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NieR: Automata may not seem like it at first glance, but it incorporates strict roguelike mechanics that can significantly set you back if you die at the wrong moment. Losing your life can result in the permanent loss of items that you've spent considerable time finding and upgrading, which can be particularly detrimental during late-game playthroughs.
However, all is not lost immediately upon death. You have a chance to recover what you've lost before it's gone forever. Here's a detailed look at what happens when you die and how to recover your body to minimize permanent damage.
Death Penalty In NieR: Automata Explained
Dying in NieR: Automata results in the loss of any XP earned since your last save, as well as all your currently equipped Plug-In Chips. While you can always find more Plug-In Chips and rebuild your loadout, some chips are rarer and can be costly to replace, especially if you've invested heavily in powerful ones. Upon respawning, your current Plug-In Chip set will be empty, requiring you to equip a new loadout or select one of your other presets.
The good news is that the Plug-In Chips lost upon death aren't gone permanently. You have one life to return to the spot of your death and recover those chips, along with the possibility of regaining your lost XP. If you die again before recovering your body, all chips from the original preset will be lost forever.
Recovering Your Body In NieR: Automata
After respawning, your primary and immediate goal should be to recover your body. A small blue body icon will appear on the map, marking the location of your body. You can select this icon to set a tracker to its location. When you reach your body, simply interacting with it will allow you to retrieve all your Plug-In Chips. Additionally, you'll have two options for what to do with your body:
Repair: You won't regain your lost XP, but your old body will transform into an AI companion that will follow you until it's destroyed.
Retrieve: You will recover the XP you lost since your last save.
Regardless of the option you choose, you'll have the opportunity to re-equip your old Plug-In Chips exactly as they were, overriding your current setup. Alternatively, you can choose not to re-equip them, and the recovered chips will be added back to your inventory.
