Key Takeaways
Hercules 3AX is a Phantom Liberty-era Iconic smart shotgun whose value comes from target tracking, close-range burst damage, and a conditional effect that rewards fighting while wounded. Its tier and current weapon-system rules matter more than any single universal damage figure.
Iconic smart shotgun
Hercules 3AX belongs to the smart-weapon shotgun class and is an Iconic weapon rather than a standard inventory variant. Its role is close-range pressure supported by guided targeting, not sustained long-range fire.
Smart Link is important
The weapon’s guided targeting is most useful with Smart Link-compatible cyberware. Without the relevant smart-weapon support, its distinctive tracking behaviour is reduced, making the cyberware requirement part of the practical evaluation.
Conditional low-health identity
Its unique behaviour rewards aggressive play when V is low on health, improving the weapon’s handling or lethality under that condition. The effect is conditional and should not be treated as a permanent bonus in the stat line.
Strong at close range, less flexible at distance
The combination of shotgun spread and smart targeting makes Hercules 3AX effective when several enemies are within its intended engagement range. Its shotgun role still limits how well it substitutes for a mid- or long-range weapon.
Phantom Liberty availability
Hercules 3AX is associated with the Phantom Liberty-era Dogtown content rather than the base-game weapon pool. Its acquisition route and any mission-specific timing should therefore be checked separately from general vendor availability.
Tiered Iconic progression
Its damage and related combat values must be read at the weapon’s current Tier or Plus state under the post-2.0 system. Comparisons with Ba Xing Chong are most useful when both weapons are considered at comparable progression states.
Overview
Hercules 3AX is an Iconic Smart Shotgun in , associated with the -era weapon pool and built for aggressive close-range combat.
The Hercules 3AX combines the broad close-range threat of a shotgun with Cyberpunk 2077’s Smart weapon system. Its projectiles can use smart targeting rather than relying solely on conventional manual aiming, making the weapon distinct from Power and Tech shotguns even before its Iconic properties are considered. That combination gives it a role focused on pressuring nearby enemies while remaining more forgiving against moving targets than a conventional shotgun.
As an Iconic weapon, Hercules 3AX is more than a tiered example of the standard Smart Shotgun category. Its unique weapon effect is part of its identity and should be evaluated separately from the tier-scaled values shown by the current game system. The result is a weapon intended to be read through its behaviour and special rule, not through a single universal damage figure; its displayed performance changes with the weapon’s tier and upgrade state.
In practical terms, Hercules 3AX suits a player who wants a mobile, close-quarters option rather than a precision rifle or a general-purpose automatic firearm. The shotgun format limits its natural role at longer distances, while the Smart classification creates dependencies that do not apply in the same way to Power weapons. Cyberware and perks that support Smart weapons therefore matter when deciding whether the weapon fits a loadout.
Its place in progression is also important. Hercules 3AX belongs to the expanded Cyberpunk 2077 weapon ecosystem associated with Phantom Liberty and Dogtown, rather than being a neutral baseline for every early-game shotgun comparison. The weapon should be compared with other Iconic or Smart shotguns at matching tiers and states; comparing its raw displayed numbers with a weapon from another tier or with a different technology class can obscure the reason to choose it.
Statistics
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Class | Assault Rifle |
| Subtype | Assault Rifle |
| Technology | Smart |
| Ammo | Heavy Ammo |
| Stat Scaling | Tier-dependent |
| Iconic | Yes |
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Content Scope | Phantom Liberty |
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar assault rifles
| Attribute |  Hercules 3AX | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Assault Rifle | Assault Rifle | Assault Rifle | Assault Rifle | Assault Rifle |
| Technology | Smart | Power | Power | Power | Power |
| Ammo | Heavy Ammo | Heavy Ammo | Heavy Ammo | Heavy Ammo | Heavy Ammo |
| Iconic | Yes | — | — | — | — |
How to Obtain
- Phantom Liberty is required because the acquisition takes place in Dogtown.
- Roads to Redemption must be available, and the EBM Petrochem Stadium armory must be accessible during that gig.
- The armory pickup is missable during the mission if the weapon crate is left unopened; no separate boss-drop or one-per-playthrough condition is established here.
- 01During the Phantom Liberty gig Roads to Redemption, enter the EBM Petrochem Stadium in Dogtown and search the stadium armory before leaving the mission area. Hercules 3AX is available as a guaranteed pickup from an Iconic weapon crate there; it is not a random enemy drop or vendor-stock roll.
- 02Take the weapon from the crate while the armory is accessible, then complete the gig normally. If the crate was missed, check Herold’s Black Market Vendor in Dogtown after the relevant Phantom Liberty content has progressed; missed Phantom Liberty Iconics can be offered there, although vendor inventory and recovery eligibility should be confirmed in the current game version.
Availability
Base game without Phantom Liberty
Hercules 3AX is Phantom Liberty content and is not part of the base-game weapon pool.
- Requires
- Phantom Liberty expansion required
Phantom Liberty — Dogtown
Availability is tied to the Phantom Liberty-era Dogtown content. Its displayed combat values remain tier-dependent; no universal price or tierless stat is stated here.
- Requires
- Phantom Liberty installed and Dogtown accessible
Mechanics and Handling
The Hercules 3AX is a Smart submachine gun, so its handling is defined less by precision marksmanship than by target acquisition and sustained automatic fire. Its guided ammunition can track locked targets, making the weapon easier to use while moving or when a target is difficult to keep centered manually. That convenience comes with the usual Smart-weapon dependence on compatible targeting cyberware and a lock-on process.
Smart targeting changes how the weapon is aimed
The Hercules 3AX uses the Smart weapon system rather than conventional ballistic aiming. Aim at a valid enemy to establish a target lock, then keep the weapon oriented toward that target while firing. The rounds can correct their flight toward the locked target, reducing the need to place every projectile directly on the enemy. This is most useful against moving opponents and during close-range fights where constant manual tracking is difficult.
The lock-on system is not a substitute for positioning. It does not remove the need to expose the target, maintain a workable firing angle, or manage the weapon's automatic spread. A compatible Smart Link is important to the weapon's intended behaviour; without the supporting cyberware, its guided-fire advantage is reduced or unavailable depending on the character's current equipment and rules.
Automatic fire favours pressure over precision
As an SMG, the Hercules 3AX is suited to rapid automatic fire and repeated bursts rather than deliberate single-shot placement. Holding the trigger can keep pressure on a target, but recoil and spread still affect how consistently the stream of rounds lands. Shorter bursts are preferable when the target is farther away or when conserving ammunition matters; sustained fire is more forgiving at close range, where the Smart rounds have less distance to cover and the weapon's handling is easier to exploit.
The weapon therefore fits an aggressive close-to-mid-range role. It can continue attacking while the user repositions, but it is not a reason to ignore cover or range management. Against distant targets, the lock-on system may help maintain contact while moving, yet the practical result still depends on the target, the available lock, and the weapon's current tier and other state-dependent values.
Reload rhythm and ammunition use
The Hercules 3AX relies on a conventional magazine-and-reload cycle rather than a charge meter, thrown ammunition, or a melee resource. Its automatic fire can empty a magazine quickly when the trigger is held, so reload timing is part of its handling. Reload during a movement break, after securing a nearby target, or behind cover rather than waiting until the magazine runs dry in the open.
Because this is a Smart SMG, the weapon's main resource consideration is ammunition expenditure rather than a separate special attack. Its strongest practical use is maintaining controlled pressure on locked targets, not treating every encounter as an invitation to sustain fire continuously. Cyberware, perks, and other effects that improve Smart weapons or SMG handling can change that economy, but those bonuses are external build interactions rather than intrinsic Hercules 3AX behaviour.
Upgrades and Variants
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- Smart targeting helps keep fire on moving or partially exposed enemies, reducing the precision burden of conventional firearms when a compatible Smart Link is installed.
- Its explosive ammunition can damage clustered enemies and gives misses or near-misses more area impact than a conventional single-target firearm.
- As a machine gun, it supports sustained suppression rather than relying on isolated, carefully placed shots.
Weaknesses
- Smart targeting depends on Smart Link support and target acquisition; it is less self-sufficient than a conventional weapon when those conditions are unavailable.
- Explosive projectiles can be less desirable in cramped fights where collateral damage or indiscriminate area impact is a concern.
- Sustained machine-gun fire makes ammunition management and recoil control more important than with a low-capacity precision weapon.
- Its area-focused projectile behavior is a poor fit for players who want quiet, highly selective eliminations or precise weak-point shots.
Best uses
- Use it for open combat against groups, where Smart targeting and explosive impact help maintain pressure while enemies move between cover.
- Pair it with a Smart Weapons-oriented build and Smart Link cyberware to take advantage of its targeting system.
- Choose it for aggressive mid-range engagements where sustained fire and group pressure matter more than stealth or pinpoint accuracy.
- Keep a precision or suppressed alternative available for isolated targets, stealth approaches, and encounters where explosive impact is undesirable.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Attribute | Hercules 3AX | L-69 Zhuo |  Ba Xing Chong | M2038 Tactician |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class and technology | Close-range smart-weapon option whose main distinction is its weapon-specific Iconic behavior; exact output remains tier-dependent. | A standard smart-shotgun alternative with a more conventional role and no Hercules 3AX Iconic identity. | Uses explosive ammunition and provides a more explicitly explosive approach to the smart-shotgun role. | Trades smart targeting for conventional Power-weapon behavior and direct close-range shotgun handling. |
| Role distinction | Players building around Smart Weapons who want a distinctive shotgun rather than a generic Power shotgun. | Smart-weapon users seeking a straightforward shotgun option when the Hercules 3AX effect is not required. | Players who want area pressure and explosive impacts from a Smart Weapon. | Shotgun users who prefer ordinary weapon handling or are not investing in Smart Weapon support. |
| Best fit | — | — | — | — |
Trivia
- Hercules 3AX is a Phantom Liberty-era weapon, so it belongs to Cyberpunk 2077’s post-2.0 arsenal rather than the original launch weapon roster.
