Conquering Dogtown: Your Ultimate Guide to the Dog Eat Dog Mission in Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty

Let's be real—even in 2026, the opening of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty still gives me chills. The moment I got that cryptic call from Songbird, I knew Night City was about to throw V into something way bigger than a simple gig. Dog Eat Dog isn't just a tutorial mission; it's your bloody, adrenaline-fueled passport into the heart of Dogtown and a desperate struggle to save the NUSA president. If you want to nail this intro without embarrassing yourself in front of the locals, I've got you covered.

🎧 The Call That Changes Everything

The mission kicks off the second Songbird’s voice crackles through your holo. She claims she can save V from the Relic’s ticking time bomb, and honestly, who wouldn’t bite? After you agree to meet, she sends coordinates to Dogtown—a black market fortress in Pacifica where even the NCPD fear to tread. But getting in isn’t as simple as strutting through the front gate.

When you reach the security checkpoint, Songbird does something wild: she temporarily mutes Johnny Silverhand. That alone told me this netrunner was the real deal. She lays out the situation—the president’s plane is being hijacked and forced to land inside Dogtown, and V is literally the only soul on the ground who can help. No pressure, right?

🔓 Unlocking Relic Powers & Entering Dogtown

Once you agree to the suicide mission, Songbird unlocks a brand-new skill tree: Relic Skills. Don’t sleep on these—they fundamentally alter V’s combat abilities and are crucial for the expansion. Then she directs you toward a rundown garage entrance that bypasses the main security cordon.

Here’s where I learned my first lesson: brute force isn’t always the smart play. Two guards block the way, and while you can go loud, a stealth approach makes the mission flow so much smoother. I stuck close to a military truck, crouched, and silently took down the guard at the rear. Stash him in a dumpster, then creep up on the second guard near the storage containers. With them out, you can slide right under the garage door like a chrome-plated ghost. 🤫

🔦 Navigating the Dark Garage

Inside, the garage quickly turns into a labyrinth. You’ll need to crawl through a small gap in the wall—keep your eyes peeled on the right side. Your next objective: restore power. A giant metal sheet blocks the maintenance room; shove it aside and drop into the lower level.

The access point won’t work until you restart the generator at the back of the room. I fumbled in the dark for a solid minute before spotting it. Once the lights flicker on, jack into the panel and call the elevator. This is the moment you officially cross into Dogtown—the technical border slides past as the lift descends.

🚗 Platform Puzzles & Body Checks

Stepping out of the elevator, the floor literally collapses beneath you. Classic Night City. Songbird lights up the path as you navigate a twisted maze of overturned cars and catwalks. Clamber over a vehicle blocking your way, then follow the signs to section 2A. You’ll need to climb a van with a steel beam leaning on it—once you’re close enough, a bridge extends. Songbird activates the platform, and you ride it down.

Now for a pro tip: keep an eye out for shortcuts that rely on your Body attribute. If your Body stat is 11 or higher, you can shove a platform down to bypass a more complex climbing section. Otherwise, you’ll take the long way around. I appreciate that the game rewards the build you invested in—makes the experience feel personal.

Eventually, you’ll spot Songbird herself standing on a catwalk—a digital ghost made tangible. Follow her to the final elevator and ride it up to street level. If your Body is at least 3, you can exit through a garage door directly; otherwise, there’s another path upstairs.

🏙️ The Black Market & The Crash

Emerging into Dogtown’s black market feels like stepping into another world. Neon, desperation, and illegal chrome everywhere. Songbird leads you through the chaos to a railing where you have a quiet moment to discuss your shared fate with the Relic. It’s a surprisingly intimate pause before the storm.

Your objective is now to reach a rooftop vantage point. Navigate through double doors near a happy hour sign, cross a construction site, and climb a yellow ladder. At the top, Songbird accidentally shorts the roof elevator fuse—classic netrunner mishap. Jack into the nearby access point to restore power and ride up.

From the roof, you get a grim view of the president’s plane. Instead of a smooth landing, it plummets from the sky and crashes in a fireball. 🚁💥 That’s your cue—jump down the trash chute and race toward the wreckage. The mission ends as you commit to saving President Myers, setting up the main conflict of Phantom Liberty.

🏁 Final Thoughts

Even three years after release, Dog Eat Dog remains one of the most tightly scripted and atmospheric mission openings I’ve ever played. It teaches you stealth, navigation, and the value of your attribute choices, all while ratcheting up the tension. Whether you’re revisiting Night City or diving in for the first time in 2026, following this guide will have you breezing through and ready to save the president.