The 2.0 version ofCyberpunk 2077launched with a number of changes to the way that players progress through the RPG-like perk and skill system – including the outright removal of several skill and perk trees entirely. The Blades tree is gone, but perks related to Blades and melee builds can still be found throughout the six Attribute trees, mostly in the Reflexes skill tree.
Choosinggood Blades perks inCyberpunk 2077requires players to be ready to jump into the middle of combat and manage status effects and Cyberware abilities. Thesebest Blades perksdon’t all directly affect V’s damage, like Adrenaline Rush, but all of these recommendations for the best Blades skills will empower V’s melee prowess by reducing damage taken, giving more options in combat, and unlocking a special melee finisher.
Updated July 02, 2025 by Erik Petrovich:This list of the best Cyberpunk 2077 Blades Perks has been updated to reflect themany changes of the 2.0 update, including the expansive overhaul of the skill and perk system. As such, this guide features updated recommendations based on the new Blades perks Cyberpunk 2077 players can pick up.
5Adrenaline Rush
Massive Increase In Survivability With Temp HP
Being a master of Blades inCyberpunk 2077meanstaking on skills outside of the Reflexes tree. Adrenaline Rush is a three-tiered perk in the Body tree that increases V’s ability to recover HP, and also unlocks a new active ability. At Level 1, players gain 35 Max Health, and level 2 increases V’s HP Recovery by 20%.
When fully upgraded, the Adrenaline Rush ability unlocks, adding up to 50% temporary HP when the player uses Health Items. After the ability activates, the remaining Adrenaline will decay with time, and will be depleted before HP if V gets attacked. For Blades builds, which spend lots of time up close and personal, Adrenaline Rush is a must-have perk.
4Dash
A Better Dodge Mechanic That Goes Further
In addition to Adrenaline Rush, which requires a hefty 15 points in Body, Blades players should also pick up Dash, which is found early on in the Blades' home Reflexes tree. Dash has two levels and must be fully upgraded to access the sub-perks thatbranch out from it on the Reflexes skill tree.
The first level reduces the Stamina cost associated with Dodging and Dashing, while the second level unlocks the Dash mechanic itself, replacing Dodge entirely. Dash lets players travel much further than a normal Dodge, so it’s essential to pick this up to enhance a Blade build’s survivability and maneuverability, to get behind enemies quickly.
Blades Can Block Bullets, Now
The Lead and Steel perk is an absolutelycrucial part of a Blades buildbecause it allows players to deflect projectiles with a Blade weapon. At Level 1 of the two-tiered perk, Lead and Steel simply reduce the cost of attacking with Blade weapons. At Level 2, though, blocking with a Blade lets players block bullets.
Lead and Steel is so important because it lets melee Blades players close distance on enemies without taking too much damage. It does cost stamina to block projectiles with a Blade, but Lead and Steel’s sub-perks make it much more worthwhile – and even deal damage.
2Slaughterhouse
Blades Attacks Gain Bleeding & Dismemberment Chance
The Slaughterhouse perk is a max-level Reflexes perk that makes Blades builds especially deadly to humanoid and non-robot enemies. Slaughterhouse makes it so that all of V’s attacks, counterattacks, and deflected projectiles (Lead and Steel perk) can cause Bleeding. Not only that, but all of these attacks also have a higher dismemberment chance, and enemies who are dismembered will restore 25 Stamina.
Slaughterhouse is a huge boost to Blades players' damage output, though it is worth noting that Bleeding cannot outright kill an enemy. Still, though, Slaughterhouse serves as an outright damage boost against humanoids, and sets up enemies for Finishing moves – like the Bladerunner perk.
1Finisher: Blade Runner
An Awesome Finisher Preceded By Essential Buffs
The Bladerunner perk is actually a pre-requisite for the Slaughterhouse perk,at Reflexes Level 15, but its one of the best Blades perksCyberpunk 2077players can get because it’s more applicable to all enemy types, not just enemies that can Bleed. At Level 1, it costs 15% less Stamina to use Blades, while level 2 increases Blades Attack Speed by 20%.
Level 3 unlocks the eponymous Bladerunner finisher, which can be initiated against low-HP enemies or targets susceptible to Finishers (like through Quickhacks and related perks). When this finisher is done, V gains 25% HP – not 25 flat HP, a quarter of their total Health. The stamina, attack speed, and HP restoration of this perk are more than enough to make it the best Blade perk inCyberpunkeven without the brutal Finisher is also grants.
