The world of Night City is built on choices that often seem insignificant in the heat of a firefight but ripple across the neon skyline hours later. One of the earliest and most impactful decisions a player faces occurs during the main job "The Pickup." While the primary objective is to acquire the Militech Flathead spiderbot from the Maelstrom gang, a secondary, optional task often goes unnoticed or mishandled: the fate of Declan Griffin, better known by his street name, Brick.

Brick was the former leader of Maelstrom, a gang defined by their extreme obsession with cybernetics and a near-total disregard for human flesh. Before the events of the game, Brick had a relatively stable (by Night City standards) deal with a fixer named Dexter DeShawn. However, stability is a rare commodity in the Watson district. A more volatile and aggressive faction within the gang, led by a man named Royce, decided that Brick was too soft or perhaps too predictable. Royce orchestrated a coup, imprisoned Brick, and claimed the leadership of Maelstrom for himself.

When V and Jackie Welles enter the All Foods plant to complete the Flathead deal, Brick is essentially a ghost. Most of the gang believes he is dead. In reality, he is being kept alive in a high-tech cage, rigged with a lethal trap, serving as a trophy or perhaps a target for Royce’s sadistic amusement. Choosing to save him is not just an act of mercy; it is a strategic move that fundamentally changes how V interacts with the most dangerous gang in Night City later in the story.

The Architecture of Betrayal inside All Foods

To understand the weight of saving Brick, one must first navigate the labyrinthine corridors of the All Foods plant. This location serves as the fortress for Maelstrom. The atmosphere is thick with the smell of processed meat and the hum of illegal industrial cyberware.

As V, you enter this facility under immense pressure. Whether you choose to work with the Militech agent Meredith Stout or go in solo, the tension peaks when you meet Royce in the negotiation room. Royce is the antithesis of Brick. Where Brick was a businessman who understood the value of a deal, Royce is a "feral animal," as some gang members describe him. He demands double payment for a bot that has already been paid for.

If the situation escalates into a combat encounter—which it almost always does if you refuse to pay Royce again or if you use the infected Militech credchip—the path to Brick becomes accessible. However, it is remarkably easy to sprint past his cell in the chaos of the escape. Brick is located in a side room after you leave the main production floor and move toward the storage areas.

A Step by Step Guide to Freeing Brick

The rescue of Brick is divided into two distinct challenges: gaining entry to his cell and disarming the explosive device intended to kill him if he moves.

Locating the Cell

After the firefight in the main hall where the Flathead was kept, you will move through a series of maintenance corridors. Keep an eye out for a small, reinforced room on the left side of the path. You will hear Brick’s voice through the door—he is desperate, shouting for help, and clearly agitated. He knows that his life hangs by a thread, or more accurately, a laser beam.

Finding the Code: 9691

The door to Brick’s cell is locked via a digital keypad. While high-level hackers can attempt to override the system, the most reliable way to gain access is by finding the code left behind by his captors.

Directly across from the cell or in the immediate adjacent room (depending on your approach path), there is a laptop sitting on a cluttered desk. This terminal contains several messages that provide a glimpse into the internal politics of Maelstrom. The message you are looking for is titled "Only you guys know." Inside this file, the code 9691 is explicitly mentioned. This code is the key to opening the door.

The Lethal Trap: Disarming the Mine

Once the door is open, the situation becomes even more precarious. A laser-activated explosive mine is pointed directly at Brick’s chest. If he moves forward, or if you walk into the beam, the entire room goes up in flames.

There are three primary ways to handle this:

  1. The Detonator: In the same room where you found the laptop, there is a physical detonator device lying on a table. Crucial Warning: When you interact with this device, you are given two options: "Detonate" or "Disarm." If you are rushing or not paying attention, a single button press of "Detonate" will end Brick’s life instantly. You must select "Disarm" to safely neutralize the threat.
  2. Technical Ability: If V has invested enough points into the Technical Ability attribute (specifically Level 7 or higher), you can walk right up to the mine inside the cell and manually disable it. This is the most "professional" way to handle the situation and earns a brief acknowledgment of your skill.
  3. Quickhacking: Using your scanner, you can target the mine and use the "Disarm" quickhack. This costs a small amount of RAM (usually 2 units) but is the safest method if you want to keep your distance.

Once the mine is dark, Brick will stand up. He won't join you in the fight—he is too weakened from his imprisonment—but he will acknowledge the debt. He tells you that he "owes you one" and that he’ll remember this if your paths cross again.

The Long Game: The Return of the Former Boss

In many games, a choice like this would end with a small experience point reward and a "thank you." However, Cyberpunk 2077 plays the long game. The true value of saving Brick does not reveal itself until much later in the game, specifically during the side quest "Second Conflict."

"Second Conflict" is part of the extensive questline involving the legendary rockerboy Kerry Eurodyne. In this mission, V needs to track down Nancy (also known as Bes Isis), a journalist and former member of the band Samurai. Nancy has gone to the Totentanz—a notorious Maelstrom-controlled club—to interview the gang's leadership, and she hasn't been heard from since.

The Totentanz is arguably the most dangerous club in Night City. It’s a place where the music is deafening, the lights are blinding, and the patrons are more chrome than human. If Brick is dead, the club is likely run by either Royce (if he survived "The Pickup") or a high-ranking member named Patricia.

Scenario A: Brick is Alive

If you successfully saved Brick, he will be the one sitting in the VIP booth when you arrive at the Totentanz. The atmosphere changes immediately. Instead of a tense standoff that inevitably leads to a massive bloodbath, Brick greets you as a friend.

He honors the debt he mentioned back at the All Foods plant. He allows Nancy to leave with you peacefully. He even ensures that the other Maelstrom members stand down as you exit the club. This turns a potentially suicidal mission into a smooth, narrative-focused interaction. It’s a rare moment where V’s reputation and past kindness actually provide a tangible, peaceful solution to a violent problem.

Scenario B: Royce or Patricia is in Charge

If Brick was left to rot or was accidentally detonated, you are in for a fight. Royce has no loyalty to V. He views you as a nuisance at best and an enemy at worst. Patricia is even more volatile. In these scenarios, the "Second Conflict" quest almost always ends in a frantic shootout as you try to escort Nancy out of a building filled with dozens of heavily armed cyborgs.

While combat is a core part of the game, the sheer difficulty of fighting your way out of the Totentanz makes the "Brick alive" path significantly more appealing for players who prefer a "clean" run or who are playing on higher difficulty settings like Very Hard.

Analyzing the Power Dynamics of Maelstrom

Saving Brick isn't just about making one mission easier; it’s about the soul of the Maelstrom gang. Through various shards and environmental storytelling found throughout Watson, we learn that Brick was a "traditionalist" by gang standards. He believed in the code of the street and the importance of trade.

Royce represents the new wave of Maelstrom—chaos for the sake of chaos, fueled by deep-seated cyberpsychosis. By restoring Brick to power, V essentially stabilizes a small corner of the city. While Maelstrom remains a group of terrifying, chrome-addicted criminals, under Brick, they are a group you can actually talk to.

This decision highlights one of the core themes of the genre: the struggle between organized crime (which has rules) and chaotic violence (which has none). By choosing Brick, you are choosing the "lesser evil," opting for a leader who values his word over his impulse to kill.

The Tactical Advantage of Choice

From a gameplay perspective, saving Brick offers a unique "delayed gratification" reward system. The game doesn't give you a legendary weapon immediately. It doesn't give you a massive pile of Eurodollars. Instead, it gives you access.

In a city where everyone is trying to screw you over, having the leader of one of the most feared gangs in the city in your debt is a powerful asset. It changes the flavor of the world. It makes Night City feel reactive. When you walk into that VIP lounge and see Brick’s red-optics glowing in the dark, and he says, "V, my favorite merc," you feel the weight of your history in a way that few other RPGs manage to capture.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even with the best intentions, players often fail to save Brick. Here are the most common pitfalls:

  • The Grenade Factor: During the escape from All Foods, many players rely heavily on grenades to clear the narrow corridors. If a grenade lands near Brick’s cell door, it can trigger the mine or kill him through the walls. If you intend to save him, switch to precision weapons like revolvers or precision rifles when fighting near the storage rooms.
  • The "Pay Both" Trap: Some players believe that by paying Royce the extra 10,000 eddies, they are being "peaceful" and thus saving everyone. However, paying Royce doesn't automatically free Brick. In fact, it often makes it harder to find the cell because you aren't forced into the specific maintenance areas where his room is located.
  • Missing the Detonator: Many players find the cell, see the code on the laptop, open the door, and then accidentally walk into the laser because they didn't see the detonator on the table in the other room. Always scan your environment before entering a room with a prisoner.

Conclusion: A Legacy of Chrome and Kindness

Saving Brick is widely considered the "optimal" path for a complete Cyberpunk 2077 playthrough. It provides the most narrative depth, offers the most significant gameplay advantages in the late-game, and satisfies the RPG urge to see how early choices blossom into major consequences.

While Royce might offer a more "intense" initial boss fight (which you can still have even if you save Brick later), the long-term benefit of a peaceful exit from the Totentanz is too valuable to ignore. In the grim darkness of the future, a friend in high places—even a friend with a hole where his face used to be—is worth more than any amount of eddies.

Summary of Outcomes

  • Freeing Brick: He survives, retakes Maelstrom later, and allows a peaceful resolution in the "Second Conflict" quest. He owes V a significant favor.
  • Ignoring Brick: He likely dies when the plant is eventually raided or cleaned out. You will face a hostile Maelstrom leadership later.
  • Killing Brick: You lose the favor and ensure a violent confrontation at the Totentanz. No tactical or narrative advantage is gained from his death.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the exact door code for Brick's cell? The code is 9691. You can find this on the laptop in the room adjacent to his cell, under the message "Only you guys know."

Can I still save Brick if I paid Royce for the Flathead? Yes, but you have to be more diligent in searching the facility. If you paid Royce and walked out peacefully, you can still find the cell, but the quest markers might not guide you directly to it like they do during a combat escape.

What level of Technical Ability do I need to disarm the mine? You need a Technical Ability of 7. If you are below this, you must use the detonator (selecting the "Disarm" option) or use a quickhack.

Does saving Brick affect my relationship with Johnny Silverhand? Not directly, but Johnny generally appreciates choices that show V has a "spine" and can manipulate the power structures of the city. He might have a snarky comment, but it won't negatively impact your affinity score.

Will Brick help me in the final battle of the game? No. Brick’s assistance is localized to the Maelstrom-related quests. He is a gang leader, not a mercenary for hire, and his "favor" is settled during the events with Nancy.

What happens if I accidentally hit "Detonate" on the device? Brick dies instantly. You will hear a loud explosion, and the objective to "Free Brick" will fail. You cannot undo this without reloading an earlier save.

Is Brick the same person as Declan Griffin? Yes, Declan Griffin is his legal/birth name, but in the underworld of Night City, he is exclusively referred to as Brick.