🎭 Roles
“Your Role is who you are in Night City. Not what you do — who you ARE.”
Every Edgerunner has a Role — a specialization that defines their unique ability and place in the crew. There are 10 Roles in Cyberpunk RED, each with a signature Role Ability that no other Role can replicate.
Your Role Ability starts at Rank 4 at character creation and grows as you spend IP. Higher ranks unlock more powerful options — a Rank 4 Solo is dangerous, a Rank 8 Solo is legendary.
⚡ The 10 Roles
Quick Links
Click any Role to see its full ability breakdown, skill recommendations, and rank-by-rank progression.
Combat Roles
| Role | Ability | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | Combat Awareness | Distribute points across 6 combat buffs — damage, initiative, awareness, precision attack, fumble recovery, and spot weakness |
| Lawman | Backup | Call in institutional support: patrol officers at low ranks, detectives at mid, SWAT and armor at high ranks |
| Nomad | Moto | Bond with a vehicle that upgrades as you rank up — weapons, armor, ramming, and eventually a full convoy |
Social Roles
| Role | Ability | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Fixer | Operator | Build a network of contacts — each rank adds crew members who can find gear, intel, muscle, or services |
| Rockerboy | Charismatic Impact | Influence listeners — charm individuals, rally crowds, or incite (and stop) full riots at high ranks |
| Exec | Teamwork | Command a loyal team member — your corporate employee gains better stats and gear as you rank up |
| Media | Credibility | Investigate and expose — verify rumors, locate people, publish stories that create public pressure |
Technical Roles
| Role | Ability | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Netrunner | Interface | Jack into NET Architectures — more NET Actions per turn at higher ranks, fight Black ICE, control devices |
| Tech | Maker | Craft, upgrade, and invent — higher ranks unlock Excellent quality, exotic upgrades, and invention |
| Medtech | Medicine | Heal and enhance — perform surgery, create pharmaceuticals, install cyberware. Higher ranks create better drugs |
📊 Role Comparison
| Role | Combat | Social | Technical | Signature Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐ | Best in any firefight |
| Netrunner | ⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Controls the digital battlefield |
| Fixer | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | Knows everyone, gets anything |
| Nomad | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐ | Mobile firepower, vehicle master |
| Rockerboy | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | Moves crowds, inspires action |
| Tech | ⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Builds what money can’t buy |
| Medtech | ⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | Keeps the crew alive and chromed |
| Media | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | Turns information into power |
| Exec | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | Corporate resources and loyal staff |
| Lawman | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐ | Institutional backup on demand |
🧩 Building a Crew
What does a balanced crew look like?
Can I change my Role later?
No. Your Role is permanent once created. But every Role can learn any skill — a Solo can invest in Persuasion, a Fixer can train Athletics. Your Role Ability is what’s locked in; everything else is flexible.
🔗 Related
- Character Creation — Build your Edgerunner step by step
- 01 Pick a Role — The quick-pick version during creation
- Skills — The skills each Role relies on
- Example Characters — 10 pre-made characters, one per Role