Updated October 26, 2026
During the Clampdown quest in Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.5, V must make an important decision involving King, Meshuga, and the prisoners inside Max Sec Block C.
After reaching the Crisis Control Room, you connect to a Reaper Server and receive two options: Listen to King — Deactivating Reaper Chips or Listen to Meshuga — Activating Reaper Chips.
One option spares the prisoners and triggers a riot. The other activates their execution chips, killing the inmates to clear the way for King's crew.
This guide explains what happens with both choices, which one is better, whether the decision affects Wex, and if you lose any rewards.
📋 Table of Contents
- Quick Answer: King or Meshuga?
- King vs. Meshuga Choice Comparison
- Where to Find the Reaper Server
- What Happens If You Listen to King?
- What Happens If You Listen to Meshuga?
- Does the Choice Affect Rewards or Ending?
- Does the Choice Affect Wex?
- How to Continue Clampdown After the Choice
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Verdict
Quick Answer: Should You Listen to King or Meshuga?
Choose Listen to King — Deactivating Reaper Chips if you want to spare the Block C prisoners.
Disabling the chips prevents the Reaper system from executing the affected inmates. The prisoners then riot against prison security, creating a distraction that helps King's crew continue its escape.
Choosing Listen to Meshuga — Activating Reaper Chips instead kills the affected prisoners, removing the immediate inmate threat to the rescue team.
Both options allow you to finish Clampdown, and neither provides a reported advantage in unique mission rewards.
Best overall choice: Listen to King. You can spare the prisoners without losing Coronation, King's outfit, or access to the remaining mission.
[Header image: King and Meshuga's two Reaper chip choices displayed on the Crisis Control terminal.]
King vs. Meshuga: Which Reaper Chip Choice Is Better?
The decision comes down to whether you want to spare the inmates or eliminate them to reduce the danger facing King's rescue team.
Listen to King — Deactivate Reaper Chips
- Prevents the Reaper system from executing the affected Block C prisoners.
- Triggers a prison riot.
- Creates a distraction for the escape operation.
- King approves of the decision.
- Allows Clampdown to continue normally.
Listen to Meshuga — Activate Reaper Chips
- Activates the prisoners' execution chips.
- Kills the affected inmates in Block C.
- Removes the immediate prisoner threat to King's crew.
- King disapproves of the decision.
- Still allows you to complete Clampdown.
Neither option is required to obtain the mission's unique equipment.
The main difference is the fate of the prisoners and how the characters react to V's decision.
If you prefer to avoid unnecessary deaths, King's option is the better choice.
Where to Find the Reaper Server in Crisis Control
You encounter the King or Meshuga decision during the later stages of Clampdown, after recovering your equipment from the prison Armory.
This is a separate interaction from the earlier Security Cortex sequence, where you deactivate V's and Miguel's personal Reaper chips.
Step 1: Reach the Crisis Control Room
Follow the mission marker toward Crisis Control.
After passing the security access door, continue into the control area and eliminate the hostile guards.
Meshuga will contact V as King's crew faces increasing pressure inside the prison.
If your mission previously became stuck while recovering your equipment, see our Cyberpunk 2077 Clampdown Stuck Waiting for Meshuga? Armory Bug Fix for help with that earlier objective.
Step 2: Find the Reaper Server Terminal
Inside Crisis Control, locate the terminal labeled:
REAPER SERVER
Approach the console and look for the Jack In interaction.
On PC, the displayed prompt uses F with the default controls.
Connect your interface cable to access the server.
[Screenshot: Crisis Control REAPER SERVER terminal showing the Jack In prompt.]
Step 3: Choose King or Meshuga
After connecting, V receives two choices:
- Listen to Meshuga | Activating Reaper Chips...
- Listen to King | Deactivating Reaper Chips...
Meshuga warns that the crew is running out of time.
The dialogue creates a sense of urgency, although the available gameplay evidence does not establish a separate countdown for this specific choice.
Select the option that matches your preferred outcome.
What Happens If You Listen to King?
Selecting Listen to King — Deactivating Reaper Chips prevents the execution system from killing the affected prisoners in Max Sec Block C.
V begins the deactivation process, and the terminal displays:
REAPER CHIP DEACTIVATION — MAX SEC BLOCK C
An upload progress indicator appears as the command is processed.
Once the deactivation finishes, V disconnects from the server.
The Prisoners Begin Rioting
Shortly afterward, prison security reports hostile inmates and warns that a riot is starting.
Meshuga then acknowledges that the disturbance is buying him time to finish his hack.
This is the immediate benefit of King's plan.
Instead of being executed by their Reaper chips, the prisoners can fight back against prison security. The resulting chaos creates an opportunity for King's crew to continue escaping.
Does King Approve?
Yes. King prefers the decision to spare the prisoners rather than execute them.
The mission continues after the deactivation, and V can proceed toward the prison exit.
Choose King if you want to prevent the Block C executions without sacrificing the mission's unique rewards.
However, disabling the chips does not guarantee that every prisoner survives the subsequent riot.
[Screenshot: REAPER CHIP DEACTIVATION — MAX SEC BLOCK C upload screen.]
What Happens If You Listen to Meshuga?
Choosing Listen to Meshuga — Activating Reaper Chips takes the opposite approach.
Instead of disabling the execution system, V activates the Reaper chips implanted in the Block C prisoners.
The affected inmates are killed, eliminating the immediate prisoner threat to King's rescue team.
Why Does Meshuga Want to Activate the Chips?
Meshuga is concerned about the danger facing King's crew during the prison escape.
Activating the Reapers removes the inmates as an obstacle, allowing the rescue team to continue without fighting through a prisoner riot.
However, the decision comes at the cost of the prisoners' lives.
Does King Get Angry?
King disapproves of activating the execution chips.
He favors sparing the prisoners, and his reaction reflects that disagreement.
Nevertheless, choosing Meshuga does not automatically fail Clampdown.
The rescue operation continues, and V can still complete the mission.
Do You Get an Extra Reward for Choosing Meshuga?
No additional unique reward has been reported for activating the Reaper chips.
You do not need to execute the prisoners to obtain Coronation or King's clothing set.
Does the King or Meshuga Choice Affect Rewards or the Ending?
The decision changes what happens to the prisoners and how King reacts, but it does not appear to alter the main mission rewards or unlock a separate Clampdown ending.
Both choices lead into the remaining prison escape sequence.
Do You Still Get Coronation?
Yes. Coronation, King's iconic Tech Revolver, is obtained earlier in Clampdown as part of the prison infiltration sequence.
The Crisis Control decision does not determine whether you receive it.
Can You Keep King's Outfit?
Yes. King's clothing set is also acquired earlier in the mission.
Choosing King or Meshuga does not remove the outfit from your inventory.
Does the Escape Route Change?
Both choices lead into the same remaining escape objectives.
The situation involving the Block C prisoners changes, but V must still leave Crisis Control, defeat the remaining major threat, and reach the extraction point.
Does the Choice Change the Ending?
There is no separately reported Clampdown ending tied to activating or deactivating the Block C Reaper chips.
Both routes allow the mission to conclude after V escapes the prison.
The meaningful difference is the prisoners' fate, not a better weapon, outfit, or alternate ending.
Does the King or Meshuga Choice Affect Wex?
Wex's personal Reaper chip is handled earlier in Clampdown, when V accesses the Security Cortex server.
That optional objective is separate from the later King or Meshuga decision involving the wider Block C prisoner population.
If you want to help Wex, you must select Deactivate Wex's Reaper during the earlier server interaction.
Choosing King in Crisis Control does not replace that step.
Can Choosing King Save Wex?
Choosing King prevents the wider Block C Reaper system from executing the affected prisoners, but it does not guarantee Wex's survival.
Wex's later fate should not be treated as determined solely by the King or Meshuga decision.
The important distinction is that the mission contains two separate Reaper chip sequences:
- Security Cortex: Deactivate V's and Miguel's personal chips, with Wex as an optional objective.
- Crisis Control: Choose whether to activate or deactivate the wider Block C prisoner Reaper system.
If you are still completing the earlier sequence, follow our Cyberpunk 2077 Reaper Chip Server Location: How to Deactivate the Chips in Clampdown.
That guide explains how to identify the correct server and avoid the fatal activation countdown.
How to Continue Clampdown After Choosing King or Meshuga
Once the server finishes processing your decision, disconnect and follow the updated mission objective.
Both branches lead into the remaining prison escape.
Step 1: Leave Crisis Control
After the Reaper Server interaction, follow the mission marker toward the exit.
On the King route, the prisoners begin rioting while Meshuga continues his hack.
Listen for the security access update, then proceed through the available exit.
Step 2: Follow the Ventilation Route
Leave the control area and find the hatch leading into the ventilation passage.
Follow the route toward the prison's exterior.
Step 3: Defeat Darius Bale
Before V can complete the escape, Darius Bale appears in powered armor.
His exposed rear fuel tank is a major weak point, while electrical damage can help during the encounter.
For the complete strategy, see our Cyberpunk 2077 Darius Bale Boss Guide: Weak Point & Perk Shard.
Step 4: Reach the Extraction Point
After defeating Darius, continue toward the Morgue extraction point.
Use the explosive mine recovered earlier in the Armory to breach the escape wall, then leave the prison.
Once outside, lose the NCPD pursuit and complete the remaining communications.
The mission can be finished regardless of which Reaper chip option you selected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I listen to King or Meshuga in Cyberpunk 2077 Clampdown?
Listen to King if you want to spare the affected Block C prisoners. Deactivating their Reaper chips triggers a riot that helps the escape without costing you the mission's unique equipment.
What happens if I activate the Reaper chips?
Choosing Meshuga activates the execution chips and kills the affected Block C prisoners. The mission continues, but King disapproves.
What happens if I deactivate the Reaper chips?
Choosing King disables the execution chips. The prisoners begin rioting against security, creating a distraction while Meshuga finishes his work.
Does King or Meshuga give better rewards?
Neither option has a reported advantage in unique quest rewards. Coronation and King's outfit are obtained earlier and remain available regardless of this decision.
Can you save all the prisoners in Clampdown?
Choosing King prevents the Block C Reaper system from executing the affected inmates. However, this does not guarantee that every prisoner survives the riot or other events.
Does choosing King save Wex?
Not necessarily. Wex has a separate optional chip-deactivation objective earlier in Security Cortex. Choosing King does not replace that objective or guarantee Wex's later survival.
Where is the King or Meshuga Reaper Server?
The terminal is inside the Crisis Control area. After clearing the guards, locate the console labeled REAPER SERVER and jack in to access the decision.
Is the King or Meshuga choice timed?
Meshuga warns that time is running out, but a separate countdown for the dialogue decision has not been established. Do not confuse this choice with the earlier Security Cortex Reaper activation sequence.
Can I still finish Clampdown if I choose Meshuga?
Yes. Both choices allow you to continue through the remaining prison escape and complete the mission.
Final Verdict: Choose King or Meshuga?
Listen to King — Deactivate Reaper Chips is the recommended option if you want to spare the Block C prisoners.
The decision prevents the Reaper system from executing the affected inmates, creates a riot that helps the escape operation, and earns King's approval.
Choosing Meshuga instead kills the prisoners and removes the immediate threat to King's crew, but it does not provide a reported advantage in unique rewards.
Either way, Clampdown continues toward the same main escape objectives.
For the outcome with fewer deliberate executions, choose King and deactivate the Reaper chips.
Comments
Post a Comment