“The Ripperdoc” is one of the earliest main missions in Cyberpunk 2077, taking place shortly after the dramatic events of “The Rescue.” Though it involves no combat, this quest is vital for introducing the cyberware upgrade system — a cornerstone of the game’s RPG mechanics — and expanding the lore of Night City’s underground medical industry.
This mission marks a shift from narrative introduction to full player empowerment, giving you your first taste of body augmentation and the consequences that come with modifying the human form.
🏥 Mission Context: Fixing Up After a Fight
After collapsing during the ride home from rescuing Sandra Dorsett, V regains consciousness but is left mentally and physically unstable. Jackie suggests checking in with Viktor Vektor, a trusted ripperdoc located in the Watson district. Viktor isn’t just a street medic — he’s one of the best cyberware surgeons in the city, and he has a long-standing friendship with V.
This mission sends the player to Viktor’s clinic — a modest, grimy basement setup filled with outdated tech, flickering lights, and the ominous hum of cyber-tools. Yet despite the setting, Viktor is one of the few genuinely kind and trustworthy characters in the game.
🔧 Cyberware Introduction: Becoming More Than Human
Viktor offers to install a few upgrades to help stabilize V and get them ready for merc work. This introduces players to the cyberware interface, where you can enhance your:
- Ocular System (Kiroshi Optics) – Upgrades your vision HUD, enabling features like enemy tagging, damage indicators, and scanning.
- Hand Enhancements (Ballistic Coprocessor) – Enables better weapon control and allows for more precise gunplay.
These initial upgrades are installed as a favor — you don’t pay upfront, but Viktor adds it to your growing list of debts, reinforcing the theme of survival through credit in Night City.
You’re also introduced to scanning mode (activated via your optics), which becomes an essential mechanic for identifying enemies, tracking loot, and navigating the city.
🧬 The Role of Ripperdocs in Night City
Ripperdocs play a unique role in Cyberpunk 2077. They’re not just NPCs — they are gatekeepers to power. Every enhancement you install, whether it’s subdermal armor or monowire whip implants, goes through them.
They represent the blurry line between human and machine, and many players reflect on the ethics of altering one’s body for survival or profit. The game presents this world without judgment — augmentations are simply how people survive in a city designed to destroy them.
There are many ripperdocs in Night City, each offering different implants based on their quality, reputation, and location. But Viktor stands out for his loyalty and humanity, making him one of the few people in the city who truly has your back.
🎲 Gameplay Mechanics Unlocked
By completing “The Ripperdoc,” the following systems and gameplay options are unlocked:
- Scanning Mode (hold Tab/Middle Mouse Button): Highlight NPCs, identify weak spots, scan objects for information.
- Cyberware Management: Visit ripperdocs to install and upgrade enhancements across multiple body parts.
- Street Cred: The mission introduces the concept that higher Street Cred unlocks better gear and cyberware from ripperdocs and vendors.
It’s a foundational step that allows players to begin developing a unique character build — whether as a stealthy netrunner, tanky brawler, or cyber-enhanced gunfighter.
🧠 Narrative and Character Development
“The Ripperdoc” also expands the emotional tone of the story. Viktor is calm, fatherly, and principled — a stark contrast to the ruthless world outside. He warns V about overloading their system and foreshadows the mysterious issues plaguing V’s neural interface, which will later connect to Johnny Silverhand’s presence in your head.
This quiet, dialogue-heavy mission is a moment of stability before the storm, and it deepens the bond between V and the few people they can trust.
✅ Conclusion: Flesh, Steel, and Survival
“The Ripperdoc” is a deceptively simple mission that lays the groundwork for one of Cyberpunk 2077’s most compelling systems: the customization of the human body through cybernetic augmentation. It’s here that V truly begins the transformation from mercenary to legend, and the player takes their first real step toward mastering the tools of the future.
In a world where death is cheap but upgrades are expensive, Viktor gives you more than just implants — he gives you a fighting chance.