Cyberpunk 2077 guide: How to save Takemura in ‘Search and Destroy’

In the second half of the “Search and Destroy” mission, Arasaka soldiers break into your hotel room, disrupting your meeting. The chaos causes everyone in the room to fall to the ground floor of the apartments. As you come to, Johnny Silverhand encourages you to get out without trying to save Takemura.

If you don’t rescue Takemura, he may no longer be a part of the story. However, saving him at least allows him to survive this situation so there’s a chance he’ll appear again after this mission.

In this Cyberpunk 2077 guide and walkthrough, we’ll show you how to save Takemura at the end of “Search and Destroy.”

How to save Takemura

After the explosion in your hotel room on the third floor, you’ll find yourself amid some rubble on the first floor.

Once you regain control of your character, Johnny Silverhand will encourage you to exit the building. The visual design of the level — see the huge, glowing blue cross above — and the waypoint on your map will lead you toward exiting the building to the right. However, if you want to save Takemura, go left.

You’ll have to find your way back up to the third floor to save him. To do so, make your way to the staircase from the first floor.

The first floor

After you head left of the blue cross, ping a nearby TV in that direction, you’ll see that this way is crowded with armored enemies. You have two options for getting past them: Use distractions, or shoot your way through them.

Image: CD Projekt Red via Polygon

There are plenty of TVs, radios, and speakers you can use on your way toward the stairs. If you want to go stealth, use your Distract Enemies quickhack on all the electronics you can to get enemies to move out of your path or to set them up for silent takedowns. Alternatively, you can just shoot your way through.

However you decide to make it past the enemies, continue forward until you reach the stairs and head to the third floor. Be careful: There is an enemy walking down the stairs from the second floor as you enter the stairwell. Wait for them to pass at the bottom of the stairs, or fight them so you can get to the third floor.

The third floor

Image: CD Projekt Red via Polygon

Once you get to the third floor, your waypoint will reveal Takemura’s location in room 303.

There are three guards at the end of the hall on the third floor, plus guards from the fourth floor might come down the stairwell behind you. Getting flanked and being forced into combat might be hard to avoid here.

If you are forced into a firefight, make use of the fact that your enemies in the hallway are clumped together. Use grenades, shotguns, or quickhacks like Contagion that can affect a group of enemies. If you have to go loud, keep an eye on your Minimap to know when the enemies from the fourth floor are coming down behind you.

Room 303 and 307

When you enter room 303, Takemura will be surrounded by enemies. Toss a grenade at them, or use your most powerful weapons and quickhacks to take them down fast.

Once defeated, Takemura suggests exiting the building — a great idea. Head out of the room and make a right. You’ll be greeted by three more armored enemies. You may also get flanked by two more enemies coming from the left. Dispose of your attackers however you like, and continue going right, further down the hallway to room 307.

Image: CD Projekt Red via Polygon

In this apartment, make your way to the back where you’ll find a large hole in the floor with red light coming out of it. Hop down, and inside that room you’ll find a single flight of stairs. At the bottom is a single enemy. Deal with them, and exit out the door directly behind them.

Once outside, Takemura will part ways with you.