The Cyberpunk 2077 Perk You Should Absolutely Avoid

Selecting the Scrapper ability during Cyberpunk 2077’s opening hours creates a financial setback that hampers progression. This seemingly convenient perk actively works against your economic interests when you most need currency.

Cyberpunk 2077 offers extensive character customization through its perk system, enabling players to shape their V according to preferred combat approaches and playstyles. However, one particular ability located in the Technical Ability attribute’s Crafting tree systematically depletes your funds. The Scrapper perk automatically dismantles junk items into basic components, eliminating potential revenue streams.

Scrapper resides within the Technical Ability attribute, specifically on the Crafting skill progression path. Initially, its description appears beneficial—it converts clutter into crafting resources automatically. Night City contains abundant items categorized as “junk,” including vintage music records, smoking accessories, card decks, ignition devices, and intimate toys. Recent patches have notably reduced the frequency of certain adult items spawning throughout the game world.

The majority of junk items scattered throughout Night City possess minimal value, typically fetching about 3 Eurodollars (colloquially called “eddies”) when sold to vendors. This low return hardly justifies the inventory management effort required to collect and transport them.

Despite this apparent convenience, Scrapper actively sabotages your financial growth during critical early-game phases when every eddie matters.

Occasionally, you’ll discover junk-classified items with substantial worth—particularly jewelry pieces looted from enemies or found in environments. These valuable objects sell for 750 eddies but get automatically processed alongside worthless trash, converting potential wealth into negligible crafting components. During Act 1 and the initial half of Act 2, accumulating approximately 20,000 eddies becomes necessary to advance specific storyline missions.

Avoiding this perk preserves your early-game economic stability

Cyberware modifications represent another significant expense where preserved currency proves essential. These augmentations dramatically alter gameplay mechanics—for instance, acquiring double-jump capabilities unlocks previously inaccessible navigation routes and tactical options throughout Night City’s vertical landscape.

Meanwhile, Scrapper provides minimal practical benefit. Most players can safely disregard crafting systems during early gameplay unless specifically building a crafting-focused character. Even then, materials obtained from junk items offer poor quality returns. This perk consistently creates more disadvantages than advantages, though this isn’t apparent until after acquisition.

Preserve your perk points for superior alternatives rather than wasting them on Scrapper. While it appears to offer time-saving convenience, it actually eliminates straightforward methods for generating quick capital. The drawbacks significantly exceed any potential benefits.

Essential Early Game Perks: Focus on combat-enhancing abilities like increased damage output, improved accuracy, or enhanced survivability. Defensive perks that boost armor or health regeneration provide immediate tangible benefits during firefights. Movement-related abilities that increase sprint speed or reduce stamina consumption improve overall mobility and exploration efficiency.

Cyberware Priority: The double-jump leg modification should be your first major purchase, fundamentally changing how you navigate Night City’s environment. Optical enhancements that highlight enemies or provide tactical information offer significant combat advantages. Consider consulting our Class Guide for strategic character development insights that apply similarly to Cyberpunk’s build planning.

Manual Inventory Management: Periodically visit vendors to sell accumulated junk items manually. This approach allows you to identify and preserve valuable jewelry pieces while disposing of truly worthless items. Regular inventory maintenance prevents carrying capacity issues without sacrificing potential income.

Selective Scrapping: Later in the game when currency becomes less critical, you can manually dismantle junk items from your inventory screen. This controlled method ensures you only break down items when you specifically need crafting materials.

Vendor Rotation: Different merchants offer varying buy prices for certain item types. Weapons vendors typically provide better rates for firearms, while general goods dealers may offer superior prices for miscellaneous junk. For comprehensive gameplay optimization similar to what you’d find in our Complete Guide, develop a route that maximizes your selling efficiency.

Economic Awareness: Always check an item’s value before considering it for dismantling. Valuable jewelry pieces are easily identifiable by their substantially higher sell price compared to standard junk items. Understanding these mechanics early prevents costly mistakes that can set back your progression by several hours of gameplay. These strategies align with the weapon optimization approaches discussed in our Weapons Unlock guide for other games, emphasizing resource optimization principles.

No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » The Cyberpunk 2077 Perk You Should Absolutely Avoid Why the Scrapper perk drains your early-game funds and what to choose instead in Cyberpunk 2077