Placide is often overlooked in discussions aboutCyberpunk 2077’s most notorious villains and ends up getting overshadowed by larger-than-life figures such as Adam Smasher or the omnipresent influence of Arasaka. Yet beneath the neon-lit chaos of Night City, he stands out as a cold, calculating manipulator who displays an unsettling disregard for human life. He’s far from a mere henchman in the Voodoo Boys and orchestrates events that drive both the plot and the moral ambiguity at the heart of the story.
ThroughoutCyberpunk 2077, he repeatedly demonstrates that he cares little about alliances or personal relationships so long as his ends are met. This ruthless determination makes him an indispensable part of the Voodoo Boys and a surprisingly consequential antagonist in a city teeming with them. Placide’s malevolence, however, is often muted by more overt acts of violence committed by other characters.
The Tactics That Defined Placide’s Malice in Cyberpunk 2077
InEvelyn Parker’s case, the advantage he seeks is twofold: to remove a troublesome outsider involved in a critical heist and to isolate the technologies she may have uncovered. To Placide, Evelyn’s survival is merely an afterthought if it doesn’t serve the Voodoo Boys’ interests. This methodical disregard is exactly what positions him as an insidious force inCyberpunk 2077. He carefully weighs cost against benefit, seldom intervening unless his personal stakes are threatened, and then acts with swift ruthlessness.
Then there’s his long reach that extends to the mission he gives V, where he seemingly anticipates a high chance of failure. By sending V into a fray with the fearsome Animals gang at the Grand Imperial Mall, he not only aims to retrieve critical data but also tests V’s resolve. His intention is clear: if V can survive, then they’re a useful tool. If they die, well, it removes any complications tied to theVoodoo Boys’ clandestine dealings. This transactional approach to human life contrasts starkly with the more obvious, gun-blazing threats inCyberpunk 2077, making Placide’s villainy more chilling in its quiet practicality.
Placide’s Malice Is the Most Evident in the Grand Imperial Mall Setup
The Grand Imperial Mall fiasco is a carefully curated kill box that he fully expects V not to walk out of. The fact that V must face off against some of the most brutalgang members inCyberpunk’s Night City, all while under Placide’s watchful, scornful eye, underscores just how far he’s willing to push someone he deems expendable. The most chilling aspect of this arrangement is Placide’s willingness to smirk at the possibility of V’s death, exactly what gives him that core, undersung villainy edge.
Placide Wasn’t Flashy and Wanted Results
Compared to flashyantagonists like Adam Smasher, Placide’s malicious acts occur more often in the shadows. He doesn’t chase fame or infamy; instead, he seeks power and control while being content enough to let others claim the spotlight while he secures results. His pursuit of strategic advantage at all costs, including betrayal and possible murder, paints a darker picture of the Voodoo Boys as a faction driven by self-interest rather than loyalty. Ultimately, his villainy stems from his ability to disguise cruelty as practicality.
Players encounter him expecting a tense but functional alliance, only to discover that alliances mean nothing to him unless they yield tangible benefits. His methods reveal a grim truth: in Night City, it’s not just the loudest gun or the most bombastic persona that defines a villain, but also the quiet force willing to toss aside any life that doesn’t align with their goals. Placide might not deliver the loudest threats or the most spectacular explosions, but his cold, calculating demeanor quietly cements him as one ofCyberpunk 2077’s most disturbing characters.
Cyberpunk 2077
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Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades.The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?
