When V first steps onto the streets of Dogtown in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, the first thing that often catches the eye is an airdrop stuffed with valuable cargo, resting on the roof of a distant skyscraper. This cargo belongs to local warlord Kurt Hansen, and V can fight through his Barghest troops to claim the goodies inside—but getting there is half the battle. Even in 2026, players returning to Dogtown still find this opening loop as punchy as ever.
A Breadcrumb From Jacob
After completing the opening chapters of Phantom Liberty, V is confronted at the temporary hideout by Taylor and Jacob, two Dogtown locals looking for a place to rest. V can either shoot first or negotiate a different arrangement. Jacob lets slip that he plans to swipe the next airdrop that comes through. That little piece of dialogue is the breadcrumb: a red-flagged invitation to steal from Kurt Hansen.
Following the Red Smoke
The next morning, V can head downstairs and find Jacob staring at a plume of red smoke rising from a skyscraper roof. As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm, and Jacob seems content to hand the opportunity to V. He explains that he cannot parkour all the way up to grab the airdrop. That sounds intimidating, but the truth is much simpler: there is no parkour required.
No Parkour Required
Instead of leaping between rooftops, V should head to the point marked on the map, just beyond a large sign for “AKEBONO.” At the base of the building on the left, there is a functional elevator. It takes V straight up to the rooftop where the airdrop landed. It is almost a piece of cake, assuming no one notices the elevator going up.
Here is the quick route:
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Head beyond the large “AKEBONO” sign
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Look for the elevator on the left side of the building
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Ride it to the rooftop
🔥 The Three-Way Firefight
Once the elevator doors open, things stop being calm. V is drawn into a three-way firefight between Hansen’s Barghest troops and members of the Voodoo Boys, another gang that calls Dogtown and Pacifica home. Both groups want the cargo, and neither will roll out the welcome wagon. The player should prepare a solid weapon loadout before heading up, preferably using some of Phantom Liberty’s new weapons. V will draw aggro from both sides at once, so the only way to claim the airdrop is to wipe out both groups. It is a tough fight, but the reward is worth its weight in eddies.
What’s Inside the First Airdrop
The first airdrop contains some excellent loot. Here is a quick breakdown:
| Loot | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Carrying capacity shard | Increases V’s inventory space |
| Rare cyberdeck | Improves quickhacking options in combat |
The shard is especially useful for players who like to hoard every weapon and piece of clothing they find. The rare cyberdeck gives V a little extra edge when dealing with hostile netrunners and security systems.
More Airdrops, More Trouble
Luckily, the first airdrop is not the only prize in Dogtown. As V journeys through the district, similar cargo capsules occasionally drop from the sky nearby. Keep your eyes peeled, because these events can be easy to miss in the chaos of Night City. Each airdrop contains worthwhile loot, but some require combat or clever environmental puzzle-solving to reach. In one memorable example, V has to use a nearby forklift to climb onto a ledge while under fire from two of Hansen’s soldiers. It is not always smooth sailing, but that is exactly what makes the scavenger hunt fun.
There are also datashards scattered around that hint at an ongoing battle over the cargo. Hansen’s troops are continually frustrated by scavengers who use improvised technology to redirect the airdrops. It is a classic case of the underdogs biting off more than they can chew, at least until V shows up to clean house. These little snippets of lore add color to the district and give players a reason to chase every red smoke plume they see.
All in all, stealing Kurt Hansen’s airdrops is one of the more rewarding side activities in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. It mixes exploration, combat, and worldbuilding into a loop that never overstays its welcome. Whether V strolls in with pistols blazing or takes the quiet elevator up and lets the factions tear each other apart first, the loot is there for the taking—if the player has the nerve to grab it.