NieR Replicant - Weapons and Upgrades Guide


There are 33 weapons in the game, 30 regular ones and 3 winnable from the "Recycled Vessel" activity. This was actually the DLC from the base game. After completing ending A interract with the bookshelf in your house by the entrance. You can now complete the "World of the Recycled Vessel" activity, which is just waves and enemy arenas you fight through 3 sets. Completing each set grants you a weapon, and completing all 3 unlocks the trophy. You can also repeat this challenges if you want to grind materials, EXP or gold.

Let's call your village "NieR's Village". It carries the name of your protagonist, but for easier reference let's call it that.

**Part One**
0:01 - Nameless Blade
0:11 - Lily-Leaf Sword and Beastbain
0:31 - Nirvana Dagger
0:50 - Moonrise
1:29 - Earth Wyrm’s Claw
1:47 - Rebirth
2:02 - Faith
3:29 - Blade of Treachery

**Part Two**
4:05 - Kusanagi (Two-Handed Sword)
4:15 - Transience (Spear)
4:26 - Axe of Beheading (Two-Handed Sword) and Sunrise (Spear)
4:41 - Phoenix Dagger (One Hand Sword), Vile Axe (Two-Handed Sword) and Spear of the Usurper (Spear)
4:57 - Fang of the Twins
5:10 - The Devil Queen
5:28 - Beastlord
5:47 - Iron Will
6:07 - Beastcurse
6:49 - Labyrinth Whisper
7:40 - Labyrinth’s Shout
14:02 - Captain’s Holy Spear (Spear) and Phoenix Spear (Spear)
14:18 - Ancient Overlord
14:28 - Labyrinth’s Song
19:24 - Iron Pipe
23:03 - Phoenix Sword
23:37 - Dragoon Lance
23:53 - Fool’s Embrace
24:31 - Fool’s Lament
24:46 - Fool’s Accord

Detailed Weapon Guide - Part One

  • Nameless Blade – Starting weapon
    Upgrade: Titanium Alloy (4), Stripped Bolt (10), Broken Arm (3), Dented Metal Bat (1), Simple Machine (1)
  • Lily-Leaf Sword – Buy for 2,400 gold from weapon shop in Nier’s Village.
    Upgrade: Titanium Alloy (7), Broken Antenna (7), Forlorn Necklace (2), Large Gear (1), Pyrite (1)
  • Beastbain – Buy for 16,800 gold from weapon shop in Nier’s Village.
    Upgrade: Iron Ore (47), Complex Machine (2), Machine Oil (1), Pyrite (2), Crystal (1)
  • Nirvana Dagger – Located in a breakable box midway up the Lost Shrine. It's really hard to miss, you will have to take the workaround route when you can't ascend the stairs, and just of that woodden brige you will find the single box. Break it and pick up the weapon.
    Upgrade: Titanium Alloy (3), Rusty Kitchen Knife (2), Broken Arm (3), Gold Ore (2), Mysterious Switch (3), Pyrite (1)
  • Moonrise – Help the villager being attacked by shades in the southern plains area. You will see a villager under attack when you need to travel through the Southern Plains for the first time (towards the Seafront). Eliminate the shadows to get the weapon.
    Upgrade: Titanium Alloy (3), Broken Saw (2), Broken Lens (2), Rusty Kitchen Knife (2), Pyrite (1)
  • Earth Wyrm’s Claw – Buy for 8,400 gold from weapon shop in Facade. When you end up in this location you will first have to follow the story to unlock shopping.
    Upgrade: Iron Ore (26), Scorpion Claw (10), Clay (18), Broken Pottery (2), Amber (1)
  • Rebirth – Obtained automatically during the story when you rescue the prince of Facade. This happens soon after Facade visit. When you come back from the Barren temple talk to the prince to get the weapon.
    Upgrade: Iron Ore (34), Twisted Ring (1), Large Gear (1), Broken Battery (1), Broken Wristwatch (3), Amber (1)
  • Faith – Obtained from the Mayor in the Forest of Myth if you release the other two villagers from the Deathdream (can be purchased in The Aerie in part 2 if you miss it here, before obtaining Sacrifice key fragment). When you first visit the Forest of Myth after Barren temple events, you can talk to the Mayor and end up in his dream. You will play an old-school game where you need to read and think. His dreams answers are "A Secret", "Sunlight" and "A Man". You can now talk with 2 more villagers in this area, so do so. In girl dreams answer with North, East, North, East, North. In other villager dreams answer with "Beta" and that is it. This will earn you this weapon.
    Upgrade: Silver Ore (12), Broken Antenna (30), Elaborate Machine (1), Natural Rubber (1), Moldavite (1), Titanium Alloy (4)
  • Blade of Treachery – Found inside a box in the Manor while helping Emil.It comes after unlocking the Darkness Door, you will find the box in that hallway after the door.
    Upgrade: Copper Ore (45), Simple Machine (1), Machine Oil (2), Rusted Clump (2), Pyrite (1)

Detailed Weapon Guide - Part Two

Part Two starts when you get older. Very soon after that you will get the freedom to explore the world, get new quests, buy new weapons... Here is the list, help yourself:

  • Kusanagi (Two-Handed Sword) – You start with it in Part Two of the story
    Upgrade: Iron Ore (48), Broken Battery (5), Forlorn Necklace (1), Broken Earring (1), Moldavite (1)
  • Transience (Spear) – You start with it in Part Two of the story
    Upgrade: Iron Ore (8), Twisted Ring (3), Metal Piercing (1), Crystal (2), Pyrite (1)

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.
    Upgrade: Copper Ore (43), Rusty Kitchen Knife (3), Subdued Bracelet (1), Stopped Clock (2), Meteorite (1)
  • Sunrise (Spear) – Buy for 21,600 gold from weapon shop in Nier’s Village.
    Upgrade: Silver Ore (6), Large Gear (2), Rusty Kitchen Knife (2), Forlorn Necklace (1), Subdued Bracelet (1), Pyrite (1)

Weapon Shop - Seafront Village (your village)

  • Phoenix Dagger (One Hand Sword) – Buy for 36,200 gold from weapon shop in Seafront.
    Upgrade: Silver Ore (18), Giant Egg (2), Eagle Egg (1), Broken Earring (2), Black Pearl (5), Amber (2)
  • Vile Axe (Two-Handed Sword) – Buy for 21,600 gold from weapon shop in Seafront.
    Upgrade: Silver Ore (24), Simple Machine (1), Broken Lens (2), Twisted Ring (1), Broken Saw (2), Amber (1)
  • Spear of the Usurper (Spear) – Buy for 19,200 gold from weapon shop in Seafront.
    Upgrade: Iron Ore (8), Subdued Bracelet (1), Broken Lens (2), Pyrite (1)

Weapon Shop - Facade Village (your village)

  • Captain’s Holy Spear (Spear) –Buy for 30,000 gold from weapon shop in Facade.
    Upgrade: Silver Ore (10), Broken Wristwatch (2), Mysterious Switch (3), Broken Earring (1), Moldavite (1), Complex Machine (1)
  • Phoenix Spear (Spear) – Buy for 37,400 gold from weapon shop in Facade.
    Upgrade: Gold Ore (6), Giant Egg (2), Eagle Egg (1), Broken Wristwatch (1), Black Pearl (5), Moldavite (1)

One Hand Swords

  • Ancient Overlord – Obtained automatically during the story from the King of Facade
    Upgrade: Silver Ore (15), Broken Motor (10), Broken Wristwatch (3), Crystal (2), Moldavite (1), Memory Alloy (2)
  • Labyrinth Whisper – Drops during the side quest "The Bridge in Peril" that you can take early (I did it after Lost Shrine events)
    Upgrade: Fluorite (6)
  • Iron Pipe – Found in Nier’s Dream (Fortune Teller in Forest of Myth (after acquiring all key fragments), speak with her and do the "The Magical Stone" quest). Another way is automatically when you complete Ending B.
    Upgrade: Dented Metal bat (19), Broken Arm (43), Rusty Bucket (10), Rusted Clump (5)
  • Fool’s Embrace – Obtained during the first door of the World of the Recycled Vessel
    Upgrade: Damascus Steel (3)
  • Keine’s Sword – Obtained after completing Ending E
    Upgrade: Iron Ore (60), Rusted Clump (1), Broken Saw (1)

Two-Handed Swords

  • Fang of the Twins – Underground Facility B1 floor (Emil's Manor Basement dungeon), just before exiting though the doors at the end, there is a box in that room which holds this weapon.
    Upgrade: Silver Ore (18), Elaborate Machine (1), Broken Wristwatch (2), Stopped Clock (1), Mysterious Switch (3), Meteorite (1)
  • Beastlord – 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.
    Upgrade: Gold Ore (5), Complex Machine (2), Machine Oil (1), Amber (1), Simple Machine (2)
  • Iron Will – Automatically obtained during the story when you get the item from the Junk Heap for the Weaponsmith (you will have to collect some Memory Alloy, return back, and then come back later so that the weaponsmith repairs it).
    Upgrade: Memory Alloy (5), Rusted Clump (2), Dented Metal Bat (1), Pyrite (1), Elaborate Machine (2)
  • Labyrinth’s Song – Obtained at the end of the quest "Disturbing the Sleep of Kings" in Facade.
    Upgrade: Fluorite (6)
  • Phoenix Sword – Found in the first room of the Shadowlord’s Castle, in a box to the left of the doors you progress through.
    Upgrade: Gold Ore (7), Giant Egg (2), Eagle Egg (2), Complex Machine (1), Black Pearl (5), Moldavite (1)
  • Fool’s Lament – Obtained during the second door of the World of the Recycled Vessel
    Upgrade: Damascus Steel (3)

Spears

  • The Devil Queen – Inside the left box when you need to enter the Lost Shrine from the boat entrance, just before the second ladder. Really hard to miss.
    Upgrade: Iron Ore (28), Crystal (3), Metal Piercing (3), Broken Motor (1), Moldavite (1)
  • Beastcurse – 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.
    Upgrade: Silver Ore (6), Complex Machine (2), Machine Oil (1), Moldavite (1), Elaborate Machine (1)
  • Labyrinth’s Shout – Obtained at the end of the quest "The Damaged Map".
    Upgrade: Fluorite (6)
  • Dragoon Lance – Inside a box in the Shadowlord’s Castle 2nd room, immediatly after you escape from the Boar shade into the large stairwell. Check the first box immediately on the right. It's before you ascend the stairs.
    Upgrade: Silver Ore (12), Pyrite (4), Pearl (1), Meteorite (3), Simple Machine (1)
  • Fool’s Accord – Obtained during the third door of the World of the Recycled Vessel
    Upgrade: Damascus Steel (3)

Detailed Weapon Guide - 4 YoRHa (NieR Automata) Free DLC Weapons

You can download them from the PS Store, they are free and they do count for the "upgrade all 33 weapons to their max level". I advice combining this ones instead of some that ask for 5 Memory Alloys to get there.

  • Virtuous Contract (One-Handed Sword)
    Upgrade: Rusted Clump (1), Goat Hide (1), Crystal (2), Dented Metal Board (3), Titanium Alloy (1), Amber (2), Memory Alloy (2), Severed Cable (5), Moldavite (1)
  • Cruel Oath (One-Handed Sword)
    Upgrade: Rusted Clump (1), Goat Hide (1), Crystal (2), Iron Ore (4), Silver Ore (3), Amber (2), Gold Ore (2), Large Gear (1), Moldavite (1)
  • Virtuous Treaty (Two-Handed Sword)
    Upgrade: Same materialis as for Virtuous Contract
  • Virtuous Dignity (Spear)
    Upgrade: Same materialis as for Virtuous Contract

Weapon Upgrade Materials

The most grindy trophy in the game is definately the one to upgrade all 33 weapons to their max level (4). The game actually has 34 weapons (that 1 extra comes after ending E) + YorHa pack which you can download for free and comes with 4 extra weapons. You can upgrade some of those extra ones, it's easier, especially since you can ditch Phoenix Sword and Iron Will upgrades and upgrade some YorHa weapon + Keine's weapon instead.

To increase the drop rate, you can do two things: play on Hard if your level is high enough (although I never experience better drop rates than on Normal), and equip "Mah-" words that boost Item Drop Rate (up to 30% for Mahzarken) on the magic and/or weapons used to kill the giant shades.

In the third room of the third door of the Recycled Vessel you will be running through the underground lab. There you can find a series of boxes. These boxes can contain: Copper Ore, Iron Ore, Silver Ore, Gold Ore, Amber, Crystals, Damascus Steel, Eagle Eggs, Fluorite, Moldavite, Meteorite, Pyrite, Rusted Clumps and Titanium Alloy. Gold Ore, Meteorite, Pyrite, Titanium Alloy and Eagle Eggs are best farmed here, while Damascus Steel offers better changes in Junk Heap Box room in B2 (north-northweastern room of part of B2 after cart section). When farming this if you don’t need to finish the door you can grab all the items from the boxes, then jump off the bridge until you die to exit the Recycled Vessel without needing to complete the last two rooms, but get to keep all your obtained up items. I will note this as "Recycled Vessel box room" in the bellow pointers.

Subdued Bracelet was the worst item I had to farm - so I skipped all of the weapons that needed it for ugprading to max. Instead, I've upgraded DLC weapons, focused on Memory Alloy's (just skipped the ones that needed the most pieces), farmed Forlorn Necklaces in Lost Shrine and Northern Plains, and the rest was kind of easy, but time consuming. The weapons I've skipped: Ancient Overlord, Iron Will, Spear of the Usurper, and Sunrise.

Below you can find alphabetically ordered materials and how much you need of those in sum. Of course, I will also note where you can find them.

  • Amber (6) – Junk Heap floor B2 (north-northwestern box room), Material Shop in Facade for 6000 gold or Recycled Vessel box room
  • Black Pearl (15) – Gather spots on beach in Seafront (In Part Two of the story items don’t appear on the beach until after the ship is gone. You can try before the Shadowlord's Castle or in Part One. Save, gather, come back, save, load, repeat)
  • Broken Antenna (37) – Common drop from yellow robots in Junk Heap
  • Broken Arm (49) – Common drop from yellow robots in Junk Heap
  • Broken Battery (5) – Common drop from yellow robots in Junk Heap
  • Broken Earring (4) – Rare drop from Shaman shades (Northern Plains - be sure to wait till you have all the Shadowlord keys. That way 6 appear on the Plains instead of 4, 2 on the village side, and 4 on the aerie/forest of myth side). They appear on cloudy weather, you can try to enter Forest of Myth and exit until you get the stormy, cloudy weather, and then you can exit towards your Village and re-enter to keep the weather conditions.
  • Broken Lens (5) – Common drop from yellow robots in Junk Heap, Two Brothers Weaponry for 900 gold
  • Broken Motor (11) – Common drop from flying robots in Junk Heap (B2, go past the cart section into the deeper part of B2, then you can farm in south big room or hallway just before the Depths. Re-entering respawns them)
  • Broken Pottery (2) – Rare pickup from gathering spots in Northern Plains/The Aerie. The easiest way is to exit from Junk Heap and farm the point just left from the bridge. If nothing, enter Junk Heap, exit, try again until you get it. I got it from some gathering points around the Northern Plains, but if you need it fast, the explained way is the best way to get it fast.
  • Broken Saw (5) – Rare drop from small armored shades in Northern Plains
  • Broken Wristwatch (11) – Rare drop from large armored shades in Southern Plains, the ones with the shield and huge weapon in their hands (largest number appear during sunny weather, you can enter the Underground Lab building and exit until you get the desired weather. After this you can enter the village and back into the plains for them to respawn without changing the weather).
  • Clay (18) – Material Shop in Facade for 800 gold
  • Complex Machine (8) – Random drop from any "boss" shade. You can find two giant shades in the Lost Shrine towards the end of the game (after you have all the key fragments). They respawn every time you exit and re-enter the Shrine). The best way is during the quest "A Shade Entombed" in 3rd room on the right side, just below the narrow hallway room. You can reset the room by breaking the rule after you killed and looted the enemy). I missed this, so I ended up grinding in Lost Shrine. When you enter the shrine just keep going up and you will encounter the first boss shade. A little bit afterwards you can find the second one. After you defeat it, jumb down and exit where you entered, and repeat. This is the best and the fasted method to get them to respawn. This is a solid drop, so it shouldn't take too long.
  • Copper Ore (88) – Two Brothers Weaponry for 480 gold
  • Crystal (8) – Material Shop in Facade for 2400 gold, Recycled Vessel box room
  • Damascus Steel (9) – Junk Heap floor B2 (north-northwestern box room), Recycled Vessel box room
  • Dented Metal Bat (21) – Rare drop from small shades in Northern Plains, or Underground Laboratory in the Manor (This is the best place. Once you open the door to the second half of the room about 5 waves of the small shades spawn with like 10 shades per wave. Activate Dark Whirlwind with 2 blades before opening the door and see them drop items left and right. This speeds things up quite a bit). Go back the stairs and re-enter again to make them respawn.
  • Eagle Egg (4) – Recycled Vessel box room, Rare pickup from gathering points in the Aerie
  • Elaborate Machine (5) – Random drop from any "boss" shade. You can find two giant shades in the Lost Shrine towards the end of the game (after you have all the key fragments). They respawn every time you exit and re-enter the Shrine). The best way is during the quest "A Shade Entombed" in 3rd room on the right side, just below the narrow hallway room. You can reset the room by breaking the rule after you killed and looted the enemy). I missed this, so I ended up grinding in Lost Shrine. When you enter the shrine just keep going up and you will encounter the first boss shade. A little bit afterwards you can find the second one. After you defeat it, jumb down and exit where you entered, and repeat. This is the best and the fasted method to get them to respawn. This is a solid drop, so it shouldn't take too long.
  • Fluorite (18) – Junk Heap floor B2 (north-northwestern box room), gathering spots in Barren Temple, Recycled Vessel box room
  • Forlorn Necklace (4) – Rare drop from Shaman shades (Northern Plains - be sure to wait till you have all the Shadowlord keys. That way 6 appear on the Plains instead of 4, 2 on the village side, and 4 on the aerie/forest of myth side). They appear on cloudy weather, you can try to enter Forest of Myth and exit until you get the stormy, cloudy weather, and then you can exit towards your Village and re-enter to keep the weather conditions. The best way to farm them is here, but I also did it at the top of the Lost Shrine; from the save point before the boss, climb the right ladders just left of the save point and find some shades straight up ahead. A bit towards the outside, down the path, you can find another few shades, and just to the right of the entrance another few. If you combine defeating all 3 groups you should end up at the save point. You can also equip the spear to reach the last group without having to move block next to the entrance, making this a really good farming method since you can enter the boss doors and exit for enemies to respawn. Also, you need to have all of the stone fragments, otherwise these encounter at the top of the Lost Shrine don't appear.
  • Giant Egg (6) – Rare pickup from gathering points around Nier’s Village
  • Gold Ore (22) – Rare pickup from gathering points in Desert, Barren Temple, or Aerie. Recycled Vessel box room
  • Iron Ore (259) – Random pickup from any basically any gathering point, or buy from Two Brothers Weaponry for 1000 gold a piece
  • Large Gear (6) – Rare drop from yellow ground robots in Junk Heap
  • Machine Oil (5) – Common drop from flying robots in Junk Heap (B2, go past the cart section into the deeper part of B2, then you can farm in south big room or hallway just before the Depths. Re-entering respawns them)
  • Memory Alloy (8) – Rare drop from boss robots in Junk Heap (you can find some in B2, usually end-hallway rooms and bigger ones after the cart section, in deeper part of B2). They respawn when you re-enter the area, but you need to fully exit. This is a pain, but there is a way to get the drops faster. Last area after the carting room have 2 big boss robots at the southern-end room. North exit takes you towards the save point after the big circle room. Save there before killing the robots, and then go and kill them. If you don't get the Alloy, just load the game and try again until you do. When you do, exit where the boss is (hole next to the save point), and make your way towards there again, and repeat the method. I ended up farming this instead of Subdued items.
  • Metal Piercing (4) – Rare drop from flying shades in Desert (must obtain Facade key fragment before they start spawning). The best way is to either enter/exit the Facade, or use the board to get to your Village and back to the Desert. There is one just north from the board travel point, one close to the Facade entrance (a bit southwest from there where the other enemies are), and one north from where you enter the northern area of the Desert where the sand is impairing your vision. If you use the Facade as your starting point, you can Load the game if you don't get any, it's faster that way.
  • Meteorite (5) – Recycled Vessel box room, rare pickup from gathering points in Desert or Barren Temple
  • Moldavite (8) – Rare pickup from gathering points in Desert or Barren Temple, Material Shop in Seafront for 8000 gold
  • Mysterious Switch (9) – Somewhat rare drop from yellow ground robots in Junk Heap
  • Natural Rubber (1) – Material Shop in Seafront for 700 gold
  • Pearl (1) – Gather spots on Beach in Seafront, Material Shop in Seafront for 3000 gold
  • Pyrite (14) – Rare pickup from gathering points in Desert and Barren Temple (enter and exit the Barren Temple, checking the spot on the blocked staircase to the left, then looking into each of the rooms on the sides to see if there’s gather points at the far ends of the rooms.), or Recycled Vessel box room.
  • Rusted Clump (10) – Caught while fishing, or Recycled Vessel box room
  • Rusty Bucket (10) – Found while fishing. Can be commonly caught using a normal lure at the Northern Sand River in the Desert.
  • Rusty Kitchen Knife (9) – Common drop in Part One from small shades, or dropped from enemies in Nier’s Dream (If you talk to the Fortuneteller in the Forest of Myth (the one that gave you the quest to find a magical orb and made you run up and down the Lost Shrine to deliver it) she'll transport you to the area from the prologue as many times as you like).
  • Scorpion Claw (10) – Common pickup from scorpions in the Desert. You can spot scorpion locations (grey markers) on the minimap, going near them makes them jump out and attack you. Note that they don’t appear while there are wolves in the Desert.
  • Silver Ore (121) – Rare pickup from different gathering points, Two Brothers Weaponry for 1500 gold
  • Simple Machine (6) – Random drop from any "boss" shade. You can find two giant shades in the Lost Shrine towards the end of the game (after you have all the key fragments). They respawn every time you exit and re-enter the Shrine). The best way is during the quest "A Shade Entombed" in 3rd room on the right side, just below the narrow hallway room. You can reset the room by breaking the rule after you killed and looted the enemy). I missed this, so I ended up grinding in Lost Shrine.
  • Stopped Clock (3) – Rare drop from sword shades in Underground Laboratory in the Manor
  • Stripped Bolt (10) – Common drop from red ground robots in Junk Heap, Two Brothers Weaponry for 900 gold
  • Subdued Bracelet (3) – Rare drop from flying shades in Desert (must obtain Facade key fragment before they start spawning). This was the worst item to farm for me, so I never farmed those as it took me 4 hours to get one, so I just skipped weapons that needed this item. The best way is to either enter/exit the Facade, or use the board to get to your Village and back to the Desert. There is one just north from the board travel point, one close to the Facade entrance (a bit southwest from there where the other enemies are), and one north from where you enter the northern area of the Desert where the sand is impairing your vision. If you use the Facade as your starting point, you can Load the game if you don't get any, it's faster that way.
  • Titanium Alloy (24) – Very rare drop from red ground robots in Junk Heap, common drop from boss robots in Junk Heap (you can find some in B2, usually end-hallway rooms and bigger ones after the cart section, in deeper part of B2). They respawn when you re-enter the area.
  • Twisted Ring (5) – Rare drop from Armored Shades in The Lost Shrine at the end of Part Two of story
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