Want to trade Panam’s whole questline for a free car?
That’s exactly the choice the game gives you in the Badlands.
Panam’s three side jobs, Riders on the Storm, With a Little Help From My Friends, and Queen of the Highway, hinge on a few dialogue checks that unlock romance, friendship, or permanent lockout.
This walkthrough lists every critical line, the rewards you get (like the Shion “Coyote” vehicle or the Aldecaldo ending), the male-body romance rules, and the exact save points to use before Saul’s conversation.
Read on to pick the route you want and avoid burning Panam.
Complete Cyberpunk 2077 Panam Side Job Walkthrough With All Choices and Rewards
Panam Palmer’s questline runs through three connected side jobs that unfold in the Badlands: Riders on the Storm, With a Little Help From My Friends, and Queen of the Highway. Each mission builds on the previous one, and your choices determine whether you unlock Panam’s romance, maintain her friendship, or permanently lock yourself out of her entire storyline. The stakes are clear from the start. One wrong conversation can end everything before the second mission even begins.
Timing matters. After completing Riders on the Storm, you’ll need to wait around 12 in-game hours for Panam to call you back to the Aldecaldo camp. When she does, the critical decision tree starts immediately. If you decline to ride with her at the mission start, you can speak to Saul and either rat out Panam’s plan or stay silent. Choosing anything except “Rather not interfere” triggers the sabotage path, which rewards you with a free vehicle but destroys Panam’s trust permanently.
Romance is gated behind two requirements: V must use a male body type, and you must select specific dialogue lines during the control tower and campfire scenes in With a Little Help From My Friends. Missing even one checkpoint can shift the available options and block romance without warning. If you see the line “Mad at me?” at the campfire instead of “[Scooch closer] Gotten kinda cold,” romance is already off the table.
Critical decisions and consequences:
- Decline Panam’s ride, talk to Saul, select anything except “Rather not interfere” → earn Shion “Coyote” vehicle, permanently end Panam’s questline and romance
- At control tower, choose “Missed you” when prompted → keeps romance alive (male body type only)
- Avoid “Not doing it for free” at tower → saying this blocks romance by making Panam question your motives
- At campfire, select “[Scooch closer] Gotten kinda cold” → confirms romance path remains open; seeing “Mad at me?” instead means romance is already blocked
- Complete all three missions without sabotage → unlocks Panam’s Aldecaldo ending route in the main story
- Choose “[Touch Panam’s Hand] Next time, try following your impulse” at tower → referenced later during romance scenes
Rewards scale with your choices. If you prioritize the vehicle, you get the Shion “Coyote” immediately but lose access to Panam’s ending and all future content with her. If you protect the relationship, you unlock one of the game’s most developed companion arcs, a unique main story ending, and the emotional payoff of a fully realized romance or deep friendship depending on body type. Players chasing completion should save before the first Saul conversation and branch from there.
How to Start Every Panam Side Mission in Cyberpunk 2077
You must complete Riders on the Storm before the rest of Panam’s arc unlocks. After finishing that mission, the game triggers a wait period of roughly 12 in-game hours before Panam calls to start With a Little Help From My Friends. If the call doesn’t come, advance time by skipping hours or completing other gigs, then check your phone. Once the call arrives, the objective marker points you back to the Aldecaldo camp in the Badlands.
Every mission in Panam’s questline begins at the Aldecaldo camp. Missing or skipping certain early dialogue options can redirect the entire quest flow, so listen carefully during the initial camp conversations. Choosing to decline Panam’s invitation to ride together opens a branching path that can end the storyline before it starts.
Panam mission unlock order:
- Complete main story mission “Ghost Town” to meet Panam for the first time
- Wait for Panam to call offering the side job “Riders on the Storm”
- Complete “Riders on the Storm” and return to Night City
- Wait approximately 12 in-game hours for Panam’s call starting “With a Little Help From My Friends”
- Complete “With a Little Help From My Friends” without sabotaging Panam to unlock “Queen of the Highway”
Walkthrough for “Riders on the Storm” (Panam’s First Side Job)
Riders on the Storm is the first mission in Panam’s arc and sets up the rest of her storyline. The job is straightforward: infiltrate a Wraith camp, rescue Saul from captivity, escape the convoy ambush, and return to the Aldecaldo camp. This mission has limited impact on romance flags but establishes the trust foundation that later missions build on. Your goal is to prove you’re reliable, not to make romantic moves.
The early stealth section allows you to thin out enemies before the alarm triggers. You can slip past guards or eliminate them quietly, though going loud works fine if your build supports it. Once you free Saul, the escape turns into a vehicle chase with Panam driving and you shooting. Accuracy matters less than suppressing fire to keep enemy vehicles at bay.
After the escape, you return to camp for a debrief with Saul and Panam. The dialogue here is mostly flavor, but treating Panam with respect and backing her decisions lays groundwork for future trust checks. No critical choices appear in this mission, so focus on completing objectives and staying alive.
Recommended tactics:
- Bring a silenced weapon for the infiltration phase to thin patrols before freeing Saul
- Tech or Quickhack builds can disable cameras and turrets remotely, making entry smoother
- Once the alarm triggers, switch to high damage weapons and focus on enemies with RPGs first
- During the vehicle escape, aim for drivers to disable pursuit vehicles faster
Full Walkthrough for “With a Little Help From My Friends” Including All Dialogue Choices
With a Little Help From My Friends starts at the Aldecaldo camp after Panam calls you back. The opening scene shows Panam, Saul, and Mitch arguing over a convoy that Saul refuses to hit. Panam reveals that a group of veteran nomads plans to rob it anyway and needs your help.
The first critical decision happens immediately. When Panam invites you to ride with her, you can choose [Stand] “I’m riding with” or [Stand] “We’ll meet there.” If you decline the ride, you unlock a private conversation with Saul where you can rat out Panam’s plan. To avoid sabotaging her, you must select “Rather not interfere.” Any other response (“Plan makes no sense,” “Worried about Panam,” or the Nomad lifepath option) triggers the betrayal path. Saul rewards you with the Shion “Coyote” vehicle, but Panam’s questline ends permanently. If you’re aiming for romance or her ending route, choose “Rather not interfere” or skip the Saul conversation entirely by riding with Panam from the start.
The control tower objective requires finding a punch card in a box on the tower floor, then using it at the control panel to redirect a train. Getting inside the tower depends on your stats. The guide claims a door near Panam requires only 3 Technical Ability, but community reports mention a 7 Technical Ability check on some builds. If you’re blocked, look for alternative entrances or reload and invest in Technical perks.
After powering the controls, Panam initiates a private conversation. This is the first romance checkpoint. To preserve romance (male body type only), select “Missed you” when prompted. Avoid “Not doing it for free,” saying that makes Panam question whether you’re helping for the right reasons and blocks romance. Follow up with “Why’s it different with me?” and “[Touch Panam’s Hand] Next time, try following your impulse.” That last line gets referenced later during intimate scenes.
At the veterans’ campfire, another romance critical conversation unfolds. After sitting down, choose “Think I’ll try and get some shut-eye.” If romance is still viable, you’ll see the option “[Scooch closer] Gotten kinda cold.” Selecting it moves V closer to Panam and triggers a stargazing moment. If instead you see “Mad at me?” the romance path is already blocked from earlier choices.
After the campfire, you sleep and wake for the heist. Panam drives while you man the turret. Shooting the train car coupler is optional but reduces the Militech escort by one vehicle, making the following combat easier. Once you reach the convoy, combat is unavoidable. Kill all enemies, loot if you want, then return to camp. Saul and Panam argue when you arrive, but Panam promises to call you soon. For a detailed objective by objective breakdown, check the With a Little Help From My Friends Walkthrough.
Romance Critical Dialogue Breakdown
At the control tower, the exact lines to pick are “Missed you,” “Why’s it different with me?” and “[Touch Panam’s Hand] Next time, try following your impulse.” Choosing “Not doing it for free” derails romance immediately. At the campfire, select “Think I’ll try and get some shut-eye,” then “[Scooch closer] Gotten kinda cold.” If you see “Mad at me?” instead of the scooch option, romance is already dead. These checkpoints only matter if V has a male body type. Female body type V can build friendship but cannot romance Panam regardless of dialogue choices.
Walkthrough for “Queen of the Highway” and Panam’s Final Relationship Outcome
Queen of the Highway unlocks only if you completed With a Little Help From My Friends without sabotaging Panam. This mission wraps up Panam’s personal arc and determines whether the Aldecaldo ending becomes available in the main story. Panam explicitly checks your earlier dialogue choices during this job, and if you followed the romance path, the relationship deepens into a committed partnership. If you maintained friendship without romance, Panam still becomes a trusted ally who will stand by V in the final act.
The mission centers on a high stakes plan involving the Aldecaldos and a risky infiltration. Combat is heavier here than in previous jobs, so bring your best gear and consumables. Panam’s dialogue shifts based on whether romance is active. If you hit all the checkpoints in With a Little Help From My Friends, expect intimate moments and dialogue that references your bond. If romance is off the table, the tone stays platonic but still emotionally grounded. Completing this mission locks in Panam’s involvement in V’s endgame and unlocks the Star ending route where V leaves Night City with the Aldecaldos.
| Path | Requirements | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Romance | Male body type, chose “Missed you” at tower, chose “[Scooch closer]” at campfire, completed all three missions | Panam becomes V’s partner, unlocks romantic Star ending where V and Panam leave together |
| Friendship | Female body type or missed romance checkpoints, completed all three missions without sabotage | Panam remains close ally, unlocks platonic Star ending where V joins Aldecaldos as family |
| Sabotage | Ratted out Panam to Saul in With a Little Help From My Friends | Panam’s questline ends, no further contact, Star ending unavailable |
All Rewards in Panam’s Questline: Vehicles, XP, and Hidden Rewards
Panam’s questline offers two reward paths depending on how you navigate the early choices. If you betray Panam by telling Saul about her plan in With a Little Help From My Friends, you receive the Mizutani Shion “Coyote” vehicle immediately. The car is functional and free, but the trade off is permanent loss of access to the rest of Panam’s content, including her romance and the Aldecaldo ending. If you protect Panam and complete all three missions, you earn XP, Street Cred, and access to one of the game’s most narratively rich ending routes.
With a Little Help From My Friends awards 523 XP and Street Cred XP upon completion. No unique weapons are explicitly listed as rewards in Panam’s questline based on available information, though you can loot standard gear from enemies during combat sequences. The real reward is the Star ending, which offers a fundamentally different resolution to V’s story compared to other paths. Players who value narrative payoff over immediate loot should prioritize keeping Panam’s trust intact.
Rewards and how to earn them:
- Mizutani Shion “Coyote” vehicle: betray Panam to Saul during With a Little Help From My Friends (blocks all future Panam content)
- 523 XP and Street Cred: complete With a Little Help From My Friends without sabotage
- Star ending unlock: complete all three Panam missions and maintain positive relationship
- Romance scenes and partnership dialogue: male body type only, hit all romance checkpoints in With a Little Help From My Friends
- Access to Panam as an ally in endgame missions: complete Queen of the Highway
- Emotional closure and Aldecaldo family bond: finish the entire questline on good terms
How Choices Affect Panam’s Romance, Friendship, and Ending Paths
Romance with Panam requires two conditions: V must use a male body type, and you must select the correct dialogue at two specific checkpoints in With a Little Help From My Friends. At the control tower, choosing “Missed you” keeps romance alive, while “Not doing it for free” kills it by making Panam question your motives. At the campfire, the presence of the line “[Scooch closer] Gotten kinda cold” signals romance is still viable. If you see “Mad at me?” instead, you already missed a checkpoint and romance is locked out. You don’t necessarily have to select the scooch option to keep romance available, but seeing it confirms you’re on track. Female body type V can build a deep friendship with Panam but cannot trigger romantic dialogue or scenes regardless of choices.
Betraying Panam by ratting her out to Saul creates an immediate hard stop. Panam calls you angry, Saul messages you to pick up the Shion “Coyote” at the Sunset Motel, and the entire questline ends. No recovery option exists. You lose the romance, the friendship, the final mission, and the Aldecaldo ending route. The game treats this as a permanent consequence with no way to repair the relationship.
Completing all three missions without sabotage unlocks the Star ending in the main story. During the final act, Panam and the Aldecaldos offer V a way out of Night City that doesn’t involve corporate control or sacrifice. If you romanced Panam, the ending includes scenes of V and Panam together as partners. If you built friendship, the ending focuses on V finding family and belonging with the clan. Either version provides a hopeful alternative to the darker endings.
Deal breaker decisions:
- Tell Saul about Panam’s plan and choose any option except “Rather not interfere”: ends questline permanently
- Choose “Not doing it for free” at the control tower: blocks romance but allows friendship and questline to continue
- Miss both tower and campfire romance checkpoints: romance unavailable, friendship remains intact if you complete missions
Panam Quest Bugs, Stat Checks, and Troubleshooting Guide
The most commonly reported bug in Panam’s questline is Saul failing to spawn during the final objective of With a Little Help From My Friends. When this happens, the “Meet with Saul” marker appears but Saul is nowhere in camp. The fix is to reload an autosave from a previous objective, ideally from before the Militech convoy fight. Reloading usually forces Saul to spawn correctly when you return to camp. Keep multiple manual saves during Panam’s missions to avoid losing progress.
The control tower door in With a Little Help From My Friends shows inconsistent stat requirements. The original guide claims a door near Panam requires only 3 Technical Ability, but community reports mention a 7 Technical Ability lock appearing on some players’ games. If you’re blocked, check for alternative entrances around the tower or invest points into Technical Ability and reload. Patches and updates may have changed the check, or different doors have different requirements. If you’re stuck, save before entering the tower area so you can reload and adjust your build. For more details on the ratting out consequence and the Shion “Coyote” reward, see Sabotaging Panam’s Plan – Shion Coyote.
Known stat check obstacles:
- Control tower door may require 3 or 7 Technical Ability depending on version or chosen entrance
- No strict level requirement for Panam’s missions, but bring gear appropriate for mid game Badlands combat
- Body stat checks exist for some tower entry points as alternatives to Technical Ability
- Missing Panam’s call after Riders on the Storm can be fixed by advancing in-game time or completing other side content
Final Words
Starting with Riders on the Storm, this guide walks you through the full Panam arc: when each job unlocks, the tower and campfire checkpoints, and the train chase that decides everything.
Pick dialogue at Saul’s scene carefully — ratting Panam nets the Shion Coyote but ends her line. Follow the tower and campfire prompts to keep romance and the Aldecaldo ending. Use the troubleshooting tips if a stat check or bug blocks you.
Use this Cyberpunk 2077 Panam side job walkthrough choices and rewards to plan your run and get the outcome you want.
FAQ
Q: How to get Panam to sleep with you?
A: Getting Panam to sleep with you requires using male V, completing Riders on the Storm and With a Little Help From My Friends without betraying her, picking tower and campfire romance lines, then finishing Queen of the Highway.
Q: What happens if you touch panams’ thighs as male V?
A: Touching Panam’s thighs as male V triggers a flirt animation and advances romance if your relationship flags are intact; if not, she pulls away and the scene won’t progress the romance.
Q: How do I unlock the “Queen of the Highway” ending?
A: Unlocking the Queen of the Highway ending requires completing Riders on the Storm and With a Little Help From My Friends without ratting out Panam, keeping romance choices, then accepting Panam’s final mission.
Q: Can you still get the Panam ending with female v?
A: Getting Panam’s ending with female V: you can complete her questline and unlock her companion route, but full romance scenes and the romantic epilogue are only available for male body type.