wield it if you follow the right path.
Common issues and how to avoid them
Because there are so many steps and restrictions, a number of players fail to obtain Erebus due to missing parts, wrong choices, or insufficient attributes. Here are common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
Missing the blueprint during the mission
If you progress too far beyond the area where the maintenance room is located, the mission will continue and you may lose your chance to pick up the blueprint. Once the mission advances past a certain point you cannot return and the blueprint disappears. To avoid this save your game before entering the maintenance area, make sure you explore carefully, and pick the blueprint when you first see it.
Not having required Technical Ability
If you do not have Technical Ability 20 (or the clever alternative method), the door to the maintenance room will remain locked and you will be unable to progress to the blueprint. As one user said >The breaker to open the door to get Erebus required a 20 in technical to fix (at least for me)…. luckily I found a vent…. While alternative routes exist (vent jump + mantis blades) they are challenging and not guaranteed for all builds. If your build lacks these mobility cyberware upgrades, invest in tech or respec beforehand.
Choosing the wrong reward or path
During the mission where rewards are given, you may have to choose between Erebus or another item, e.g., the Militech Canto Mk.6 cyberdeck. This means you cannot have both unless you replay the mission. If you pick the other reward, you lose access to Erebus permanently in this playthrough unless you load an earlier save.
Why get Erebus what makes it worth it?
There are many reasons to go for Erebus if your build supports it. First, being a Tier 5 iconic weapon means it has rarity and status. But beyond that, its special effect of infusing rounds with dark Blackwall energy gives it a unique flair and enhanced damage potential. For players who lean into SMG builds or aggressive playstyles, Erebus can significantly boost effectiveness in combat scenarios especially against tougher foes or during lategame activities. Also, the fact that it’s pathlocked gives a sense of achievement for those who manage to obtain it.
Summary checklist of steps
Here’s a handy bullet list to ensure you don’t miss anything
- Sidelining songbird In Firestarter mission, side with Reed.
- Begin the Somewhat Damaged mission path.
- Enter the Cynosure Facility and complete terminal hacks (Alpha, Bravo, Sierra).
- Restore power to the storage room and reroute to open maintenance door.
- Ensure Technical Ability 20 (or use advanced mobility trick via vents/charged jump).
- Pick up the blueprint in the maintenance room.
- Retrieve the Behavioral System Component from the Cerberus robot.
- Craft Erebus using blueprint and component, with Tier 5 crafting materials.
If you are playing Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty and aiming to add a toptier iconic SMG to your arsenal, then going through the steps to get Erebus is well worth the effort. Be mindful of the narrative choice early on, prepare your character’s Technical Ability if needed, and make sure you explore the mission area thoroughly to pick up the blueprint and component. Once you craft Erebus, you’ll be wielding a unique and powerful weapon that many players miss out on simply because they didn’t follow the path or didn’t invest the attributes. With the right build and preparation, you can secure Erebus and dominate the streets of Night City.