Cyberpunk 2077: How to deal with Maelstrom? Important choice Cyberpunk 2077 guide, walkthrough
Last update: 21 July 2023
On this page of the Cyberpunk 2077 guide, you will find a description of all the important choices made during The Pickup quest.
Maelstrom stole a prototype Flathead combat robot from Militech. The gang leader with whom Dex had a deal was replaced by another man, Royce, who may not be willing to keep the word given by his predecessor. As if that were not enough, one of Militech's corporate agents is looking for the robot on her own to find the device before her bosses find out she lost it. You have to decide how you want to get the robot back and which side of the conflict to take.
- Meredith Stout - call her or not?
- How to solve the problem with Flathead?
- Royce - kill him during the negotiations or not?
Meredith Stout - call her or not?
At the very beginning of the task, Dex will give you an optional solution, with participation of Meredith Stout - Militech's agent. When you call her, the woman will agree to a meeting in the storm drain at Skyline Drive.
As soon as you try to say hello to Meredith, her bodyguard will rough you up. V will be stunned and then connected to a probe. Meredith will start asking questions, and when you lie she will know about it. The dialogue options available at this stage of the game may look different, depending on the origin of your character. Meredith wants you to pay for Flathead with a Militech card. There is, however, a problem - the credchip is infected by a virus.
You will find out about this only if your character has the Corporate life path. Otherwise, you won't have this dialogue option. However, you can still hack the chip and get rid of the malicious virus.
How to solve the problem with Flathead?
You can get Flathead in several different ways that differ slightly from each other. You can side with the Malestrom gang, help Meredith Stout or Anthony Gilchrist, and even solve the problem yourself.
You sided with Maelstrom
If you want to take Malestrom's side, pay with the card from Meredith and warn Royce that Militech is sitting on his tail and that the chip you paid with is infected. One of the gang leader's thugs will confirm V's words.
Militech will storm the warehouse and Dum Dum will want to help you escape, leading you to a service shaft. All gang members will be on your side and will provide support in the fight against Militech.
Anthony Gilchrist will be waiting for you outside. The man says that if you had sided with Meredith Stout, he would end up dead. He will let you free. Meredith will no longer interfere in Militech's affairs because her time is over.
You sided with Meredith Stout
If you want to take Militech's side and help out Meredith Stout, you can solve the issues with the Maelstrom gang in several ways.
- You don't cut in when Dum Dum tells Jackie to sit down, a fight with the gang members will break out, and Militech will mix in;
- You start shooting in All Foods warehouse (Maelstrom won't show you Flathead, but you will find it in the storage, next to the room where you would talk to gang members);
- You pay with Militech's infected chip;
- You overpower Royce during the conversation or shoot him in the head.
Attacking the Maelstrom is connected with a shootout and escaping through the service shaft. All members of the Maelstrom gang will be hostile towards you – eliminate them to get to the exit.
When you go outside, Meredith Stout will be waiting for you. The woman will say that she likes the way you solve problems and will express her willingness to continue working together. V will not be convinced.
You don't get Militech involved
If you have not called Meredith Stout and do not have enough of your own money to pay for Flathead (peaceful solution), you will be forced to start fighting Maelstrom. Militech won't support you in the fights in All Foods warehouses – you can rely only on your and Jackie's skills.
Royce - kill him during the negotiations or not?
If you lead to a conflict with Maelstrom and don't kill Royce during the negotiations, he will disappear. Royce will appear later as an optional boss.
The battle with Royce is described in detail on a separate page of our guide, in the chapter titled Bosses.