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NieR: Automata, despite its appearance, incorporates unforgiving rogue-like mechanics. Dying at the wrong moment can severely hinder your progress, potentially resulting in the permanent loss of hard-earned items and significant setbacks, especially in the late game.
However, death isn't an immediate catastrophe. You have a chance to recover your losses before they vanish permanently. Let's explore what happens when you die and how to retrieve your body to minimize the impact.
Death Penalty In NieR: Automata Explained
Death in NieR: Automata means losing all XP earned since your last save. More significantly, you lose all currently equipped Plug-In Chips. While you can always find replacements, some chips are rare and require considerable investment. Respawning leaves your equipped Plug-In Chip slots empty, forcing you to re-equip or select a preset.
The lost Plug-In Chips aren't gone forever. You have one chance to return to your death location and recover them, potentially regaining your XP as well. However, dying again before retrieving your body results in the permanent loss of those chips from the original equipped preset.
Recovering Your Body In NieR: Automata
After respawning, your priority is retrieving your body. A blue body icon on the map indicates its location. Approaching and interacting with it restores your Plug-In Chips. You then face a crucial choice:
This option doesn't restore XP, but transforms your former body into an AI companion until it's destroyed.
This option restores the XP lost since your last save.
Regardless of your choice, you can re-equip your recovered Plug-In Chips, overriding your current setup. Alternatively, you can leave them in your inventory.
