Key Takeaways
Death and Taxes is an Iconic Power pistol whose value comes from a shot-splitting effect rather than a simple damage-stat advantage. Its distinctive behavior, mission-based acquisition, and upgrade path make it a situational sidearm for players building around pistols and headshots.
Iconic Power pistol
Death and Taxes is a firearm, not a melee weapon: it belongs to the Power pistol category and uses the post-2.0 tiered weapon system. Its displayed damage therefore depends on the weapon’s tier and upgrade state rather than having one universal value.
Shot-splitting defines its role
Its Iconic effect gives shots a chance to fire an additional projectile. This can increase burst potential, but the extra projectile behavior also makes the weapon less straightforward than a conventional pistol and should be evaluated alongside its recoil and ammunition economy.
Found during Pisces
The weapon is obtained during the Pisces mission in Clouds, where it can be found in ’s office. The mission context matters: players should search the office before leaving rather than expect Death and Taxes to appear as a general vendor item.
Best suited to pistol-focused play
Death and Taxes is most relevant to builds using pistols, headshots, and Power-weapon mechanics. Its special effect rewards players who can capitalize on short bursts of increased projectile output rather than those seeking the most predictable single-shot handling.
Its strength is burst, not consistency
The additional-projectile effect can make individual shots more threatening, but its chance-based behavior does not guarantee the same output on every trigger pull. That makes it a less consistent choice than a pistol whose advantage comes from a fixed modifier or a more controllable firing pattern.
Keep it upgraded as the system allows
As an Iconic weapon, Death and Taxes can remain relevant through ’s current tier and Iconic-upgrade systems. Any damage or other numeric comparison should specify its tier and upgrade state; the Iconic effect is the stable reason to compare it with other Power pistols.
Compare it with other Iconic pistols by behavior
The meaningful comparison is not simply raw damage: Death and Taxes should be weighed against alternatives such as Lizzie, Dying Night, or other Power pistols by projectile behavior, handling, headshot support, technology type, and acquisition timing.
Overview
Death and Taxes is an Iconic Power pistol in , distinguished by a repeated-shot effect that can add a second projectile to its attacks. It is a close-to-mid-range sidearm for players who want a distinctive burst of damage without switching to a Tech or Smart weapon.
Death and Taxes occupies the role of an offensive Iconic pistol rather than a general-purpose backup weapon. Its defining behaviour is the chance to fire an additional projectile, giving successive attacks a different damage profile from a standard Power pistol. That effect is central to the weapon’s identity: it rewards sustained, accurate use while making each trigger pull less predictable than the straightforward shot pattern of ordinary pistols.
The weapon is associated with the Clouds storyline and can be found during the mission content connected with Maiko Maeda. This gives it a specific place in the base-game progression, but it is not itself a Phantom Liberty-exclusive weapon. The page should therefore treat Death and Taxes as a base-game Iconic with post-2.0 weapon-system context, rather than applying pre-2.0 assumptions about its statistics, perks, or upgrade rules.
Compared with a conventional Power pistol, Death and Taxes is appealing when the player values extra projectile output and is prepared to manage the consequences of a less uniform shot pattern. Compared with Tech pistols, it does not derive its identity from charged-shot penetration, and compared with Smart pistols, it does not depend on guided targeting. Its practical role is consequently tied to direct aim, repeated fire, and the player’s ability to capitalize on the additional projectile when it occurs.
Death and Taxes is most relevant to pistol-focused characters who want an Iconic sidearm with a weapon-specific firing behaviour rather than a passive statistical improvement alone. Its exact performance depends on the weapon’s current tier and upgrade state, so damage figures and other balance-sensitive values belong in a contextualized stat section. The overview should instead establish why this pistol remains a meaningful alternative within the Power-pistol family: its extra-projectile mechanic changes how its attacks feel and how the player evaluates it against more predictable options.
Statistics
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Class | Pistol |
| Subtype | Pistol |
| Technology | Power |
| Ammo | Handgun Ammo |
| Stat Scaling | Tier-dependent |
| Iconic | Yes |
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Content Scope | Base game / free update |
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar pistols
| Attribute |  Death and Taxes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Pistol | Pistol | Pistol | Pistol | Pistol |
| Technology | Power | Smart | Power | Power | Power |
| Ammo | Handgun Ammo | Handgun Ammo | Handgun Ammo | Handgun Ammo | Handgun Ammo |
| Iconic | Yes | Yes | — | — | — |
How to Obtain
- Complete the earlier required Judy Alvarez side jobs so that Pisces is unlocked.
- Reach Clouds in Megabuilding H8 during Pisces.
- Phantom Liberty is not required for the original pickup; Phantom Liberty may provide a separate missed-Iconic recovery option through Herold’s Black Market.
- 01Progress Judy Alvarez’s side-job chain until Pisces becomes available, then begin that mission in Clouds, the braindance club in Megabuilding H8. Death and Taxes is tied to this mission rather than being a normal vendor weapon or a random enemy drop.
- 02During Pisces, enter Maiko Maeda’s office in Clouds and collect Death and Taxes from the office interior before leaving the area. The pickup is a guaranteed physical item when the mission location is reached; it is not dependent on a random drop roll or a dialogue reward.
- 03The pickup is missable if you leave Pisces without taking it, and it is intended as a unique one-per-playthrough Iconic pickup. No ordinary vendor route is required. In Phantom Liberty-era playthroughs, check Herold’s Black Market inventory in Dogtown for possible missed-Iconic recovery, but do not assume Death and Taxes is available there unless it is actually listed.
Availability
Base game — Story mode
Death and Taxes is a unique Iconic weapon associated with the Ex-Factor progression rather than ordinary vendor stock. No universal purchase price applies.
- Requires
- Reach the Clouds storyline and the mission Ex-Factor.
Phantom Liberty installed — Story mode
The expansion does not create a separate vendor, price, or availability route for Death and Taxes.
- Requires
- No Phantom Liberty-specific requirement; the base-game Ex-Factor progression still governs access.
Online mode
Cyberpunk 2077 does not have a separate online campaign or online weapon-availability mode.
Mechanics and Handling
Death and Taxes is not a melee weapon: it is an Iconic Tech pistol. Its handling is therefore determined by trigger timing, projectile placement, charge behaviour and ammunition management rather than light-attack chains, stamina costs, blocking or parrying. The weapon's defining trait is that a trigger pull produces two projectiles, making shot placement more important than the displayed damage value alone.
Two-projectile firing pattern
The paired projectiles can give Death and Taxes a noticeably different feel from a conventional single-projectile pistol. At close and moderate distances, keeping the reticle on the target allows both parts of the shot to contribute to the hit. The pattern is less forgiving when only one projectile can connect, so missed shots and partial cover reduce the benefit of the Iconic effect. Aim for the target's centre mass when reliability matters; use deliberate headshots when the extra projectile can also be kept on the intended hit location.
This is a projectile-behaviour distinction, not a separate melee-style attack. The weapon does not have a special close-combat moveset, parry window or durability state that should be evaluated alongside blades or blunt weapons. Its practical trade-off is between the extra impact produced by the paired shot and the precision required to place both projectiles effectively.
Tech charge and cover interaction
As a Tech weapon, Death and Taxes can use the charge mechanic associated with the post-2.0 Tech weapon system. Charging changes the timing of the shot: the player accepts a longer preparation window in exchange for the ability to use Tech-weapon penetration behaviour against cover. This makes the pistol more useful when an enemy is briefly exposed or is relying on thin cover, but charging is risky if the target is already moving into close range.
The charge mechanic should not be confused with a weapon-specific damage multiplier unless the current weapon tooltip or tested data states one. Its important handling consequence is commitment: an uncharged shot is the responsive option, while a charged shot rewards planning and a stable firing position.
Ammunition, range and practical control
Death and Taxes remains a pistol, so its paired-projectile effect does not remove the need to manage distance and ammunition. The weapon is most controllable when the target is close enough for both projectiles to stay on the same body, while longer engagements place greater emphasis on recoil control, reticle placement and whether the second projectile can connect. Do not treat the Iconic effect as a universal increase to every hit; its value depends on the number of projectiles that actually land.
For routine encounters, fire in short, deliberate sequences rather than relying on uncontrolled follow-up shots. For enemies behind cover, use the Tech charge when the extra commitment is safe. Players seeking a fast, immediately responsive pistol may prefer an alternative with a simpler single-projectile pattern; Death and Taxes is more distinctive for players willing to manage paired projectile placement and conditional Tech timing.
Upgrades and Variants
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- Its paired-projectile firing pattern can produce strong short- to medium-range burst when both projectiles connect, making accurate trigger control more rewarding than with a conventional single-projectile pistol.
- The extra projectile gives Death and Taxes a way to pressure a target without relying on a separate alternate attack or weapon swap.
- As an Iconic pistol, it is a distinct handgun option for builds that already invest in pistol-focused perks and headshot-oriented play.
Weaknesses
- The paired-projectile pattern increases ammunition consumption per trigger pull, so sustained use can drain the relevant handgun ammunition faster than a comparable single-projectile pistol.
- Both projectiles need to connect for the weapon's defining burst advantage to matter; movement, recoil, close cover and longer engagement distances can reduce its practical consistency.
- Its value is tied to accurate pistol play rather than broad crowd control. Enemies spread across several positions, heavily armored targets and encounters that reward explosive area damage can favor a different weapon.
- Death and Taxes is a pistol, not a melee weapon, so melee perks, blade or blunt bonuses and close-combat stamina synergies do not improve its core firing pattern.
Best uses
- Use it for deliberate handgun engagements where the player can keep the reticle on a target and exploit the paired-projectile burst.
- It suits pistol or headshot-focused builds that want an Iconic sidearm with a distinctive firing pattern rather than a generic single-projectile handgun.
- Keep a more ammunition-efficient or area-focused weapon available for extended encounters, dispersed groups and situations where landing both projectiles is unreliable.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Attribute | Death and Taxes | Lexington |  La Chingona Dorada |  Nue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class and technology | Fires two projectiles with each shot, giving it a distinctive close-to-mid-range burst pattern and supporting burn application. | Straightforward general-purpose Power pistol with a conventional firing pattern. | Iconic pistol associated with burn-focused effects and the Heroes quest reward path. | Conventional Power-pistol alternative suited to players who prefer a familiar single-projectile weapon. |
| Distinctive role | Pistol, headshot and general Power-weapon setups that can exploit repeated hits. | Flexible pistol builds, especially when predictable handling matters more than an Iconic effect. | Pistol builds that want an Iconic weapon with a status-oriented identity rather than Death and Taxes’ multi-projectile pattern. | General pistol and headshot-oriented builds that do not depend on Death and Taxes’ unique firing behavior. |
| Build fit | Its split-shot behavior is the defining advantage, but it is less conventional than a standard single-projectile pistol and its tier-dependent damage should be evaluated in the current weapon state. | Lacks Death and Taxes’ split-shot behavior, but offers a simpler baseline for comparing tier-scaled damage and handling. | More specialized around its own burn-related effect; Death and Taxes is the more distinctive choice when repeated projectiles are the priority. | Provides a less unusual handling profile, while giving up the extra-projectile pattern and associated status opportunities of Death and Taxes. |
| Trade-off versus Death and Taxes | — | — | — | — |
Used In
Lore and Design
Death and Taxes has little standalone lore text, but its in-game association gives it a clear story context. The Iconic pistol is connected to Maiko Maeda, a senior figure in the Clouds organization, and is encountered in the course of the Pisces storyline. That placement makes the weapon a small material reminder of Maiko’s position and the internal power struggle surrounding Clouds, rather than a weapon with an extensive documented history of its own.
A name built around certainty
The name is a compact thematic joke: it presents the weapon as an emblem of inevitability while echoing the familiar phrase that death and taxes are unavoidable. The game does not establish a broader canonical origin, real-world model, or developer-design explanation for the name, so interpretations beyond that wordplay should remain provisional. Its significance is therefore primarily contextual—who possesses it, where it is found, and when the player can encounter it—rather than tied to a detailed biography or faction mythology.
Trivia
- The name “Death and Taxes” echoes Benjamin Franklin’s famous maxim that death and taxes are life’s two certainties. The game does not need to reproduce the quotation for the reference to be recognizable; it is a naming reference rather than a separate weapon mechanic.
