The Beast in Me - eXputer Wiki

Key takeaways

The mission is easiest to approach as both a driving challenge and a dialogue quest. Winning races is useful, but the final conversation is the part that most directly controls the story outcome.

Stay with Claire’s racing line Claire’s vehicle is built for the event, but the route still contains traffic, barriers, sharp turns, and hostile fire. Brake before corners instead of relying on handbrake turns at full speed, and avoid unnecessary collisions when the road narrows. Racing advice
Treat every event as part of one storyline The races are not isolated repeatable activities. Conversations between events provide the context for Claire’s grief and make the final decision understandable, so do not rush away immediately after crossing a finish line. Story context
Make a save before the final race The last event contains a meaningful decision about pursuing Sampson. A pre-race save lets you examine the available resolution paths without replaying the entire race series. Final race
Do not assume first place is the only objective The mission’s most consequential moment happens after the final race stops being a normal competition. When Claire changes course, follow the objective and conversation prompts rather than treating the finish line as the end of the mission. Final confrontation

The Beast in Me overview

The Beast in Me is a multi-part street-racing mission in Cyberpunk 2077 that begins as a competition and gradually becomes a personal story about grief, anger, and the limits of revenge.

Claire Russell introduces V to Night City’s underground racing circuit, where drivers compete through dangerous urban and wasteland routes rather than sanctioned tracks. V drives Claire’s heavily modified vehicle while Claire serves as the navigator and gunner, giving the races a different rhythm from ordinary driving: the player must maintain control at speed while also responding to ambushes, obstacles, and Claire’s instructions. The mission is available as a side activity, but its story develops across several separate races rather than resolving in one encounter.

The races take V and Claire through multiple districts and surrounding areas of Night City. Each event combines a time-sensitive route with hostile interference, including rival racers and armed attacks that can damage or destabilize the vehicle. The driving sections are the practical core of the mission, but conversations before and after each race are equally important because Claire gradually explains why she entered the circuit and why one competitor matters to her more than the others.

The final race changes the mission’s priority. Claire is no longer focused only on reaching the finish line; she wants to pursue Sampson after a crash and settle the matter connected to her late husband, Dean. V can support that decision or push Claire to walk away from revenge. This choice determines the tone of the conclusion and can affect the vehicle-related rewards available after the mission, so players who want every possible outcome should make a manual save before the final race and its conversation.

Where this sits

InvitationMeet Claire and accept the racing series

Qualifying racesComplete the district and outskirts events

Final raceReach the last event and confront the personal stakes

AftermathResolve Claire’s decision about Sampson

1Claire Russell’s invitationstartThe mission begins when Claire reaches out about the street-racing circuit.
2First raceraceLearn the event format and Claire’s role in the vehicle.
3Second raceraceContinue the series through a different route and environment.
4Third raceraceComplete another event before the concluding race.
●Final raceclimaxThe competition becomes a pursuit tied to Claire’s vendetta.
6ResolutionaftermathThe final dialogue determines how the conflict ends.

The Beast in Me moves from competitive racing to a choice-driven personal confrontation.

Requirements

The mission requires access to Claire’s racing series and a road-capable vehicle. No special combat build is mandatory, although driving control and a reliable vehicle make the races easier.

RequiredAccept Claire Russell’s invitationThe mission does not begin as a standard combat contract. V must first meet Claire’s opportunity to enter the underground races.
RequiredUse a vehicleThe races are completed from inside a vehicle. Claire’s vehicle is central to the mission, so the player does not need to provide a specialized racing car.
RequiredReach the race meetupsEach event begins at a designated meeting point. Arrive at the marked location and speak with Claire to start the next stage.
RecommendedPrepare for hostile interferenceRivals and armed attackers can appear during races. Healing items and a weapon that can be used from a vehicle are useful, but neither is a stated mission requirement.
RecommendedCreate a save before the final eventThis is recommended because the final pursuit and dialogue produce different outcomes and rewards.

Objectives

Meet Claire Russell and enter the street-racing series.The opening conversation establishes the racing arrangement and begins the mission chain.
Complete the scheduled races.Follow the marked route through each event and reach the finish while keeping the vehicle operational.
Continue supporting Claire between races.Return to the meetups and listen to the conversations that explain her connection to the circuit.
Take part in the final race.The last event eventually stops functioning as a simple race when Claire’s personal objective takes priority.
Decide how to respond to Claire’s pursuit of Sampson.V’s dialogue and willingness to follow the diverted route determine the mission’s resolution.Optional

WalkthroughSpoilers

01
Begin The Beast in Me
Meet Claire Russell at the first race meetup
Travel to the marked meeting point and speak with Claire to enter the underground racing series. The conversation establishes that V will drive while Claire handles navigation and provides support from the passenger seat.
Location: The first marked race meetup in Night City
TipUse the pause menu map to place a waypoint before driving to the meetup; the opening event can be easy to overlook if other side activities are active.
02
Reach the finish line
Start the first race
Get into Claire’s vehicle and activate the event when prompted. Follow the route markers rather than trying to improvise shortcuts, because the race is designed around Claire’s calls and the marked course.
Location: First race route
Watch outCrashes and sharp changes of direction can cost enough time to lose the event, so slow down before tight bends instead of correcting after the vehicle leaves the road.
03
Stay in the race and reach the next checkpoints
Handle traffic and hostile interference
During the race, keep the vehicle pointed toward the next checkpoint while Claire deals with threats from the passenger side. When enemies attack from the road or nearby vehicles, prioritize steering and survival over stopping to trade fire.
Location: First race route
TipA clean line through a corner is usually more valuable than firing at every hostile vehicle. Let Claire’s weapons provide support while you maintain speed.
04
Continue the racing series
Return for the next event
After the first race, follow the mission marker to the next meeting point and speak with Claire again. The intervening conversation adds context to the racing circuit and continues the relationship between V and Claire.
Location: Next race meetup
Checkpoint
05
Finish the second race
Complete the second race
Start the next event from Claire’s vehicle and follow the marked route through its district. The route may combine open roads with tighter city sections, so use controlled braking and avoid clipping barriers at junctions.
Location: Second race route
Watch outLeaving the marked course for an apparent shortcut can send the vehicle into traffic or terrain that is slower than the intended route. Rejoin the checkpoints quickly if you miss a turn.
06
Advance Claire’s story
Listen to Claire after the second race
Once the event ends, remain available for Claire’s follow-up conversation instead of immediately leaving the area. Her explanations connect the races to Dean and make clear that the final rival is more than another competitor.
Location: Post-race meetup
Missable
07
Start the third event
Reach the third race meetup
Drive to the next marker when Claire contacts V about another event. Confirm the race through the conversation and prepare for another route in which control of the vehicle matters more than stopping to fight.
Location: Third race meetup
TipRepair or change vehicles before starting if the current car is difficult to control. The mission’s driving sections are easier when acceleration and turning feel predictable.
08
Reach the finish
Finish the third race
Follow the checkpoint trail and keep Claire’s vehicle moving through the race. Watch for obstacles and enemy fire near bends, where a collision can turn a small mistake into a missed checkpoint or a loss.
Location: Third race route
Watch outDo not stop in the middle of the road to loot or pursue enemies. The race objective remains active until the finish, and unnecessary detours can fail the event.
09
Enter the concluding race
Prepare for the final race
Meet Claire at the final event and create a manual save before confirming the start. The race begins conventionally, but its conclusion contains the mission’s major choice and cannot be treated as an ordinary finish-line sequence.
Location: Final race meetup
CheckpointMissable
10
Complete the final event
Drive the final race
Follow the final route and keep the vehicle under control while Claire participates in the event. Reach the race’s decisive section; the important objective changes when Sampson’s vehicle crashes and Claire chooses to pursue him.
Location: Final race route
TipAvoid using the last stretch to experiment with reckless shortcuts. Arriving with control of the vehicle gives you more time to read the new objective and choose how to respond.
11
Respond to Claire’s decision
Follow Claire after the crash or insist on finishing
When Claire diverts the vehicle toward Sampson, V must decide whether to support her pursuit or argue that the race should remain the priority. Choose the dialogue that matches the desired resolution, because this exchange is the mission’s central branching point.
Location: Crash site and route away from the race
Watch outChoosing not to follow can close off the revenge confrontation and its associated resolution. Make the choice only after the pre-race save if you want to compare outcomes.
12
Resolve Claire’s confrontation
Confront Sampson
If V follows Claire, continue to the crash site and let the conversation play out. Claire wants to settle the matter over Dean’s death, while V can either reinforce her anger or attempt to stop the killing.
Location: Sampson’s crash site
Missable
13
Finish The Beast in Me
Complete the aftermath
After the confrontation, finish the dialogue and remain near Claire until the mission updates. The available vehicle-related reward and the later relationship between the characters depend on the path taken during the final scene.
Location: Final confrontation area
Watch outLeaving before the final conversation and reward state has completed can make it unclear whether the mission has fully advanced.

Mission mechanics

The Beast in Me uses a co-driver format rather than making V handle every part of the vehicle alone. Claire occupies the passenger seat and contributes offensive support, while V’s main responsibilities are acceleration, braking, steering, checkpoint navigation, and keeping the vehicle from being disabled. This division means that stopping to fight is usually less effective than holding a stable line through the route.

Race checkpoints are the practical navigation system for the mission. They guide V through city streets and less settled terrain, where barriers, traffic, uneven surfaces, and sharp turns can cause more trouble than the rival drivers themselves. Approach corners from the outside when possible, brake before entering them, and straighten the vehicle early so that the next checkpoint is visible on exit.

The final event adds a dialogue-driven mechanic to the racing structure. Once Claire pursues Sampson, the mission is no longer testing only speed and control; it asks V to decide whether to protect Claire from acting on her grief. The outcome is determined by the player’s response and follow-through, not simply by finishing first.

What works and what does not

Strengths

The mission gives vehicle gameplay a clear narrative purpose instead of treating racing as a disconnected minigame.
Claire’s presence makes the races feel like cooperative events, with driving and passenger support happening at the same time.
The final decision gives the racing series a character-focused conclusion rather than ending immediately at the finish line.
The varied routes test different driving habits, including cornering, checkpoint awareness, and recovery from collisions.

Weaknesses

Vehicle handling can make some corners feel less predictable than the mission’s checkpoint layout suggests.
Enemy fire and traffic can distract from the primary task of following the route, especially when several hazards overlap.
The mission does not always make the importance of the final pursuit obvious before the player commits to the last event.
Players seeking a specific vehicle reward may need to replay the final section because the outcome is tied to dialogue and pursuit choices.

Best uses

Play the mission when you want a character-driven break from combat-heavy side activities.
Use it to practice controlled driving through mixed urban and off-road routes.
Create a save before the final race if you are collecting alternate mission outcomes.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

Support Claire’s decision to pursue Sampson after the crash.
V follows the diverted route and reaches the revenge confrontation. Claire’s final action and the available aftermath differ from a resolution in which V refuses to continue.
Spoiler
Tell Claire that the race should remain the priority.
V can decline to make the pursuit part of the mission, steering the conclusion away from the direct revenge encounter. This choice changes the mission’s ending state and can affect the reward path.
Spoiler
Attempt to convince Claire to spare Sampson.
A successful appeal can prevent the most violent outcome and preserve a later connection involving Sampson. The associated vehicle reward path differs from the one in which Claire completes her revenge.
Spoiler
Allow Claire to carry out her revenge.
Sampson’s fate is resolved during the confrontation, and the post-mission result reflects Claire’s decision to prioritize Dean’s memory over mercy.
Spoiler

Completion checklist

Accept Claire Russell’s invitation to the racing series.This starts the mission chain.
Attend each marked race meetup.The next event is normally advanced by speaking with Claire.
Complete the first race.Stay on the checkpoint route and avoid unnecessary crashes.
Complete the second race.Use controlled braking through tight sections.
Complete the third race.Keep moving when hostile vehicles interfere.
Create a manual save before the final race.Recommended for comparing the final outcomes.Optional
Complete the final race.The story changes direction after the crash.
Choose whether to follow Claire toward Sampson.This is the main branching decision.
Finish the final conversation.Remain until the mission and reward state update.
Check the vehicle reward outcome.The available vehicle result depends on the final resolution.Optional

Failure conditions

V loses control and fails to follow the race routeMissing checkpoints, taking an extended detour, or becoming stuck can cause the race objective to fail. Recover toward the next visible marker rather than stopping to fight.
The vehicle is destroyed or the race cannot continueRepeated collisions and enemy fire can end the event. Avoid standing still in exposed sections and use the road space available to maintain momentum.
V leaves the mission area during an active eventDriving far away from the marked route or abandoning the race can cancel the current attempt. Return to the objective marker or reload the latest checkpoint if the mission fails.
V leaves before the final resolution updatesAfter the crash and confrontation, wait for the concluding dialogue and mission update. Leaving too early can interrupt the expected reward progression.

On failure

The game can restart a failed race from a checkpoint or require the event to be attempted again. Exact checkpoint behavior can vary with the active objective and should be verified in the current version.

Rewards and dropsSpoilers

Vehicle reward
Completing the mission can provide a vehicle-related reward. The exact vehicle outcome is tied to the final resolution involving Claire and Sampson.
Access to alternate vehicle outcome
If the final confrontation is resolved by sparing Sampson, a later vehicle reward associated with him can become available.
Mission completion progress
Finishing the series advances Claire’s personal storyline and closes the racing activity.

Characters in this mission

AftermathSpoilers

The finish line is not the real ending

The decisive part of The Beast in Me begins when Claire abandons the normal race objective to pursue Sampson. Your response determines whether the conclusion centers on revenge or restraint, and it can change which vehicle-related reward becomes available afterward.

Trivia

The mission’s title reflects the contrast between the public spectacle of racing and the anger Claire carries into the final event.
Claire’s role as navigator and gunner makes the races feel like a two-person operation rather than a conventional solo time trial.
The mission is notable for turning an apparently straightforward racing series into a choice about grief and vengeance.
The final reward structure encourages players to treat the concluding conversation as part of the mission objective, not as optional dialogue after the real content has ended.

Relationships

Characters

Claire RussellMission contactClaire Russell invites V into the racing series and accompanies V during the events.
SampsonFinal rivalSampson is the racer whose crash creates the mission’s central choice.
DeanMotivating lossDean’s death is the source of Claire’s anger toward Sampson.

Locations

Night CityRace locationsThe mission’s underground races take place across Night City and its surrounding roads.