NieR: Automata's Permadeath Mechanics: Understanding and Recovering from Death
NieR: Automata features unforgiving rogue-like elements. Death isn't just a setback; it can result in permanent loss of valuable items and significant progress, especially in the late game. Understanding the death penalty and body recovery mechanics is crucial for minimizing these losses.
The Death Penalty Explained
Upon death, you lose all experience points (XP) earned since your last save. More significantly, you lose all currently equipped Plug-in Chips. While you can always acquire new chips, some are rare and expensive to upgrade, making their loss a considerable blow. Respawning leaves your equipped chip slots empty, requiring re-equipping or selecting a preset.
However, there's a reprieve. You have one chance to retrieve your lost chips and potentially your XP. Failure to recover your body before dying again results in the permanent loss of those chips.
Recovering Your Body: Repair or Retrieve?
After respawning, locate your body marked by a blue icon on the map. Interacting with it restores your lost Plug-in Chips. You then face a crucial choice:
Repair: You regain your Plug-in Chips but not your XP. Your previous body becomes an AI companion, assisting you until it's destroyed.
Retrieve: You recover both your lost Plug-in Chips and your XP.
Regardless of your choice, your previously equipped Plug-in Chips are restored to their original configuration, overriding your current setup. Alternatively, you can choose to simply add the recovered chips back to your inventory.
By understanding these mechanics and acting swiftly to recover your body, you can significantly mitigate the harsh consequences of death in NieR: Automata.
