Adam Smasher: Who He Is, His History and Where He Appears
The short version
Adam Smasher is a fully cybernetic mercenary who became Arasaka's head of security. He is the Arasaka enforcer who looms over Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and is a boss in Cyberpunk 2077, voiced by Alec Newman in English.
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Who Adam Smasher is#
Smasher is a mercenary who has been converted into a full cyborg, with almost nothing left of the human body. By 2077 he is Arasaka's head of security and the bodyguard of Yorinobu Arasaka. He is a former Marine and gangster from New York.
He is not a villain with a plan. He is a weapon pointed at whoever Arasaka names, and he enjoys it.
Where he comes from#
Smasher dates back to the original tabletop game. He appears in Cyberpunk 2020 sourcebooks and again in Cyberpunk RED. He was maimed by rocket-propelled grenades in 2015 during an Arasaka job in New York, and Arasaka offered him a choice: die, or become a full-conversion borg. He took the second. Arasaka got a dog that could walk on its own.
The name is a play on "atom smasher", a nickname for particle accelerators. Canon note: the 2020 and RED versions of his history are tabletop lore. The anime and the game both use the 2077 version.
In Edgerunners#
Alec Newman voices him in English, the same actor as in Cyberpunk 2077. Yukihiro Misono voices him in Japanese.
If you only know him from the anime, the surprise is how little he talks. He mostly keeps quiet and leaves the damage to speak.
Spoilers Smasher spoilers: the finale
Arasaka sends Smasher in the last episode to contain David's raid on the tower. He kills Faraday and Rebecca in the firefight, and then executes David after David stays behind to hold him off while Falco takes Lucy to safety.
In the game, if you asked Panam for help, V and Panam fight and defeat him at the Mikoshi access point, after he kills Saul Bright.
In Cyberpunk 2077#
In the game he is Yorinobu's bodyguard during the Konpeki Plaza heist. When Yorinobu becomes CEO of Arasaka, Smasher is promoted to head of security.
The game was developed with Mike Pondsmith as a consultant. Smasher is one of the characters carried over from his tabletop work.
Appearances outside the canon#
Smasher is a skin in Fortnite, as part of the Night City Denizens set in Chapter 7 Season 2, and he appears in the Wuthering Waves crossover event of 2026. Neither counts as canon.
Fixer's notes#
For tabletop, he appears in R. Talsorian's 2024 Edgerunners Mission Kit. If you run him, make the players hear about him long before they meet him. Dread does the work. The stat block only finishes it.
More on the people he flattens: Edgerunners and the Panam Palmer page for the game side.
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Questions people ask#
Who voices Adam Smasher?
Alec Newman in English, in both Edgerunners and Cyberpunk 2077. Yukihiro Misono voices him in Japanese in Edgerunners.
What is Adam Smasher's backstory?
A former Marine and gangster from New York. Rocket-propelled grenades maimed him in 2015 during an Arasaka job, and Arasaka offered him a choice: die, or become a full-conversion borg. He took the second.
Who killed Johnny Silverhand?
Smasher, in the August 2023 assault on the Arasaka Towers. See Johnny Silverhand for the rest of that night.
Is Adam Smasher in Cyberpunk 2077?
Yes, as a boss. He is Yorinobu Arasaka's bodyguard during the Konpeki Plaza heist and becomes Arasaka's head of security when Yorinobu takes over as CEO.
Can you beat Adam Smasher in Cyberpunk 2077?
Spoiler: Yes. If you asked Panam for help, V and Panam defeat him at the Mikoshi access point after he kills Saul Bright.