Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is the exhilarating new anime to hit Netflix and is a spin-off of the video game Cyberpunk 2077. Studio Trigger has molded the Cyberpunk aesthetic into its own trademark style, resulting in one explosive and thoroughly entertaining package.
The music and visuals in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners are spot on, the story is compelling, and the characters really come into their own. To survive and succeed in Night City, one has to be ruthless, cunning, and capable. This is as true in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners as it is in Cyberpunk 2077. There are several Edgerunners characters who exemplify this strength, whether it comes from sheer stature or their overall effectiveness in a fight. These strong characters aren’t necessarily all the protagonists either, with some being powerful enough to be major obstacles that need to be overcome.
Spoilers ahead for Netflix’s Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
10 Rebecca Is Pure Chaos & Firepower
Rebecca may be small in stature, but her bloodlust and generally chaotic nature are a perfect fit for the inevitable conflicts of Night City. However, her rashness does have a tendency to break out and ruin peaceful negotiations at the slightest annoyance, which can be a problem.
Rebecca is incredibly adept with firearms, making her an extremely dangerous albeit pocket-sized weapon. She may struggle against larger opponents in close combat but from a distance she is unstoppable. All this paired with her undying loyalty to David makes her a valuable crewmate for the latter stages of the anime.
9 Kiwi Is An Assured Netrunner
Kiwi is an exceptional netrunner and a crucial part of Maine’s squad of cyberpunks. She is especially skilled at hacking and manipulating techware, a particularly useful supporting role to have on any team. Her ability is a showcase of effective netrunning being almost as deadly as physical combat in Night City, given that most inhabitants have implants that can be hacked.
Ultimately, Kiwi’s vital importance makes her a hot commodity. She is eventually revealed to be a traitor, working with Faraday when he turns on David and the crew, as a means to ensure her own safety.
8 Lucy Is Dangerous In Combat & As A Netrunner
Lucy is so much more than just being David’s love interest in Edgerunners. She has an air of mystic cynicism about her that has been formed from a traumatic past and the idea that her dreams won’t ever come true. David helps her grow over the course of the series and they both play a huge role as a part of Maine’s crew of cyberpunks.
Lucy has a Monowire modification in her arms, which she can utilize as a deadly weapon or to ensure a quick escape. She also dabbles in netrunning, making her dangerous in both physical combat and hacking tech and an underrated warrior of Night City.
7 The Cyberpsycho Who Takes Out Pilar Is A Force To Be Reckoned With
Pilar’s death in the fourth episode “Lucky You” comes out of left field, but occurs from him pestering and verbally abusing a man who appears to be in a trance. The guy suddenly murders Pilar and immediately shows signs of cyberpsychosis.
The “cyberpsycho” opens fire on the remaining crew-members, with them frantically scrambling to gain composure and launch a counterattack. It takes evasive maneuvers, David utilizing the Sandevistan and Maine landing a final punch to take him down. This makes the unnamed assailant a formidable opponent, given that the crew can normally ease through hordes of foes.
6 Tanaka Is More Than Just An Arasaka Executive In A Suit
Mr Tanaka is introduced as the father of Katsuo, the bully who torments David right up until he gets his face smashed in. However, as he is an Arasaka executive, he appears again later on in the story as the target of Maine and his crew.
David and the others lay a trap to capture him, but they completely underestimate that he may have enhancements of his own. Tanaka unleashes spiky projectiles before landing several devastating punches on Maine, catching him by surprise. David eventually manages to distract him long enough for Maine to recover and knock him out, but Tanaka’s momentary offense is still impressive.
5 James Norris Is A Terrifying Glimpse At What Cyberpsychosis In A Military Man Looks Like
James Norris opens the first episode of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners with a prolific massacre of NCPD officers as he descends into cyberpsychosis. He demonstrates the Sandevistan cyberware at its most terrifying, as it allows the user to move faster than the eye can see, perfect for intense battle scenarios.
Norris is eventually taken down, but not before showing off his military experience in battle. Norris is a former Lieutenant Colonel of the NUSA military, and it duly shows as he takes out almost thirty officers with relative ease. The sheer numbers and his tech being fried are the only reasons he is eventually able to be taken down.
4 Dorio Is One Tough Cookie
Dorio serves in Maine’s crew as his right hand. She has an incredibly tough exterior and can cause plenty of carnage when she wants to. Her Gorilla Arms cyberware helps her to land those heavy hits. She continues the theme of Maine’s crew all having different forearm enhancements.
Despite her overwhelming power, Dorio also operates as the glue that holds Maine’s crew together. Unlike the others, she is in touch with her emotions and has a soft side, although this is only really shown around those she cares about. Dorio serves the crew loyally, which makes her death at the hands of Maine all the more tragic.
3 Maine Is The Hulking Leader Of The Main Crew
Maine is a veteran edgerunner who allows David to join his crew. Maine is a hulk of a man, with explosive raw power that is backed up with multiple cybernetic enhancements. His most-used cyberware is the Projectile Launch System, another forearm implant that fires projectiles at an alarming rate.
Maine is a fair leader, believing in making sure everyone has an equal cut after a job. His likable personality makes his descent into cyberpsychosis even more devastating. Yet even in his deteriorating state, he is still an unbelievably strong mercenary, whose feats of strength will never fail to surprise and amaze.
2 David Bulks Up & Steps Up Out Of Necessity
When David is first introduced at the start of Edgerunners, he is a mere shell of his true potential. In fact, it is the Sandevistan cyberware that helps him to feel in control of life for the first time. Yet it takes a lot of failing and learning for him to bulk up and step up as a future leader.
David returns after a time skip in “Stronger” with a new and improved physique, as well as a new professionalism as a cyberpunk. David has always been able to withstand more pain and cyberware usage than most, and he eventually takes full advantage of that. It is only after running out of meds and using the terrifying cyberskeleton that he finally verges on cyberpsychosis and meets his end.
1 Adam Smasher Is Too Much For Even David To Handle
Adam Smasher’s cameo as the big final boss in Edgerunners is a welcome surprise for fans of Cyberpunk 2077. Smasher is a full-borg solo and weapon for Arasaka in both the game and the anime. David goes on quite the journey to becoming an extremely powerful edgerunner, and it ultimately takes the experienced Smasher to bring him down.
Smasher squashes Rebecca like she is absolutely nothing, and isn’t tested too much by David either, despite him putting up a serious fight. Adam Smasher is undoubtedly the strongest character on show in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, even if he only appears in the closing action sequences.