Key Takeaways
Claw X-MOD2 is a Phantom Liberty-era Iconic axe whose main distinction is expanded weapon-mod flexibility rather than a new weapon class.
Iconic axe variant
Claw X-MOD2 is an Iconic melee axe associated with the Phantom Liberty content scope, making its tier and availability context important when comparing it with ordinary axes.
X-MOD2 is functional
The X-MOD2 designation indicates expanded weapon-mod capacity. Its value comes from how that flexibility can be configured, not from being a cosmetic version of a standard axe.
Dogtown access matters
Obtaining Claw X-MOD2 requires access to the Dogtown content associated with Phantom Liberty; it is not a general early-game weapon available throughout Night City.
Built for close-range and throwing play
As an axe, Claw X-MOD2 supports close-range melee use while fitting Cyberpunk 2077’s throwable-weapon mechanics, giving it more engagement flexibility than a purely close-range tool.
Flexible, but still commitment-heavy
Its mod capacity can support different melee-oriented setups, but the weapon still requires close-range positioning and exposes the user to the risks of committing to axe attacks.
Its main edge over ordinary axes
Compared with a standard axe in the same post-2.0 weapon system, Claw X-MOD2’s defining advantages are its Iconic status and expanded mod configuration rather than a different weapon class.
Overview
Claw is an Iconic axe in ’s post-2.0 weapon system. It combines close-range melee attacks with the throwable-axe role and belongs to the -era X-MOD2 family, whose defining value is expanded weapon customization rather than a conventional firearm-style upgrade path.
Claw X-MOD2 is built for a character who wants one weapon to cover committed melee encounters and opportunities to throw a heavy blade at a target. Its axe classification separates it from swords, blunt weapons and ordinary throwable knives: the weapon’s role is shaped by deliberate, weightier attacks and by the option to put distance between V and the weapon during combat. The page therefore treats it as an axe first, not as a generic Iconic with a renamed model.
The X-MOD2 designation is important to Claw’s identity. In the post-2.0 system, this family is associated with Iconic weapons that support additional customization through mod slots. That makes Claw different from a standard axe even when both occupy the same broad melee category: its progression is not only about replacing the weapon with a higher-tier copy, but also about choosing modifications that support the intended melee or throwing use. Exact tier and installed-mod context still matter when comparing results.
Claw is most relevant to builds that already invest in blades, throwable weapons or the broader perk systems supporting melee combat. It does not replace a dedicated long-range weapon, and its throwing function should be understood as a tactical extension of an axe rather than as a separate firearm-like mode. Players who prefer rapid sword attacks or sustained blunt-weapon pressure may find its committed attack profile less natural, while axe-focused characters gain a flexible option for changing engagement distance.
As an X-MOD2 weapon, Claw belongs to the Phantom Liberty-era side of Cyberpunk 2077’s arsenal and should be evaluated using the current post-2.0 rules rather than pre-2.0 weapon assumptions. Its main distinction is the combination of Iconic status, axe moveset and customization potential. The later sections should be consulted for its exact acquisition route, current tier-dependent values, available modifications and any weapon-specific effect; this overview intentionally avoids turning those context-sensitive details into universal claims.
Statistics
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Class | Melee |
| Subtype | Axe / Throwable |
| Technology | Blade / Throwable |
| Stat Scaling | Tier-dependent |
| Iconic | Yes |
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Content Scope | Phantom Liberty |
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar melees
| Attribute |  Claw X-MOD2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Melee | Melee | Melee | Melee | Melee |
| Technology | Blade / Throwable | Blunt | Blunt | Blunt | Blunt |
| Iconic | Yes | — | — | — | — |
How to Obtain
- Phantom Liberty is required; the weapon is not available in the base game. The pickup is not a random drop, but its missability and any alternate recovery route should be confirmed before publication.
- 01Travel to Dogtown in Phantom Liberty and go to the Longshore Stacks area. The Claw X-MOD2 is a fixed world pickup there, placed in a container rather than sold by a vendor or awarded by a mission. Collect it directly when you reach the marked stash location.
Availability
Cyberpunk 2077 base game without Phantom Liberty
Claw X-MOD2 is a Phantom Liberty-era Dogtown weapon and is not available in the base-game map alone.
- Requires
- Phantom Liberty expansion required
Phantom Liberty
No separate vendor price or additional stat requirement is established here.
- Requires
- Access to Dogtown through the Phantom Liberty expansion
Mechanics and Handling
Claw X-MOD2 is a throwable axe as well as a close-range melee weapon. Its handling therefore changes with distance: melee attacks reward staying close and committing to the axe’s relatively deliberate swings, while throwing it trades immediate melee pressure for a ranged strike and temporarily removes the weapon from hand until it returns or is recovered. It is not a firearm and has no magazine, reload cycle, or ammunition pool to manage.
Melee and throwing behaviour
The weapon supports the standard melee and throwing functions available to throwable axes. Use its melee sequence when an enemy is within reach; throw it when spacing makes a close attack impractical or when a single ranged hit is safer. The main handling trade-off is commitment: a missed throw can leave the weapon unavailable briefly, while a missed melee swing exposes V to a counterattack. The exact recovery timing depends on the current throwable-weapon rules and should not be treated as a fixed reload interval.
X-MOD2 handling
The X-MOD2 designation identifies this as the expanded-modification version of the weapon, with two guaranteed weapon-mod slots under the post-2.0 system. Those slots change how the axe is customised, but they do not turn it into a different weapon class or add a separate attack resource. Evaluate the completed setup by the chosen mods and supporting perks rather than by treating the slots as a built-in damage multiplier.
Combat considerations
Claw X-MOD2 is most comfortable for players who can alternate between close melee pressure and throwable attacks. Throwing it creates a natural timing concern: avoid starting a throw when an enemy is already entering melee range unless the hit is likely to create enough space or the weapon will be recovered promptly. Perks and cyberware that support throwable weapons can improve this loop, but their effects belong to the equipped build and should not be presented as properties of Claw X-MOD2 itself.
Upgrades and Variants
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- Combines close-range axe attacks with a throwable attack, allowing Claw X-MOD2 to pressure a target without committing to melee for every engagement.
- Its X-MOD2 configuration provides two weapon-mod slots, giving more room to tailor the weapon than a comparably equipped ordinary axe.
- The axe profile suits aggressive burst windows: it can open with a thrown attack and continue with melee strikes when the target is within reach.
Weaknesses
- Its core attacks remain short-range, so enemies who keep their distance or occupy elevated positions can limit its effectiveness.
- Throwing the weapon introduces recovery and timing considerations; missing or spending the throw at the wrong moment can leave the user dependent on ordinary melee attacks until it is available again.
- Using Claw X-MOD2 costs the weapon slot that could support a dedicated blade, blunt weapon, or firearm, so it is less attractive for builds that do not use both melee and throwing attacks.
Best uses
- Hybrid melee-and-throwing loadouts that want one weapon to cover close combat and brief ranged pressure.
- Aggressive encounters where the user can throw the axe to start an engagement, then close the distance before relying on melee attacks.
- Players who want to use weapon mods to specialize an iconic axe without giving up its throwable attack option.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Attribute |  Agaou |  Tomahawk |  Headhunter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class and role | Iconic axe alternative with its own unique effect | Standard axe option without the X-MOD2 designation | Knife-oriented throwing option with a different weapon class and handling profile |
| Technology / distinguishing trait | Closer iconic axe comparison when the priority is a distinctive throwable effect rather than Claw X-MOD2's modification flexibility | Relevant lower-complexity alternative for the same axe-and-throwing playstyle | Better comparison for a throwing-weapon build that values knife behavior over axe attacks |
| Best comparison point | — | — | — |
Used In
- DogtownClaw X-MOD2 is a Phantom Liberty-era Iconic axe found as a world pickup in Dogtown.
- Phantom LibertyThis X-MOD2 weapon belongs to the Phantom Liberty expansion content rather than the base-game weapon roster.
