Martial arts (Cyberpunk RED)
Definition
Martial Arts is formal unarmed training rather than the improvised violence Brawling represents. It covers the disciplines a character studied, and in Night City that ranges from a corporate security curriculum to a gym in the Combat Zone that has been teaching the same forms for thirty years. At the table it makes an unarmed character a genuine threat instead of an inconvenience. Where Brawling swings, Martial Arts controls: throws that put an opponent on the floor, holds that keep them there, disarms that take a gun out of a scene without firing one. That precision is the point, because most jobs go better when the target is alive, the noise is low, and nothing traceable was used.
How it works
Tips
Frequently asked questions
Should I take Martial Arts or Brawling?
Martial Arts if the character trained formally and you want throws, holds, and disarms. Brawling if they learned in bars and alleys. Martial Arts covers unarmed fighting on its own, so buying both is rarely efficient.
Can Martial Arts disarm an armed opponent?
That is one of its signature uses. Taking a weapon out of someone's hands at close range is exactly what the trained options exist for, and it is often more useful than damage in a scene you need to keep quiet.
Does high BODY still matter?
Yes. Unarmed damage scales with BODY regardless of training, so a trained fighter with low BODY lands accurately but softly. Pair the skill with a decent BODY if you want the hits to count.