Nier Automata: Forest Zone and Forest Castle - walkthrough, side missions NieR Automata guide, tips

NieR Automata: On this page you will find walkthrough for the side missions Forest Zone and Forest Castle

Last update: 19 August 2021

On this page of the NieR Automatagame guide, you will find a walkthrough of side quests from the Forest Zone and the Forest Castle. You will find out when you can start the optional quests in Forest Zone and Forest Castle, how is the course of the missions and possible important choices, as well as what rewards are provided for completing the missions.

• Unlocking Forest Zone and Forest Castle
• Lord of the Valley
• Animal-loving Machine
• Animal Care
• Turf War
• Treasure Hunt at the Castle
• Culinary Resarcher
• Emil's Memories
• Underground Colosseum (DLC)
• Reconnaissance Squad

Unlocking Forest Zone and Forest Castle

The forest is initially an inaccessible location. You won't be able to explore it until you've reached Chapter 6 of the campaign. The character will then explore the overgrown shopping center on the outskirts of the City Ruins and unlock the entrance to the Forest Zone.

The castle is unlocked at the same time as the forest and is adjacent to it. For the first time, you explore the castle in Chapter 6. It will also be possible to return to both locations later in the game.

Note - Not all quests described below are available right away. Some become available later in the game or once you meet specific requirements.

Lord of the Valley

Quest giver: Canyon Machine (Forest Zone)

You can unlock this quest for the first time during the first visit to the Forest Zone in Chapter 6. Unfortunately, even getting to the starting point of the quest can be problematic. You have to reach the canyon that cuts through the forest and the areas around the castle. In the place from picture 2, you can carefully jump to the lower shelves. In case of bigger distance, use gliding.

At the very bottom, you will meet Canyon Machine. Decide to save it (the upper dialog option) and listen to the quest's requirements.

Note - when starting this quest, it is best to wait for the final part of Route A or start it during completing Route B. The point is the character should be close to the 50 experience level. Only then will you have the opportunity to complete the quest without problems.

Quest description: Enter the canyon, and after moving the large box, start exploring. Initially, you will have to fight "only" ordinary machines at the 25-30 level of experience.

In this area, you can also find a unique weapon Phoenix Dagger - it will be in one of the chests (you can also come back later for it).

In the further part of the canyon, expect a confrontation with machines of 30-35 level of experience. The most serious opponent is level 50 Goliath. It is a slow enemy but extremely tough, and his health bar will be drained very slow even in close combat. For this reason, we recommended playing this mission with a character on a higher experience level. In the fight with Goliath, use dodge and move away from him every time he starts a series of attacks with his upper limbs.

If you have Network Features enabled, you can find another player's corpse nearby and repair it to gain an additional ally to weaken the opponent. After winning the duel, return to the quest giver. It is worth noting that, in addition to receiving rewards for completing the quest, you can trade with the machine. She sells, for example, different types of chips.

If, after all, the fight with Goliath causes you trouble due to dealing minimum damage, then you can wait until you advance to Route B and take up this quest playing as 9s. This will allow you to hack Goliath safely from a distance, and each such successful action will take him a significant amount of HP. After a few successful hacking mini-boss will be defeated.

Despite completing the quest, you may have a problem getting out of the canyon. There are two ways:

1. In the place where the giver of the quest is, look for higher rocky shelves (picture 1). You have to jump on them carefully to avoid fall into the abyss. Eventually, you will be able to return to the Forest Zone, but this climb can be quite time-consuming.
2. Search the area before you encounter Goliath, adn find an elevator. After using it, you will get to the edge of a cliff (picture 2). Use double jump to reach higher rock shelves and return to the drawbridge in the City Ruins.

Rewards for completing the quest:

1. Clean Nut x6
2. Memory Alloy x4
3. Taunt Up 3 Chip
4. Last Stand 3 Chip
5. Vengeance 3 Chip
6. 5000G
7. 1500XP

Animal-loving Machine

Quest giver: Machine Lifeform (Forest Zone)

It is not an "official" quest from the journal, and it doesn't have its name, although it is associated with two later ones - Animal Care and Turf War given by the same NPC.

After you reach the Forest Zone for the first time in Chapter 6, you can check the marker from the above image. This is a hidden location on the edge of the forest, which you can reach by jumping on a large root and going between large trees.

Quest description: When you reach the place, you will meet a single machine, which will shout to the heroes and try to drive them away. First, start fighting - you can attack the machine or boars.

Fight until the Animal-loving Machine stops you and beg for the animals to be spared. Agree by choosing the dialog option on the top (Spare the animals). You will receive a few rewards and an invitation to visit the shelter for wild animals later in the game.

Rewards for completing the quest:

1. Animal Bait x20
2. 5000G
3. 1,150XP

Animal Care

Quest giver: Animal-loving Machine (Forest Zone)

After advancing to Chapter 7, an icon should appear in the forest. You will be able to meet with the Animal-loving Machine again. You will learn from her about the sick moose, and you will be able to take on the quest of finding a cure.

Quest description: You have to go to an abandoned shopping mall, location you visited for the first time on the way to the Forest Zone in Chapter 6. Check the glowing objects. One of them will be Medical Journal.

Return with the journal to the Animal-loving Machine.

Rewards for completing the quest:

1. Beast Hide x5
2. Quality Sachet - this is a very useful, "improved" sachet, thanks to which you will be able to tame wild animals without using Animal Bait
3. 3,000G
4. 600XP

Turf War

Quest giver: Animal-loving Machine (Forest Zone)

Sometime after completing the above-described side mission, question marks should appear in the same place in the forest, indicating meeting the Animal-loving Machine once again. This time you will learn about the problem with hostile wild animals, and you will be asked to solve it.

It's worth completing this quest being about level 40 because the creatures that need to be eliminated will be at level 40. Their lair is located on the path leading from the Forest Zone to the Forest Castle.

If the fight is hard, consider moving away from the lair and attacking opponents at a distance, for example, standing on a large root. This will reduce the risk being surrounded and receiving heavy damage in close combat.

If you doing this quest while playing Route B (playing as 9S), it will be possible to hack a single machine accompanying wild animals. However, expect a difficult versions of the hacking mini-games when eliminating or weakening the enemy machine.

Rewards for completing the quest:

1. Full Recovery x1
2. Animal Bait x5
3. Auto-Heal 5 Chip - this is a great chip for restoring character's health between fights
4. 10,000G
5. 1750XP

Treasure Hunt at the Castle

Quest giver: Weird-talking Machine (Forest Castle)

The opportunity to start this quest appears after advancing to Chapter 7 - that is, after defeating A2 in the castle. Machines from the Pascal village unlock the gate connecting the Forest Castle with the Machine Village. After returning to the Machine Village, a quest marker will appear at the gate you passed earlier. You have to go back there to meet the Weird-talking Machine.

Quest description: This task concerns searching for treasure in the castle, to which you have to return. During the second visit to the castle, the character can open chests that were previously unavailable. You need to locate 3 of them:

The first chest you can find at the beginning of the exploration of the castle. It is on a very high shelf marked in the picture. This is an open space you reached during the examination of the castle for the first time. When you get to this place, turn to the left and start jumping to the higher shelves to reach the one with the chest.

The second chest is in one of the library rooms. You have to use a double jump and dash in flight (R2) to reach the corner with the chest from the picture.

Searching for the third chest start near the blacksmith Masamune headquarters. As a reminder, this is the area of the second Access Point in the castle. After jumping to the bottom shelf, instead of going left to the blacksmith's hideout, you have to go right. Do a double jump with dash to jump to the shelf marked in the picture.

Continue going right and use double jump with dash over a larger precipice. You will eventually reach the chest from the picture.

By opening all the chests, you will get a key you will take back to the library. Stop in the place from the above picture - you have to jump to the top shelf marked on the picture.

Slide down the ladders to reach the passage in the library shown in picture 1. Go right to the gate from picture 2. Having a key obtaining by the opening of 3 chests, you can now open it.

In the new area, there is a mini-boss with a golden "indestructible" shield. You have to attack this opponent from the exposed side, and since there is a risk of being electrocuted, you should use ranged attacks. You can also resurrect the body of another player and use it to your benefit. Alternatively, if you play as a 9S in Route B, you can hack an elite enemy to weaken them without engaging in open combat.

After winning the fight, get to the tomb of the Forest King - examining it will unlock a new entry in the archive (Letter to the Forest King). You can now return to the quest giver.

Rewards for completing the quest:

1. Large Recovery x1
2. Moldavite x2
3. Giant Egg x3
4. 10,000G
5. 1280XP

Culinary Resarcher

Quest giver: Resistance Supply Trader (Forest Zone)

This Quest becomes available after completing a side quest Camp Development, which starts in the Resistance Camp. The quest marker will appear near an overgrown shopping center after advancing to the Chapter 7. When you get there, you'll find a Resistance Camp, and you'll have to talk to one of the rebels.

Your task is to deliver one piece of Moose Meat and Boar Meat. You can find both of these wild animals species during the exploration of the Forest Zone, but they also appear, for example, in the City Ruins. Return the meat to the campsite (or immediately complete the quest if you have it in the inventory from previous fights with animals).

Rewards for completing the quest:

1. Melee Attack Up (L) x2
2. Ranged Attack Up (L) x2
3. Large Recovery x2
4. Ranged Defense Up (L) x2
5. Melee Defense Up (L) x2
6. 5000G
7. 600XP

Emil's Memories

Quest giver: finding the Lunar Tear flower (Forest Zone)

Emil is a trader you might have first met in Chapter 7. His icon - Emil's Item Shop - appears in different parts of the City Ruins.

The described quest can be taken up in the seventh chapter. You need to examine the marker from the above picture that appears in abandoned shopping mall adjacent to the forest, is the same place you could visit when trying to reach the Forest Zone for the first time.

In the area of the shopping center you have to find the first of five Lunar Tear flowers. Interacting with the flower will lead to the sudden appearance of Emil and initiate a conversation with the trader.

The next 4 flowers can be found in any order and their approximate locations will be marked with red circles on the world map, so you do not have to look for them "blindly".

Flower from the Flooded City - It grows near the water, under the damaged part of the road.

Flower from Amusement Park - It grows in one of the side alleys. You'll find it in a dark corner under the stairs.

Flower from the Forest Zone - It grows in a large cave near a waterfall and a stream in the forest.

Desert Flower (Desert Zone) - It is the most problematic because it grows in a place to which initially you can not reach. You have to go to the first (smaller) area on the desert, and in the place from the above pictures, jump down and go through the caves under the desert.

Caves have several exits to the surface, and to get to the secret, reach the one from the above picture.

In this place, you have to perform a long jump in the air for the first time. You can help yourself by performing a dash (R2) or eject yourself from the pod (R1 x).

Repeat these actions with the next distant shelves until you reach the location where the desired flower grows.

After finding all 5 flowers you will receive an Elevator Key from Emil and an invitation to visit his hideout.

You have to return to shopping mall in which you started the quest. A stone staircase leads to the elevator hidden between the roots of a large tree.

In the hideout, you don't have to do any additional actions but meet with Emil.

Rewards for completing the quest:

1. Lunar Tear Trophy
2. Lunar Tear x1 - this is a cosmetic item that you can put on the head of a controlled character
3. 1550XP
4. in addition, look for a loot container (2000G, Gold Ore, Animal Bait)

Underground Colosseum (DLC)

Quest giver: Unlocking quest Mysterious Letter. You may have received the letter during your visit to Bunker during Route A, but you can complete this quest only when playing Route B as 9s. You have to reach the quest marker in the forest (after advancing to Chapter 6 in Route B). The objective is hidden behind a waterfall, through which you have to go.

You have to install the 3C3C1D119440927 DLC. You need to buy it separately if you have the basic version of NieR Automata. The DLC comes with the Game of the YoRHa Edition. Even if you bought the GotY edition, you will probably need to install this DLC separately. We described this in more detail on the page Game of the Yorha Edition in the appendix to our guide.

The entrance to the underground Colosseum is guarded by Gatekeeper Machine. He didn't let 2B in on Route A, but as you play Route B, he recognizes the 9S' unique abilities and lets you use the elevator.

Quest description: In the underground complex, meet Machine Receptionist. You will learn about fighting in the underground arena, which you can enter to win various rewards. In the beginning, only one battle is available, but as you win, more will be unlocked.

Each battle has a recommended level of experience, and since you can also complete this quest in the following Routes, you should never rush to start fights with a character that's too weak.

Fighting in this particular arena does not allow using 9S' weapons or disposable items. However, try to unlock (eg. by exploring or completing quests) and install as many Hijack Boosts as possible. They strengthen the machines controlled by 9S.

To win battles in the arena, you have to use machines, and 9S will not personally participate in any of the fights. Preparing for battles, you can find different machines and choose the one you will use. The variety of machines in the arena depends on the one you managed to take control over successfully using the Remote Control. Try to use every opportunity to use this skill of 9S.

You can customize equipment of some machines. Other machines have dedicated armament.

We advise you to experiment with different types of machines to choose the ones that match your preferences. During battles, you can use unique and standard attacks of the controlled machine and dodges that work slightly differently from one of the main characters.

Each battle involves eliminating several groups of enemy machines. Try to save the energy of your machine. To win the battle for a given rank, you have to complete all waves in one approach.

Each rank has its own rewards, and by defeating the first group of enemy machines, you can get a unique Young Man's Outfit for 9S, which you can put on in the inventory.

Return to the Coliseum regularly to fight next ranks battles and try new machines from those you have successfully used the ability Remote Control.

Reconnaissance Squad

Quest giver: YoRHa Soldier / 4S (Forest Castle)

The earliest you can start this quest is when you advance to Chapter 13 (Routes C and D), where you play as 9S. A new quest marker should appear on the castle map.

To reach the quest giver, you have to get to the top level of the Castle's library. As a reminder, you have to do a double jump to the upper right shelf in the place from picture 1. The YoRHa soldier stands in the same place where you could find the loot chest and the ladder to the secret chamber with the King's tomb.

Quest description: From the soldier, you will learn that he collects Intel on different machines. You will be able to offer assistance in sharing the acquired information about the creatures inhabiting the game world.

You do not have to return to the soldier with data on specific opponents. This Quest considers the percentage amount of Unit Data from the Intel tab. As a reminder, you can add new entries by eliminating unique opponents (even slightly different from each other) and meeting unique characters. To complete the quest, Unit Data have to reach 95%, but you can also visit the soldier earlier and receive smaller rewards from him.

Rewards for completing the quest (the list includes all possible rewards):

1. Titanium Alloy x5
2. Large Battery x2
3. Pristine Cable x2
4. New Bolt x2
5. Sturdy Socket x2
6. Clean Nut x2
7. Elaborate Gadget x5
8. Meteorite x2
9. Cure All & Heal All x1
10. 3000G 7000G 10000G
11. 2500XP