Cyberpunk 2077 DEAD CENTER Perk Guide | Best DEAD CENTER Build and Weapons

The Cyberpunk 2077 Dead Center Perk is found within the Annihilation Skill Tree and is improved by leveling your Body Stat. The Dead Center Perk Increases damage to torso by 10% / 20%. We rank this as a B-Tier choice and recommend using Shotgun and HMG weapons with this perk.

Dead Center

Skill Type: Annihilation

Requires: Level 7 Body

Effect: Increases damage to torso by 10% / 20%

Best Build
Best Weapons
Similar Perks

Quickly navigate this Dead Center guide using the links above.

Perks like Dead Center in Cyberpunk 2077

List of Annihilation Perks that are similar to Dead Center.

(Click/Tap the Names below for a complete guide on the perk.)

Rank	Lvl	Perk	Effect
C	5	Pump It, Louder!	Reduces recoil of shotguns and light machine guns by 10% / 20%
C	1	Hail Of Bullets	Shotguns and light machine guns deal 3% / 6% / 10% more damage
A	5	In Your Face	Reduces reload time of shotguns and light machine guns by 20% / 40%
B	7	Dead Center	Increases damage to torso by 10% / 20%
A	7	Bloodrush	Increases movement speed while carrying a shotgun or light machine gun by 5% / 10%
A	9	Mongoose	Increases evasion by 25% while reloading
A	9	Bulldozer	Increases crit chance with shotguns and light machine guns by 10%
A	11	Momentum Shift	Defeating an enemy increases movement speed by 10% / 15% / 20% for 10 seconds
A	11	Massacre	Increases crit damage with shotguns and light machine guns by 15% / 30% / 45%
A	12	Heavy Lead	shotguns and light machine guns knock back enemies with more force
A	12	Skeet Shooter	Deal 15% more damage to moving targets
S	14	Manic	When entering combat, your movement speed increases by 20% for 10 second(s)
S	14	Unstoppable	Dismembering an enemy increases fire rate (cycle time) by 10% for 8 seconds. Stacks up to 3 times
S	16	Speed Demon	You deal more damage the faster you're moving
A	16	Burn Baby Burn	Doubles the duration of burn
S	18	Poppin' Off	Shotguns have a 25% / 50% higher chance of dismembering enemies
A	18	Hit The Deck	Increases damage to staggered and knocked-down enemies by 10% / 20%
A	20	Biathlete	Weapon spread does not increase while moving
S	20	Bloodbath	Dismembering enemies reduces weapon recoil by 50% for 6 sec. +1% per Perk Level

Best weapons to use with Dead Center Perk in Cyberpunk 2077

We consider Shotgun and HMG weapons to be the best to use with the Dead Center perk.

(Click/Tap the Images below for a complete guide on where to find and how to get.)

Shotgun and HMG	Stats
Carnage Power	DPS Low Requirement Body 6 Mod Slots Scope Slot
Crusher Power	DPS Low Requirement Body 6
D5 Copperhead Power	DPS Medium Mod Slots Silencer Scope
D5 Sidewinder Smart	DPS None Requirement Smart Link Cyberware Mod Slots Scope Slot
Hjsh-18 Masamune Power	DPS Medium Mod Slots Silencer Scope
L-69 Zhuo Smart	DPS Low Requirement Smart Link Cyberware
M2038 Tactician Power	DPS Low Mod Slots Scope Slot
M2067 Defender Power	DPS Low Requirement Body 6 Mod Slots Silencer Scope
M251s Ajax Power	DPS Medium Mod Slots Silencer Scope
Mk.31 Hmg Power	DPS High
Moron Labe Power M251S Ajax	Stats 46-56 Damage 4.89 Attacks Per Second + 32-39 Chemical Damage + 32-39 Physical Damage Mod Slots Scope Slot Muzzle Slot Effects High dismembering probability and fire rate.
Mox Power Carnage	Stats 11-14x20 Damage 0.66 Attacks Per Second + 10-13 Thermal Damage + 3% Burn Damage 1.02 Headshot Damage Multiplier Mod Slots Mod Slot Effects Low reload speed but reduced spread while aiming.
Prejudice Power HJSH-18 Masamune	Stats 93-113 Damage 2.94 Attacks Per Second + 65-80 Physical Damage + 26.48% Crit Chance + 52.48% Crit Damage + 10% Bleeding Damage 2 Headshot Damage Multiplier Mod Slots Scope Slot Muzzle Slot 4x Mod Slots Effects Piercing projectiles.
Psalm 11:6 Power D5 Copperhead	Stats 41-50 Damage 6.38 Attacks Per Second + 31-38 Thermal Damage + 24.08% Crit Chance + 18% Burn Chance 1 Headshot Damage Multiplier Mod Slots Scope Slot Muzzle Slot Mod Slot Effects High thermal damage with a chance to apply Burn.
The Headsman Power M2038 Tactician	Stats 25-30 Damage 1.21 Attacks Per Second + 18-22 Chemical Damage Mod Slots Scope Slot Effects Increased number of pellets shot, reduced reload time, chance to apply Bleeding
Ba Xing Chong Smart L-69 Zhuo	Stats 27-33 Damage 0.87 Attacks Per Second + 19-23 Physical Damage + 19.46% Crit Chance + 83.40% Crit Damage + 10% Bleeding Chance 2.11 Headshot Damage Multiplier Effects Fires explosive rounds and rips enemies to shreds.
Divided We Stand Smart D5 Sidewinder	Stats 23-28 Damage 6 Attacks Per Second + 17-20 Electrical Damage Effects Can target up to five enemies simultaneously. Deals chemical damage with a chance to apply Poison.

Best Dead Center Build, Weapons, and Cyberware in Cyberpunk 2077

We recommend using this Monowire build with the Dead Center Perk, together with Strike From The Shadows and Cold Blood will improve the overall build.

B-Tier

Monowire Build

20 Body	3 Reflexes	20 Cool	15 Intelligence	3 Technical Ability

Looking for a weapon to use with this build? Visit our Best Weapons Guide.

The Best Cyberware we recommend for this build

Name	Price	Effect
Visual cortex support Common Frontal Cortex	3,000	Increases Crit Damage by 15% Int 6
Visual cortex support Uncommon Frontal Cortex	4,500	Increases Crit Damage by 16% Int 8
Visual cortex support Epic Frontal Cortex	15,000	Increases Crit Damage by 30% Int 12
Visual cortex support Legendary Frontal Cortex	21,000	Increases Crit Damage by 45% Int 16
Microvibration Generator Uncommon Skeleton Cyberware	7,500	Increases base damage of melee weapons by 5%
Microvibration Generator Rare Skeleton Cyberware	15,000	Increases base damage of melee weapons by 10% Ref 12
Monowire Rare Arms Cyberware	15,450	126-155 Dmg. +52-64 Physical Dmg. 2.5 Attack Speed. +10% Bleed Chance. Charges when equipped but not used in combat. Attacks with a charged wire deal bonus dmg based on charge level. Charge level and monus damage dealth decline with each attack. Deals Physical damage. Deals high ammount of concentrated dmg and can instantly dismember an enemy. SC 20
Monowire Epic Arms Cyberware	25,450	150-184 Dmg. +62-76 Physical Dmg. 2.5 Attack Speed. +15% Bleed Chance. Same as Rare. 1 Mod slot SC 25
Monowire Legendary Arms Cyberware	100,450	163-199 dmg. +67-82 physical dmg. 2.5 AS +20% Bleed. Same as Rare. 2 Mod slots. SC 45

The Best Mods we recommend for this build

Name	Type	Effect
Threat Detector Rare	Kiroshi Optics Fragment	Enemies that detect you are automatically highlighted.
Weakspot Detection Uncommon	Kiroshi Optics Fragment	Crit Chance +5%.

Need a cyberdeck to complete this build? You should check out our Best Cyberdeck Guide.

The Best Quickhacks to use with this build

Name	Price	Specs	Effect
Ping Uncommon	60	RAM Cost: 1 Upload Time: 1 Duration: 20 Cooldown: 0	Reveals enemies and devices connected to the local network.
Ping Legendary	280	RAM Cost: 1 Upload Time: 1 Duration: 20 Cooldown: 0	Highlighted targets can be scanned and quickhacked through solid obstacles.

Monowire Best Perks You Should Use

Lvl	Perks	Effects
5	Invincible	Increases max health by 10% / 20% / 30%
9	Steel And Chrome	Increases melee damage by 10% / 20%
7	Dead Center	Increases damage to torso by 10% / 20%
11	Momentum Shift	Defeating an enemy increases movement speed by 10% / 15% / 20% for 10 seconds
12	Skeet Shooter	Deal 15% more damage to moving targets
4	Dazed	Attacks have a 15% / 30% chance to apply stun
1	Flurry	Increases damage from combo attacks by 30% / 40% / 50%
6	Efficient Blows	Reduces stamina cost for all attacks by 25% / 50%
8	Opportune Strike	Increases damage against enemies affected by stun by 50%
15	Frenzy	Defeating an enemy increases damage by 100% for 10 seconds
18	Unshakable	Successful attacks against enemies affected by stun restore 5% / 10% % / 15% health and 5% / 10% % / 15% stamina
1	Crouching Tiger	Increases movement speed while sneaking by 20%
7	Assassin	Deal 15% more damage to human enemies
7	Strike From The Shadows	Increases your crit chance by 15% while sneaking
12	Ghost	Detection time is increased by 20% / 40%.
1	Cold Blood	After defeating an enemy, gain Cold Blood for 10 seconds and increase movement speed by 2%. Stacks up to 1/2/3 times
7	Critical Condition	Increases duration of Cold Blood by 5/10 seconds
11	Coldest Blood	Increases max stack amount for Cold Blood by 1
12	Blood Brawl	When Cold Blood is active, increases damage with melee weapons by 5% / 10%
12	Predator	Increases attack speed by 1% / 3% per stack of Cold Blood
14	Cold And Calculating	Landing a crit hit has 25% chance of applying a stack of Cold Blood
16	Unbreakable	Increases max stack amount for Cold Blood by 1
16	Coolagulant	Stacks of Cold Blood are removed one by one, not all at once
20	Merciless	While Cold Blood is active, Increases Crit Chance by 10% and Crit Damage by 25%. 1% Crit Chance and 3% Crit Damage per Perk Level.