🔫 Ranged Combat

“Guns don’t kill people. People with Sandevistans and Handgun 8 kill people. Very quickly.”

This covers shooting, fire modes, aimed shots, and distance. Know your range DVs, pick the right weapon for the job, and put them down before they do the same to you.

🌍 Lore: Guns in Night City

In the Time of the Red, firearms are as common as rats — and about as regulated. Street vendors sell Medium Pistols off blankets in the Night Markets, no questions asked. A decent Handgun (50-100eb) costs about the same as a week’s rent in a Cargo Container. Assault Rifles and Sniper Rifles (500eb) are technically restricted, but the NCPD has bigger problems than paperwork.

The real currency isn’t the weapon itself — it’s ammunition. Autofire burns 10 rounds per burst. At combat prices, that adds up fast. Smart Edgerunners count their bullets. Dumb ones run out at the worst possible moment.

Concealability matters too. Walking into a corpo bar with a Shotgun on your back gets you MaxTac’d. A Medium Pistol under your jacket? Nobody blinks. It’s Night City — everyone’s carrying something.

---

⚡ Quick Reference

Ranged Combat At A Glance

Attack Roll: REF + Weapon Skill + 1d10 vs. DV (by range)

Range	Distance	Pistol	SMG	Rifle
Point Blank	0-6m	13	15	17
Close	7-12m	15	13	16
Medium	13-25m	20	15	15
Long	26-50m	25	20	13
Extreme	51-100m	30	25	15

---

🎯 Attack Roll

REF + Weapon Skill + 1d10 vs. DV

• Hit: Equal or beat the DV
• Miss: Below the DV
• Defender Dodges (REF 8+): Can roll DEX + Evasion + 1d10 instead of using DV

---

📏 Range DVs by Weapon Type

Weapon Type	0-6m	7-12m	13-25m	26-50m	51-100m	101-200m	201-400m	401-800m
Pistol	13	15	20	25	30	30	—	—
SMG	15	13	15	20	25	25	30	—
Shotgun (Slug)	13	15	20	25	30	35	—	—
Assault Rifle	17	16	15	13	15	20	25	30
Sniper Rifle	30	25	25	20	15	16	17	20
Bow / Crossbow	15	13	15	17	20	22	—	—
Grenade Launcher	16	15	15	17	20	22	25	—
Rocket Launcher	17	16	15	15	20	20	25	30

---

🔥 Rate of Fire (ROF)

ROF determines how many times you can attack with ONE weapon per Action.

ROF	Attacks per Action	Weapons with This ROF
2	2 attacks	Medium Pistol, Heavy Pistol, Light/Medium/Heavy Melee
1	1 attack	Very Heavy Pistol, SMG, Heavy SMG, Shotgun, Assault Rifle, Sniper Rifle, Bows, Heavy Weapons, Very Heavy Melee

Where to Find ROF

ROF is listed in the Weapons Table below and on your character sheet’s weapon entry.

Splitting Attacks Across Movement

With ROF 2 weapons, you can split your attacks around your movement:

Example: Split Attack

Situation: You have a Heavy Pistol (ROF 2) and see two enemies—one nearby, one down the hall.

Your Turn:

1. Shoot Enemy A (Attack Check #1)
2. Move down the hall
3. Shoot Enemy B (Attack Check #2)

Important: Each attack is a separate Attack Check with its own DV based on range.

Attacking Multiple Targets

Each Attack is a Separate Check

If you attack two different targets, you make two separate Attack Checks, each against its own DV.

If a target has REF 8+ and wants to dodge, they roll for their attack specifically.

Example: Two Targets with Different Defenses

You fire twice at two different enemies:

• Enemy A (12m away, no dodge): DV 15
• Enemy B (8m away, REF 8, chooses to dodge): Roll vs. their DEX + Evasion + 1d10

You make two Attack Checks, each resolved independently.

Dual Wielding Limits

• Maximum of 2 Attack Checks per Action regardless of weapons held
• You cannot attack with two ROF 1 weapons in the same Action
• You can split attacks between two different ROF 2 weapons

Example: Dual Wielding

You have a Heavy Pistol (ROF 2) in your left hand and a Machete (ROF 2) in your right.

✅ Legal: Fire pistol once, then stab with machete once (2 attacks total) ✅ Legal: Fire pistol twice (2 attacks total) ❌ Illegal: Fire pistol twice AND stab twice (4 attacks—not allowed)

---

🔥 Fire Modes

Single Shot (Standard)

Most weapons fire in single shot mode. You make 1 or 2 attacks based on ROF.

Autofire

Available on: SMG, Heavy SMG, Assault Rifle only.

Cost: 1 Action + 10 bullets (must have 10+ in magazine)

Skill: Uses Autofire Skill (not Handgun or Shoulder Arms)

How It Works:

1. Roll REF + Autofire + 1d10 vs. Autofire DV (see table)
2. If you hit, roll 2d6 for base damage
3. Multiply base damage by how much you beat the DV (max multiplier based on weapon)

Weapon	Max Multiplier
SMG / Heavy SMG	×3
Assault Rifle	×4

Example: Autofire

Situation: You fire an SMG at an enemy 10m away. Autofire DV is 17. Your roll: REF 7 + Autofire 5 + 1d10 (8) = 20 (beat DV by 3) Damage roll: 2d6 = 8 Result: 8 × 3 = 24 damage (max multiplier for SMG is ×3, so you cap at 3)

Autofire Range Table:

Weapon	0-6m	7-12m	13-25m	26-50m	51-100m
SMG / Heavy SMG	20	17	20	25	30
Assault Rifle	22	20	17	20	25

Autofire Critical Injuries

If both dice come up 6 on your 2d6 damage roll, you also inflict a Critical Injury!

Restrictions:

• Cannot use Autofire for Aimed Shots
• Targets with REF 8+ can still attempt to dodge

---

Suppressive Fire

Available on: SMG, Heavy SMG, Assault Rifle only.

Cost: 1 Action + 10 bullets

Effect: Everyone on foot within 25m, out of cover, and in your line of sight must roll:

WILL + Concentration + 1d10 vs. Your REF + Autofire + 1d10

Failure: Target must use their next Move Action (and Run Action if needed) to get into cover.

Example: Suppressive Fire

Situation: Three enemies are in the open. You use Suppressive Fire. Your roll: REF 6 + Autofire 4 + 1d10 (7) = 17

Each enemy rolls WILL + Concentration + 1d10:

• Enemy A: 14 — Fails! Must flee to cover.
• Enemy B: 19 — Succeeds! Can act normally.
• Enemy C: 12 — Fails! Must flee to cover.

Suppressive Fire doesn't deal damage—it forces movement and disrupts enemy actions.

---

Shotgun Shells

When firing a Shotgun with shells (not slugs):

• Roll REF + Shoulder Arms + 1d10 vs. DV 13 (always DV 13)
• If successful, ALL targets in front of you within 6m that you can see take 3d6 damage
• Roll damage once and apply to all targets (each reduces by their own SP)
• Cannot be used for Aimed Shots

Example: Shotgun Blast

Situation: Two gangers are 4m in front of you, side by side. Your roll: 18 vs. DV 13 — Hit! Damage: 3d6 = 11

• Ganger A (SP 7): Takes 11 - 7 = 4 damage
• Ganger B (SP 11): Takes 11 - 11 = 0 damage (blocked!)

Both gangers’ armor ablates by 1.

---

Explosives (Grenades, Rockets)

All explosives deal damage to all targets (including terrain) in a 10m × 10m area.

• Center: Your intended target (a 2m × 2m square area, not an individual)
• Miss: GM decides where in that area the explosive actually landed
• REF 8+ Dodge: Individuals can attempt to dodge the blast

Explosives vs. Cover

If the explosive’s damage exceeds the cover’s HP, the cover is destroyed and the target behind takes full damage from the explosive (not residual damage).

If the cover survives, the target takes no damage.

Example: Grenade vs. Cover

Situation: Enemy is behind a wooden door (10 HP). You throw a grenade (6d6 damage). Damage roll: 24 Result: 24 > 10 HP, so the door is destroyed. Enemy takes: Full 24 damage (minus their personal armor SP)

---

🪓 Thrown Weapons

You can throw melee weapons or grenades as a Ranged Attack.

DEX + Athletics + 1d10 vs. DV

Max Range: 25m. Uses the Grenade Launcher DV row from the Range table above.

Range	0-6m	7-12m	13-25m
DV	16	15	15

• Grenades: Use the Explosives rules above (10m × 10m area).
• Melee Weapons: Deal their stated damage, but do NOT ignore half armor when thrown. Can use Aimed Shots.
• Dodging: If the target can dodge bullets (e.g., via Martial Arts), they can choose to dodge thrown objects too.

---

🎯 Aimed Shots

Take your entire Action with a -8 penalty to aim for a specific body part.

Aimed Shots are always ROF 1

You can only make ONE attack when using an Aimed Shot, regardless of your weapon’s normal ROF.

Target	Modifier	Effect on Hit
Head	-8	Damage that penetrates head SP is ×2
Held Item	-8	Target drops item (if any damage penetrates SP)
Leg	-8	Target suffers Broken Leg Critical Injury (if any damage penetrates SP)

Example: Aimed Shot to the Head

Situation: Enemy has SP 7 body armor but no helmet (head SP 0). Your attack: Heavy Pistol, -8 for aimed shot. Roll: REF 8 + Handgun 6 + 1d10 (10, crit!) + 1d10 (4) = 28 - 8 = 20 vs. DV 15 — Hit! Damage: 3d6 = 12 Head SP: 0, so full 12 penetrates. Final damage: 12 × 2 = 24 HP damage!

If they had a helmet (SP 7): 12 - 7 = 5 penetrates, ×2 = 10 HP damage

---

� Weapons Table

Weapon	Skill	Damage	Magazine	ROF	Hands	Conceal?	Cost	Special
Medium Pistol	Handgun	2d6	12	2	1	Yes	50eb	—
Heavy Pistol	Handgun	3d6	8	2	1	Yes	100eb	—
Very Heavy Pistol	Handgun	4d6	8	1	1	No	100eb	—
SMG	Handgun	2d6	30	1	1	Yes	100eb	Autofire (3), Suppressive
Heavy SMG	Handgun	3d6	40	1	1	No	100eb	Autofire (3), Suppressive
Shotgun	Shoulder Arms	5d6	4	1	2	No	500eb	Shell mode: 3d6 to all in 6m
Assault Rifle	Shoulder Arms	5d6	25	1	2	No	500eb	Autofire (4), Suppressive
Sniper Rifle	Shoulder Arms	5d6	4	1	2	No	500eb	—
Bow / Crossbow	Archery	4d6	—	1	2	No	100eb	Uses arrows
Grenade Launcher	Heavy Weapons	6d6	2	1	2	No	500eb	10m×10m area
Rocket Launcher	Heavy Weapons	8d6	1	1	2	No	500eb	10m×10m area

---

😈 Ranged Combat Tricks

Things You Can Do That Players Forget

Tactic	How	Why
Headshot unarmored targets	Aimed Shot (-8) to head	×2 damage, often instant kill
Disarm	Aimed Shot (-8) to held item	They drop their weapon
Shoot cover	Target cover, not person	Destroy it, then hit them
Suppressive Fire	10 bullets, force enemies to cover	Control the battlefield
Shotgun shell spray	Hit everyone in 6m cone	Great vs groups
Weapon choice by range	SMG at 7-12m, Rifle at 26-50m	Use optimal range for DV 13
Split attacks	ROF 2 = Move between shots	Hit two targets in one turn
Grenade the cover	Explosives bypass cover	They take full blast damage

---

❓ Quick Answer Reference

Can someone with REF 8+ always dodge?

They have the option to dodge. They roll DEX + Evasion + 1d10 instead of you facing a static DV. They can choose NOT to dodge and let their armor handle it.

What's the difference between Autofire and ROF?

ROF = how many single attacks you can make per Action (1 or 2).
Autofire = a special fire mode that uses 10 bullets and multiplies 2d6 damage.

Can I Autofire twice?

No. Autofire takes your entire Action. It’s one attack per turn with Autofire.

Do critical injuries happen on Autofire?

Yes! If both dice on your 2d6 damage roll are 6s, you inflict a Critical Injury.

Can I shoot through walls?

Yes, but walls have HP. You’re shooting blind, and you need to destroy the wall section first to hit someone behind it.

What if I miss with an explosive?

The GM decides where it lands within the 10m × 10m area centered on your target. It still explodes!

Can I dodge Shotgun shells?

Yes, if you have REF 8+. Each target can individually attempt to dodge.

Can I reload mid-turn?

Yes! Reload is an Action. You can Move, then Reload. Or Reload, then Move.

Does Suppressive Fire deal damage?

No! It forces enemies to run for cover. It’s crowd control, not damage.

---

🔗 Related Topics

• Combat — All combat rules
• Melee Combat — Close quarters
• Damage and Wounds — Taking damage
• Armor and Cover — Protection

---

(Source: Cyberpunk RED Core Rulebook, pp. 170-175)