Characters & Roles Guide for NieR: Automata

This guide covers every major character in NieR: Automata, with a primary focus on the three playable androids: 2B, 9S, and A2. Each character has a unique combat role, backstory, and optimal build strategies. Additionally, we detail the most significant non-playable characters that drive the story. All information is based on the base game (no DLC-specific characters except the cosmetic ones).

Playable Characters

2B (YoRHa No.2 Type B)

Background: 2B is a high-performance YoRHa android of the "Battler" type, specialized in close-quarters combat. She is part of the elite YoRHa forces deployed to reclaim Earth from machine lifeforms. Her black outfit and blindfold-like visor are iconic. She is partnered with 9S and initially appears cold and duty-bound, but her true nature is more complex.

Strengths:

• High Melee Damage: 2B’s attacks have the highest base damage among the three main characters, especially with heavy weapons.


• Excellent Mobility: She can dash, slide, and perform aerial combos with ease. Her evade has generous invincibility frames.


• Versatile Weapon Loadout: She can equip two weapons simultaneously (one light, one heavy) and switch between them mid-combo.


• Pod Programs: She can use Pods effectively, though her strength is melee.


Weaknesses:

• No Hacking: 2B cannot hack enemies. She must rely on raw combat and Pod Programs to disable or destroy tough foes.


• Lighter Armor: Compared to A2, 2B has slightly less defense and cannot enter Berserk mode.


• Limited Ranged Options: Her ranged attacks are limited to Pod fire and throwable weapons (e.g., spears), which are less powerful than dedicated ranged builds.


Playstyle:
2B is a pure melee powerhouse. The ideal playstyle involves aggressive combos using both light and heavy weapons, weaving in Pod Programs for crowd control or elemental damage. Utilize her dodge-slide to close gaps and maintain pressure. She excels in 1v1 encounters but can handle groups with wide-swinging heavy weapons like the "Type-40 Sword" or "Beastbane."

Unlock Conditions: Available from the start of the game (Route A).

Recommended Equipment & Builds:

• Weapons:

- Light: Virtuous Contract (starting sword) or Cruel Oath (upgraded). Both have good speed and combo potential.
- Heavy: Type-40 Sword (high stagger) or Iron Pipe (quick heavy attack). For late game, consider the "YoRHa-issue Blade" or "Emil's Head" (bizarre but powerful).

• Plug-in Chips:

- Offense: Melee Attack Up +6, Critical Up +6, Combo Attack Up +6
- Defense: Armor +6, Shockwave +6 (ranged pressure), Auto-Use-item (for safety)
- Utility: Movement Speed Up, Evade Range Up, Collectible Auto-Loot

• Pod Programs:

- Pod A (or B): Mirage (creates stationary decoys that draw aggro) or Bomb (area damage).
- Pod Program: Hammer (stun) or Blade (damage).

• Build Focus: Maximize raw melee output. Use Critical Up chips to exploit her high crit multiplier.


Team Synergy:
2B functions best as the frontline damage dealer. When paired with 9S (during Route B sequences where you switch characters), 9S can hack high-priority targets while 2B handles the mass. In Route C, where all three are available, 2B is the primary attacker; A2 can be the off-tank or berserker. 2B does not require any special synergy to shine – she simply needs a support android to keep enemies off her back.

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9S (YoRHa No.9 Type S)



Background: 9S is a Scanner-type YoRHa android. His primary role is reconnaissance and data analysis, but he is also equipped with combat capabilities. He is curious, emotional, and forms a strong bond with 2B. His specialty is hacking – the ability to enter the machine network and destroy enemies from within.

Strengths:

• Hacking Ability: 9S can hack almost any enemy, shutting them down temporarily, dealing massive damage, or even turning them into allies. Hacking is his signature mechanic.


• Versatile Weapons: He can use light swords, spears, and combat bracers (unique to him). Bracers are very fast and have short range.


• Excellent Against Groups: Hacking can instantly destroy weaker enemies and disable powerful ones, giving 9S unmatched control.


• Longer Ladder of Combos: His light weapon combos have more hits than 2B’s, allowing for extended damage.


Weaknesses:

• Fragile: 9S has lower health and defense than 2B or A2. He must rely on evasion and hacking to survive.


• Hacking Vulnerability: While hacking, 9S is stationary and vulnerable if the hacking fails or is interrupted. Some enemies have powerful counter-hacks.


• Weapon Limitations: Heavy weapons are less effective; he cannot use the largest swords or greatswords.


• Less Pod Efficiency: His Pod fire is the same as others, but his damage output without hacking is lower.


Playstyle:
9S should spend most of his time hacking key enemies. Use light weapons (like "Virtuous Dignity") for quick strikes and bracers (e.g., "Angel's Folly") for fast, safe combos. His playstyle is hit-and-run: dash in, land a few hits, then hack from a distance. For groups, hack the biggest threat first. In boss fights, hacking can skip phases entirely or deal %-based damage.

Unlock Conditions: Available from the start of Route A (as partner) but not playable until Route B. After completing Route A, you start Route B as 9S.

Recommended Equipment & Builds:

• Weapons:

- Light: Virtuous Dignity (fast, balanced) or Cruel Dignity (higher damage).
- Heavy: Spear (e.g., "Virtuous Treaty") for reach, or Bracers (e.g., "Type-3 Tactic") for speed.

• Plug-in Chips:

- Offense: Melee Attack Up +6, Attack Up (for hacked enemies), Hack Up +6 (Reduces hacking difficulty/increases damage).
- Defense: Evade Range Up +6, Auto-Use Potion, Anti-Status chips.
- Utility: Movement Speed Up, Scan Range (for hacking targets), Collectible Auto-Loot.

• Pod Programs:

- Pod A (or B): Wire (to yank enemies into hacking range) or Mirage.
- Pod Program: Blade (aerial damage) or Hammer (stun).

• Build Focus: Maximize hacking effectiveness. Hack Up chips are essential for high-level enemies. Combine with Attack Up for hacked foes to increase damage output.


Team Synergy:
9S is the ultimate support and control character. When paired with 2B, he can hack targets so 2B can unleash combos safely. With A2, 9S can disable threats while A2 uses Berserk mode. In Route C, switch to 9S to hack powerful machines like the Adam/Eve bosses or the secret final boss. He also excels in farming materials via hacking.

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A2 (YoRHa Type A No.2)



Background: A2 is a prototype YoRHa android of the Attacker type, designed for guerrilla combat. She is a survivor of the original Pearl Harbor descent mission, and her appearance is more battle-worn. She is initially hostile to 2B and 9S but later becomes a key ally. Her unique ability is Berserk Mode, which dramatically increases damage but drains her health.

Strengths:

• Berserk Mode: Activating Berserk quadruples damage output but slowly drains HP. With proper chip setups (like Auto-Heal), this can be sustained for long periods.


• Highest Damage Potential: In Berserk mode, A2 deals more damage than any other character, especially with heavy weapons.


• Aggressive Dodging: Her dodge has a unique jump-back animation that can be chained into a counterattack.


• Pod Love: She has slightly better Pod synergy than 2B due to her extended combos.


Weaknesses:

• Health Burn: Berserk mode can kill A2 if not managed carefully. She requires constant healing or chip support.


• No Hacking: Like 2B, A2 cannot hack. She must brute-force enemies.


• Weapon Choices: She can use all weapons, but her heavy weapon attacks are slower than 2B’s.


• Less Mobility: Her dodge is less versatile than 2B’s slide-dodge for gap closing.


Playstyle:
A2 is a high-risk, high-reward melee specialist. Use Berserk mode only when you have healing chips (Auto-Use Potion, Auto-Heal). Spam heavy attacks with weapons like "Type-40 Sword" or "Beastlord". Her aerial combat is also strong; use Pod Programs to keep enemies airborne. For survival, wear at least one defensive chip and always have a potion bound.

Unlock Conditions: Available from Route C (after a certain story point). You control A2 during key segments and can switch to her after unlocking the Character Select feature.

Recommended Equipment & Builds:

• Weapons:

- Light: Virtuous Grief (good speed) or Devil’s Cry (high crit).
- Heavy: Beastlord (massive damage) or Type-40 Blade (balanced).

• Plug-in Chips:

- Offense: Melee Attack Up +6, Critical Up +6, Berserk Up +6 (extends duration), Combo Attack Up.
- Defense: Auto-Heal +6, Armor +6, Deadly Heal (heals on kill).
- Utility: Movement Speed Up, Collectible Auto-Loot, Evade Range Up.

• Pod Programs:

- Pod A (or B): Bomb (area clear) or Wave (stacking damage).
- Pod Program: Hammer (interrupt) or Blade (aerial combos).

• Build Focus: Keep Berserk active as long as possible with Berserk Up chips. Pair with Auto-Heal and Deadly Heal to mitigate health loss. If you can’t sustain, remove Berserk chips and play as a standard heavy melee.

Team Synergy:
A2 works best with a dedicated healer or support. Since there is no traditional healer in NieR: Automata, her synergy comes from having 9S disable dangerous enemies while A2 goes Berserk. In Route C, if you control both, switch to 9S to hack, then to A2 to kill. She also pairs well with the Pod Program “Mirage” to distract enemies.

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Non-Playable Major Characters

Below is a list of important NPCs who are not directly controllable but play crucial roles in story and gameplay (e.g., quest givers, vendors, key story figures).

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Character Roles Summary

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Final Tips

• Switching Characters: In Route C and beyond, you can switch between 2B, 9S, and A2 at any save point. Use this to tackle specific challenges: switch to 9S for hacking puzzles, to 2B for tough bosses, or to A2 for speedrunning areas.


• Leveling Synergy: Your characters share experience? No, each levels individually. But you can farm easily with one high-level character and then level others via side quests.


• Build Versatility: Experiment with different weapon combinations and chips. Each character can be customized to fill almost any role, but their inherent strengths shine best with focused builds.

This concludes the comprehensive Characters & Roles guide for NieR: Automata. Use this information to master every android and survive the machine war.