The Rescue

Key takeaways

The mission is designed as a compact introduction to Cyberpunk 2077’s core systems.

• Follow Jackie’s lead Jackie Welles provides the immediate route and mission context, while T-Bug communicates remotely during the breach. Staying near the marked objective keeps the opening sequence moving without requiring extensive free-roam exploration.
• Use the building as cover The scavenger hideout contains doorways, corridors, rooms, and elevation changes that support both direct combat and quieter movement. Check corners before crossing open spaces and use the environment to separate enemies.
• Search before leaving The mission is an early opportunity to learn how weapons, armor, ammunition, healing items, and other loot are collected. A quick sweep after combat can make the next encounter more comfortable without turning the mission into a full scavenging route.
• Expect a guided tutorial pace The Rescue teaches systems through scripted prompts and companion dialogue. It is less open-ended than later missions, so some doors, conversations, and transitions only become available after the current objective advances.

The Rescue

The Rescue introduces V, Jackie Welles, and the early dangers of Night City through a recovery operation in Watson.

The Rescue is the first full mission of Cyberpunk 2077 after the opening setup. V and Jackie Welles respond to a request from Wakako Okada to locate Sandra Dorsett, a woman who has been taken by scavengers. The job establishes the game’s central rhythm: travel through Night City, breach a hostile location, decide whether to fight or sneak, and extract a client under pressure.

The mission takes place in a run-down apartment complex in Watson controlled by scavengers. V and Jackie approach the building, search through its rooms, and deal with hostile occupants before reaching Sandra Dorsett. The complex is an early lesson in reading spaces, using cover, collecting equipment, and switching between weapons, hacking, and close-quarters attacks.

The Rescue also introduces T-Bug as a remote support contact and demonstrates how Cyberpunk 2077 combines scripted story beats with player-controlled movement. Its objectives are direct, but the mission gives the player room to choose an approach inside the building. The opening mission ends with Sandra being carried out and delivered to Trauma Team, establishing the dangerous cost of Night City’s violence without requiring the player to understand the wider plot yet.

Where this sits

Requirements

The Rescue is available as part of Cyberpunk 2077’s opening sequence and does not require prior side content.

• RequiredComplete the opening setupFinish character creation and the introductory sequence that leads V into the first main-story operation.
• RequiredFollow the objective markerThe mission is structured as a guided opening, so the marked destination and Jackie’s position provide the intended route.
• RecommendedPrepare for close-range combatThe hideout contains cramped interiors where a weapon, quickhacks, and cover are more useful than long-range positioning.
• OptionalCollect healing and ammunition itemsLoot encountered in the hideout can support the next encounter, although extensive preparation is not necessary.

Objectives

1. Meet Jackie Welles and travel to the extraction siteJoin Jackie for the operation and follow the route toward the apartment complex in Watson.
2. Enter the scavenger hideoutReach the building entrance and proceed through the hostile interior.
3. Find Sandra DorsettSearch the hideout until you locate Sandra and assess her condition.
4. Free Sandra from the scavengersDeal with the enemies around her and make the room safe enough for the extraction.
5. Carry Sandra to the extraction pointMove Sandra out of the hideout while following the mission prompts and Jackie’s instructions.
6. Wait for Trauma TeamReach the designated extraction location and allow the emergency response sequence to play out.

Walkthrough

1. 01

   Meet Jackie Welles

   Meet Jackie Welles

   Begin the mission by joining Jackie Welles and listening to the briefing about Sandra Dorsett. The opening conversation establishes that this is a recovery job rather than a conventional police rescue, so stay with Jackie as he leads V toward the vehicle and the Watson destination.

   Location: Opening sequence

   TipUse this quiet section to adjust controls, camera sensitivity, and subtitles before the first hostile area.

   Checkpoint
2. 02

   Travel to the extraction site

   Travel to Watson

   Ride with Jackie to the apartment complex and follow the conversation during the journey. The route is largely guided, and leaving the vehicle is not part of the objective until the operation reaches the target building.

   Location: Watson

   Checkpoint
3. 03

   Reach the building

   Approach the apartment complex

   Exit with Jackie and move toward the entrance of the run-down building. T-Bug begins coordinating the operation remotely, and the marked path leads into the scavenger-controlled area rather than into the surrounding streets.

   Location: Scavenger hideout entrance

   TipTake a moment to identify nearby cover and the direction of the interior route before moving through the doorway.

4. 04

   Enter the hideout

   Enter the hideout

   Proceed into the building with Jackie and T-Bug’s support. The first rooms are designed to teach basic movement through hostile spaces; avoid sprinting around blind corners because scavengers can be positioned beyond doorways and in adjoining rooms.

   Location: Scavenger hideout

   Watch outThe mission advances through specific interior spaces, so wandering away from Jackie can delay the next prompt without revealing useful side content.

5. 05

   Deal with the scavengers

   Clear the first hostile rooms

   Engage the scavengers occupying the initial section of the building, using the available cover and corners to avoid being surrounded. You can approach the fight with firearms, melee attacks, or introductory hacking tools; collect dropped equipment only after the immediate room is secure.

   Location: Scavenger hideout interior

   TipIn tight rooms, focus on the closest exposed enemy first and relocate when opponents begin firing from multiple angles.

6. 06

   Search for Sandra Dorsett

   Advance through the apartment block

   Follow the objective route deeper into the complex after the first encounter. Check open rooms and side corners for loot, but do not confuse searchable containers with required objectives; the mission’s important path continues toward Sandra’s location.

   Location: Scavenger hideout interior

   Checkpoint
7. 07

   Find Sandra Dorsett

   Reach Sandra Dorsett

   Continue through the occupied rooms until V and Jackie find Sandra Dorsett restrained and in medical distress. The surrounding area remains dangerous, so approach the objective carefully and be ready for another close-range exchange before attempting the extraction.

   Location: Sandra Dorsett’s room

   Watch outDo not treat the first sight of Sandra as the end of the combat section; secure the immediate area before moving her.

8. 08

   Secure Sandra’s location

   Neutralize the scavengers near Sandra

   Remove the remaining threat around Sandra’s position, using the room’s walls and entrances to prevent enemies from firing at V from several directions. Once the area is safe, interact with Sandra as prompted to begin the rescue sequence.

   Location: Sandra Dorsett’s room

   TipIf an enemy is difficult to see, use the minimap and audio cues to identify which doorway or adjoining space the attack is coming from.

9. 09

   Stabilize Sandra Dorsett

   Stabilize Sandra

   Interact with Sandra and follow the mission prompts that prepare her for transport. This is a scripted medical step rather than a separate combat challenge, and Jackie remains involved while T-Bug continues to manage the operation remotely.

   Location: Sandra Dorsett’s room

   Checkpoint
10. 10

    Carry Sandra to the extraction point

    Carry Sandra out

    Pick up Sandra and follow the marked route back through the hideout. Movement is slower while carrying her, so keep to the mission path and do not attempt to turn the extraction into a prolonged search for optional loot.

    Location: Scavenger hideout

    Watch outDropping or abandoning Sandra interrupts the objective; continue toward the designated exit rather than exploring side rooms.

11. 11

    Reach the extraction point

    Leave the hideout

    Follow Jackie through the cleared route and exit the apartment complex. The return path reinforces the mission’s extraction structure, and the game directs V toward the waiting medical response once the building has been left behind.

    Location: Hideout exit

    Checkpoint
12. 12

    Wait for Trauma Team

    Hand Sandra over to Trauma Team

    Reach the marked location and wait for Trauma Team to arrive. The medical team takes custody of Sandra in a scripted sequence, after which V and Jackie complete the immediate operation and the mission transitions into the next part of the opening story.

    Location: Extraction point outside the hideout

    Watch outThis concluding scene contains story context about Sandra’s condition and Trauma Team’s response; it is the mission’s first clear reminder that recovery work in Night City is shaped by private emergency services.

Mission mechanics

The Rescue introduces combat in confined interiors rather than in a large open battlefield. Doorways and short corridors make line of sight especially important: moving from cover to cover is safer than standing in the middle of a room, while a quick retreat can break an enemy group’s angle on V. Jackie helps draw attention and makes the first firefights easier to read.

The mission also presents the game’s basic approach variety. Firearms provide the most direct solution, melee is effective when an enemy is isolated, and hacking can support an attack by disrupting or weakening opponents. The opening does not require a specialized build, so the useful lesson is to experiment with the available tools rather than search for a single mandatory tactic.

Looting is deliberately simple here. Weapons, ammunition, healing items, and other containers help demonstrate the inventory loop, but the mission is short and its interior route is tightly directed. Search a room after its enemies are dealt with, then return to the objective marker so the rescue does not stall on optional exploration.

What works and what does not

Phases

1. 1

   Approach and entry

   Starts: Entering the scavenger-controlled apartment complex

   V and Jackie move from the guided approach into the hostile interior while T-Bug provides remote coordination.

   • Stay near Jackie during the first transition so the objective advances cleanly.
   • Use the opening rooms to test movement and identify cover.
2. 2

   Interior firefights

   Starts: Reaching occupied rooms inside the hideout

   Scavengers engage V in compact rooms and connected corridors. The player can combine weapons, melee, cover, and introductory hacking.

   • Small-arms fireTell Enemy gunfire and minimap activity indicate that a scavenger has line of sight on V.Answer Break line of sight behind a wall or doorway, heal if necessary, and re-engage from cover.
   • Close-range pressureTell An enemy pushes through a doorway or closes the distance inside a cramped room.Answer Back into a wider position, use melee or a close-range weapon, and avoid being pinned against scenery.
   • Clear the nearest threat before looting containers.
   • Move between cover points rather than remaining exposed while reloading.
3. 3

   Sandra’s room

   Starts: Finding Sandra Dorsett

   The rescue target is located in medical distress, and the immediate area must be made safe before the extraction interaction begins.

   • Check adjoining entrances before interacting with Sandra.
   • After the room is secure, follow the prompts instead of searching for a different route.
4. 4

   Extraction

   Starts: Carrying Sandra back outside

   The mission changes from combat and searching to a guided escort and handover sequence.

   • Follow the marked exit while carrying Sandra.
   • The objective ends at the Trauma Team handover rather than when Sandra is first found.

Boss encounter

• Location
  Scavenger hideout in Watson
• Health
  No dedicated boss health bar

The mission has several ordinary scavenger encounters rather than a named boss fight. Use cover in the apartment rooms, control doorways, and choose between firearms, melee, and introductory hacking tools according to the space.

Checklist

• Meet Jackie Welles and complete the opening briefingRequired to begin the operation.
• Follow the route to the Watson apartment complexThe mission keeps travel guided during this opening section.
• Enter the scavenger hideoutThe first hostile interior is the main tutorial combat space.
• Clear the required scavenger encountersSecure each room before moving deeper into the building.
• Search nearby containers after combatOptional, but useful for learning the inventory system.Optional
• Locate Sandra DorsettThe central recovery objective.
• Stabilize and carry SandraFollow the interaction prompts once her area is secure.
• Reach the extraction pointThe mission’s final route leads outside the hideout.
• Wait for Trauma Team to arriveCompletes the handover and advances the story.

Failure conditions

• V’s health reaches zeroAs in other combat sequences, the mission fails if V is defeated. Use cover, healing items, and retreat paths when several scavengers have a clear angle.
• Sandra is abandoned during the extractionOnce V is carrying Sandra, the objective requires reaching the designated extraction point. Leaving the route or failing to continue the handover interrupts the rescue sequence.
• The current objective is not advancedSome transitions require the player to interact with a marked object, enter the next area, or stay close enough to Jackie for the scripted sequence to continue.

Rewards

• Main-story progression
  Completing the rescue advances V’s opening storyline and unlocks the next sequence of early missions.
• Equipment and consumables
  The scavenger hideout can provide ordinary weapons, ammunition, healing items, and other loot for players who search the combat areas.
• Systems introduction
  The mission teaches the practical use of combat, movement, hacking, looting, objective markers, and companion-led encounters.

Characters in this mission

• VPlayer-controlled mercenary who carries out the recovery operation.
• Jackie WellesV’s partner and field companion.
• T-BugNetrunner who supports the operation remotely.

AftermathSpoilers

Trivia

• The Rescue is structured to introduce several of Cyberpunk 2077’s systems before the player begins choosing more open-ended activities in Night City.
• The mission’s central location is a scavenger hideout in Watson, making the first major combat area an enclosed urban interior rather than an open street battle.
• Trauma Team’s presence establishes the setting’s privatized approach to emergency medical response early in the story.
• T-Bug’s remote assistance previews the importance of netrunning and technical support in V’s work.

Relationships