Key Takeaways
The DS1 Pulsar is a conventional Power submachine gun whose value comes from sustained automatic fire and flexible close-to-mid-range handling rather than a bespoke Iconic effect.
Power SMG identity
As a Power weapon, the DS1 Pulsar uses conventional ballistic fire and can interact with Cyberpunk 2077’s ricochet system, distinguishing it from ’ charge behaviour and ’ guided targeting.
Ricochet is conditional
Its Power-weapon behaviour is not a universal damage bonus: useful ricochets depend on the relevant cyberware and combat conditions, so the weapon does not require a ricochet-focused setup to function normally.
Sustained-fire role
The Pulsar suits close-to-mid-range engagements where automatic fire and repeated hit attempts matter more than carefully timed single shots or long-range precision.
Tier affects its numbers
Its displayed combat values should be read at the weapon’s current tier and any applicable plus state; a tierless damage or handling claim would not describe a fixed universal version of the gun.
Progression over uniqueness
Unlike a weapon page built around a distinctive Iconic modifier, the DS1 Pulsar’s meaningful progression is tied primarily to Cyberpunk 2077’s tiered weapon system and the Power-weapon build choices supporting it.
Compared with other SMGs
The Pulsar is a straightforward alternative to Smart and Tech submachine guns: it avoids their targeting or charging requirements, but it does not provide those systems’ specialised behaviour.
Overview
DS1 Pulsar is a standard Power submachine gun in , suited to close- and medium-range automatic fire. It is a practical progression weapon rather than an Iconic or story-exclusive firearm, with its usefulness determined by its tier and the rest of the player’s loadout.
The DS1 Pulsar occupies the straightforward automatic-SMG role. It gives the player a conventional firearm option for encounters where sustained fire and mobility matter more than the deliberate pacing of a precision rifle or the close-range burst of a shotgun. Its exact damage and handling depend on the weapon’s tier and current upgrade state, so the name alone does not define one fixed performance profile.
As a Power weapon, the DS1 Pulsar belongs to Cyberpunk 2077’s conventional ballistic technology family rather than the charge-focused Tech or target-assisted Smart categories. That distinction matters when choosing perks, cyberware support, and alternatives: the Pulsar is primarily a direct-fire weapon, while Tech and Smart weapons ask the player to build around different firing behaviours and dependencies.
The weapon is a standard roster item rather than an Iconic with a named quest history or a bespoke legendary effect. It can therefore serve as an ordinary replacement when a higher-tier SMG becomes available, or as a temporary automatic weapon while a character develops a more specialised Handguns, SMG, or broader automatic-weapons setup. Its role is functional rather than narrative.
DS1 Pulsar should be evaluated against other Power SMGs and against nearby alternatives such as assault rifles when range and sustained fire are the deciding factors. It does not require a Phantom Liberty-specific identity to be understood, although tier progression and the post-2.0 weapon system determine how its current version performs. The overview is consequently about its weapon class and technology, not a universal damage ranking.
Statistics
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Class | Submachine Gun |
| Subtype | Submachine Gun |
| Technology | Power |
| Ammo | Handgun Ammo |
| Stat Scaling | Tier-dependent |
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Content Scope | Base game / free update |
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar submachine guns
| Attribute |  DS1 Pulsar | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Submachine Gun | Submachine Gun | Submachine Gun | Submachine Gun | Submachine Gun |
| Technology | Power | Smart | Smart | Power | Power |
| Ammo | Handgun Ammo | Handgun Ammo | Handgun Ammo | Handgun Ammo | Handgun Ammo |
How to Obtain
- Cyberpunk 2077's post-2.0 weapon system; no separate DLC or NG+ requirement is established for the standard DS1 Pulsar.
- Sufficient character progression for the relevant weapon tier; the precise vendor threshold is not stated here because it is not reliably established.
- 01Check weapon vendors in Night City for the DS1 Pulsar; vendor inventories are tier- and level-dependent, so the weapon may not appear on the first visit. If it is absent, continue normal progression and check other weapon vendors later.
- 02Looting is an alternative source: the DS1 Pulsar can appear as ordinary firearm loot from enemies and containers. No specific mission, boss, or fixed pickup is required for the standard weapon.
- 03Because both sources use progression-sensitive availability, the exact tier and available version depend on the character's current progression and the post-2.0 weapon system. The standard DS1 Pulsar is not tied to a confirmed one-per-playthrough reward or missable quest pickup.
Availability
Cyberpunk 2077 base game — standard weapon
Its available tier and vendor stock depend on character progression and the current vendor inventory; no separate Phantom Liberty-only availability is established.
- Requires
- No DLC, quest, or proficiency requirement identified.
Mechanics and Handling
The DS1 Pulsar is a Power submachine gun, so its handling is built around sustained automatic fire rather than deliberate single-shot accuracy. Its main practical role is close- to mid-range pressure: keep the weapon on target, manage the climb during a burst, and avoid treating it like a precision rifle. Its Power classification is mechanically relevant because fired rounds can interact with hard surfaces through the game's ricochet system; this is a general Power-weapon behaviour, not a DS1 Pulsar-exclusive effect.
Automatic fire and recoil control
The DS1 Pulsar's automatic firing pattern makes short bursts useful when the target is outside comfortable SMG range. Holding the trigger for longer strings increases the importance of recoil and spread control, especially when aiming at smaller targets or exposed weak points. At close range, sustained fire is more forgiving because movement and target size reduce the practical cost of imperfect grouping.
The weapon does not have a documented charge, alternate firing mode, special reload, or weapon-specific conditional multiplier in the available evidence. Its handling therefore comes from its ordinary Power-SMG firing behaviour rather than a separate activation mechanic.
Power-weapon ricochet behaviour
As a Power weapon, the DS1 Pulsar can use hard surfaces for ricochet shots when the current Cyberpunk 2077 weapon and cyberware rules allow the interaction. Ricochet is situational: it depends on suitable cover geometry and does not replace direct fire as the weapon's normal method of attack. Ballistic Coprocessor-related support can make this behaviour more practical, but the cyberware's availability and exact assistance should be checked against the current character setup rather than assumed from the weapon alone.
Range and ammunition use
The DS1 Pulsar uses SMG ammunition and rewards a close- to mid-range rhythm of firing, repositioning, and reloading. Its automatic pattern can consume ammunition quickly during prolonged engagements, so firing in controlled bursts is useful when no immediate target is available. The weapon has no known return, thrown, blocking, parrying, charge, or status-specific mechanic that needs separate handling guidance.
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- The DS1 Pulsar’s Power-SMG profile supports sustained automatic fire at close to medium distance, making it practical for pressing targets while moving between cover.
- Its Power technology can support ricochet-based shooting when the required ballistic-cyberware conditions are active, giving suitable builds an option against partially exposed targets.
- As an SMG, it is easier to keep on target during mobile encounters than many heavier automatic weapons.
Weaknesses
- Automatic fire consumes ammunition quickly, especially when used for prolonged suppression rather than controlled bursts.
- Its SMG role is less reliable at long range, where spread and reduced hit consistency make rifles or precision weapons better choices.
- Ricochet potential is conditional on the relevant cyberware and firing setup; without those conditions, the weapon does not gain that advantage.
Best uses
- Close-quarters fights and short advances between cover where sustained automatic pressure matters more than long-range precision.
- Mobile Power-weapon setups that can exploit ricochets without treating them as a universal replacement for direct hits.
- Early or mid-progression encounters where a straightforward automatic SMG is more useful than a specialized long-range or charge-based weapon.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Attribute | DS1 Pulsar |  M-10AF Lexington |  Fenrir |  Yinglong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class / technology | Baseline Power-SMG option for close-to-mid-range automatic fire | Direct same-class alternative with a similar general-purpose role | Power-SMG alternative whose unique Iconic behaviour gives it a more specialized identity | Trades the DS1 Pulsar's conventional Power-weapon behaviour for Smart targeting and an Iconic electronic effect |
| Practical distinction | Use when you want a straightforward Power SMG without relying on Smart targeting or a unique Iconic effect. | Compare handling and tier-matched damage in-game when choosing between standard Power SMGs. | Prefer for a build that can exploit its Iconic effect rather than seeking a neutral baseline weapon. | Consider when Smart-weapon cyberware and perk support are available. |
| Best comparison use | — | — | — | — |
