Key Takeaways
The HJSH-18 Masamune is a standard Power assault rifle whose burst-focused handling distinguishes it from more forgiving automatic rifles. Its value depends more on controlling the firing pattern and choosing an appropriate tier than on a unique Iconic effect.
Burst-oriented Power rifle
The Masamune uses Power-weapon behaviour and a burst-focused firing pattern, making controlled aim and shot placement central to its handling.
Tier context matters
In the post-2.0 system, its displayed combat performance varies by weapon Tier and state; a Masamune without that context should not be treated as having one universal damage value.
Ordinary acquisition route
As a standard weapon rather than an Iconic quest reward, the Masamune is associated with ordinary weapon availability through vendors and world loot, subject to the current progression and tier rules.
Strong when bursts stay on target
Its burst pattern can reward deliberate mid-range fire and accurate tracking, particularly when the player can keep successive bursts on an exposed target.
Less forgiving than full-auto rifles
The same burst behaviour limits sustained automatic pressure: missed rounds reduce its immediate output, and close-range encounters can favour a more forgiving full-auto alternative.
Progresses through compatible gear
The Masamune does not have an Iconic upgrade path of its own; practical progression comes from finding a stronger Tier and selecting compatible attachments or mods where available.
Overview
The HJSH-18 Masamune is a standard Power assault rifle in Cyberpunk 2077, distinguished by its controlled burst fire rather than a conventional fully automatic pattern. It suits mid-range engagements where deliberate bursts and Power-weapon ricochets reward accurate positioning.
The Masamune occupies the assault-rifle role as a practical, non-Iconic weapon rather than a quest-specific signature arm. Its defining behaviour is a three-round burst firing pattern, which gives each trigger pull a deliberate rhythm and makes burst control more relevant than simply holding the trigger. As a Power weapon, its projectiles can also ricochet from suitable surfaces, adding situational utility when enemies are partly protected by cover.
Compared with more conventional automatic assault rifles, the Masamune is better understood as a controlled-fire option. Its burst pattern can help concentrate shots on a target, but it also asks the player to manage timing and aim between volleys. That makes it a reasonable fit for players who want an assault rifle that sits between sustained automatic fire and slower, more deliberate precision weapons.
The weapon belongs to Cyberpunk 2077’s standard tiered arsenal. Its effectiveness therefore depends on the version and tier at which it is obtained, rather than on one universal set of weapon values. The post-2.0 system also makes its Power classification important: the Masamune’s technology type is part of its combat identity, not merely a label shared with otherwise identical assault rifles.
The Masamune is available within the regular Cyberpunk 2077 weapon pool and is not identified here as an Iconic or Phantom Liberty-exclusive variant. Its main point of distinction is the combination of assault-rifle reach, three-round burst handling, and Power-weapon ricochet behaviour. Players comparing it with other assault rifles should therefore focus on firing pattern and technology class as well as tier-scaled performance.
Statistics
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Class | Assault Rifle |
| Subtype | Assault Rifle |
| Technology | Power |
| Ammo | Heavy Ammo |
| Stat Scaling | Tier-dependent |
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Content Scope | Base game / free update |
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar assault rifles
| Attribute |  HJSH-18 Masamune | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Assault Rifle | Assault Rifle | Assault Rifle | Assault Rifle | Assault Rifle |
| Technology | Power | Power | Power | Power | Power |
| Ammo | Heavy Ammo | Heavy Ammo | Heavy Ammo | Heavy Ammo | Heavy Ammo |
How to Obtain
- No confirmed mission, boss, DLC, NG+, or one-per-playthrough prerequisite applies to the standard HJSH-18 Masamune.
- The Phantom Liberty expansion is not required for the base weapon; Dogtown vendor availability, if used, is subject to the expansion’s access requirement.
- 01Look for the standard HJSH-18 Masamune in ordinary weapon-vendor inventories across Night City. Vendor stock is progression- and tier-dependent, so a particular shop is not a guaranteed source; check other gun vendors if it is absent.
- 02The weapon can also appear as ordinary loot from eligible enemies and containers. These appearances are not a guaranteed drop or mission reward, and no specific boss, quest, or named location is required for the standard weapon. Its tier follows Cyberpunk 2077’s current progression system.
Mechanics and Handling
The HJSH-18 Masamune is a Power assault rifle built around controlled burst fire rather than a fully automatic stream. Each trigger pull releases a three-round burst, making trigger timing and target tracking more important than simply holding the fire button. Its handling is most predictable when the shooter allows the burst to settle before correcting aim, particularly at medium range.
Three-round burst handling
The burst pattern gives the Masamune useful sustained pressure while retaining more control than a weapon that fires continuously. The first burst can be placed accurately on a target, but repeated bursts can spread as recoil and movement accumulate. Short engagements at close or medium range suit the rifle best; at longer distances, deliberate bursts are preferable to rapid repeated inputs because missed rounds reduce both accuracy and ammunition efficiency.
Power-weapon behaviour
As a Power weapon, the Masamune can support ricochet-based shooting when the required cyberware and aiming behaviour are in place. The makes ricochet trajectories visible while aiming, allowing shots to be directed around suitable surfaces. This is a conditional weapon-system interaction, not a unique Masamune attack, and it is less dependable in open spaces or against targets with no useful cover geometry.
Reloads and combat rhythm
The Masamune uses conventional firearm ammunition and a normal magazine-and-reload cycle. It has no charge phase, homing system, alternate weapon-specific attack, or return mechanic to manage. Its practical rhythm is therefore burst, aim correction, reposition or reload, rather than charging a shot or maintaining a continuous firing beam. Perks, cyberware, ammunition effects and random weapon modifiers can change the broader combat result, but they should be treated separately from the rifle's inherent burst pattern.
Upgrades and Variants
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- Burst fire gives the Masamune a more controlled firing pattern than a fully automatic assault rifle, helping conserve ammunition and manage recoil during short engagements.
- As a Power weapon, its shots can ricochet from suitable surfaces, allowing indirect hits when enemies are positioned behind cover or around corners.
- The assault-rifle platform gives it a practical middle-ground role: more sustained pressure than a handgun and easier close-to-mid-range handling than a precision rifle.
Weaknesses
- The burst pattern limits immediate follow-up shots compared with fully automatic rifles, so missed volleys reduce its pressure against fast-moving targets.
- Ricochet is situational and depends on usable surfaces and positioning; it does not replace direct line-of-sight accuracy.
- It is less specialized than weapons built for extreme close-range burst damage, long-range precision, or Smart-targeting support.
Best uses
- Use it for controlled close- and mid-range firefights where short bursts can be placed on exposed targets.
- Choose it when a Power rifle's ricochet potential is useful in urban encounters with hard surfaces and partial cover.
- It suits players who want an assault rifle with deliberate burst control rather than continuous automatic fire.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Attribute | HJSH-18 Masamune | M251S Ajax |  D5 Copperhead |  Kyubi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | Three-round burst | Fully automatic | Short-burst automatic fire | Semi-automatic |
| Firing profile | Controlled mid-range engagements where deliberate burst placement matters | Sustained fire and easier follow-up shots at mid range | Higher-tempo assault-rifle combat with less emphasis on single-burst precision | More deliberate precision fire and headshot-focused play |
| Best fit | — | — | — | — |
