Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty: Balls to the Wall Walkthrough and Best Choice

Like many Night City edgerunners, I still boot up Cyberpunk 2077 whenever I want to disappear into Dogtown. On a recent 2026 replay, I stumbled back into Balls to the Wall, a Phantom Liberty side job that throws two nervous BARGHEST recruits, a stolen generator, and one of the most interesting moral forks in the whole expansion onto your lap. The job is not especially hard, but the ending will stay with you. So what actually happens if you frame Yuri? Should you tell Paco and Babs to run? After playing through both outcomes, here is everything I learned.

How to Start Balls to the Wall

I started the job by heading to the map marker near the BARGHEST area and striking up a conversation with Paco and Babs. Right away, I had to guide the dialogue carefully. When Paco offered me the Deep Dive inhaler, I accepted it without hesitation. Why would I pass up the chance to relive someone else's memories? That inhaler is the key that unlocks the entire mission, so do not skip it.

Hansen's Perspective: Two Quick Combat Sections

Once I inhaled the Deep Dive, I was pulled into two playable memories starring Kurt Hansen, the leader of BARGHEST. The first section is straightforward. I spoke with Yuri, then defeated Paco in a fist fight. It felt strange punching a man I was trying to help, but the memory demanded it.

The second section dropped me into a fight against a group of scavengers. Thanks to Hansen's powerful weapon and enormous health pool, I barely broke a sweat. This is easily one of the easiest combat sequences in Phantom Liberty, which makes sense because it serves the story more than the challenge.

The Big Choice: Frame Yuri or Run

After the second Hansen section, I finally reached the decision that defines Balls to the Wall. Paco and Babs were in serious trouble, and I had to tell them either to frame Yuri or to run away. Both choices lead to very different endings, and neither feels completely clean. Is it better to throw a lieutenant under the bus, or to send two frightened recruits into the unknown?

If You Frame Yuri

When I chose the 'frame Yuri' option, the game sent me to an underpass to meet Paco and Babs. The waypoint made it easy to reach the spot. I sat down and waited. Soon enough, Yuri showed up, and I had to pull out my best weapons and put him down. After the fight, I looted his body and found two Rare guns as well as an Archived Conversation. Reading that conversation revealed something chilling: Yuri and Kurt already knew about Paco's transgression.

From there, the waypoint led me to the Needle. That is when the weight of my choice really hit me. I found Paco's hanging corpse. The game then let me message Babs over the phone. I could tell her the truth about Paco's fate or keep it a secret, but the mission ended the same way regardless. I walked away with two Rare guns and a very bad feeling.

If You Tell Them to Run

On my second playthrough, I instructed the recruits to run for the hills. Paco immediately walked to a nearby car, and I drove him out of Dogtown toward the Grand Imperial Mall just beyond the gate. It felt like a clean escape, but the story was not over.

After waiting two in-game days, I received a message from Paco asking to meet at the Atlantis. I followed the waypoint and found him there. The twist? Paco had become a scav. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but at least he was alive. Better yet, sitting on a chair next to him was the Carmen, a Phantom Liberty-exclusive Iconic Power Assault Rifle. That rifle alone made the choice feel worthwhile.

Which Choice Should You Pick?

For me, telling Babs and Paco to run is the better option. Yes, Paco immediately affiliates himself with the scavs, and that is not exactly a happy ending. But he survives, and the Carmen is one of the most satisfying rewards in the DLC. If you are a completionist or simply want to add another Iconic weapon to your wall, run is the way to go.

That said, if you prefer a darker, more noir conclusion, framing Yuri has its own grim power. You get two Rare guns and an uncomfortable glimpse into how little loyalty means in Dogtown. Either way, Balls to the Wall is a short but memorable side job that captures what makes Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty expansion so compelling.

Choice	Immediate Outcome	Long-Term Reward
Frame Yuri	Fight and kill Yuri, loot two Rare guns, read the Archived Conversation	Paco is found hanging at the Needle; no Carmen
Run for the hills	Drive Paco out of Dogtown, wait two in-game days, meet him at Atlantis	Paco survives but becomes a scav; collect the Carmen Iconic Power Assault Rifle

In 2026, I still think this mission holds up as one of Phantom Liberty's best small stories. It asks a simple question: how far would you go to save someone who might not deserve saving? I made my choice, but I will not pretend it was easy.