Cyberpunk 2077’s perk system was already dense. But a modder known under the pseudonym Q decided to go further with “Merc Protocol – Perk Gameplay Expansion”. This free mod, available now on Nexus Mods, unlock new abilities which change the way of playing.
Its principle: reward missions, contracts and activities in Night City with exclusive asset pointsdistributed over five attributes. The key: 12 new unique perksfocused on strategy, fear, mobility and brutality. “Merc Protocol adds a new progression system that gives you new combat opportunities.”
Headshots, Fear Auras, and Post-Mortem Armor
The mod offers advanced mechanics that CD Projekt Red has not (yet) included in the official game. Concrete examples:
- Headshot : triggers an automatic rush towards the next enemy
- Aura of fear : Enemies with low health reduce the accuracy of their allies
- Damage Overload : a portion of the excess damage becomestemporary armor
“You can only earn half the points needed to unlock each new asset at most,” which forces you to make real choices, even if it means sacrificing certain assets from the base game.
Simple installation, smooth progress, no reboot required
Unlike many gameplay mods, Merc Protocol does not require restarting a game. “The mod can also be safely installed in a save environment without anything being damaged.”
Simply install the file via a compatible mod manager (e.g. Vortex) and restart the game. Once activated, the new assets appear in the tab “Additional Skill Trees” from the Character screen. There you can track your points, see available skills, and purchase them on the fly.
The mod also draws inspiration from the popular Stealthrunner mod, and “significant parts of the UI, notification systems, and menu integration are based on RMK’s excellent work.”
A new wind on Night City
The Merc Protocol mod brings strategic depth rarely achieved in Cyberpunk 2077. It pushes the player to rethink their build, makes the most of the game mechanics and enriches the fights with intense micro-decisions. Free, stable, flexible and compatible with existing saves, it has already established itself as one of the most ambitious mods for fans of advanced gameplay.