Key Takeaways
Rasetsu is an Iconic Tech sniper rifle from Phantom Liberty. Its identity comes from a charged-shot effect that lets projectiles bend around corners, giving it a different role from conventional precision rifles.
Iconic Tech sniper rifle
Rasetsu combines the long-range role of a sniper rifle with Cyberpunk 2077's Tech weapon charge mechanic. Its technology classification is central to how it is handled and compared with other precision weapons.
Charged shots bend around cover
Its signature effect applies to charged fire: projectiles can curve around corners instead of requiring a completely unobstructed firing line. This is the weapon's defining mechanical distinction, not a general property of Tech sniper rifles.
Phantom Liberty availability
Rasetsu is tied to the Phantom Liberty expansion and is obtained during the mission You Know My Name. It should therefore be treated as a quest-associated weapon rather than a freely available base-game pickup.
Strong against protected or awkward targets
The bending-shot behavior can help when a target is partly concealed or positioned behind a corner, reducing the need to expose V for a perfectly direct sniper angle.
Charge timing is its main trade-off
Rasetsu's special behavior depends on charged firing, so using it effectively requires more timing and exposure management than simply firing repeated uncharged shots. Its curved projectiles do not remove the handling demands of a Tech sniper rifle.
Upgrade it as an Iconic weapon
Rasetsu follows the post-2.0 Iconic progression model, allowing its tier and performance to advance through the applicable crafting and upgrade systems. Its unique shot behavior remains the reason to choose it over a merely higher-stat alternative.
A specialized alternative to standard Tech snipers
Compared with ordinary Tech sniper rifles, Rasetsu's important advantage is its weapon-specific projectile-bending effect rather than an assumed universal damage or range superiority. The comparison should keep weapon tier and charge state explicit.
Overview
Rasetsu is an Iconic Tech sniper rifle introduced with Phantom Liberty for Cyberpunk 2077. Its defining feature is a charged-shot behavior that can bend projectiles toward aimed targets, giving the weapon an unusual way to challenge enemies using cover or awkward sightlines.
Rasetsu occupies the precision end of Cyberpunk 2077’s firearm roster, but it is not simply a higher-tier version of a conventional sniper rifle. As a Tech weapon, it belongs to the charge-based weapon family, and its Iconic behavior gives that charging process a more distinctive purpose: the projectile’s path can curve toward the selected enemy. That makes deliberate aiming and charge timing central to the weapon’s identity rather than treating the rifle as a purely linear long-range option.
The curved-shot behavior is most relevant when ordinary sightlines are inconvenient. A target does not always need to stand perfectly in the rifle’s direct path for Rasetsu to be useful, so the weapon can reward players who combine precise target selection with positioning around cover. This does not remove the importance of range, aim, or charge management; it changes how the player approaches those fundamentals. Rasetsu is therefore better understood as a specialized precision tool than as a general replacement for every sniper rifle.
Rasetsu is an Iconic weapon associated with the Phantom Liberty expansion and is obtained through the expansion’s Dogtown storyline, during the mission You Know My Name. That context places it among the expansion’s distinctive rewards and makes its identity separate from the ordinary sniper rifles available through the base game’s broader weapon pool. The weapon’s story-safe role can be described without relying on the mission’s later character or plot outcomes: it is a notable piece of Phantom Liberty’s campaign equipment, not a standard vendor firearm.
For players choosing between sniper options, the important distinction is handling concept rather than an unsupported claim of superior raw performance. A conventional sniper rifle emphasizes a predictable projectile path and familiar long-range precision, while Rasetsu adds a Tech-oriented charged-shot interaction that can make cover and target alignment behave differently. It is consequently most relevant to builds and playstyles that already value deliberate aiming, charge management, and precision attacks. Its unusual trajectory is the reason to consider it; its exact damage, fire rate, magazine, and other balance-sensitive values depend on the weapon’s current tier and should be evaluated separately from this overview.
Statistics
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Class | Sniper Rifle |
| Subtype | Sniper Rifle |
| Technology | Tech |
| Ammo | Sniper Ammo |
| Stat Scaling | Tier-dependent |
| Iconic | Yes |
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Content Scope | Phantom Liberty |
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar sniper rifles
| Attribute |  Rasetsu | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Sniper Rifle | Sniper Rifle | Sniper Rifle | Sniper Rifle | Sniper Rifle |
| Technology | Tech | Power | Tech | Smart | Power |
| Ammo | Sniper Ammo | Sniper Ammo | Sniper Ammo | Sniper Ammo | Sniper Ammo |
| Iconic | Yes | — | — | — | Yes |
How to Obtain
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.
- Access to the You Know My Name mission and its Black Sapphire operation.
- The weapon's pickup is tied to the mission sequence; no separate character-level, currency, or crafting requirement is established here.
- 01During the Phantom Liberty mission You Know My Name, enter the Black Sapphire in Dogtown and progress through the operation until the sniper overwatch section. Rasetsu is a fixed weapon pickup in the sniper position inside the Black Sapphire; collect it there rather than looking for an enemy drop or vendor listing.
- 02The pickup is available as part of that mission's normal progression. If you leave the area without collecting it, do not assume that a random replacement will appear elsewhere; retain a save from before the Black Sapphire sequence if obtaining the weapon is important to the playthrough.
Availability
Cyberpunk 2077 base game without Phantom Liberty
Rasetsu was introduced with the Phantom Liberty expansion and is not part of the base-game weapon pool.
- Requires
- Phantom Liberty is required.
Phantom Liberty campaign
This Iconic weapon is tied to Phantom Liberty story progression rather than a standard vendor purchase. No universal price applies.
- Requires
- Own Phantom Liberty and reach the relevant progression in the Phantom Liberty main quest, including You Know My Name.
Mechanics and Handling
Rasetsu is a Tech sniper rifle, so its handling is built around deliberate aim, charge timing, and high-value shots rather than sustained automatic fire. Its defining decision is when to release a charged round: firing early gives a faster response, while completing the charge supports the weapon’s intended precision role and makes the shot more suitable for targets behind cover or aligned with other enemies.
The rifle is most effective when the player has time to aim down sights and control the engagement distance. It is less forgiving when enemies are already inside close range, when several targets are attacking from different angles, or when the player must relocate immediately. Treating it like a conventional semiautomatic rifle wastes the advantage provided by its Tech weapon behaviour.
Charge timing and Tech penetration
Rasetsu uses the charge-and-release behaviour associated with . Holding the trigger charges the shot; releasing before the charge is complete prioritises responsiveness, while a fully charged shot is the weapon’s high-commitment attack. Charged Tech shots can penetrate cover, making thin barriers and lined-up targets meaningful parts of the firing solution rather than automatic protection.
The charge time creates a real exposure trade-off. The player must remain aimed long enough to obtain the stronger Tech shot, so charging in the open is risky against enemies who can flank, suppress, or force movement. Use cover, elevation, or a short opening in an enemy’s attack pattern to charge safely. Do not assume that every surface or obstacle can be penetrated: the result depends on the weapon system’s penetration rules and the intervening material.
Precision role and target selection
Rasetsu rewards deliberate target selection. Prioritise exposed high-value enemies, enemies protected by light cover, or targets that can be lined up with another hostile. A miss is costly not because the rifle has a special ammunition penalty, but because its charge timing and sniper-oriented handling make rapid corrective fire less comfortable than with a lighter firearm.
The rifle’s long-range role also makes positioning part of its mechanics. A clear sightline allows the player to begin charging before an enemy reaches cover; a narrow angle or elevated position reduces the chance that movement will invalidate the shot. If the fight collapses into close quarters, switch weapons or create distance instead of repeatedly attempting to charge while under pressure.
Bolt interaction and perk context
Rasetsu can benefit from the Tech weapon perk framework, including the bolt-shot option available through the relevant Tech weapon progression. alter the normal charge-and-release rhythm by rewarding a precisely timed release, but they demand more timing discipline than ordinary firing. They should be treated as an advanced handling option, not as a permanent replacement for standard charged shots.
The exact result of a bolt shot also depends on the character’s current perk setup and any other active weapon-system effects. Keep Rasetsu’s Iconic behaviour separate from temporary perk bonuses: the rifle remains a Tech sniper rifle even when the build is not invested in bolt-focused perks.
Ammunition and reload behaviour
Rasetsu uses the game’s standard firearm ammunition economy rather than a manually replenished special resource. Its practical limitation is therefore the time spent aiming, charging, and recovering from a missed opportunity, not a separate charge meter. Reloading is safest after clearing or breaking line of sight; beginning a reload while an enemy is already closing removes the distance advantage that makes the rifle comfortable to use.
Because the rifle is designed for selective shots, conserve attention rather than trying to maintain constant fire. Scan for the next target while repositioning, and only begin a charge when the sightline is likely to remain open until release.
Upgrades and Variants
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- As an Iconic Tech sniper rifle, Rasetsu can charge its shots to exploit Tech-weapon penetration, allowing it to pressure enemies using cover rather than requiring an unobstructed line of fire.
- Its fully charged shots can ricochet from surfaces, creating attack angles that are unavailable to conventional precision rifles and making some protected targets reachable without a direct shot.
- The sniper-rifle format rewards deliberate aim and gives Rasetsu a strong role against exposed priority targets at long range.
- Its distinctive projectile behavior gives it more tactical value than a conventional point-to-point sniper rifle when the environment provides useful walls, floors, or other hard surfaces for ricochets.
Weaknesses
- Charging a Tech shot commits the user to a deliberate firing cycle; missing or losing the target during that cycle costs more than missing with a faster-firing weapon.
- Rasetsu is less forgiving in close quarters, where enemies can pressure the user before a charged shot is ready and where ricochet angles are harder to exploit safely.
- Ricochet utility depends on the surrounding geometry and the player's aim. Open spaces or poorly positioned surfaces reduce the value of its Iconic effect.
- Its precision-oriented role makes it a poor fit for sustained crowd suppression compared with an automatic rifle, submachine gun, or shotgun.
Best uses
- Use Rasetsu from elevated or concealed positions when enemies are distributed around cover and charged shots can exploit penetration or ricochet angles.
- Bring it for encounters that reward removing high-priority targets before they close distance, especially when careful positioning is possible.
- Pair it with a close-range backup weapon or other close-quarters option so Rasetsu does not have to solve every engagement while charging or lining up a shot.
- Choose it when environmental geometry is part of the plan; its special value is highest when walls and hard surfaces create useful indirect firing paths.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Attribute | Rasetsu |  Breakthrough |  Overwatch |  Ashura |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class / technology | Charge-based precision fire with the penetration and charged-shot behavior associated with Tech weapons | Iconic Tech sniper built around charged shots that can penetrate cover and continue through complex lines | Iconic Power sniper with a custom scope and a reload-focused modifier | Single-shot Smart sniper that uses homing ammunition with compatible Smart-targeting equipment |
| Defining behavior | Players who want a Phantom Liberty-era Tech sniper for deliberate long-range shots | Tech builds that prioritize shooting enemies through cover | Players who want a conventional long-range sniper for Power weapon builds | Smart weapon builds that value guided shots over manual precision |
| Best fit | Requires charge timing and deliberate positioning; less suited to continuous fire | More dependent on finding useful firing lines than a conventional precision rifle | Does not provide Tech weapon charging or penetration behavior | Requires the appropriate Smart weapon support and offers a different rhythm from charged Tech fire |
| Main trade-off | — | — | — | — |
Used In
- Somewhat DamagedRasetsu is obtained during this Phantom Liberty mission on the route that leads to Cynosure. It is found as a pickup rather than being treated as a conventional vendor purchase.
- CynosureThe facility contains the weapon case where Rasetsu can be collected during Somewhat Damaged.
Trivia
- “Rasetsu” (羅刹) is the Japanese reading of a term derived from Sanskrit *rakshasa*, referring in Buddhist and Hindu traditions to demon-like beings. The name therefore carries a supernatural meaning distinct from the rifle’s firearm classification.
- Rasetsu is one of the Iconic weapons introduced with the *Phantom Liberty* expansion, rather than part of Cyberpunk 2077’s original launch weapon roster.
