Developing Characters and Pods in NieR Automata

This tutorial page provides tips and information on how to level up your character and upgrade your weapons and pods in NieR Automata.

Here, we will discuss how to increase the stats of your heroes, enhance the effectiveness of Pods, and manage multiple Pods effectively. We will also cover the process of obtaining and upgrading melee weapons and explore temporary stats increase possibilities.

• General information on character development
• Gaining XP and leveling up characters
• Melee weapons – obtaining and upgrading
• Pods and their programs
• Temporary stats increase

General information on character development

1. In NieR Automata, there are three playable characters. The game forces you to switch between them as per the plot, but you don’t have to start from scratch with each hero. They share progress, which means that when you switch to another character, you retain their development progress and equipment. The main differences between the playable characters are in their unique abilities, such as 9S’s hacking.
2. All character development progress carries over to subsequent routes. You won’t have to start from scratch when you move from Route A to Route B. Your heroes will retain all stats and items. During the subsequent routes, you will encounter stronger opponents to maintain overall difficulty.
3. Progress does not reset with the Chapter Select Option. Even if you go back to an earlier chapter, you will keep your character’s level and equipment.
4. Armor changes don’t affect character improvement. Throughout the game, you can find new outfits or headgear, but they are purely cosmetic.

Gaining XP and leveling up characters

Leveling up is vital in NieR Automata. Each opponent has a level displayed above their head (its absence may mean that one of the HUD options is disabled). Avoid enemies that exceed your level by 10 or more, as defeating them can be challenging, and they can kill you with a few hits.

You can return to most battles later, after leveling up sufficiently. Some quests and battles in the arena even let you resume them on different routes. However, this is not always the case. Try to complete battles before finishing the current route in 100%.

Complete side missions marked on the map to gain XP and unique rewards. Look for opponents whose level is close to yours. Skipping fights with less challenging machines can slow your progress down.

The game has no strict level requirement, but expect the final battles in Routes C and D to be against level 50-60 enemies. For more information and tips on leveling up, check out the XP – how to collect? page.

Obtaining and Upgrading Melee Weapons

In NieR Automata, your attacks’ strength depends on your experience level and the melee weapons you have. At the beginning of a new campaign, you only have two weapons, but you can acquire more by completing quests, exploring the world, or buying from traders. The List of weapons page provides a list of available weapons.

We suggest testing each newly obtained weapon against regular opponents to determine if you want to keep using it. Weapons differ not only in damage but also in how effective they are in performing light (Lt) and heavy (Hv) attacks. This can affect your decision when selecting a weapon.

Upgrading your weapons is essential. However, due to the limited availability of materials at the beginning of the game, only upgrade the weapons you are currently using. Visit the Weapons Trader in the Resistance Camp to upgrade your weapons to level 3. To upgrade to level 4, the highest level, find the hidden blacksmith called Masamune, as described on the Weapons’ level four upgrade – how to achieve? page.

Upgrading weapons:

1. increases their damage,
2. increases their speed of performing light and heavy combos,
3. unlocks their additional unique features (e.g. improved attack speed).

Pods and Their Programs

The Pods are essential in fighting opponents – do not ignore them. Unlock all three Pods as soon as possible, so you can switch between them “on the fly” and use their different skills. Find the location of the Pods on the All Pods – how to unlock? page.

Each Pod should have a separate program equipped. This has two main advantages:

1. After activating a Pod’s program, you do not have to wait for the skills to be usable again. Quickly switch to the next Pod and use its program to attack or weaken enemies much faster.
2. You can have access to various programs, some of which are excellent for attacking strong single opponents, while others can weaken entire groups of machines. You won’t have to set the best programs before every significant battle.

Improve your Pods – the Maintenance Shop Owner from the Resistance Camp is the first NPC that can do this. Upgraded Pods deal more damage, both with their regular attacks and programs. Unfortunately, this requires rare crafting materials. Check if you can upgrade a Pod regularly and do it as soon as you get the necessary materials (e.g. during world exploration or as rewards for completed quests).

Temporary Stats Increase

In addition to continually raising the heroes’ stats, weapons, and Pods, you can temporarily increase combat capabilities. These include:

The Android operating system requires installed Chips in order for them to work. These Chips have the ability to enhance the character’s power and can be found detailed on the Chips – how to install? page. Consumables, on the other hand, come in various forms and can provide temporary boosts to attack strength as demonstrated in the image above. It is recommended to utilize these during battles against bosses or groups of stronger enemies.

FAQ

What are the main characters in NieR Automata?

The main characters in NieR Automata are androids named 2B, 9S, and A2. 2B is a combat model designed for battle, while 9S is a scanner model responsible for gathering intelligence. A2 is a rogue android who has abandoned her duties as a YoRHa unit. These three characters form the core of the game’s narrative and each has their own unique personality and backstory. Throughout the game, players will control each of these characters at different times, allowing them to experience the story from multiple perspectives.

What are Pods in NieR Automata?

Pods are small flying drones that assist the androids in combat and exploration. They serve a variety of functions, such as providing ranged attacks, scanning the environment, and hacking into enemy machines. Over the course of the game, players can upgrade their Pods to unlock new abilities and customizations. Pods also play a role in the game’s story, providing commentary and emotional support to the androids as they navigate the world around them.