Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door

Key takeaways

These are the main points to know before starting the mission.

• This is an ending route Starting Rogue’s plan commits V to a dedicated finale sequence. Complete other desired activities before launching the assault from the Afterlife.
• Expect sustained combat The mission places V against Arasaka security and powerful mechanical enemies in a sequence with limited opportunity to resupply. Enter with a practiced build rather than an experimental one.
• The team does not remain intact The assault has a major scripted character outcome involving Rogue and Adam Smasher. The result is part of the mission’s ending path, not a consequence of ordinary combat performance. Rogue’s outcome
• Mikoshi is the destination The assault’s final objective is reaching Mikoshi. The mission then transitions into the ending content associated with the route.

Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door overview

Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door is the climactic assault mission for Rogue’s ending route in Cyberpunk 2077.

Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door begins after V commits to Rogue Amendiares’s plan during Nocturne Op55N1 and completes the preparatory mission For Whom the Bell Tolls. V, Rogue, and Weyland take the fight directly to Arasaka Tower rather than attempting a quieter infiltration. The mission is built around a forward assault through heavily defended corporate spaces, so preparation, ammunition management, and a reliable answer to armored enemies matter more here than careful street-level stealth.

The route moves from the Afterlife’s final briefing to an attack on Arasaka’s headquarters. The combat is largely directed toward the tower’s interior, with security forces and mechanical threats blocking the team’s advance. The mission also uses scripted progression to separate V from the rest of the assault team, making it important to follow the active objective instead of treating every combat area as an open exploration zone.

The later sections contain major ending spoilers. Rogue’s personal stake in the assault is central to the mission, and the confrontation with Adam Smasher changes the composition of the team before V reaches Mikoshi. Once the assault reaches that point, the mission leads into the ending sequence rather than returning V to ordinary free-roam activity.

The most dependable approach is to enter with a complete combat loadout, healing items, and weapons suited to both ordinary Arasaka security and tougher mechanical opponents. Players who want to preserve optional activities should finish them before starting this ending route, because the sequence is designed as a point of no return for the chosen finale.

Where this sits

Requirements

The mission is available only through the Rogue route at the end of the main story.

• RequiredChoose Rogue’s planDuring Nocturne Op55N1, select the plan that calls for Rogue’s help rather than another available ending approach.
• RequiredComplete For Whom the Bell TollsThis route’s preparation mission must be completed before the assault begins.
• RecommendedFinish optional activities firstThe ending sequence acts as a point of no return, so complete wanted gigs, quests, and exploration before committing.
• RecommendedPrepare a combat buildBring a dependable weapon setup, healing resources, and cyberware suited to sustained fights against Arasaka forces and machines.

Objectives

1. Join Rogue’s assault on Arasaka TowerBegin the ending operation from the Afterlife and follow the team into the attack.
2. Fight through Arasaka’s defensesAdvance through the tower while dealing with corporate security and mechanical opposition.
3. Reach the inner section of the towerKeep moving through the marked route after each combat encounter; the mission is structured as a linear assault.
4. Confront Adam SmasherSurvive the major boss confrontation that blocks the route to the final objective.
5. Enter MikoshiComplete the assault by reaching the Mikoshi access point, which leads into the ending sequence.

WalkthroughSpoilers

1. 01

   Choose Rogue’s plan

   Commit to Rogue’s plan

   At the ending decision in Nocturne Op55N1, choose Rogue’s plan and allow the scene to proceed. This choice launches a dedicated finale route, so do not select it until you are ready to leave ordinary free-roam progression.

   Location: Nocturne Op55N1

   Watch outThe choice leads to a point of no return for the current ending sequence.

2. 02

   Prepare for the assault

   Complete the Afterlife preparation

   Finish For Whom the Bell Tolls and follow the briefing that sets up the assault. Use this preparation window to confirm your weapons, cyberware, healing items, and quickhacks before the operation begins.

   Location: Afterlife

   TipA flexible loadout is safer than one built only for stealth, because the route contains extended forced combat.

3. 03

   Join Rogue and Weyland

   Join the assault team

   Meet Rogue and Weyland at the designated staging point and follow the team into the operation. Stay close to the objective marker during transitions, since scripted movement can make side routes appear more important than they are.

   Location: Afterlife and the assault staging area

   Checkpoint
4. 04

   Fight into Arasaka Tower

   Advance through the first Arasaka defenses

   Push through the opening security positions and use cover while the team creates room to advance. Arasaka personnel can pressure the same lanes from several angles, so clear the immediate area before moving through the next doorway.

   Location: Arasaka Tower exterior approach

   TipPrioritize enemies who can flank the team or force V out of cover before chasing distant targets.

5. 05

   Reach the inner tower

   Enter the tower and follow the marked route

   Once inside, continue along the mission route rather than searching for a free-form infiltration path. Security encounters are easier to manage when V uses doorways, corners, and the team’s movement as cover instead of running into the next room.

   Location: Arasaka Tower interior

6. 06

   Push deeper into the facility

   Clear the interior security positions

   Defeat the Arasaka defenders blocking the advance and check the next objective after each encounter. The mission’s combat spaces reward controlled movement; rushing ahead can expose V to overlapping fire from rooms that have not yet been secured.

   Location: Arasaka Tower interior

   Watch outDo not assume that defeating the nearest group has cleared the whole room; additional defenders may activate as the team advances.

7. 07

   Continue toward the core

   Continue after the team separates

   Follow the updated objective when the assault stops functioning as a single group. V’s route becomes more self-reliant at this stage, so pause at cover, recover resources where possible, and avoid spending every high-damage option on ordinary guards.

   Location: Inner Arasaka Tower

8. 08

   Reach the confrontation area

   Prepare for the mechanical threat

   Before the major confrontation, switch to the weapons and abilities that perform best against a durable machine target. Keep enough healing and defensive resources for a prolonged fight rather than treating the preceding rooms as the final encounter.

   Location: Arasaka Tower approach to the lower facility

   TipSave your strongest cooldowns and ammunition for the boss arena if the preceding security groups can be handled conventionally.

9. 09

   Defeat Adam Smasher

   Defeat Adam Smasher

   Engage Adam Smasher in the arena and use the available cover to survive his pressure while looking for safe openings. The fight is a sustained boss encounter rather than a quick damage check, so reposition whenever the arena becomes unsafe instead of standing in one lane.

   Location: Arasaka Tower

   Watch outThis confrontation contains a major story outcome involving Rogue. Its result is scripted by the route and is not prevented by keeping every ally alive during the preceding fights.

10. 10

    Proceed after the confrontation

    Search the aftermath only if safe

    After the boss encounter, follow the objective and collect anything you want from the immediate area before moving on. Do not wander indefinitely: the mission is still driving toward its ending transition and the next progression trigger may leave the combat space.

    Location: Adam Smasher’s arena

    Missable
11. 11

    Enter Mikoshi

    Reach Mikoshi

    Continue through the final section of the tower and follow the access objective to Mikoshi. Once V reaches the destination, the mission hands control into the associated ending sequence rather than returning to the open world.

    Location: Mikoshi access route

    Checkpoint
12. 12

    Continue into the ending

    Complete the ending transition

    Follow the dialogue and final prompts after entering Mikoshi. The next decisions determine how the chosen ending route resolves V’s situation, so read the available prompts carefully before confirming one.

    Location: Mikoshi

    Watch outThe remaining sequence contains major ending information and continues beyond the normal mission loop.

Mission mechanics

The mission is designed as a directed assault rather than a conventional gig. It starts from a prepared team operation, then funnels V through Arasaka’s defenses toward a fixed destination. Exploration still matters for positioning and resource management, but the objective markers and scripted transitions are more important than finding an alternate route through every combat space.

Combat alternates between groups of Arasaka security personnel and tougher mechanical opposition. Cover is valuable because the tower’s corridors and rooms can expose V to several firing angles at once. Builds based on stealth or hacking can still create openings, but players should plan for direct combat because the route culminates in a boss fight that cannot simply be bypassed.

The mission also changes its rhythm after the team’s assault loses its original shape. V must carry more of the operation personally, making healing management and cooldown timing increasingly important. A checkpoint can make recovery easier, but it is still better to enter each major section with a clear plan than to rely on repeated trial and error.

The point-of-no-return structure is itself a major mechanic. The best time to prepare is before committing to Rogue’s route, when V can still visit vendors, change equipment, complete other quests, and make a manual save. Once the ending sequence is underway, the game prioritizes the conclusion over normal open-world access.

What works and what does not

Encounter phasesSpoilers

1. 1

   The assault begins

   Starts: After the team leaves the staging area and reaches Arasaka’s defenses.

   V’s normal health and equipment resources apply.

   V, Rogue, and Weyland enter the operation together and fight through the first defensive positions.

   • Arasaka security fireTell Guards establish overlapping firing lanes from entrances and elevated positions.Answer Use cover, break sightlines, and clear flankers before advancing.
   • Stay near the objective and the team during the opening push.
   • Avoid spending every powerful ability before the tower interior is secured.
2. 2

   Tower interior advance

   Starts: After V enters Arasaka Tower and the assault moves through the interior.

   Resource management becomes more important as encounters continue.

   The route becomes a sequence of controlled interior fights with less room for careless movement.

   • CrossfireTell Multiple defenders can pressure a doorway or corridor when V advances too quickly.Answer Pull back to a corner, isolate targets, and move only after the immediate room is secure.
   • Mechanical pressureTell Machines occupy or reinforce key areas as V approaches the inner facility.Answer Use appropriate damage options, remain mobile, and preserve healing for the boss route.
   • Reload and recover between rooms when the game allows it.
   • Use hacking, grenades, or vertical positioning to avoid fighting every enemy from the same angle.
3. 3

   Adam Smasher confrontation

   Starts: V reaches the arena blocking the route to Mikoshi.

   Durable boss encounter; exact health presentation varies with difficulty and progression.

   Adam Smasher is the mission’s principal combat obstacle and the final major fight before the Mikoshi transition.

   • Heavy ranged pressureTell Adam Smasher can keep V under fire while the arena becomes dangerous.Answer Break line of sight with cover and attack during safer openings.
   • Area denialTell The arena can become unsafe when the boss controls a section of the floor.Answer Move early, keep an escape route, and do not remain in a damaged zone to finish a low-health target.
   • Keep a reserve of healing and high-impact abilities for this phase.
   • Prioritize survival and positioning over greedily extending a damage window.

Adam SmasherSpoilers

• Location
  Arasaka Tower
• Health
  Durable boss encounter; exact values depend on difficulty and character progression.

Use the arena’s cover to break incoming fire, then attack during openings rather than remaining exposed. Move away from dangerous areas before they become unavoidable, preserve healing for the later part of the encounter, and use high-impact abilities when they can be applied safely. The fight is more consistent when V treats it as a positioning test as well as a damage race.

Choices and consequencesEnding spoilers

• Choose Rogue’s plan during Nocturne Op55N1

  V enters the Rogue route and begins the sequence that includes Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door. This choice commits the playthrough to the selected ending operation until the ending sequence is resolved.

  Spoiler
• Proceed with the assault after the Afterlife briefing

  The mission begins its point-of-no-return sequence. V cannot treat the operation like an ordinary side activity and should finish desired open-world content beforehand.

  Spoiler
• Continue after the Adam Smasher confrontation

  Rogue’s fate is resolved during the assault, and V continues toward Mikoshi without the original team remaining intact.

  Spoiler
• Enter Mikoshi

  The mission transitions into the ending content associated with the route. Subsequent ending decisions determine the final resolution shown to the player.

  Spoiler

Before and during the mission

• Complete the open-world quests and gigs you want to finish before the ending route.The mission sequence is a point of no return.Optional
• Make a manual save before choosing Rogue’s plan.This makes it easier to revisit the route or compare endings.
• Upgrade or replace the weapons used for sustained combat.The tower assault includes ordinary security forces, machines, and a major boss.
• Carry healing items and defensive options.Do not rely only on burst damage; the final encounter rewards endurance.
• Keep a weapon or ability setup that can handle mechanical enemies.Adam Smasher is the route’s main combat obstacle.
• Follow the objective marker after scripted team transitions.The mission’s route is directed and can change after major scenes.
• Use cover before committing to each interior room.Several encounters can punish a direct rush through a doorway.
• Preserve strong cooldowns and ammunition for Adam Smasher.Ordinary guards should not consume the entire combat reserve.
• Collect desired items from the boss area before advancing.The route continues toward the ending transition after the confrontation.Optional

Collectibles and loot

• 01
  Combat-area loot

  Where: Arasaka Tower assault route

  The mission contains ordinary equipment and consumable opportunities in its combat spaces, but no separately confirmed collectible list is available for this page.

• 02
  Boss-area loot

  Where: Adam Smasher’s arena

  Check the immediate area after the confrontation if you want to collect available drops before following the objective onward.

  Missable

Failure conditions

• V is incapacitated during combatA normal combat death fails the current attempt and returns the player to the latest available checkpoint or save.
• V remains in a dangerous attack zoneThe tower’s defenders and Adam Smasher can punish prolonged exposure. Move to cover or reposition before the arena becomes unsafe.
• The player commits to the route without preparationThis does not immediately fail the mission, but it can leave V under-equipped for the sustained assault and boss fight.
• The player advances past the ending transitionMoving through the final Mikoshi objective can close access to ordinary free-roam progression for the current ending sequence.

Rewards and dropsSpoilers

• Ending-route progression
  Completing the mission advances V through Rogue’s ending route toward The Sun ending.
• Mikoshi access
  The final objective opens the transition into the ending sequence that follows the Arasaka assault.
• Combat loot
  Enemies and combat areas can provide ordinary equipment and resources, although individual drops can vary.

Characters in this missionSpoilers

• VThe playable protagonist and assault lead.
• Johnny SilverhandV’s engram and a central presence in the ending route.
• Rogue AmendiaresPlans and leads the assault on Arasaka Tower.
• Adam SmasherThe major boss encountered before V reaches Mikoshi.

AftermathEnding spoilers

Trivia

• The mission title is shared with a song by Bob Dylan, continuing Cyberpunk 2077’s practice of using song titles for many quests and missions.
• Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door is tied specifically to the route built around Rogue’s long history with Arasaka and Johnny Silverhand.
• The mission’s structure contrasts with quieter infiltration missions: it presents the ending as a committed assault with a clear forward route.
• The title’s wording also foreshadows the mission’s approach to a heavily guarded corporate stronghold and its movement toward an ending transition.

Relationships