NieR Replicant - Game Progression Guide

This topic will cover chronological progression through the game, which means I will note trophies and needed collectibles on the way as you progress through the game. This is not a walkthrough, simply notes of what to do and collected when. I hope it will be helpful!

Part One

After you are finished with some start-game scenes and fights, you will end up in your village (the village carries the name of how you named your character). Mine is Foggy Village :)

Popola will send you on some errands and you will end up in Northern Plains. Here you can find sheeps, and that is the first trophy for you. It's The Sheep Whisperer Trophy (kill 100 sheeps). You can kill all sheeps, go back to town, back to plains, etc... In these plains you can spot some Lizzards, they give you Lizzard tails when you pick them up. Grab 5 (by going in-out of this area for them to respawn), you will need 5 for quest later.

Afterwards you can sell your Mutton and Wool to get some money, and aim to buy at least one weapon in the shop in the Village, but you should buy both in time. Weapons available in the shop are Lily-Leaf Sword and Beastbain. While you are in the village, stop at the Item shop (northern-most shop) and buy maps for Eastern Road, The Aerie and Forest of Myth.

When you need to find your sister in the Lost Shrine, on your way to the top you will come across 1 woodden box, it's halfway up and it's on the woodden bridge when you need to climb the ladders instead of stairs. Break the box and pick up Nirvana Dagger.

When you come back from the Lost Shrine some quests will open. Complete Book Smarts, Boar Hunt, The Lost Eggs, Old-Fashioned Home Cooking and The Gatekeeper’s Errand quests. 

With Boar Hunt done, when you enter Northern plains now you can ride the sleeping Boars. Hop on one, stay idle for 5 minues to unlock Aboared Trophy. 

You can also take Fragile Delivery quest, but this one requires you to don't break the item, so be careful if you aim to deliver that one to your next destination (The Aerie).

When you finish The Aarie and come back to Popola in the Village, you can then finish the quest Herbal Remedies (she asks for 2 Medicial Herbs, you should have 10 at least by now). Shopping List quest can be also started, but you can't finish it as Seafront is not visited yet.

Before continuing now, you can try to get rid of combo trophies - Combo Fanatic and Combo Fanatic Trophies. On your way toward Junk Heap (over the bridge at the northeastern part of Northern Plains), you can find high number of small shadow enemies. If you trigger more along the way so they follow you, you can then combine melee killing all of them to get to combo of 100+ hits. It should be just enough to do so, just avoid killing multiple at once and focus on single units. That way you can land more hits on more enemies.

Finish Junk Heap, which is your next destination, and you will unlock Weapon Upgrades there. One of the trophies requires you to find all weapons (also required for one of the endings later on) and the other to upgrade them all to theri max level (lv. 4). Think ahead and collect as much as you can from the enemies to upgrade as you play the game. Next to the weapon upgrade shop are mouses, you will need 5 Mouse tails, so make sure to get them while you are here (go in shop-out of shop for them to respawn).

You might want to buy 10 of Wheat in your village, it will be needed for the quest later.

Your next objective will soon be Seafront through the Southern Plains. Start by going to Southern Plains and just travel straight to find some shadows attacking an villager. Help him to get the Moonrise Weapon.

In Seafront, speak with the man at the pier to get the Fishing Rod and Lure. You can now go to the western beach of this area and catch some fish. Baits can be bought in the store here in the town (Tackle Shop - fish icon on the map). Buy some Lugworm and Earthworms, they are cheap and we have some fish to catch. I bought 30 of both. You can catch Shaman Fish (bait: Lure), and Sardine (bait: Lugworm) here at the western back. Catch 1 for the story progression and the other to complete this location for fishing. 

While you are in the Seafront check the Item store and buy 2 maps. You can talk to the fisherman again to get The Fisherman's Gambit Part 1 quest. Catch 10 Sardines to get this one done. Also do Fisherman's Gambit Part 2 quest from the same guy (you need 7 Blowfish, fish near fisherman on beach and use Lugworm to catch Blowfish). Start Fisherman's Gambit Part 3, that one is for later (Earthworm lure in Northern Plains fishing point).  You can fish for Bream (Lure lure) here in the beach near fisherman as well.
Another quest is in the Tavern (A Signature Dish), which requires those 10 Sardinas, Herbs and Wheat (bought in your village). You can then start "Bon Appetit!" which you can advance in your village when you return. Another quest "The New Merchant in Town" is available at the boat just southest from the post office (buy Natural Rubber x10 if don't have any, you can find them in Material Shop here in Seafront). Buy 3 Royal Ferns for the quest in your village if you were missing some. Buy 3 tulip bulbs from the Grocery Store and 3 Bounty Fertilizers from the Item Shop. You will need those for quests in your village.

After the lighthouse event and getting the letter for Popola from the town post office, you go back to your village.

When you return back to your village, you can do A Dog's Astray quest, it's just next to the weapon shop vendor. You can also do The Ballad of the Twins in the Tavern. Make sure to catch Carp (with Earthworm) and Black Bass (With Lure) while you are here (there is a fishing point just outside of the village). You can go to Northern plains and fish near the northern bridge to catch Rainbow Trout fish. You need 5 for your Fisherman's Gambit Part 3 quest, so catch 5 of them (with Lure). Fisherman's Gambit Part 4 needs 5 Breams (back to Seafront pier/beach, 5 Breams). Fisherman's Gambit Part 5 needs Black Bass x5 (Lure in your village).

Go back to Seafront pier and catch a Shark (lure: Sardine - buy for fish stores in the Seafront). You can catch 5 if you want, they are needed for one of the upcoming quests.

NieR Replicant - Fishing Guide

After events in your village, you will have to eventualy go to The Aerie where you will meet with Kaine and beat the boss. The Aerie is now free of monsters, so you can do the Fragile Delivery Part 1 quest if you never did so far. You can also continue with the On the Wings of Eagles quest here (you can find the Eagle egg one level below the golden house).

Your next destination is not through Eastern Plains, but before that, you can finish a ton of quest. I will only mention ones that you need for trophies, but I will also name the others. To start cultivating seeds, which you need for one of the worst trophies, finish Shopping List quest (unlocks cultivating, that one is for the florist shop lady in your village) and Return To Shoping (same lady) to expand your garden slots.

Here I prepared my garden to get 3 Pink and 3 Indigo seeds. I advise you do the same, so you can pick them up after 48 hours have passed.

NieR Replicant - Flower Cultivation Guide

The other quests you can also do now are (but really, not required if you don't want to do them, 30 are needed for the last quest-related trophy): The Tavern Keeper’s Grandmother, Fragile Delivery, Fragile Delivery 2, The Ballad of the Twins, Yonah’s Cooking, Letter to a Lover, A Signature Dish, Bon Appetit!, The New Merchant in Town, The Postman’s Request, The Lighthouse Lady’s Wrath, Closure

Yonah’s Gift quest can be started when you need to go to Eastern Plains/Facade.

NieR Replicant - Side Quest Guide

Go through the Eastern Plains. You can fish here for Royal Fish (lure: Earthworm) and Giant Catfish (lure: Carp). Continue through the desert and into the Facade. After some scenes there make sure to buy all the maps from the item shop and go towards the Barren temple to save the prince. When you do that, you will be back to the village. You will get Rebirth Weapon from the prince, plus you can buy Earth Wyrm’s Claw Weapon from the weapon shop.

While here, buy 1 Melon, 1 Watermelon and 1 Pumpkin for one of the quests you may have active.

You can do the next quest if you want, but it's up to you: Item Unknown, Apology from a Fool, The Missing Girl, The Littlest Hero, The Tangled Message.

Return to your village. You can do the Fragile Delivery 3 quest now. Do what you need to do now, and we will be off to The Forest of Myth. At this point I continued with the cultivation, picked up my Indigo and Peach Seeds as 24 hours passed, and I just forwarded the timezone on +13 to pick up the seeds. For details just the next guide if you need to.

NieR Replicant - Flower Cultivation Guide

In Forest of Myth talk to Mayor, finish his dream (answers are "A Secret", "Sunlight" and "A Man"), girls Castle dream ("North", "East", "North", "East", "North") and other villager's dream ("Beta) to get the Faith Weapon.

Back to your village, and your next destination is the manor in the Southern Plains. This is the cut-off point for all side quest of Part One!!! Make sure to finish what you want before completing the manor.

You will have to make your way through that manor. After passing the Darkness Doors, find the Blade of Treachery Weapon in the next hallway, at the end. Your next objective is going back to the village, where after some boss fights and events you end up in Part Two of the story...

Part Two

Wow! We are older now! Cool.

Do the story events in the village. Your objective will be manor in the Southern Plains again. Before doing so, you can buy new weapons from the shops:

Weapon Shop - Nier's Village (your village)

• Axe of Beheading (Two-Handed Sword) – Buy for 19,200 gold from weapon shop in Nier’s Village.
• Sunrise (Spear) – Buy for 21,600 gold from weapon shop in Nier’s Village.

Weapon Shop - Seafront Village

• Phoenix Dagger (One Hand Sword) – Buy for 36,200 gold from weapon shop in Seafront.
• Vile Axe (Two-Handed Sword) – Buy for 21,600 gold from weapon shop in Seafront.
• Spear of the Usurper (Spear) – Buy for 19,200 gold from weapon shop in Seafront.

Weapon Shop - Facade Village

• Captain’s Holy Spear (Spear) –Buy for 30,000 gold from weapon shop in Facade.
• Phoenix Spear (Spear) – Buy for 37,400 gold from weapon shop in Facade.

Don't worry, they are available now until the end of the game. In the manor you will end up in Underground Facility. In B1 floor, just before the exit door destroy some boxes to get the Fang of the Twins Weapon. This is also a great place for 100+ hits combo trophy (B2 area):

Finish up the dungeon and return back to your village for more events. I decided to go to the Lost Shrine now. So, go there to continue with the story. Not much to add, but beware that at the top first boss time trial trophy awaits. On your way to the top you can find the The Devil Queen Weapon (Inside the left box when you need to enter the Lost Shrine from the boat entrance, just before the second ladder), and just before entering the door towards the boss is the Beastlord Weapon (Found just outside the door of the boss room when you return to the Lost Shrine during story. It's on the right hand-side). Gretel + Keine boss fights needs to be done under 3 and 1 minute, so save beforehand. It's quite easy to do so:

Back to your village. You can now do some quests and get few more weapons:

The Bridge in Peril (Labyrinth Whisper Weapon), The Damaged Map (Labyrinth’s Shout Spear Weapon).

My next destination was Junk Heap. You will gain access to B2 from the elevator there. When you return the materials back to the weaponsmith, you will have to return back when he is done repairing the weapon for you (you need to wait for his letter to arrive).

Now you need to go back to Popola in your village. You can now choose where to go -> I decided with Seafront. You can also do so, here you can find the couple and you will end up in shipwreck and in new episode added in this version of the game! At the end of the wrecked ship you will fight Louise. If you want that time trophy, here is the video for you:

Mop up any business in Seafront and you can continue onto Facade now (at least I decided so). After events there you can choose to continue with the Facade story or go back to Junk Heap (weaponsmith is finally done with repairing the weapon). I went there again. You will then get the Iron Will Weapon automatically. On your way towards the Junk Heap boss now, make sure to grab the Beastcurse Weapon (Inside a box just before you drop down to the boss room in the Junk Heap. It's the 1F room with the save point). P-33 is another boss which can grant you a trophy:

Now we can decide where to go again. I decided to tackle Facade. Before though, you can finish the fishing side quests and get the trophy for catching the final 15th fish. Since you can fast travel using the boat I suggest you to do so (start with Fisherman's Gambit Part 6 quest and finish the rest of the parts + catch the Rhizodont for the Fish of Legend and A Round by the Pond Trophy.

NieR Replicant - Fishing Guide

In Faceade, visit the king and eventually you will end up fighting with Roc (he also attacks you on the way and in town). Your last fight with him is trophy-related and you can unlock it by defeating him under 3 and a half minutes (Protector of Facade Trophy):

The Facade story-path is divided in 2 parts, I decided to finish both on my visit here (after town fight with Roc you can continue elsewhere or here).

When you complete Facade, another Key Fragment is yours! Note that you can now finish few Facade trophies, but the only 1 (2 actually) you need is the one that will reward you with a weapon. Just be aware, finishing those 2 quest will lock you out of game's best machine grind spot you can find (Third room from the right in Barren Temple can later spawn endless machines, you just need to use magic to reset the room and enemies).

Quests that you need to finish are "A Shade Entombed" and "Disturbing the Sleep of Kings". You will get the Labyrinth’s Song Weapon for your effort. The second quest is a bit tough, you can return when you chase other endings to make it easier.

Go back to your village. Story events will now point you towards Forest of Myth or The Aerie, so let's go to The Aerie. 

Speak with the mayor in the golden house, return to the far-away platform where some people are. Kill shadows and eventually you will have to go back to the platform where the people were. New boss emerges, you need to defeat this giant orb under 8 and a half minutes for another boss trophy (Scourge of the Aerie Trophy):

Another Key Fragment is yours. Go back to your village. Story events will now point you towards Forest of Myth, so let's go there. 

Speak to Mayor and inspect the glowing item near the tree in the same area. You will again be pulled into a dream, this time you will have to read! There is one sentence about girl's eyes, you need to memorize the color as that will be your first answer. A bit later on it will mention a number in another story, remember that number as well (it's written as a number, not as a word, so it's easy to distinguish it) - that will be your second answer. The third is "Jo nah", the last one. Final part of the shard is your now.

Before going anyhwere, now that you have all Key Fragments to enter the Shadowlord's Castle, there is one quest here that will reward you with a weapon. Finish "The Magical Stone" quest (get use to running around often) and before you finish the dream at the end, move inside the building, destroy a box and pick up the Iron Pipe Weapon.

In your village you learn where to go next. You need to reach the top of the Lost Shrine (use boat to enter from rear). SAVE before entering the room where you fight Gretel and Keine. This is your last save point before route A ends, and if you want to unlock all boss-times trophies you need to skip the cutscenes. I advise either to keep this backup and redo the fights after watching the scenes (the story is great), or you can tackle this later in your next runs towards other endings. 

Inside the castle, speak with the pidgeons and answer with "Because of the Black Scrawl Disease", "By separating the body from soul" and "They are placed in their corresponding shells". Next doors will be your first Devola and Popola fight, trophy is unlock if you beat them under 3 minutes (Permission Granted Trophy):

You will reach a big hall with dancing ghost. They will turn to shades. After defeating them and some shooting balls, Goose will enter. Defeating his version without armor under 2 minutes (A Dirge For The Hero Trophy):

There will be some chasing events after Goose returns with an armor. This is the best oportunity to get 100+ Combo trophy (Combo Fanatic Trophy), armored Goose keeps on resurrecting until you exit the room, so if you miss this trophy, get it now.

Next challenge are Devola and Popola again, but this time you need to defeat them under 3 minutes. That will rewards you with Soul Cursher Trophy.

Soon after there are 2 trophies to get, Book Burner Trophy (defeat Grimoire Noir under 1 and a half minute) and The Once and Final King Trophy (defeat Shadowlord under 4 minute and 20 seconds):

Congrats! You unlocked ending A. Save your game, load that save and you will also unlock Recycled Dream dungeon and some additional scenes when you progress through the Part Two again. You will learn more about shades, Keine, Emil and the rest. 

After long text scenery you can continue. I suggest going inside your house in the village, examing the book shelves on the first floor and doing all 3 floors of the Recycled Dream dungeon with the other character. That will unlock Dear Diary Trophy and Fool’s Embrace, Fool’s Lament and Fool’s Accord Weapons.

During this route you can finish what you've missed (quests, boss trophies etc.). You need to collect all Key Fragments again, and then reach top of the Lost Shrine again. Observe the scenes, there will be another side of the story now, and pieces will start to clap together, it seems like shades are with emotions after all!

After beating the game again, you are back to Part Two of the story, but you unlocked endings A and B. This time you need to collect all 33 weapons and again reach the end of the game. Make sure to save before entering the Shadowlord's Castle, and also back up your save, as soon we will lose all saves! This time you will face new boss after the final boss (after Shadowlord). You can earn another trophy now, The Strongest Bond, for defeating that boss under 4 and a half minutes. 

Selecting 1. option to sacrifice other player's life will unlocks ending C. Make sure to have a save point just before this, so after unlocking ending C you can repeat and unlock ending D (select 2. option to sacrifice your life). Selecting option 2 deletes all your saves, and when you unlock ending E you can return only the one which you played when you killed the boss. The other saves will be lose, so be careful! I suggest unlocking ending C, but save on some save slot which you don't use. After trophy is unlocked, load and repeat the castle again, unlock ending D, and start working towards ending E now.

Game takes you back to Part One now. You need to play until the The Aerie boss for the second time (after Seafront), from there new story starts. When new story starts, make sure to unlock Daredevil Trophy (look under skirt for 10 time - but beware, after 10th time it's game over). This one is missable, if you miss it now during route E you will have to reach this route again. You really don't want that.

Beat the game now, you will unlock ending E, this making this your last ending trophy if you followed the guide. You can select where to restore previous save, so choose what you want (just use empty slot). The only trophy I was missing was upgrading all weapons, so with restored save before endings C/D and that is where I grinded for my last trophy.

You will now unlock Keine's Weapon, but you need to load your Part Two save and reach her hut in The Aerie, that is where you will find this powerful weapon.

Good luck and hope you enyojed the guide!