Cyberpunk RED skill
Autofire
Autofire is a skill in Cyberpunk RED: Walking bursts of automatic fire across a target, trading ammunition for effect.
Last reviewed
Key facts
- Stat
- REF
- Category
- ranged
Overview
Autofire is the skill for firing on full automatic: a burst that puts many rounds toward one target or sweeps a firing lane so nobody in it wants to stand up. It is a distinct discipline from aimed fire, which is why Cyberpunk RED tracks it separately from Shoulder Arms even when the weapon is the same rifle. At the table Autofire is what changes a firefight from an exchange into a problem. Suppressing a corridor buys the crew the seconds they need to move, and a full burst into one target is the most damage most characters can produce in a single action. The cost is ammunition, noise, and the fact that a burst is not a precise instrument in a room with civilians in it.
How it works
Linked Stat: REF Category: Ranged Resolution: 1d10 plus REF plus skill level, rolled with the Autofire skill rather than the skill you would use to aim the same gun. A natural 10 rolls again and adds, a natural 1 rolls again and subtracts. Cost and effect: Automatic fire consumes ammunition fast and how badly a burst hurts scales with how far your roll beats the target number, so a marginal success is much weaker than a comfortable one. Suppressive fire pressures everyone in the area rather than damaging one target.
Tips and playstyle
Best for: Solos and anyone expecting to be outnumbered, since Autofire is the answer to volume rather than to a single opponent. Character concepts: An ex-corporate security trooper, a gang enforcer with an SMG, a Nomad riding shotgun on a convoy, a Lawman on a tactical unit. Synergies: Shoulder Arms covers the same weapon for aimed shots, so most burst specialists carry both. Concentration keeps you steady, Weapons Tech handles the wear that automatic fire causes, and Trading matters because ammunition is a recurring cost.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Autofire a separate skill?
Because controlling a burst is a different physical task from placing a single shot. The rules keep them apart, so points in Shoulder Arms or Handgun do nothing for you the moment you switch the selector.
Does Autofire work with a pistol?
Only with a weapon that has an automatic setting, which usually means SMGs and assault rifles. Most handguns are single-shot weapons and cannot use the skill.
Is suppressive fire worth an action?
Often yes, when the goal is movement rather than kills. Pinning a group behind cover for a round can be worth more to the crew than one dead guard, especially during an extraction.