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MissionmajorMain storyModerate

Ghost Town

Ghost Town is a main-story mission in Cyberpunk 2077 in which V works with Panam Palmer to recover her stolen vehicle and pursue a lead on Anders Hellman.

RoleMain-story mission that introduces Panam Palmer as a major ally and advances V's search for Anders Hellman.
Statusreleased
Importancemajor
RewardStory progression and access to the next stage of V's search for Anders Hellman
TimeVaries by playstyle
  • Mission typeMain story
  • Primary settingNight City and the Badlands
  • Key allyPanam Palmer
  • Primary leadAnders Hellman
  • Combat profileVehicle recovery and ambush
  • DifficultyModerateThe practical difficulty depends on V's build, equipment and chosen approach.

Exact mission duration, reward values and recommended level are not included because they vary by playstyle or are not verified in the supplied pack.

Key takeaways

These are the main points to keep in mind before starting Ghost Town.

  • Rogue requires payment V must deal with Rogue at the Afterlife before the lead on Anders Hellman becomes available. Make sure the required eddies are ready if you want to move through the mission without delaying the arrangement.
  • Panam drives the operation The mission's field section is built around Panam's plan to recover her stolen property. Following her instructions and using the terrain makes the ambush easier to control.
  • The fight is optional in approach, not in outcome The Raffen Shiv encounter can be handled with stealth, ranged attacks, hacking or direct combat. The story objective remains the same: clear the opposition and recover Panam's vehicle.
  • The mission advances the main investigation Ghost Town does not resolve V's search for Anders Hellman. It establishes the next lead and leads into the continuing Badlands storyline with Panam.

Ghost Town overview

V travels into the with Panam Palmer to recover what was stolen from her and use the encounter to move closer to Anders Hellman.

Ghost Town begins after V's search for a way to deal with the Relic leads to Rogue Amendiares at the Afterlife. Rogue has information that can connect V to Anders Hellman, but she expects payment before she will arrange the introduction. Once the deal is made, V is directed to Panam Palmer, a nomad whose knowledge of the Badlands makes her the practical route to the next lead.

The mission's central objective changes from arranging a meeting to helping Panam settle an immediate problem. Her vehicle and equipment were taken by Nash and the Raffen Shiv, so V joins her on a retaliatory operation outside Night City. The confrontation is built around an ambush: positioning, cover and target priority matter more than rushing directly into the open.

Ghost Town is important beyond its immediate firefight because it establishes Panam's relationship with the Aldecaldos and makes her a recurring figure in V's story. The mission concludes with the Hellman lead still active and sets up the following stage of the search. Dialogue choices shape the tone of V's relationship with Panam, while the main story continues regardless of whether V approaches the combat aggressively or methodically.

Where this sits

Afterlife meetingRogue's lead
Badlands recoveryPanam's operation
Hellman pursuitThe next story stage
  1. 1Playing for TimepreviousThe preceding main-story mission leads V toward Rogue.
  2. ●Ghost TowncurrentV works with Panam to recover her vehicle and continue the Hellman investigation.
  3. 3Lightning BreaksnextThe subsequent Panam-related mission continues the search for Hellman.

Ghost Town is the first major step in the Badlands portion of V's search for Anders Hellman.

Requirements

Ghost Town becomes available as part of the main story after V's meeting with Johnny Silverhand leads into the Rogue storyline.

  • RequiredComplete Playing for TimeThe mission follows the main-story events that direct V toward Rogue and the Afterlife.
  • RequiredHave enough eddies for Rogue's arrangementRogue asks for payment before she provides the lead and sets up the contact with Panam.
  • RecommendedBring a combat-ready buildThe Badlands section includes a firefight against the Raffen Shiv. Weapons, cyberware and healing items that suit your normal build are sufficient; no single weapon type is required.

Objectives

  1. Meet Rogue at the AfterlifeTravel to the Afterlife and speak with Rogue about finding Anders Hellman.
  2. Pay Rogue and contact PanamComplete Rogue's arrangement, then follow the new lead into the Badlands.
  3. Meet Panam PalmerFind Panam at the Sunset Motel and agree to help with her immediate problem.
  4. Recover Panam's vehicleJoin Panam's operation against Nash and the Raffen Shiv.
  5. Continue the search for Anders HellmanFinish the conversation after the recovery operation and follow the story into the next mission.

Walkthrough

  1. 01

    Meet Rogue

    Go to the Afterlife

    Travel to the Afterlife and enter the club to find Rogue. The meeting is the gateway to the Hellman lead, so complete any active preparation before starting the conversation if you want to avoid interrupting your preferred loadout or inventory routine.

    Location: Afterlife

    TipSave before speaking with Rogue if you want a clean checkpoint before the next travel section.

    Checkpoint
  2. 02

    Discuss the lead with Rogue

    Speak with Rogue about Anders Hellman

    Tell Rogue that V needs information on Anders Hellman. Rogue controls the introduction and will not simply hand over the lead, so continue through the conversation until the terms of the arrangement are clear.

    Location: Afterlife

  3. 03

    Pay Rogue

    Provide Rogue's payment

    Rogue requests a substantial payment for arranging the contact. Confirm the transaction when you are ready; if you lack the required eddies, the story cannot proceed through this route until you obtain them.

    Location: Afterlife

    Watch outDo not spend the required money first if you want to continue immediately; the mission's next contact depends on Rogue's arrangement.

  4. 04

    Meet Panam Palmer

    Travel to meet Panam

    Follow the objective marker out of Night City and into the Badlands. Panam is waiting at the Sunset Motel, and the conversation there explains why she is willing to cooperate with V.

    Location: Sunset Motel

    Checkpoint
  5. 05

    Talk to Panam

    Discuss the deal with Panam

    Speak with Panam and explain that V needs her help locating Hellman. Her own vehicle and equipment have been taken by Nash and the Raffen Shiv, making recovery the condition for her assistance.

    Location: Sunset Motel

  6. 06

    Reach the Raffen Shiv hideout

    Ride with Panam to the ambush site

    Get into Panam's vehicle and follow her toward the Raffen Shiv position. Stay with the route and let the objective update before dismounting, since moving ahead on foot can place V outside the intended encounter area.

    Location: Badlands

    TipUse the approach to reload, equip healing items and choose a weapon suited to medium-range fighting.

  7. 07

    Prepare the ambush

    Take position before the attack

    Panam's plan creates an opportunity to attack the group from a prepared position. Use available cover and scan the area before firing; the enemies are spread around the hideout, so exposing yourself early can draw several shooters at once.

    Location: Raffen Shiv hideout

    Watch outOpening the fight from the open ground makes it easier for multiple Raffen Shiv members to surround V.

  8. 08

    Eliminate the Raffen Shiv

    Defeat the Raffen Shiv

    Clear the hostile group around the hideout. Prioritize enemies who have a direct line of fire on V or Panam, then use cover, quickhacks or controlled bursts to reduce the pressure before advancing toward the objective.

    Location: Raffen Shiv hideout

  9. 09

    Secure the area

    Search the area for remaining threats

    Do not immediately leave after the first wave falls. Check the surrounding cover and structures for surviving enemies, because a hostile left behind can interrupt the recovery objective or catch V while moving toward Panam.

    Location: Raffen Shiv hideout

    TipThe minimap and objective marker are more reliable than assuming the first visible group is the entire encounter.

  10. 10

    Deal with Nash

    Confront Nash

    Continue through the hideout until V and Panam reach Nash. The confrontation is tied to Panam's stolen vehicle and is the personal focus of the operation, so finish the encounter before attempting to leave the area.

    Location: Raffen Shiv hideout

    Watch outThis section contains a major confrontation for Panam; dialogue and combat choices can change the tone of the scene even when the main objective remains intact.

  11. 11

    Recover Panam's vehicle

    Recover Panam's vehicle

    After the Raffen Shiv are dealt with, follow the objective to Panam's recovered vehicle and interact with the marked location as directed. The mission will not advance simply by defeating enemies if V has not completed the recovery step.

    Location: Raffen Shiv hideout

    Checkpoint
  12. 12

    Return to the Sunset Motel

    Return with Panam

    Leave the hideout with Panam and follow the mission marker back toward the motel. The return journey is part of the story transition, so avoid wandering far from the marked route until the next conversation begins.

    Location: Badlands

  13. 13

    Speak with Panam

    Talk with Panam after the recovery

    Meet Panam at the motel and complete the debrief. This conversation confirms the outcome of the recovery job and keeps the information about Anders Hellman moving forward.

    Location: Sunset Motel

  14. 14

    Complete Ghost Town

    Finish the mission and continue the Hellman lead

    Complete the remaining dialogue and wait for the next objective to appear. Ghost Town ends by setting up the next stage of the Badlands search rather than delivering the final resolution to V's investigation.

    Location: Sunset Motel

    Checkpoint

Mission mechanics

The mission alternates between a negotiation at the Afterlife, a vehicle-supported trip through the Badlands and a fixed combat encounter at the Raffen Shiv hideout. The structure gives V time to prepare between story beats, but the ambush itself rewards patience: cover, elevation and line-of-sight management are safer than chasing every target into the open.

The Raffen Shiv fight supports Cyberpunk 2077's normal combat approaches. Stealth can reduce the initial pressure, hacking can disrupt or isolate enemies, and firearms or close-quarters weapons can finish the encounter directly. Because the exact enemy arrangement and surviving targets can vary with the player's approach, use the objective marker and minimap to confirm when the area is actually secure.

The vehicle sections are primarily mission transitions rather than a separate racing challenge. Follow Panam's route and wait for the mission to register each travel objective before exploring. The most important non-combat mechanic is the conversation flow: Rogue's payment opens the lead, while Panam's cooperation depends on V helping her recover what Nash took.

What works and what does not

Strengths

  • It introduces Panam through an active partnership rather than a brief exposition scene.
  • The mission changes pace from an indoor negotiation to open Badlands travel and a planned ambush.
  • The Raffen Shiv encounter accommodates stealth, hacking, ranged combat and close-quarters builds.
  • Its objectives connect V's personal survival problem to a wider network of allies and contacts.

Weaknesses

  • The mission's progression is strongly tied to dialogue and objective triggers, so ignoring the marked route can make the next step appear unclear.
  • The ambush can become hectic if V starts in the open or advances before identifying the firing positions.
  • The mission does not resolve the Anders Hellman storyline by itself, which may feel like a pause rather than a conclusion to the investigation.

Best uses

  • Use the mission to test a build in a mixed outdoor encounter with cover and multiple attack angles.
  • Treat the Panam conversation as a relationship-building opportunity if you want to explore her later storyline.
  • Use the travel breaks to reorganize equipment before the hideout fight.

Encounter phases

  1. 1

    Approach and setup

    Starts: Arriving with Panam at the Raffen Shiv hideout

    V and Panam establish the ambush position before the fight begins.

    • Opening gunfireTell Hostiles begin firing once the encounter is activated.Answer Stay behind cover and avoid crossing the open approach until the first targets are identified.
    • Scan the area before committing to a direction.
    • A silenced weapon or quickhack can help reduce the opening pressure if your build supports it.
  2. 2

    Hideout firefight

    Starts: The ambush turns into open combat

    The Raffen Shiv spread around the hideout and force V to manage several lines of fire.

    • Ranged fireTell Enemies maintain pressure from cover and open firing lanes.Answer Break line of sight, eliminate exposed shooters and move between cover only after checking the next position.
    • Flanking movementTell Some enemies can approach from another angle while V focuses on the first group.Answer Use the minimap and audio cues to check the sides and rear before looting or advancing.
    • Do not assume the encounter is complete when the nearest group is down.
    • Hacks that impair, distract or isolate targets are useful when several enemies share the same area.
  3. 3

    Nash confrontation

    Starts: V and Panam reach the mission's personal target

    The operation reaches Nash and the recovery objective cannot be completed until this confrontation is resolved.

    • Close-range pressureTell The fight can become dangerous when V leaves cover to pursue the target.Answer Keep a retreat path open and finish nearby threats before moving into the next section.
    • Keep healing available for the final push.
    • After the confrontation, follow the recovery objective rather than leaving immediately.

Nash encounter

  • Location
    Raffen Shiv hideout in the Badlands
  • Health
    Not specified; encounter difficulty varies with V's build and difficulty settings.

Clear the surrounding Raffen Shiv before committing to the confrontation with Nash. Fight from cover, watch the minimap for flanking movement and confirm that the objective has updated after the area is secured. If the opening becomes chaotic, retreat to a defensible position instead of pursuing targets across exposed ground.

Weaknesses

  • No single universal weakness is required; use the damage type and range your build handles best.
  • Cover, hacking and controlled movement are more important than relying on one weapon category.

Rewards

  • Progress toward recovering Panam's vehicle
  • Continuation of the Anders Hellman investigation

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

  • Pay Rogue and accept her arrangement

    V receives the route to Panam and the mission proceeds toward the Badlands operation.

  • Choose a more sympathetic or more transactional tone with Panam

    The immediate objective remains the same, but the conversation establishes different shades of V's relationship with Panam and can affect how later dialogue is perceived.

    Spoiler
  • Approach the Raffen Shiv fight stealthily or openly

    The combat's opening pressure and the amount of time spent under fire change, while the mission still requires the hostile group to be dealt with.

  • Kill or spare enemies when the game permits the option

    The immediate mission objective remains focused on recovering Panam's vehicle. The broader story progression is not replaced by a different mission route in Ghost Town.

    Spoiler

Ghost Town checklist

  • Visit the Afterlife and speak with RogueThis starts the mission's Hellman lead.
  • Have Rogue arrange the contactThe arrangement requires payment.
  • Travel to the Sunset MotelPanam is the next major contact.
  • Discuss Panam's stolen vehicleHer recovery operation is the field objective.
  • Travel with Panam to the Raffen Shiv hideoutStay with the marked route until the ambush begins.
  • Clear the Raffen ShivCheck for remaining hostiles before moving on.
  • Resolve the Nash confrontationThis is required to complete the recovery.
  • Recover Panam's vehicleThe mission objective must update before leaving.
  • Return to the Sunset MotelComplete the post-operation conversation.
  • Confirm the next objectiveThe mission leads into the continuing search for Anders Hellman.

Failure conditions

  • V dies during the Raffen Shiv encounterThe combat section fails on death and reloads from the latest checkpoint or save.
  • V moves too far away during a mission travel sectionLeaving the intended route can interrupt the active objective or force V to return to the marker.
  • V leaves the hideout before completing the recovery objectiveDefeating enemies alone is not enough; the marked recovery interaction and subsequent departure must be completed.
  • V lacks Rogue's required paymentThe arrangement cannot be completed until V has the requested eddies.

On failure

Checkpoint behavior can vary by the point reached and the player's save history, so saving before the Afterlife conversation and before the ambush is the safest way to protect progress.

Rewards and drops

  • Main-story progression
    Completing Ghost Town advances V's investigation into Anders Hellman.
  • Panam Palmer storyline access
    The mission establishes Panam as an important ally and opens the next stage of her Badlands storyline.
  • Raffen Shiv loot
    The hideout can be searched for ordinary enemy and environment loot after the encounter; specific drops are not fixed here.

Characters in this mission

AftermathSpoilers

The lead moves into the Badlands

Ghost Town does not finish V's search for Anders Hellman. Its lasting result is the partnership with Panam and the transition into the next Badlands mission, where the Hellman lead can be pursued further.

Trivia

  • The mission's title reflects the remote, sparsely populated Badlands setting outside Night City.
  • Ghost Town is one of the early missions that establishes Panam as more than a one-scene contact by combining her personal problem with V's main-story objective.
  • The mission uses Rogue's reputation and Panam's nomad knowledge as two different kinds of access to the same investigation: Rogue opens the network, while Panam provides the practical route through the Badlands.

Relationships

factions

  • Raffen ShivEnemy factionV and Panam confront the group at its Badlands hideout.

locations