Cyberpunk 2077's MaxTac: The Unkillable Night City Menace

In the sprawling dystopian sandbox of Cyberpunk 2077, the police force has long been the butt of jokes. Players could rampage through Night City, rack up a body count, and then simply drive around the block a few times to shake off the heat. Even a murder spree could be ended by ducking behind a wall. The NCPD would eventually give up, and life would go on. That all changed with the version 2.0 update, which overhauled the police system and introduced a far more terrifying threat: MaxTac.

Now, police encounters are as dangerous as they should be in a place as oppressive as Night City. The most feared response is when MaxTac—the cyberpsycho squad—is dispatched. Players have discovered that these revamped fighters are essentially unkillable in battle, even at higher levels. Getting MaxTac's attention is pretty much a death sentence.

The Old Days: When Cops Were a Minor Annoyance 🚔

Before 2.0, the police were little more than a nuisance. They would chase players for a bit, but their AI was easily exploited. A quick sprint around a corner or a short drive would reset the wanted level. Players could literally stand behind a wall while officers scratched their heads and eventually walked away. Even a five-star wanted level felt like a minor inconvenience rather than a genuine threat. The general consensus was that the police were a joke, and the game's sandbox nature meant that crime had almost no consequences.

MaxTac Changes Everything 💀

The 2.0 update flipped the script. Not only did the police become more aggressive and persistent, but the introduction of MaxTac as a response to high wanted levels turned Night City into a genuinely dangerous place. On the Cyberpunk 2077 subreddit, players have been sharing their harrowing encounters. In one clip, a player barely has time to exit their vehicle before a MaxTac soldier activates their Sandevistan and zips over, taking them out instantly. Another player noted that even commandeering a weaponized police vehicle offers little protection. When a squad of these trained killers is on a player's tail, survival depends on far more than finding a big gun—players need to use every tool in their arsenal to outsmart them.

One player tested the new system on their max-level save, which they'd had since launch. They reported getting their "ass handed to them real quick." While a few players claim to have bested MaxTac, the vast majority are still struggling. It's easy to see why: nothing can prepare a player for having one of the deadliest factions in the game hellbent on flatlining them.

The Community's Mixed Feelings 😅

The revamped police system isn't without its flaws. Many players have pointed out that regular cops are still far too easy to shake off. Even after slaughtering dozens of officers, one can accidentally lose all wanted stars by ducking behind a wall right in front of them. This inconsistency is jarring, but at least when the wanted level escalates to MaxTac, there is no escape. The contrast highlights how MaxTac is meant to be a hard wall—a punishment for those who push too far.

Here's a quick comparison of the old and new police behavior:

Aspect	Pre-2.0	Post-2.0
Normal police pursuit	Easily escaped by driving or hiding	More persistent, but still can be lost by hiding
MaxTac response	Rare, not a real threat	Deadly, nearly unkillable
Wanted level decay	Fast, forgiving	Slower for normal cops, but MaxTac never gives up
Player experience	Police were a joke	MaxTac is a death sentence

From Anime to Game: The Edgerunners Influence 🎬

MaxTac was always intimidating in the lore, but players never really got to face its toughest members in the base game. One of the few interactions involved cleaning up their mess and dealing with cyberpsychos they couldn't take down. Then, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners showed fans what MaxTac was truly capable of—and it far surpassed anything seen in the game. The 2.0 update borrows heavily from the anime, giving players a more intimidating take on MaxTac. This includes their use of Sandevistan, advanced tactics, and overwhelming firepower. It's a clear nod to the show's depiction, and it makes the faction feel like a genuine threat rather than a scripted event.

Surviving the Unkillable? Good Luck 🍀

So, can players actually beat MaxTac? Some claim to have done it, but the general consensus is that it's a rare feat. The key seems to be using every advantage: quickhacks, powerful weapons, and constant movement. But even then, one mistake can mean instant death. The update has turned MaxTac into a force of nature, and that's exactly what many players wanted. Night City should feel dangerous, and now it does.

In 2026, the 2.0 update remains a landmark moment for Cyberpunk 2077. The police overhaul, and especially the MaxTac rework, transformed the game's sandbox into a place where actions have consequences. It's no longer a world where players can murder hundreds and walk away scot-free. If a player hears the sirens and sees the MaxTac insignia, they'd better run—or prepare for a fight they are probably not going to win. 🏃‍♂️💨