🦾 Cyberware

“Meat is weak. Chrome is forever… until your mind starts to crack.”

This page covers how cyberware works: installation, option slots, the categories, and the rules that trip people up. For Humanity Loss and Cyberpsychosis, see Humanity. For browsing specific items, see the Database.

Not a Complete Catalog

The tables below highlight key items from each category — they are not exhaustive. See the Core Rulebook pp. 110-116 and the Database for the full listings.

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🏥 Installation

Facility Types

Type	What It Is	Surgery DV	Examples
Mall	Walk-in, like ear piercing	DV 13	Fashionware, Anti-Dazzle, Scratchers
Clinic	Needs a Medtech and clinic	DV 15	Neural Link, Cybereyes, most options
Hospital	Major surgery, full facility	DV 17	Cyberarms, Cyberlegs, Borgware

• Installation cost is included in the purchase price
• A Medtech with Surgery can install at the listed DV — no hospital needed
• You cannot install cyberware on yourself (except Mall-level)
• You cannot install cyberware if you have an untreated Critical Injury to the target area

Humanity Cost

Every piece of chrome has a Humanity Loss (HL) value. The tables below show HL as fixed (dice):

• At character creation: HL is the fixed number (e.g., 7 means lose exactly 7)
• After character creation: HL is rolled as dice (e.g., 7 (2d6) means roll 2d6)
• When Humanity reaches 0 → Cyberpsychosis — character becomes an NPC

→ Full Humanity rules, therapy, and recovery: Humanity

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🔌 Option Slots

Many cyberware pieces have Option Slots — space for installing enhancements:

Base Cyberware	Slots	What Goes In	Limit
Neural Link	5	Neuralware (Kerenzikov, Sandevistan, etc.)	1 Neural Link
Cybereye	3 per eye	Cybereye options (Low Light, Image Enhance, etc.)	Up to 2 eyes (+ MultiOptic Mount)
Cyberaudio Suite	3	Audio options (Radio, Amplified Hearing, etc.)	1 Suite only (+ Sensor Array for +5 slots)
Cyberarm	4 per arm	Arm options (Popup weapons, Grapple Hand, etc.)	Up to 2 arms (+ Artificial Shoulder Mount)
Cyberleg	3 per leg	Leg options (Jump Booster, Skate Foot, etc.)	Up to 2 legs

Slot Rule

Each option takes 1 slot unless stated otherwise. Some options take 2-3 slots — always check the item description.

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🏗️ The 8 Categories

💄 Fashionware

Cosmetic enhancements — pure style, zero risk. All Mall install, all HL 0.

Item	Cost	HL	Effect
Light Tattoo	100eb	0	Glowing subdermal tattoos
Techhair	100eb	0	Color/style-changing hair
Chemskin	100eb	0	Color/texture-changing skin
Shift Tacts	100eb	0	Color-changing contact lenses
EMP Threading	100eb	0	Light-emitting skin patterns
Skinwatch	100eb	0	Subdermal LED watch

Combo Bonus

Techhair + Chemskin = +2 to Personal Grooming. Only category with zero Humanity cost.

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🧠 Neuralware

The foundation — everything serious starts here. All require a Neural Link.

Item	Cost	HL (Dice)	Install	Effect
Neural Link	500eb	7 (2d6)	Clinic	Required for all Neuralware, Chipware, and Subdermal Grip. 5 option slots.
Chipware Socket	500eb	7 (2d6)	Clinic	Holds Skill Chips and chipware. Does not use a Neural Link slot.
Interface Plugs	500eb	7 (2d6)	Clinic	Connect to Cyberdecks, Smartguns, vehicles. Multiple installs allowed.
Kerenzikov	500eb	14 (4d6)	Clinic	Speedware. Passive +2 Initiative. See Speedware limit.
Sandevistan	500eb	7 (2d6)	Clinic	Speedware. Activate: +3 Initiative 1 min (1 hr cooldown). See Speedware limit.
Skill Chip	500eb / 1,000eb ×2	7 (2d6)	N/A	Skill at level 3 (useless if already 3+). See Skill Chips.
Pain Editor	1,000eb	14 (4d6)	N/A	Chipware. Ignore Seriously Wounded penalties.

See also: Braindance Recorder, Chemical Analyzer, Olfactory Boost, Memory Chip, Tactile Boost in the CRB.

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👁️ Cyberoptics

Artificial eyes — 3 option slots each. Base Cybereye: 100eb, HL 7 (2d6), Clinic.

Option	Cost	HL (Dice)	Slots	Effect
Low Light/IR/UV	500eb	3 (1d6)	2	Ignore darkness/smoke/fog penalties. Must be paired.
Image Enhance	500eb	3 (1d6)	1	+2 Perception, Lip Reading, Conceal/Reveal. Must be paired.
Anti-Dazzle	100eb	2 (1d6/2)	1	Immune to flashbang/flash effects. Must be paired.
Targeting Scope	500eb	3 (1d6)	1	+1 to Aimed Shots.
TeleOptics	500eb	3 (1d6)	1	See clearly up to 800m. +1 Aimed Shot at 51m+.
MicroVideo	500eb	2 (1d6/2)	2	Camera in eye, records to chip or Agent.
Virtuality	100eb	2 (1d6/2)	1	Projects cyberspace imagery. Must be paired.

See also: Chyron, Color Shift, Dartgun, MicroOptics, Radiation Detector in the CRB. For pairing rules see Paired Options.

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🎧 Cyberaudio

Enhanced hearing — 3 option slots. Max 1 Suite. Base Suite: 500eb, HL 7 (2d6), Clinic.

Option	Cost	HL (Dice)	Effect
Radio Communicator	100eb	2 (1d6/2)	Radio comms, 1 mile range
Amplified Hearing	100eb	3 (1d6)	+2 to hearing-based Perception
Internal Agent	100eb	3 (1d6)	Built-in phone, no external device needed
Bug Detector	100eb	2 (1d6/2)	Detects listening devices within 2m
Level Damper	100eb	2 (1d6/2)	Immune to deafening effects
Scrambler/Descrambler	100eb	2 (1d6/2)	Encrypt/decrypt radio transmissions
Voice Stress Analyzer	100eb	3 (1d6)	+2 Human Perception and Interrogation

See also: Audio Recorder, Homing Tracer, Radar Detector, Radio Scanner in the CRB.

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🫁 Internal Body Cyberware

Hidden implants — hard to detect.

Item	Cost	HL (Dice)	Install	Effect
Nasal Filters	100eb	2 (1d6/2)	Mall	Immune to inhaled gas and drugs
Toxin Binders	100eb	2 (1d6/2)	Clinic	+2 Resist Torture/Drugs
Enhanced Antibodies	500eb	2 (1d6/2)	Mall	Heal BODY×2 HP/day when resting
Independent Air Supply	1,000eb	2 (1d6/2)	Clinic	Breathe 30 min without air
Grafted Muscle/Bone Lace	1,000eb	14 (4d6)	Hospital	+2 BODY (stacks, max 10)
Subdermal Armor	1,000eb	14 (4d6)	Hospital	Body and head SP 11. Does not stack with worn armor.

See also: AudioVox, Cybersnake, Gills, Radar/Sonar, Vampyres in the CRB.

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🦴 External Body Cyberware

Visible modifications and utility implants.

Item	Cost	HL (Dice)	Install	Effect
Subdermal Grip	100eb	3 (1d6)	Clinic	Can’t be disarmed; enables Smartgun use. See Smartgun Link.
Hidden Holster	500eb	7 (2d6)	Clinic	Concealed weapon mount inside body
Subdermal Pocket	100eb	3 (1d6)	Clinic	5×10cm storage space under skin
Skin Weave	500eb	7 (2d6)	Hospital	Body and head SP 7. Does not stack with worn armor.

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💪 Cyberlimbs

Full arm/leg replacements with option slots.

Base Limb	Cost	HL (Dice)	Install	Slots
Cyberarm	500eb	7 (2d6)	Hospital	4
Cyberleg	100eb	3 (1d6)	Hospital	3

Key Cyberarm Options:

Option	Cost	HL (Dice)	Slots	Effect
Popup Ranged Weapon	500eb	7 (2d6)	2	Concealable one-handed ranged weapon
Popup Melee Weapon	500eb	7 (2d6)	2	Concealable melee weapon
Popup Shield	500eb	7 (2d6)	3	Bulletproof Shield, concealable
Grapple Hand	100eb	3 (1d6)	1	Fires hand on cable up to 30m
Wolvers	500eb	7 (2d6)	1	Heavy Melee (3d6). Also fits meat arm.
Rippers	500eb	3 (1d6)	1	Medium Melee (2d6). Also fits meat arm.
Big Knucks	100eb	3 (1d6)	1	Medium Melee (2d6). Also fits meat arm.
Slice ‘N Dice	500eb	3 (1d6)	1	Medium Melee (2d6), monowhip. Also fits meat arm.

See also: Cyberdeck, Medscanner, Techscanner, Shoulder Cam, Quick Change Mount, Scratchers, Tool Hand, Standard Hand in the CRB. For meat arm rules see Meat Arm Installs.

Key Cyberleg Options:

Option	Cost	HL (Dice)	Slots	Effect
Jump Booster	500eb	3 (1d6)	2	No penalty when jumping. Must be paired.
Skate Foot	500eb	3 (1d6)	1	+6m MOVE when running. Must be paired.
Grip Foot	500eb	3 (1d6)	1	No penalty when climbing. Must be paired.
Talon Foot	500eb	3 (1d6)	1	Light Melee Weapon (kick). Also fits meat leg.
Web Foot	500eb	3 (1d6)	1	No penalty when swimming. Must be paired.

Most leg options must be paired (both legs, HL paid twice). Arms do not need to be paired. See Paired Options.

Coverings (no option slot used):

Covering	Cost	HL	Effect
Plastic Covering	100eb	0	Colors and patterns
Realskinn™ Covering	500eb	0	Looks like real skin
Superchrome® Covering	1,000eb	0	Shiny chrome, +2 Wardrobe & Style

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🤖 Borgware

Full-body conversion — endgame chrome.

Item	Cost	HL (Dice)	Install	Effect
Linear Frame Σ (Sigma)	5,000eb	14 (4d6)	Hospital	BODY set to 12. Requires BODY 6, Grafted Muscle & Bone Lace.
Linear Frame ß (Beta)	1,000eb	14 (4d6)	Hospital	BODY set to 14. Requires BODY 8, 2× Grafted Muscle & Bone Lace.
Artificial Shoulder Mount	1,000eb	14 (4d6)	Hospital	Mount 2 extra Cyberarms. Max 1.
MultiOptic Mount	1,000eb	14 (4d6)	Hospital	Mount 5 extra Cybereyes. Max 1.
Sensor Array	1,000eb	14 (4d6)	Clinic	+5 extra Cyberaudio slots. Max 1. Requires Cyberaudio Suite.

Humanity Warning

Most Borgware costs 14 HL (4d6) per piece. Two pieces = 28 HL gone. Budget very carefully.

Full Body Conversions

Borgware is the gateway to Full Body Conversions — replacing your entire meat body with a cybernetic chassis. See Full Body Conversions for the complete rules on going Borg, all 13 FBC bodies, and FBC-specific cyberware.

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⚠️ Rules & Gotchas

Speedware

One at a Time

Only 1 piece of Speedware can be installed at a time. Kerenzikov and Sandevistan are both Speedware — you cannot have both.

Paired Options

Paired = Buy Twice, Pay HL Twice

Some Cybereye and Cyberleg options require installation in both of the base cyberware. You buy the option twice and pay HL separately for each.

Paired Cybereye: Anti-Dazzle, Image Enhance, Low Light/IR/UV, Virtuality Paired Cyberleg: Grip Foot, Jump Booster, Skate Foot, Web Foot

Skill Chips

Capped at Level 3

A Skill Chip gives you a skill at Level 3. If your skill is already 3 or higher, the chip does nothing. It doesn’t stack or add on top.

• ×2 cost skill chips (Martial Arts, Autofire, etc.) cost 1,000eb instead of 500eb
• First-time chipware install always costs HL. Re-installing chipware you’ve already used does not
• Chipware does not take up a Neural Link Option Slot
• You can install multiple Chipware Sockets (each costs HL separately)
• Swapping a chip is 1 Action

Meat Arm Installs

No Cyberarm Needed

These Cyberarm Options can each be installed as the only piece of cyberware in a meat arm — no full Cyberarm required:

Big Knucks, Rippers, Scratchers, Wolvers, Slice ‘N Dice, Subdermal Grip, Tool Hand

Standard Hand can also be installed in a meat arm and doesn’t count toward the one-cyberware limit.

Smartgun Link

How Smartguns Work

A Smartgun is any ranged weapon with a Smartgun Link attachment (+1 to Ranged Attacks). To use it, you need:

• Interface Plugs (plug in when drawing; unplugs if disarmed, reconnects free) OR
• Subdermal Grip (connects automatically when held)
• Both require a Neural Link

Cyberarm in Combat

Brawling Boost

With a Cyberarm, your Brawling damage is always at least 2d6, even if your BODY would normally give less.

A Cyberarm can also punch through steel cover (normally requires BODY 10+).

Cyberlegs & Falling

Fall Protection

Characters with 2 Cyberlegs take no damage and no Critical Injury from falls up to 30m. Beyond 30m, Cyberlegs provide no benefit.

Repairing Cyberware

Cybertech Skill

Critical Injuries to cybered body parts (Cyberarm, Cyberleg, Cybereye, Cyberaudio) can be Quick Fixed or Treated using the Cybertech skill instead of First Aid/Paramedic/Surgery. Same DVs, same time.

Cybertech cannot stabilize wound states — that still requires medical skills.

EMP Vulnerability

EMP Ammo & Microwavers

EMP ammunition and Microwaver weapons deal no damage, but on a hit force a DV15 Cybertech Check. Failure = GM chooses 2 pieces of cyberware to become inoperable for 1 minute. Disabled Cyberlimbs act as if dismembered (but still hang loosely).

Hardened Shielding (1,000eb, HL 3) on a Cyberlimb protects it from EMP/Non-Black ICE effects.

Harvesting from Corpses

Scavenging Chrome

Only a Medtech can harvest cyberware from a corpse without destroying it (DV = installation DV, takes 4 hours). Crude extraction (machete time) gets the part out in a minute but destroys it — needs Cybertech repair before use.

Skin Weave & Subdermal Armor

Does NOT Stack with Worn Armor

Both Skin Weave (SP 7) and Subdermal Armor (SP 11) provide body and head SP but do not stack with worn armor. You use whichever SP is higher. They ablate normally and recover 1 SP per day of rest.

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❓ Quick Answers

Can I install cyberware during combat?

No. Even Mall-level cyberware takes time. The only exception is swapping Chipware in an already-installed Chipware Socket (1 Action).

Can I have two Cyberarms?

Yes! Each has its own 4 option slots. You pay HL for each arm separately.

Can I see cyberware on someone?

Fashionware and external cyberware are visible. Internal cyberware is hidden. Cyberlimbs with Realskinn™ covering look natural; Plastic or Superchrome® coverings are obviously chrome.

What happens if I want to remove cyberware?

Removing cyberware restores half the HL it cost (rounded down). Requires the same facility tier as installation. See Removing Cyberware.

What's the cheapest way to get Smartgun benefits?

Subdermal Grip (100eb, HL 3) + Neural Link (500eb, HL 7) = 600eb total. Cheaper than Interface Plugs (500eb, HL 7) but only works with weapons you’re holding.

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🔗 Related Topics

• Humanity — Humanity Loss, Cyberpsychosis, Therapy, Removal
• Exotics — BioExotics® packages (animal/fantasy body mods with reduced HL)
• Full Body Conversions — Going fully metal: FBC bodies and Biosystem rules
• Database — Browse all cyberware items with full stats
• Starting Cyberware — What chrome you pick at character creation
• Damage and Wounds — Critical Injuries affecting cyberlimbs
• Money — Affording your chrome
• Healing — Ripperdocs treat injuries AND install chrome

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(Source: Cyberpunk RED Core Rulebook, pp. 110-116, 187-190, 228-231)