Finding and installing cyberware is the main mechanic in Cyberpunk 2077 for making each player’s version of V different. Cyberware can apply to all sorts of places across the body, from the hands to the skin to parts of the brain, and each slot has multiple options for enhancing the physical and digital capabilities of the protagonist. The options for cyberware have increased since the game’s release, especially with the 2.0 update that fully overhauled Cyberpunk‘s system.

But across all categories of cyberware, there is perhaps one category where the most players agree on what to install: the legs. Leg cyberware was incredibly limited before 2.0, with only two options, but has now been expanded to include many others. Still, do any of these newer options hold up in comparison to the originals, and which legs are generally considered “the best?”

The Newer Leg Upgrades Don’t Stand A Chance Against Their Predecessors

Speed And Stealth Are Incomparable To Heightened Jumping Mobility

The main difference between the first two leg upgrades and the later editions are that the first two deal with increasing the player’s jump height and distance, while the others provide basic speed and health upgrades. For instance, the Lynx Paws make it more difficult for enemies to detect sneaking players, decrease fall damage, and increase crouched movement speed. That’s all good, but this upgrade has one major factor holding it back: it provides exclusively passive upgrades.

Each piece of cyberware in Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 also includes a few passive stat buffs; however, these are applied independently of the kind of cyberware that is equipped, and depends mainly on the skills a player has rather than the kind of cyberware they install.

Overwhelmingly, players prefer active powers and upgrades in games like Cyberpunk 2077, which they can choose to make use of, rather than straightforward stat increases. The latter may be more useful for certain builds, but it remains the more boring of the options, and it doesn’t make the player feel as mobile as new jump abilities do.

Something like the Jenkins’ Tendons may provide a better and faster speed boost for players entering combat, but it can’t compare to how increased jump height allows players to reach new areas to discover secrets or set up an ambush. All in all, these newer upgrades simply don’t reach the heights of the original two, and they mostly go unused by players.

Fortified Ankles Provide A High Jump, But Can Be Difficult To Control

Reaching The Highest Peaks Of Night City

Going back to those two jumping upgrades, while both receive their share of love, the Fortified Ankles are clearly the weak link. These ankle modifications give players the option to charge their jump while on the ground, potentially reaching the roofs of buildings or going straight over fences. They are certainly more useful than the newer upgrades, and equipping them will immediately make players feel more powerful and maneuverable as they navigate Night City.

But the critical fault with this high jump is that it lacks the control of its direct competitor, and can’t provide the same midair mobility options that allow for quick redirects and further horizontal distances. It doesn’t help that the next upgrade on the list provides nearly the same jump height, with greater control given to the player in how they move through the air.

Reinforced Tendons Give Players The Best Balance Of Mobility And Control

Becoming A Midair Combat Master

Finally, the Reinforced Tendons stand out as the best possible choice for leg cyberware, due to the double jump they provide. This double jump not only allows for greater jump height, but also much greater distance, which really shines when combined with certain dash and dodge upgrades in the Reflex skill tree. The height difference they have with the fortified ankles is near negligible, and they allow for much better control of the protagonist while falling.

Several parts of Night City are inaccessible to players without an increased jump height, but the reinforced tendons and fortified ankles both work just as well to reach these locations.

While any of these leg upgrades can be used effectively by players as they fight their way through the game, the Reinforced Tendons tend to feel the best, as they offer the greatest degree of mobility. Any player would benefit from equipping this cyberware on their version of V, and it’s especially handy for Reflex-focused characters who need to navigate the battlefield quickly. Still, Cyberpunk 2077 is a game built around different combinations of skills and cyberware, and players can no doubt find creative uses for all of these upgrades if they try.