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• All Playable Characters In NieR: Automata

• How To Switch Characters In NieR: Automata

NieR: Automata's narrative unfolds across three distinct playthroughs. While the first two playthroughs share significant overlap, the third playthrough reveals a wealth of additional story content beyond the initial credits.

While completing the three main playthroughs is crucial, numerous endings await discovery. Some endings are more detailed than others, and accessing certain endings requires playing as a specific character and completing specific actions. Below, we detail the three playable characters and the method for switching between them.

All Playable Characters In NieR: Automata

The story centers around 2B, 9S, and A2. 2B and 9S are partners, and their screen time varies depending on the playthrough. Each character boasts a unique combat style, ensuring a fresh experience even with identical plug-in chips across playthroughs. All three are playable, but switching isn't always straightforward.

How To Switch Characters In NieR: Automata

Character selection is fixed during the initial playthrough:

• Playthrough 1: 2B
• Playthrough 2: 9S
• Playthrough 3: 2B/9S/A2, with the story dictating character changes.

Completing a main ending unlocks Chapter Select. This mode allows character selection and revisiting any of the game's 17 chapters. Numbers displayed to the right of the screen indicate completed/incomplete side quests. If a character has associated numbers for a chapter, that chapter can be replayed as that character.

Note that later chapters, particularly in playthrough 3, restrict character selection. Chapter Select permits character changes, but only to points where that character was playable in the main story. Saving before changing chapters ensures progress carries over, allowing you to level up all three characters' shared experience towards the maximum level.