How Weapons Work in Nier Automata
Nier Automata divides weapons into four main categories: small swords, large swords, spears, and combat bracers. You can equip one light and one heavy weapon, plus keep two complete sets ready for instant swapping. That loadout flexibility defines combat rhythm – it’s what lets you chain graceful aerial hits into brutal finishers.
Each weapon has unique animations, weight, and reach. Fast types like bracers create short combos; large swords turn each swing into a statement. You can interrupt, dodge, or Pod-cancel attacks at any time. This fluidity is the reason the combat feels more like choreography than brawling.
What makes the Nier Automata weapons system special is that progression isn’t only mechanical. Each weapon has a Weapon Story that expands as you upgrade it. The fourth level reveals its complete tale – often tragic, sometimes poetic. In a game obsessed with memory, these stories are tiny souls trapped in steel.
Weapon Categories at a Glance
| Type | Attack Speed | Damage Output | Reach | Recommended Users |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Swords | Fast | Low-Medium | Short | Perfect for beginners and combo lovers |
| Large Swords | Slow | High | Long | Great for A2 or defensive setups |
| Spears | Medium-Fast | Medium | Long | Ideal for spacing and mid-range control |
| Combat Bracers | Very Fast | Low | Short | For aggressive, close-quarters players |
The mix of weapon categories allows you to build your own rhythm – you can play 2B like a fencer, 9S like a duelist, or A2 like a heavy-hitting brawler. None of them lock you into a single archetype; the system rewards curiosity and timing.
Upgrading Weapons and the Blacksmith System
Each weapon can be upgraded four times. Levels 1-3 raise base damage and improve scaling; level 4 adds unique effects or unlocks the final lore entry. Upgrades require materials gathered from chests, enemies, and merchants.
- Level 1 → 2: Iron Ore, Beast Hide, Broken Circuits.
- Level 2 → 3: Titanium Alloy, Memory Alloy, Complex Gadgets.
- Level 3 → 4: Meteorite, Machine Core, or rare trade items.
You can upgrade at any blacksmith up to level 3. The final level needs the master blacksmith hidden in the Forest Kingdom. Finishing his side quest unlocks his service and completes one of the best pieces of optional worldbuilding in the game – a craftsman making weapons not for war, but remembrance.
Top Weapons in Each Category
| Weapon | Type | Where to Find | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtuous Contract | Small Sword | 2B’s default weapon | Lightweight, strong combo flow, late-game viable |
| Beastlord | Large Sword | Forest Kingdom waterfall | Massive power, great crowd control, somber lore |
| Phoenix Lance | Spear | Desert cave chest | Elegant moveset, HP regeneration effect |
| Type-3 Blade | Large Sword | Resistance Camp vendor | Balanced stats, excellent reach |
| Angel’s Folly | Combat Bracers | Emil’s shop | High speed, stylish animations, rare availability |
For most players, the Virtuous line remains ideal – light, quick, and perfectly aligned with 2B’s agile fighting style. Each Virtuous weapon symbolizes purity and discipline, fitting the game’s aesthetic of tragic elegance.
Weapon Lore and Emotional Depth
Every Nier Automata weapon carries a four-part story that unlocks as you upgrade. These are fragments of lives lost long before the game begins – soldiers, lovers, machines, even animals. The writing is concise but devastating. Reading them all paints a mosaic of pain and persistence beneath the surface of the world.
- Virtuous Treaty: A knight who swore to protect, failed, and sharpened her sword as penance.
- Beastbane: A hunter whose compassion led to tragedy – mirrored by the weapon’s self-damage effect.
- Faith: A blade forged for devotion but left behind in despair – obtainable in the Flooded City.
Upgrading all weapons to level 4 is not only for completionists – it’s required for Ending Y and grants a deeper understanding of the game’s cyclical grief. The weapon stories act as miniature morality plays, encapsulating Nier’s central idea: memory is both a curse and proof of existence.
Combos and Loadout Synergy
The best part of the Nier Automata weapons system is experimenting with rhythm. Light + Heavy slots don’t just alternate speed – they merge into custom chains that blend animation styles. Here are proven loadouts:
- Virtuous Contract + Virtuous Treaty: clean mobility and balanced burst; easy cancel into aerials.
- Type-40 Sword + Beastlord: grounded knockback control – perfect for tanky enemies.
- Phoenix Dagger + Phoenix Lance: regeneration synergy for long fights.
- Type-3 Blade + Virtuous Grief: mix of raw damage and lightning-fast counters.
To maximize DPS, dodge-cancel between loadouts. 2B’s animation cancel frames allow switching mid-combo, creating seamless transitions between speed and power. For A2, charge attacks after Berserk activate area clears; for 9S, hacking fills downtime between melee strings.
Advanced Loadouts by Playstyle
Every player eventually gravitates toward a preferred tempo. These setups show how weapon choice shapes combat identity.
| Playstyle | Recommended Loadout | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical / Counter | Virtuous Contract + Virtuous Grief | Perfect dodge follow-ups, stylish animation flow | Requires timing; low raw burst |
| Heavy Aggressor | Beastlord + Type-3 Blade | Massive stagger and AoE, high sustain | Slow recovery, punishing whiffs |
| Aerial Duelist | Virtuous Dignity + Phoenix Dagger | Mid-air control, low risk against flyers | Weaker ground pressure |
| Balanced Solo | Type-40 Sword + Angel’s Folly | Fast combos, safe mobility | Needs Pod Programs for range |
Route C/D and Endgame Weapons
During Routes C and D, enemy density increases and resistances diversify. The best Nier Automata weapons here combine raw power with utility effects like healing or knockdown. Recommended endgame picks include:
- Beastlord: unmatched burst for A2’s Berserk combos.
- Phoenix Lance: regeneration keeps sustain high in marathon boss fights.
- Type-3 Blade: reliable neutral game, quick recovery.
- Faith: small sword with elegant damage scaling, thematically resonant for 9S.
Completing Route C unlocks the Machine Core Economy – sell or trade them for high-tier upgrade materials. Farming Factory Goliaths or the Copied City provides the best drop rates. Always keep at least one spare Meteorite and three Memory Alloys before starting the final chapters; upgrades and endings tie closely together.
Efficient Material Farming
| Material | Best Location | Drop Source | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanium Alloy | City Ruins | Small flying machines | Early weapon upgrades |
| Memory Alloy | Factory entrance | Medium bipeds | Mid-tier upgrades |
| Meteorite | Desert Camp → Ruins loop | High-level machines | Final tier upgrades |
| Machine Core | Endgame Goliaths | Large bosses | Trade for credits or rare parts |
Equip chips for Drop Rate Up and Auto-Item Use while farming. Efficiency turns a grind into flow – it’s the same philosophy that drives Nier’s combat.
Combat Rhythm and Pod Integration
Pod Programs like Laser, Mirage, and Spear aren’t just ranged tools; they extend weapon combos. Cancel heavy-attack recovery by triggering a Pod Program mid-animation. Use Laser to finish Beastlord’s slow swings, or Mirage to fill downtime between light attacks. This blend of melee and tech defines Nier’s unique “dance-combat” identity.
- Light → Pod Laser → Dodge → Heavy = safe loop for tough enemies.
- Aerial Combo → Pod Spear = instant crowd clear.
- Berserk (A2) → Pod Mirage = invincible burst window.
Hidden Weapons and Secrets
Exploration pays off. Many secret Nier Automata weapons are hidden behind environmental puzzles or side quests:
- Emil Heads: found in Emil’s house after specific routes – absurd yet powerful.
- Iron Pipe: a relic from Nier Replicant; discovered near the sewer tunnel.
- Dragoon Lance: dropped by flying enemies near Forest Kingdom rooftops.
- Cruel Blood Oath: rare spear obtained from secret chest in the Desert Camp Ruins.
Collecting all weapons and upgrading them reveals the world’s deeper texture – every blade you carry once belonged to someone who fought, hoped, or fell long before 2B ever swung it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Upgrading every weapon evenly – focus on two until resources overflow.
- Ignoring speed chips – faster attack speed makes even slow weapons shine.
- Forgetting weapon swap mid-battle – the second loadout doubles your options.
- Selling unique materials too early – Meteorite and Machine Core scarcity bites later.
Why Nier Automata Weapons Still Stand Out
Most action RPGs separate stats from soul; Nier unites them. Each weapon feels handcrafted – not only visually but philosophically. The juxtaposition of elegant katanas, crude machine lances, and bracers forged from recycled parts mirrors the world’s theme of beauty amid decay.
When players talk about the Nier Automata weapons years later, they’re not just remembering numbers – they’re remembering how a single blade told them a story mid-battle, how a final upgrade unlocked grief in four sentences, how combat and narrative blurred until it felt human.
Final Thoughts
The Nier Automata weapons system is more than a combat mechanic – it’s an emotional architecture. Every strike, upgrade, and hidden description feeds into the game’s meditation on memory and meaning. Whether you master combos or simply admire the craftsmanship, the weapons remind you that even tools of destruction can carry tenderness.
So build the loadout that feels right. Swing for beauty as much as power. When the light catches a blade and the soundtrack swells, you’ll understand why these weapons still resonate – because, in Nier, even steel remembers.