Midjourney Cyberpunk Prompts: Definitive List & Guide
Midjourney Cyberpunk Prompts: Definitive List & Guide
This guide provides a comprehensive list of copy-paste prompts and advanced techniques to help you master the creation of stunning cyberpunk art with Midjourney.
The cyberpunk aesthetic—a gritty fusion of high-tech and low-life—has captivated audiences for decades. With AI image generators like Midjourney, developers and designers now have the power to bring their own dystopian visions to life. But crafting the perfect image requires more than just an idea; it requires a well-structured prompt. This guide is your definitive resource for writing effective Midjourney cyberpunk prompts, packed with examples, advanced parameter breakdowns, and a style guide for Midjourney v6.
What Makes a Great Cyberpunk Prompt? The Core Elements
A powerful Midjourney prompt is a recipe. The more precise your ingredients and instructions, the better your result. For cyberpunk art, an effective prompt formula generally includes a subject, a setting or action, style descriptors, and technical parameters.
The basic formula looks like this: [Subject] + [Setting/Action] + [Style/Modifiers] + [Parameters]
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Subject: The main focus of your image (e.g.,
a grizzled cyborg detective
,a rogue android
). - Setting/Action: Where the subject is and what they are doing (e.g.,
standing in a neon-drenched alley
,hacking a corporate mainframe
). - Style/Modifiers: The artistic and atmospheric keywords that define the look and feel (e.g.,
hyper-detailed
,volumetric lighting
,in the style of Blade Runner
,grimy
,dystopian
). - Parameters: Technical commands that control the output (e.g.,
--ar 16:9
for aspect ratio,--v 6.0
for version).
101+ Midjourney Cyberpunk Prompts You Can Copy & Paste
Here is a curated collection of midjourney cyberpunk prompt examples to get you started. Use them as-is or as a foundation for your own creations.
[Image: A collage showcasing diverse cyberpunk art including characters, cityscapes, and vehicles created in Midjourney.]
Cyberpunk Character Prompts
Crafting compelling characters is at the heart of any cyberpunk narrative. These prompts focus on the iconic archetypes of the genre.
A solitary netrunner with glowing optic cables for hair, jacked into a server terminal, cyberspace data streams reflecting in her chrome eyes, cinematic lighting --ar 16:9 --v 6.0
[Image: A female netrunner as described in the prompt, with intricate details and strong lighting.]
Portrait of a grizzled street samurai with a weathered face, augmented chrome arm, and a katana handle visible over his shoulder, standing in the rain, moody, film noir style --ar 2:3 --v 6.0
[Image: A close-up portrait of the street samurai, capturing a gritty, cinematic feel.]
A corporate enforcer in sleek, black tactical gear with integrated fiber optics, holding a high-tech pulse rifle, standing in a sterile, white corporate lobby, minimalist design --ar 16:9 --v 6.0
[Image: The corporate enforcer looking menacing in a clean, futuristic environment.]
A bio-hacker in a cluttered underground lab, surrounded by glowing vials and holographic schematics, wearing a custom gas mask, chaotic and detailed environment --ar 4:3 --v 6.0 --style raw
[Image: The bio-hacker in a visually dense and messy lab, highlighting the "low-life" aspect.]
Cyberpunk City & Environment Prompts
The city is often a character in itself. Use these prompts to build sprawling megacities and grimy back alleys.
A vast, sprawling cyberpunk cityscape at night under a torrential downpour, massive holographic advertisements flickering on towering mega-structures, flying vehicles weaving through neon canyons, hyper-detailed, photorealistic --ar 21:9 --v 6.0
[Image: An epic, wide-angle shot of a rainy cyberpunk city, full of detail and atmosphere.]
A narrow, grimy back alley in a dystopian city, steam rising from vents, littered with discarded tech and cables, glowing noodle bar sign in the distance, ominous mood --ar 2:3 --v 6.0
[Image: A vertical shot of a claustrophobic, dirty alley that feels alive and dangerous.]
The interior of a high-tech data haven, servers humming with light, cables running like vines across the ceiling, a single terminal glowing in the center, clean and futuristic --ar 16:9 --v 6.0
[Image: A serene but complex view of a data haven, emphasizing the "high-tech" side of cyberpunk.]
Rooftop view overlooking a cyberpunk metropolis, endless city lights stretching to the horizon, a lone figure silhouetted against a polluted sky with two moons --ar 16:9 --v 6.0
[Image: A breathtaking vista from a rooftop, conveying a sense of scale and loneliness.]
Cyberpunk Vehicle & Tech Prompts
From flying cars to cybernetic enhancements, technology defines the cyberpunk world.
A sleek, angular flying car (aerodyne) hovering in a rainy downtown street, with glowing headlights cutting through the fog, Blade Runner aesthetic --ar 16:9 --v 6.0
[Image: A dynamic shot of a futuristic flying car, reminiscent of the Spinner from Blade Runner.]
Extreme close-up of a complex cybernetic eye with a glowing iris, intricate mechanical details visible, reflecting a stream of data code, macro photography --ar 1:1 --v 6.0
[Image: A detailed macro shot of a cybernetic eye, showcasing mechanical complexity.]
A heavily modified combat drone with multiple sensors and weapon mounts patrolling a dark industrial zone, red optical sensor flare, utilitarian design --ar 4:3 --v 6.0
[Image: A menacing combat drone in an industrial setting, looking functional and deadly.]
Abstract & Aesthetic Cyberpunk Prompts
Sometimes the focus is on the abstract digital nature of the cyberpunk world.
An abstract representation of a data breach, red and blue glitch art, corrupted data streams, fragmented geometric shapes, digital noise, chaotic --ar 16:9 --v 6.0
[Image: A vibrant and chaotic piece of glitch art representing a cyberattack.]
A holographic user interface floating in a dark room, displaying complex financial data and 3D models, translucent and luminous, futuristic UI/UX design --ar 1:1 --v 6.0
[Image: A beautiful and intricate holographic UI, perfect for design inspiration.]
Advanced Techniques: How to Refine Your Cyberpunk Art
Mastering the basics is one thing; becoming a true AI art director requires understanding how to fine-tune your creations. This cyberpunk style guide for Midjourney v6 will help you master the key tools at your disposal.
Mastering Key Parameters
Parameters are your technical controls. They come at the end of your prompt.
--ar <ratio>
: Sets the Aspect Ratio.--ar 16:9
or--ar 21:9
is perfect for cinematic cityscapes.--ar 2:3
or--ar 4:5
works well for character portraits.--style raw
: Reduces the default Midjourney "opinion" or aesthetic, giving you a more photographic and literal interpretation of your prompt. It's excellent for achieving a gritty, realistic look.--niji 6
: The Niji model is specifically tuned for anime and illustrative styles. If you want a look inspired by Akira or Ghost in the Shell, adding--niji 6
is essential.--chaos <0-100>
: Increases the variety and unexpectedness of the initial image grid. A higher chaos value (e.g.,--chaos 25
) can be great for abstract or surreal cyberpunk concepts.
Referencing Artists & Movies for a Specific Look
One of the most powerful techniques is to invoke the style of a specific artist, film, or art movement. Midjourney has been trained on a vast visual library.
- For gritty industrial futurism: Use
in the style of Syd Mead
(the visual futurist behind Blade Runner and Aliens). - For epic anime scale: Try
in the style of Katsuhiro Otomo
(creator of Akira) orcinematic still from Ghost in the Shell
. - For photorealistic cinema: Use terms like
cinematic still from Blade Runner 2049
,shot on ARRI Alexa
, oranamorphic lens flare
to give your images a high-production-value feel.
How to Get the Perfect Neon Glow Effect
The neon glow is a hallmark of the genre. To achieve it, use specific lighting and atmospheric keywords.
- Keywords:
neon glow
,volumetric lighting
,luminous
,iridescent
,bioluminescent
,god rays
,neon-drenched
. - Example Prompt:
A figure in a trench coat walks down a street saturated with neon glow from holographic signs, volumetric light cutting through the thick smog --ar 16:9 --v 6.0
For developers looking to automate and scale this kind of image generation for applications, games, or other projects, programmatic access is key. Services like the Midjourney API from imaginepro.ai provide a robust way to integrate this creative power directly into your workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I write a good Midjourney cyberpunk prompt?
A good prompt is specific and layered. Start with a clear subject (e.g., a cyborg
), place it in a detailed setting (e.g., in a grimy noodle bar
), add stylistic keywords (neon-lit
, rainy
, dystopian
), and finish with technical parameters (--ar 16:9 --v 6.0
). The more detail you provide, the more control you have over the final image.
What is the best prompt for a cyberpunk city in Midjourney?
There is no single "best" prompt, but a highly effective one would be: Epic wide shot of a futuristic cyberpunk megalopolis, towering skyscrapers with giant holographic ads, streams of flying cars, dense urban sprawl, rainy atmosphere with neon reflections on wet streets, hyperrealistic, octane render, cinematic --ar 21:9 --v 6.0 --style raw
. This prompt is strong because it defines the scale, content, atmosphere, style, and aspect ratio.
How to get a neon glow effect in Midjourney cyberpunk art?
To achieve a strong neon glow, use a combination of direct and indirect keywords. Directly use terms like neon
, neon-lit
, neon glow
, and luminous
. Combine them with atmospheric words like fog
, rain
, smog
, and haze
, which give the light something to reflect off. Volumetric lighting
is another powerful term that tells the AI to make light beams visible in the air.
What artists or movies should I reference for a cyberpunk style in Midjourney?
To guide Midjourney's style, reference iconic sources.
- Artists: Syd Mead, H.R. Giger (for biomechanical horror), Katsuhiro Otomo, Masamune Shirow.
- Movies: Blade Runner (1982), Blade Runner 2049, Akira, Ghost in the Shell (1995), The Matrix, Dredd.
- Games: Cyberpunk 2077, Deus Ex.
Using phrases like
in the style of [artist]
ora cinematic scene from [movie]
will heavily influence the output.
How do I achieve a cinematic look for cyberpunk art in Midjourney?
To get a cinematic look, you need to think like a cinematographer.
- Use a Widescreen Aspect Ratio:
--ar 16:9
(standard HD) or--ar 21:9
(ultrawide cinema). - Use Cinematic Keywords: Add terms like
cinematic lighting
,film grain
,anamorphic lens flare
,dramatic shadows
, anddepth of field
. - Reference a Camera: Try adding
shot on ARRI Alexa
or35mm film
to influence the texture and color grading.
Conclusion: Go Create!
You are now equipped with the formulas, examples, and advanced techniques to create breathtaking midjourney cyberpunk prompts. The true power of this technology lies in experimentation. Take these prompts, deconstruct them, and rebuild them into something uniquely yours. Combine a character from one prompt with a setting from another, apply a new artistic style, and see what new worlds emerge. The neon-drenched future is yours to render.