NieR Automata: Playable characters NieR Automata guide, tips
This page of the guide for NieR Automata lists the playable characters. We explain who you can control and what abilities the playable characters have available.
Last update: 16 August 2021
This page of the guide to NieR Automata contains information on the available playable characters. You will find out who the playable characters are, when you can take control of them for the first time, and what are the requirements for temporary control over other machines from the game world.
Information about the availability of playable characters can be considered a spoiler because subsequent characters are only unlocked as the story progresses. In the description, however, we tried to avoid mentioning any important plot events leading to gaining access to new characters.
2B
2B (short for YoRHa no.2 Type B) is the first playable character of NieR Automata. She is a female android from the YoRHa squad specializing in hand-to-hand combat. 2B is controlled for the entirety of Route A and also partially of Route C / D.
During combat, 2B can use two types of melee weapons to deliver fast and heavy attacks.
9S
9S (short for YoRHa no.9 Type S) is the second playable character of NieR Automata. He is a male android from the YoRHa squad specializing in scanning and reconnaissance. 9S is controlled over the entire Route B and also partially over Route C/D.
9S uses only one melee weapon in combat, but to compensate for it, he has the ability to hack enemy machines, crates and some devices. This opens up many new opportunities to eliminate or dominate opponents, as well as gain additional loot. We described this mechanics in more detail on the page Hacking.
A2
A2 (short for YoRHa no.2 Type A) is the third playable character of NieR Automata. She is a female android who was a member of YoRHa in the past. The curious thing is that in the first two Routes (A and B) A2 appears as a boss. You will only take control of her in selected chapters and scenes of Route C / D.
A2 can use two types of melee weapons during combat (same as 2B). In addition, she can trigger a Berserker Mode, in which she inflicts much more damage with a melee weapon. We described it on the page Berserker Mode - how to use?.
Remote-controlled machines
Thanks to the aforementioned 9S's hacking, you can also use the remote control option on selected machines - Remote Control. It can occur in three types of situations:
- as one of the choices after successfully completing the hacking mini-game on the enemy,
- as part of the main storyline,
- as part of the fight in the arena in Underground Colosseum in the forest.
The interesting thing is that remote control differs slightly depending on the type of machine - each of them moves differently and has different attacks (even at a distance). During the game, you will be able to control both small machines and much larger goliaths.