Should I Do Phantom Liberty Before Nocturne Op55n1?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You want the expansion’s events to slot into the main story chronologically. Phantom Liberty takes place before the final main-story mission, so completing it before Nocturne Op55N1 keeps the timeline coherent and lets the new characters, weapons, and abilities feel like part of V’s journey rather than a post-credits add-on.
• Good fit: You want the extra ending options and rewards for the finale. Phantom Liberty can unlock the “Tower” ending path and add new context to the choices you make at Nocturne, while the weapons, vehicles, Relic perks, and experience gained in Dogtown can make the final act easier and more varied.
• Good fit: You have already met the expansion prerequisites—specifically, completing the main job “Transmission” and meeting Songbird—so the new storyline is available and fits naturally before the point of no return.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: You want to preserve the original pacing and ending of the base game without expansion influence. Doing Phantom Liberty first can shift your attention to the NUSA/Songbird plot for many hours, which may dilute the urgency built up around Nocturne if you prefer a tight, linear finale.
• Warning sign: You are under-leveled, under-geared, or struggling with the base game’s combat. Dogtown enemies scale, but the expansion throws in tougher firefights and new mechanics; jumping in too early can make the experience frustrating rather than fun.
• Warning sign: You have not yet reached the expansion trigger point. Phantom Liberty does not become available until after the main job “Transmission” and the rooftop meeting with Songbird, so trying to start it earlier simply is not possible.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• More endings and story weight: Finishing Phantom Liberty before Nocturne can open an additional main-story outcome and give the final mission more emotional context, since the expansion deepens V’s relationship with Songbird, Reed, and Johnny.
• Better prepared for the finale: The Relic point tree, unique weapons, vehicles, and levels you earn in Dogtown carry over, letting you approach Nocturne with stronger tools and more build options.
• Natural narrative flow: Because the expansion is written as a mid-game arc, playing it before the point of no return avoids the slightly disjointed feeling of returning to a “pre-Nocturne” world after the credits.

Cons

• Pacing disruption: Phantom Liberty is a substantial 15- to 20-hour campaign. Starting it just before the finale can interrupt the main story’s momentum, especially if you are eager to see how V’s base-game arc resolves.
• Difficulty spikes: Even with level scaling, some encounters in Dogtown are harder and more tactical than much of the base game. A weak build or low gear can make the expansion feel like a slog.
• Reduced surprise on a second run: If you plan multiple playthroughs, experiencing the original Nocturne first may let you appreciate how Phantom Liberty changes the finale on a later run.

Decision Checklist

• Have you completed the main job “Transmission” and met Songbird? Phantom Liberty only unlocks after that point.
• Do you want expansion rewards and new ending options to be available during Nocturne, or are you happy to treat Phantom Liberty as post-ending content?
• Is your current build/gear strong enough for Dogtown’s tougher combat, or should you finish a few side jobs and upgrade first?

Alternatives to Consider

If you do not want to pause the main story, you can complete Nocturne Op55N1 first and then play Phantom Liberty afterward. Cyberpunk 2077 returns you to the open world before the point of no return after the credits, so the expansion remains fully playable and its rewards and ending options can still be used on a New Game+ or reloaded save. Another option is to play Phantom Liberty on a separate character or second playthrough, keeping your first run as the original base-game experience. You can also simply do more side jobs and character quests before Nocturne without touching the expansion, giving you a stronger V while leaving the finale untouched.

Final Recommendation

For most players who already own Phantom Liberty and have met the trigger conditions, doing it before Nocturne Op55N1 is the most coherent choice: the story flows better, you gain new tools for the finale, and you can see any additional ending options in their proper context. However, if you prefer to finish the base game first, want to keep the finale pure, or feel under-prepared for Dogtown, it is perfectly valid to save the expansion for after the credits or for a later playthrough. Choose the order that best matches your priorities for story pacing and difficulty.