I’d buy the implant that solves a problem on day one - not the one with the lowest sticker price. In Cyberpunk RED, that means comparing the required hardware, total cost, and Humanity loss before you install anything.
- Internal Agent: My pick for concealed communication. It costs 600eb with the required Cyberaudio Suite, but you’ll need more hardware for visual output.
- Neural Link + Interface Plugs: My pick for Netrunning or frequent use of compatible smartguns, vehicles, and machinery. Budget 500eb for the plugs plus the Neural Link’s price, and 14 Humanity at character creation.
- Cyberoptics: My pick when you need a specific vision function. Each Cybereye costs 500eb before options; some options require two eyes and two copies.
Quick Comparison
| Starter choice | Full purchase cost | Best use | Humanity cost to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Agent | 600eb with Suite | Private, hands-free communication | Agent loss plus Suite loss; maximum drops by 4 |
| Neural Link + Interface Plugs | 500eb plus Neural Link | Wired access to compatible gear | 14 at creation or 4d6 later; maximum drops by 4 |
| Cyberoptics | 500eb per eye, plus options | A specific vision need | 7 per eye at creation or 2d6 later, plus options; maximum drops by 2 per piece |
My last check is the recovery budget: standard therapy costs 500eb for one week and restores 2d6 Humanity, but only up to your reduced maximum. Check both your immediate loss and your recovery ceiling - your current Humanity determines your effective Empathy.
Cyberpunk RED Starter Cyberware: Cost vs. Humanity
1. Internal Agent
Installed Eurobuck Cost
The Internal Agent costs 100eb, but the full internal setup starts at around 600eb: 500eb for the Cyberaudio Suite and 100eb for the Agent. Choose it for concealed, hands-free access. An external Agent costs less and carries less risk.
Installation Prerequisites
The Internal Agent is a Cyberaudio add-on that requires a Cyberaudio Suite and installs at a Mall. It’s audio-only unless you add a visual display, such as a cybereye with Chyron. Only add that hardware if you need visual output.
Humanity and Therapy Costs
The Agent costs 3 Humanity at character creation or 1d6 later. The Suite has its own Humanity Loss. Together, the Agent and required Suite also reduce maximum Humanity by 4, separate from installation Humanity Loss.
This is a convenience upgrade, not an early freebie. It competes with other starter implants for your Humanity budget.
Role-Specific Uses
The Internal Agent suits any character who needs private access to contacts, notes, or team coordination. Pick it first only if concealed access is your priority. Otherwise, an external Agent avoids the Suite’s cost and the package’s Humanity loss.
If you need direct control of cyberdecks, smartguns, or vehicles next, the next package is Neural Link plus Interface Plugs.
2. Neural Link plus Interface Plugs
Installed Eurobuck Cost
The Internal Agent offers convenience. Interface Plugs give you control. Interface Plugs cost 500eb, but you also need a Neural Link. Your total cost depends on the Neural Link’s current listed price.
Installation Prerequisites
Install the Neural Link first, then Interface Plugs. You can have only one Neural Link installed at a time. The plugs need compatible equipment to work - they don’t replace the gear itself.
Humanity and Therapy Costs
A Neural Link costs 7 Humanity at character creation or 2d6 when installed later. The Interface Plugs’ Humanity loss comes on top of that.
Each installed implant also lowers your maximum Humanity by 2, so the pair can lower your ceiling by 4. Check whether the loss puts you in a lower Empathy bracket.
Role-Specific Uses
Make this your first installation only if you already own interface-capable gear and plan to use it often.
Solos, Netrunners, and drivers get the most from it: smartgun integration, cyberdeck access, or hands-free control.
This package earns its place early when you need wired control every session. Otherwise, an Internal Agent or cyberoptics is usually a better first purchase.
If direct machine control isn’t a priority, compare what you’d get from cyberoptics next.
Understanding Cyberware in Cyberpunk Red Character Creation
3. Cyberoptics
Cyberoptics is the best starter upgrade when vision is the problem - not when you just have spare slots. It offers the broadest utility, but its cost and Humanity loss also climb fastest.
Installed Eurobuck Cost
A Cybereye costs 500eb and provides 3 option slots. Each option costs extra. A Cybereye with MicroOptics totals 600eb; two Cybereyes with Low-Light/Infrared/UV in both eyes total 2,000eb.
| Option | Cost per copy | Humanity Loss per copy (creation / later roll) | Effect and prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| MicroOptics | 100eb | 2 / 1d6/2 | 400× magnification; one Cybereye |
| TeleOptics | 500eb | 3 / 1d6 | Clear detail up to 800 meters/yards; +1 to Aimed Shots at least 51 meters/yards away; one Cybereye |
| Image Enhancer | 500eb | 3 / 1d6 | +2 to Perception, Lip Reading, and Conceal/Reveal Object; two Cybereyes |
| Low-Light/Infrared/UV | 500eb | 3 / 1d6 | Ignore darkness, smoke, and fog penalties; two Cybereyes |
Paired options require two copies, one per eye.
Installation Prerequisites
A qualified medical professional must install the base Cybereye and its options. Single-eye options need one Cybereye; paired options need two.
Humanity and Therapy Costs
Every installed piece of cyberware with Humanity Loss reduces maximum Humanity by 2. That includes each base Cybereye and every installed option.
A Cybereye with MicroOptics costs 9 Humanity at character creation or 2d6 + 1d6/2 afterward. It also lowers maximum Humanity by 4. Two Cybereyes with paired Low-Light/Infrared/UV cost 20 Humanity at character creation or 6d6 afterward, and lower maximum Humanity by 8.
Therapy restores lost Humanity only up to that reduced ceiling. Budget 500eb for standard therapy (2d6) or 1,000eb for extreme therapy (4d6).
Role-Specific Uses
Buy the visual function you need, not empty capacity. Choose MicroOptics for inspection, TeleOptics for long-range shooting, paired Image Enhancers for investigation, and low-light optics for poor-visibility runs.
Cyberoptics earns its place as a first install when it solves a repeated vision problem your other starter gear can't handle. Compare the full cost and Humanity loss against communication or interface control before buying.
Package Prices and Installation Requirements
Compare the full buy-in, not just the item price. The costs below help you compare starter packages. If a prerequisite’s price is missing, the listed cost isn’t the full package total.
| Package | Required purchases | Confirmed item cost | Character creation HL | Later HL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Agent | Cyberaudio Suite + Internal Agent | 100eb for Agent only | 3 for Agent | 1d6 for Agent |
| Interface Plugs package | Neural Link + Interface Plugs | 500eb for plugs only | 7 for plugs | 2d6 for plugs |
| One basic Cybereye | One eye; no options | 500eb | 7 | 2d6 |
| Two basic Cybereyes | Two eyes; no options | 1,000eb | 14 | 4d6 |
Prerequisite prices and Humanity Loss are separate unless listed here.
Installation access can also block an early purchase. Internal Agent installs at a Mall and requires a Cyberaudio Suite. Interface Plugs install at a Clinic and require a Neural Link.
Beyond the price, each package also has a Humanity cost.
Humanity Loss, Empathy, and Therapy Costs
Once you’ve set package prices, Humanity is the real limit.
Your current Humanity determines your effective EMP: divide it by 10 and round down. Your maximum Humanity only sets the ceiling for therapy recovery. These rules apply to the Internal Agent, Neural Link + Interface Plugs, and cyberoptic packages.
At character creation, use fixed Humanity Loss. For later installations, roll the loss for each component separately.
Here’s how the Humanity costs compare:
| Component or package | Creation loss | Later installation loss | Maximum Humanity reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neural Link | 7 | 2d6 | 2 |
| Interface Plugs | 7 | 2d6 | 2 |
| Neural Link + Interface Plugs | 14 | 2d6 + 2d6 | 4 |
Each standard piece or option that costs Humanity also lowers your maximum Humanity by 2. Each borgware piece lowers it by 4.
Standard therapy costs 500eb and restores 2d6 Humanity. Extreme therapy costs 1,000eb and restores 4d6. Neither can restore Humanity beyond your reduced maximum.
At EMP 0, your character has cyberpsychosis, but you still control them. Below 0 Humanity, they enter extreme cyberpsychosis, and the GM takes control until Humanity rises above 0.
Before installing an implant, check the immediate loss, your new maximum, and whether it pushes you into a lower 10-point EMP band.
Which implant should go first?
Which Cyberware Should You Install First?
Once you account for costs and Humanity loss, your first purchase should match what your character needs on day one.
| First choice | Listed cost | Immediate Humanity loss: creation / later | Prerequisites | Best first-purchase fit | Expansion trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Agent | 100eb, not including the required Cyberaudio Suite. | 3 / 1d6 for the Agent alone. | Cyberaudio Suite. | Pick it when you need concealed, implanted communication. | Audio-only without added visual hardware, which costs more money and Humanity. |
| Neural Link + Interface Plugs | 500eb for Interface Plugs, plus the Neural Link’s listed price. | 7 / 2d6 per component. | Clinic installation; Interface Plugs require a Neural Link. | Pick it for Netrunning or frequent use of compatible smartguns, vehicles, or machinery. | Best long-term compatibility, but limited early value unless you already own compatible gear. |
| Cyberoptics | 500eb per Cybereye, not including options. | 7 / 2d6 per eye, plus option losses. | Cybereye platform and option-specific requirements. | Pick it when a specific visual capability solves a recurring problem. | Three slots per eye. Options cost extra money and Humanity; paired options require duplicate purchases. |
FAQs
How much Humanity should I keep in reserve?
Cyberpunk RED doesn’t require a set Humanity reserve. But if it drops too low, cyberpsychosis can become an active game effect. Weigh what each piece of cyberware offers against its Humanity Loss and the drop in Empathy.
When choosing upgrades, account for both rolled Humanity Loss and reductions to maximum Humanity. Leave enough room to stay well above the point where cyberpsychosis threatens your character’s stability.
Does removing cyberware restore my maximum Humanity?
No. Removing cyberware stops further Empathy loss, but it doesn’t restore your maximum Humanity. The reduction from installation is permanent. Therapy can restore lost Humanity points, but only up to that reduced maximum.
Should I budget for therapy before buying cyberware?
Yes - budget for therapy before or alongside your first cyberware purchases. In Cyberpunk RED, cyberware lowers your Humanity. Push it too far, and your risk of cyberpsychosis grows. Set aside money for treatment, not just upgrades, to help manage that risk.
