This quick guide explains the purpose of the red smoke marking Airdrops in Dogtown and what you can get from completing these mini-events in Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty!
If you own the Phantom Liberty Expansion to Cyberpunk 2077, you get access to the new Pacifica sub-section, Dogtown. This area is also known as The Combat Zone.
Apart from the main story that takes you there, Dogtown also offers a number of new and fun activities alongside well-known gig-type side jobs. One such new activity is hunting for Airdrops.
What are Airdrops
After you gain access to Dogtown and complete the first couple of introductory missions, you can explore the area more freely. You will undoubtedly notice some red smoke out in the open from time to time.
The red smoke is a marker for a random open-world mini-event which I would call “Airdrops”. Airdrops are random or at least so it seems. They can happen in any open area in Dogtown.
You may spot an airdrop being delivered., which is accompanied by a typical sound effect to help point your attention to it.
When you go to the marked with red smoke area, you will always see a container. If you are quick to reach it as soon as it drops, you may be the first one and have no competition. This is rare, though. Usually, there is fight waiting for you at the location.
If the airdrop has landed earlier, there might be guards around it. Sometimes you will also see two opposing factions “debating” who gets the loot.
Airdrops are NOT marked on your mini or large map. The only visible marker is the red smoke.
If you take your sweet time reaching the red smoke, the event will disappear. Don’t worry, a new one will soon pop up in another place in Dogtown. These events are on a cooldown timer.
Engaging with the NPCs guarding the Airdrop will not trigger a police alarm. You are “free” to engage them whenever you please and bring chaos while clearing the area around YOUR airdropped container full of valuable loot!
During the main job Lucretia My Reflection, if you spare Jacob and Taylor, Jacob will give you a brief introduction to Airdrops. He will mention that he plans to go hunt for some in the morning. And on the next morning, you can see him standing outside on the street watching and waiting.
How to loot Airdrops: Solving Breach Protocol Puzzle
To loot the container of an airdrop, simply walk to it and press the corresponding button when prompted. On PC the default one is F. You may have to first deal with the NPCs guarding it if there are any.
Once you access the airdrop and attempt to open it, a mini puzzle, known as Breaching or Hacking, will pop. This is not new for Cyberpunk 2077, but if you have forgotten or are new to the game, let me explain how it works.
On the left side you have a block of symbols in pairs. On the top right, you have a code of usually four pairs of symbols. You have to find these symbols in the appropriate order in the block on the left and activate them quickly one after another.
You always start solving the puzzle from the top row. Your next move must be on a vertical line from the first selected symbol. The one after that – on a horizontal line from the previous symbol. And you continue alternating between horizontal and vertical until you fill the entire buffer with the correct code. One single wrong input and you will fail the puzzle.
Take your time when this puzzle shows up, explore and plan your path first. Once you click on the first code symbol, a timer will start. You have to input all of the codes before that timer expires to solve the puzzle.
We have a detailed guide to Hacking and Breaching in Cyberpunk 2077. Take a look if you need a refresher on how the system works or if you are new to the game.
What Loot do you get from Airdrops
Loot is more important in Cyberpunk 2077 now than it has ever been before. After the massive changes with the free 2.0 Update, CD Projekt RED rebalanced the economy of the game and made Item Components (for Crafting) more valuable and hard to get than before.
High tier items are also a lot more expensive to sell to vendors or deliver to drop points. And if you are after the latest and greatest in the chrome department, you have to pay a heavy price for each upgrade or new cyberware you want to install.
The Airdros offer you a little of anything. They have a variety of items from weapons and mods for them, to cyberware implants, clothing, and much more.
If you are high level, the items will be of higher tier, of course. And as I said earlier, Tier 5 (Legendary) items are quite expensive to both purchase and sell to a vendor. Airdrops are a wonderful to have some casual fun and earn some cool new loot.
That’s all you need to know about the Airdrop events in Dogtown, available with Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty. Enjoy the hunt and the loot.
Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Review (No Spoilers)
An in-depth spoiler-free review of Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty. Find out what has changed, learn of all new features and our experiences!
How to start Phantom Liberty in Cyberpunk 2077 and go to Dogtown
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about how to start the Phantom Liberty expansion in Cyberpunk 2077 and how to access the new zone in Night City called Dogtown!
How to Defeat the Chimera in Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty: The Spider And The Fly Walkthrough
This guide will show you how to complete the main mission “The Spider and the Fly” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take and useful tips to defeat the Chimera unit.
Cyberpunk 2077 Lucretia My Reflection Guide: Can You Save Jacob and Taylor
This guide will show you how to start and complete the main mission “Lucretia My Reflection” in Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty. You will also learn about all of the possible outcomes and the required choices in order to get them!
You Know My Name Walkthrough: Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty
This guide will show you how to complete the main job “You know my name” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take and all of the possible outcomes.
Firestarter Walkthrough: Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty
This guide will show you how to complete the main job “Firestarter” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take and the possible outcomes.
The Killing Moon Walkthrough: Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty
This guide will show you how to complete the main job “The Killing Moon” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take and the possible outcomes.
Cyberpunk 2077 Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos Guide
This guide will show you how to complete the main job “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take to ambush the Convoy that transports So Mi and defeat the MaxTac team.
Somewhat Damaged Walkthrough: Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty
This guide will show you how to complete the main job “Somewhat Damaged” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take to fully explore the environment and avoid getting caught by the patrolling Cerberus unit.
Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Endings Guide: How to unlock all of them
This guide will show you how to get all Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty endings and how to unlock the new ending for the base game! Here you will find all the step to unlock the endings, all the rewards, achievements, and an explanation of the fate of all characters involved!
Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty 1R-0NC-LAD Scavenger Hunt Guide
This guide will show you how to start one of the secret missions in Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty – a scavenger hunt to solve the mystery of the broken robot 1R-0NC-LAD (Ironclad) in Dogtown’s stadium!
No Easy Way Out Walkthrough: Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty
This guide will show you how to complete the side job “No Easy Way Out” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take and the possible outcomes.
Dogtown Saints Walkthrough: Should you kill or spare Nika in Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty
This guide will show you how to start and complete the gig “Dogtown Saints” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take and the available choices and consequences.
Dazed And Confused Walkthrough: How to get Lina Malina's Bike in Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty
This guide will show you how to complete the side job “Dazed and Confused” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty and how to get the Lina Malina's Bike, the Malina-Mobile, an almost-free bike you can get in Dogtown! The walkthrough details each step you must take to obtain this fantastic ride.
Balls To The Wall Walkthrough: Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty
This guide will show you how to start and complete the side job “Balls To The Wall” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take and the possible outcomes.
Prototype In The Scraper Walkthrough: Should you Let Hasan Go, Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty
This guide will show you how to start and complete the gig “Prototype in the scraper” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take and the available choices and consequences.
Should You Shoot Leon Rinder: Cyberpunk 2077 The Man Who Killed Jason Foreman
This guide will show you how to complete the side job “The Man Who Killed Jason Foreman” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take and all the possible outcomes
Shot By Both Sides Walkthrough: Should you protect Bree, Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty
This guide will show you how to start and complete the side job “Shot by both sides” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take and the available choices and consequences.
Cyberpunk 2077 Treating Symptoms Guide: What to do with Milko
This guide will show you how to complete the Gig “Treating Symptoms” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take and the possible endings whether you leave Allen to finish or take down Milko right away!
Talent Academy Walkthrough: Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty
This guide will show you how to complete the gig "Talent Academy" from Cyberpunk 2077's expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take and the available choices.
Spy In The Jungle Walkthrough: Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty
This guide will show you how to start and complete the gig “Spy in the Jungle” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take and the available choices and consequences.
Run This Town: Who should rule Dogtown, Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Guide
This guide will show you how to start and complete the side job “Run this town” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take and the available choices and consequences.
All New Tarot Card Locations in Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty
This guide will show you the locations of all four new Tarot Cards available in Dogtown, Night City’s Combat Zone, released with Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty Expansion!
How to get a Free Outlaw Car in Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty: Baby Take Me Home Guide
This guide will show you how to complete the side job “Baby Take Me Home” from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty and get the free Outlaw Car, the only free car you can get in Dogtown! The walkthrough details each step you must take to obtain this badass ride.
Cyberpunk 2077 Moving Heat: How to get the Sport R-7 "Charon" Flaming Car
This guide will show you how to complete the side job "Moving Heat" from Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion Phantom Liberty! The walkthrough details each step you must take to acquire the Sport R-7 "Charon" car.
