Addiction Overview
Last updated
Last updated
Certain consumables in the game are addictive. While you won't become addicted right away from using them, continued use of these substances will eventually lead to addiction.
When you become addicted, a status message will appear on the screen to notify you.
When using an interaction in the world that would cause V to consume an addictive substance (such as drinking at a bar or smoking), these actions will contribute to addiction as if you had consumed a similar item from your inventory. You will also gain all of the status effects and Nerve benefits from consuming that item.
Alcohol restores a modest amount of Nerve.
When stacked 4 times, Alcohol grants the Numbed status, which reduces the amount of Nerve lost in combat.
You can gain this status from consuming less alcohol by using the Endorphin Regulator cyberware.
Alcohol applies a status that inhibits your Mitigation Strength and Reload Speed.
By default, it is more difficult to get addicted to alcohol than other substances, but once you are, the Nerve limits from the Withdrawal effects are severe.
Smoking restores a significant amount of Nerve.
Smoking applies a status that reduces your total Stamina, and causes Stamina to be consumed when sprinting and jumping.
The duration of this status can be reduced by using the Syn-Lungs cyberware.
By default, it is fairly easy to develop early-stage nicotine addiction.
Narcotics generally restore a large amount of Energy.
Narcotics provide powerful combat benefits, especially Black Lace and Glitter.
Narcotics randomly restore or deplete Nerve. The more powerful the narcotic, the more that they restore or deplete. This makes narcotics very dangerous to consume when Nerve is low.
The amount of Nerve lost when using Narcotics can be mitigated by using the Endorphin Regulator cyberware.
By default, it is very easy to become addicted to Narcotics, and the Nerve limits from Narcotic Withdrawal are very severe.
Addictive substances, especially alcohol, can be used sparingly and never lead to addiction. Any built-up Addiction progress you have will decrease naturally over time.
If you cross the line, however, and consume enough of the substance, a notification will be displayed letting you know that you have become addicted.
Once enough time has passed after becoming addicted, you will gain an Addiction Withdrawal Status Effect. These status effects limit your total Nerve, preventing you from fully recovering.
This limit is represented as a colored region on the right side of the Nerve meter.
This limit, in turn, inflicts Nerve-related status effects... which, in turn, can inhibit your ability to eat, drink, and sleep. When it comes to the human body, everything is connected.
The more advanced your addiction, and the more severe your Withdrawal, the lower the Nerve limit will be. Different addictions are more or less debilitating when experiencing Withdrawals.
Withdrawal effects expire over time, eventually leading to curing the addiction. Consuming the substance again will remove the Withdrawal immediately... while also progressing your addiction further and resetting any progress you may have made toward curing the addiction.
If you choose to let the effect expire, the Withdrawal effect will either:
Progress to a more severe Withdrawal as noted in the effect description, or,
Improve to Cessation, which leads to the addiction being cured.
All addiction mechanics are configurable and can be disabled in Mod Settings. It is worth mentioning, however, that disabling Addictions may make the management of Energy and Nerve rather trivial, as Addiction acts as a major risk for restoring these Needs in the open world instead of returning to your apartment.
As you continue to use an addictive substance, your addiction will become more severe. All addictions have the following levels of severity:
Early-Stage
Advanced
Severe
Dependency
At higher levels of addiction severity, you will experience longer, more severe Withdrawals, and you will need to use the substance more frequently to prevent them.
The only cure for any addiction is time. Once all of the Withdrawal effects expire, you will gain the Cessation status effect. This is always the final Withdrawal stage.
Once the Cessation effect expires, the addiction will be cured.
While there are no consumables that immediately cure addictions, you can use Addiquit to help pass the time while waiting to be cured. You can find it for sale at all Medpoint vendors. See the Consumables page.
Tip: If you tried to take the edge off and accidentally ended up with an addiction, don't sweat it! Stock up on food, drinks, and Addiquit, and try to sleep as much as you can in your apartment for a few in-game days until the Withdrawals subside. You'll be right as rain in no time.
