Should I Kill Sampson in Cyberpunk 2077?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: Sampson is actively hostile and the mission objective or roleplay direction favors elimination. If your build invests in lethal weapons, damage quickhacks, or stealth assassinations, removing him ends the fight quickly, gives normal combat rewards, and prevents him from calling reinforcements or using cyberware against you.
• Good fit: You have already finished related side jobs, gigs, or errands in the area and do not plan to pursue a non-lethal achievement or reputational path. When you are confident the character no longer appears in later content, killing him carries little story opportunity cost.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: The briefing, journal entry, or optional objective asks you to neutralize the target non-lethally, use a stealth takedown, or avoid casualties. Cyberpunk 2077 often rewards cleaner approaches with extra eddies, street cred, or better client feedback, and a lethal kill can fail those conditions.
• Warning sign: You want to experience all dialogue, shops, or side arcs tied to the character. Killing named NPCs often closes related content permanently, so if you value completeness or roleplay a mercenary who keeps useful contacts alive, pause before pulling the trigger.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Eliminating Sampson resolves the encounter immediately, preventing him from healing, fleeing, or triggering alarms, and lets you loot his body and the surrounding area without further combat pressure.
• A lethal choice can fit a cold-corporate or solo murder-machine roleplay, and it avoids the need to invest in non-lethal cyberware or quickhacks if your build is already optimized for damage.

Cons

• You may lose access to follow-up quests, vendor services, unique dialogue, or reputation benefits that only trigger if the character survives, especially if a fixer later references your restraint.
• If you are aiming for a non-lethal playthrough, a no-kills achievement, or a specific ending tone, this kill can force you to reload a prior save or abandon that goal for the current run.

Decision Checklist

• Did the gig or side job explicitly request a non-lethal or stealth outcome, and will killing Sampson fail an optional objective?
• Have you checked a current guide or wiki to see whether Sampson reappears in later quests, sells unique items, or unlocks additional content if spared?
• Did you create a manual save at the door or dialogue branch so you can return and try the opposite choice without replaying the entire mission?

Alternatives to Consider

If the game gives you the option, a non-lethal takedown using bare fists, a Target Analysis mod, Pax, or short-circuit quickhack can leave Sampson alive while still removing him as a threat. Stealthily bypassing the encounter or talking your way out may also be possible, depending on your skills and the mission design. If you are unsure which route is best, make a hard save right before the choice and test each outcome; you can always reload to keep the result that fits your build and story goals.

Final Recommendation

Unless you are certain that Sampson has no later role and your current mission rewards lethal force, the safest default is to keep him alive on your first run. Use a manual save before the confrontation so you can experiment, then consult an up-to-date Cyberpunk 2077 guide for patch-specific rewards. For completionist or high-stakes decisions, community wikis and official support resources can help confirm exact consequences before you commit.