The Enigma Of Beast Hide: Unveiling Nier Automata's Crucial Resource
In the desolate, yet hauntingly beautiful world of Nier Automata, every resource holds immense value, and among the most sought-after is the enigmatic Beast Hide. This seemingly simple material is far more than just a drop from defeated foes; it's a cornerstone of progression, deeply intertwined with the game's intricate crafting system and the player's journey through a post-apocalyptic Earth. Its presence in your inventory signifies progress, potential, and the relentless effort put into surviving a world overrun by machines.
From upgrading powerful weapons to enhancing vital Pod Programs, Beast Hide is a constant necessity for any player aiming to survive the relentless onslaught of machines and uncover the deep, philosophical mysteries that lie at the heart of Yoko Taro's masterpiece. Understanding its origins, uses, and efficient farming methods is paramount for maximizing your combat potential and fully experiencing the game's rich content, making your journey as 2B, 9S, and A2 as smooth and powerful as possible.
Table of Contents
- The Essence of Beast Hide in Nier Automata
- Where to Find Beast Hide: Prime Locations
- The Utility of Beast Hide: Crafting and Upgrades
- Beast Hide Farming Strategies: Maximizing Efficiency
- The Lore Behind the Beast: What Are These Creatures?
- Beast Hide and Game Progression: A Necessity, Not a Luxury
- Community Insights and Advanced Tips for Beast Hide
- The Enduring Legacy of Beast Hide in Nier Automata
The Essence of Beast Hide in Nier Automata
At its core, Beast Hide is classified as a common crafting material within Nier Automata. Its in-game description, "A hide taken from a beast. Surprisingly tough," offers a concise, yet somewhat misleading, insight into its nature. While the name suggests an organic origin, perhaps from the actual wildlife that roams the post-apocalyptic landscapes—like the boars or moose—this is not entirely accurate. In reality, Beast Hide is predominantly dropped by various machine lifeforms that exhibit animalistic or beast-like characteristics, such as the smaller Goliath Bipeds, Medium Bipeds, and certain Multi-leg type machines. This distinction is crucial for players seeking to efficiently gather this resource, as targeting actual animals will yield different materials like "Animal Hide" or "Boar Hide," not Beast Hide.
The significance of Beast Hide lies not in its rarity, but in its sheer demand. Unlike some ultra-rare components that are needed only for a single, high-end upgrade, Beast Hide is required in substantial quantities for a wide array of enhancements throughout the game. From the early hours of Nier Automata, players will quickly realize that their supply of Beast Hide dwindles rapidly as they attempt to upgrade their starting weapons and Pods. This consistent need elevates its importance from a mere crafting component to a fundamental building block of character progression, pushing players to actively seek out and engage with specific machine types.
Its "surprisingly tough" quality, as described in the game, hints at the resilience of the machines from which it originates, or perhaps the durability it imparts to the items it is used to craft. This material symbolizes the repurposing of the enemy's remnants into tools for humanity's (or android-kind's) survival, a recurring theme in Nier Automata's narrative where lines between organic and inorganic, life and death, are constantly blurred. Understanding where to acquire this vital material and how to utilize it effectively is paramount for any player looking to master the combat system and delve deeper into the game's challenging content.
Where to Find Beast Hide: Prime Locations
While Beast Hide can drop from a variety of machine lifeforms, certain areas and specific enemy types offer a more consistent and efficient farming experience. Knowing these prime locations is key to minimizing grind and maximizing your inventory of this essential material. The enemies that most reliably drop Beast Hide are typically the more common, ground-based machine units, often found in large groups.
City Ruins: This is arguably the most accessible and prolific area for Beast Hide farming, especially in the early to mid-game. The vast, open spaces and high density of various machine types make it ideal. Look for:
- Small Bipeds and Medium Bipeds: These are the most common enemies and frequently drop Beast Hide. They are found almost everywhere in the City Ruins, particularly around the crater, near the collapsed buildings, and along the main roads.
- Multi-leg type machines: The spider-like machines also have a decent chance to drop Beast Hide. They often appear in specific clusters or as part of larger engagements.
- Goliath Bipeds (smaller variants): While the massive Goliath machines don't drop Beast Hide, their smaller, more agile counterparts do. These can be found in various parts of the City Ruins, often patrolling or guarding specific zones.
A good farming route in the City Ruins might involve starting from the City Ruins: Center access point, clearing the surrounding areas, heading towards the crater, then sweeping through the ruined buildings before returning to the access point to reset enemy spawns.
Forest Zone: This area also hosts a good number of machine lifeforms that drop Beast Hide, though perhaps not as densely packed as the City Ruins. The unique layout of the Forest Zone, with its winding paths and hidden clearings, can make farming a bit more circuitous but still rewarding. Focus on:
- Medium Bipeds and Medium Quadrupeds: These are prevalent throughout the forest.
- Small Flyers: While less common for Beast Hide, some variants of the small flying machines can also drop it.
The area around the Forest Castle: Front access point is a decent starting point, allowing you to explore the paths leading deeper into the forest.
Desert Zone: While not as renowned for Beast Hide as the City Ruins, the Desert Zone does contain enemies that can drop it, especially in the central and northern parts. The sparse layout means you might need to cover more ground between encounters, but the enemies here can be a good source if you're already in the area for other reasons.
- Small Stubby and Medium Bipeds: These are the primary sources of Beast Hide in the desert.
Remember that enemies in Nier Automata respawn upon leaving and re-entering an area, or by using an access point to fast travel to a different location and then back. This mechanic is crucial for efficient farming, allowing players to repeatedly clear desirable zones for materials.
The Utility of Beast Hide: Crafting and Upgrades
The true value of Beast Hide becomes apparent when delving into Nier Automata's robust upgrade system. This material is indispensable for enhancing your primary tools of combat: your weapons and your Pods. Without a steady supply of Beast Hide, players will find themselves struggling against increasingly difficult foes, as their equipment remains stagnant. The game ingeniously ties progression to material gathering, making every piece of Beast Hide a tangible step towards greater power.
Weapon Upgrades: Forging Your Arsenal
One of the most significant demands for Beast Hide comes from weapon upgrades. Virtually every weapon type in Nier Automata – from the swift Small Swords and powerful Large Swords to the versatile Spears and the unique Combat Bracers – requires Beast Hide at various stages of their enhancement. As weapons progress from Level 1 to Level 4, the material requirements escalate, often demanding multiple units of Beast Hide for each subsequent tier.
For instance, a weapon like the iconic Virtuous Contract or the powerful Cruel Oath will require Beast Hide to reach its full potential. At lower upgrade levels, the quantity might be modest, perhaps 3-5 units. However, as you approach Level 3 and Level 4, the demand can jump to 8-10 or even more per upgrade, alongside other rarer materials. This consistent need means that even if you've fully upgraded a few favorite weapons, acquiring new ones or experimenting with different loadouts will quickly deplete your Beast Hide reserves. Fully upgraded weapons not only boast significantly higher attack power but also unlock unique abilities and lore entries, making the investment in Beast Hide truly worthwhile for both combat efficacy and narrative immersion.
Pod Program Enhancements: Unleashing Devastation
Beyond weapons, Beast Hide is also a critical component for upgrading your Pod Programs. These powerful abilities, ranging from devastating lasers to protective shields and explosive hammers, are essential for controlling the battlefield and dealing burst damage. Each Pod Program has multiple upgrade levels, and Beast Hide is frequently listed among the required materials to increase their potency, reduce their cooldowns, and expand their area of effect.
Upgrading a program like "Laser" (A080: Wave) or "Blade" (A060: Piledriver) will necessitate Beast Hide. A higher-level Laser, for example, will deal more damage and have a wider beam, making it incredibly effective against groups of enemies or bosses. Similarly, an upgraded Blade program will inflict greater damage and potentially have a shorter recharge time, allowing for more frequent use in combat. Investing in these upgrades through the diligent collection of Beast Hide transforms your Pod from a simple companion into a formidable extension of your combat capabilities, crucial for tackling the game's more challenging encounters.
Plug-in Chip Synthesis: Optimizing Your Android
While Beast Hide is primarily used for weapon and Pod upgrades, its role in the broader ecosystem of character optimization cannot be overlooked. While not directly a primary component for the synthesis of most Plug-in Chips (which often require different types of materials like Simple Gadgets, Elaborate Gadgets, or Machine Cores), Beast Hide's importance in upgrading core combat systems indirectly supports the effectiveness of your chip loadout. A stronger weapon or Pod Program, achieved through Beast Hide upgrades, allows for more flexibility in your chip choices, potentially freeing up slots that might otherwise be dedicated to damage-boosting chips. Furthermore, in some instances, Beast Hide might be used in the trade for other materials at merchants, which could then be used for chip synthesis or other crafting needs. This indirect utility solidifies Beast Hide's position as a foundational resource for any player aiming to fine-tune their android for peak performance.
Beast Hide Farming Strategies: Maximizing Efficiency
To ensure a consistent supply of Beast Hide, players need to adopt efficient farming strategies. Simply wandering around and hoping for drops isn't enough, especially when hundreds of units are needed for comprehensive upgrades. Strategic planning, understanding game mechanics, and optimizing your loadout can significantly cut down on the time spent grinding.
Route Optimization: Path to Riches
The most effective way to farm Beast Hide is by establishing and repeatedly executing optimized farming routes. These routes leverage the game's enemy respawn mechanics and concentrate on areas with high densities of the relevant machine types. Here's a general approach:
City Ruins Loop (Early-Mid Game):
- Start at the "City Ruins: Center" access point.
- Head west towards the collapsed buildings and clear the groups of Small and Medium Bipeds.
- Proceed north towards the crater, clearing any machines encountered.
- Loop back towards the commercial facility entrance, clearing more Bipeds and Multi-legs.
- Return to the "City Ruins: Center" access point and fast travel to a different, distant access point (e.g., "Desert: Central" or "Forest Zone: Entrance").
- Immediately fast travel back to "City Ruins: Center." This forces a complete respawn of all enemies in the area.
- Repeat the loop.
This method is highly effective due to the sheer number of eligible enemies in a relatively confined space. A single run can yield a significant amount of Beast Hide, especially with the right setup.
Forest Zone Patrol (Mid-Late Game):
- Begin at the "Forest Castle: Front" access point.
- Follow the main path, clearing all Medium Bipeds and Quadrupeds.
- Explore the side paths and clearings for additional enemy clusters.
- Once you've cleared a substantial portion, use the fast travel trick to reset the area.
While slightly less dense than the City Ruins, the Forest Zone offers a good alternative, particularly if you're also looking for other materials unique to that area.
The key to route optimization is minimizing travel time between enemy encounters and maximizing the number of enemies you defeat per minute. Always remember to save your game periodically, especially after a successful farming session, to prevent losing progress.
Luck and Drop Rates: The RNG Factor
Nier Automata, like many RPGs, incorporates an element of randomness (RNG) into its item drops. However, players are not entirely at the mercy of chance. The game provides mechanisms to influence drop rates, making farming significantly more efficient:
Item Drop Rate Up Chips: These are your best friends for farming. Equipping one or more "Item Drop Rate Up" Plug-in Chips significantly increases the likelihood of enemies dropping items, including Beast Hide. These chips come in various levels (e.g., +1, +2, +3), with higher levels offering greater boosts. You can fuse multiple lower-level chips to create higher-level ones, maximizing their effect. Aim for a combined Item Drop Rate Up percentage of at least +50% to +80% for noticeable results. Some players even aim for 99% for optimal farming, though this requires dedicating many chip slots.
Overclock Chip: While not directly affecting drop rates, the Overclock chip can indirectly boost farming efficiency by slowing down time after a perfect dodge. This allows for quicker enemy takedowns, increasing the number of enemies you can defeat within a given timeframe, and thus, increasing your chances of drops.
Auto-Collect Chip: This quality-of-life chip automatically collects items dropped by defeated enemies, saving you valuable time and ensuring you don't miss any precious Beast Hide. This is an absolute must-have for any serious farming endeavor.
Difficulty Setting: While higher difficulties (Hard, Very Hard) increase enemy health and damage, they do not inherently increase item drop rates. Farming on Normal difficulty is generally recommended for efficiency, as enemies are easier to defeat quickly, allowing for faster clear times and more frequent respawns.
By combining optimized routes with a strong Item Drop Rate Up chip setup and the convenience of Auto-Collect, players can turn the seemingly tedious task of Beast Hide farming into a streamlined and productive activity, quickly accumulating the necessary materials for all their upgrade needs.
The Lore Behind the Beast: What Are These Creatures?
The name "Beast Hide" itself sparks curiosity, prompting players to wonder about the nature of the "beasts" from which this material is derived. In the world of Nier Automata, the distinction between organic life and mechanical constructs is often blurred, and this material is a prime example. Despite the name, Beast Hide is not sourced from the actual wildlife like boars or moose that roam certain areas of the game; those creatures drop "Animal Hide" or specific animal parts. Instead, Beast Hide comes from specific types of machine lifeforms that exhibit animalistic or monstrous characteristics.
The primary sources of Beast Hide are various machine models such as the Small Bipeds, Medium Bipeds, Medium Quadrupeds, and certain Multi-leg units. These machines, while clearly mechanical in their construction, often move with a fluidity or aggression that mimics predatory animals. The "Beast" in Beast Hide, therefore, likely refers to the combat role or visual design of these machines rather than a biological classification. They are the more aggressive, often ground-based, common enemies that players encounter in large numbers.
This subtle detail ties into Nier Automata's overarching themes. The machines, initially created by aliens to fight humanity, have evolved and developed their own forms of intelligence, society, and even mimicry of human and natural behaviors. The existence of "Beast Hide" from these machines suggests a deliberate design choice by their creators, or perhaps an organic evolution within the machine network, to create units that embody the ferocity and resilience of wild animals. It blurs the line between the artificial and the natural, a core philosophical question Nier Automata consistently poses.
For players, understanding that these are machine drops, not animal ones, is vital for efficient farming. It directs them towards combat encounters with mechanical foes rather than attempting to hunt the game's scarce fauna. The lore, while subtle, adds another layer of depth to even the most mundane of crafting materials, reminding players that in Nier Automata, nothing is quite as it seems.
Beast Hide and Game Progression: A Necessity, Not a Luxury
From the moment players step into the shoes of 2B, the need for materials like Beast Hide becomes evident. Initially, the quantities required are modest, allowing players to upgrade their starting weapons a level or two. However, as the game progresses, so does the demand for this versatile material. What begins as a simple requirement for basic enhancements quickly escalates into a persistent, high-volume need that underscores the entire upgrade system.
In the early game, a few pieces of Beast Hide can significantly boost your initial weapon's damage output, making combat encounters more manageable. As players delve deeper into Nier Automata's branching storylines (Route A, B, C, etc.), they acquire new, more powerful weapons and Pods. Each of these new acquisitions, if they are to reach their full potential, will demand a fresh supply of Beast Hide. This means that even after fully upgrading your initial arsenal, the need for Beast Hide doesn't diminish; it merely shifts to new items, ensuring a continuous cycle of farming and upgrading.
By the time players reach the later stages of the game, including the challenging post-game content and the secret endings, having fully upgraded weapons and Pod Programs becomes less of a luxury and more of a necessity. Boss battles become more intense, and hordes of enemies more resilient. Maxing out your gear provides a crucial edge, reducing the difficulty of these encounters and allowing players to focus more on combat mechanics and less on raw damage output. The grind for Beast Hide, therefore, isn't just about making numbers bigger; it's about empowering the player to tackle the game's most formidable challenges with confidence.
The consistent demand for Beast Hide throughout the entire game lifecycle—from initial exploration to the final, grueling boss fights—highlights its fundamental role in Nier Automata's progression system. It encourages exploration, engagement with combat, and strategic resource management, ensuring that players are always actively participating in the world and its challenges.
Community Insights and Advanced Tips for Beast Hide
The Nier Automata community, renowned for its dedication and collaborative spirit, has extensively documented and optimized farming strategies for materials like Beast Hide. Insights from veteran players and comprehensive wikis (such as the Nier Automata Fandom Wiki or the official Nier Automata Wiki) offer invaluable advice for those looking to maximize their farming efficiency.
Utilize the Scanner Pod Program: Your Pod's Scanner program (A050: Scanner) can be incredibly useful. While primarily for finding hidden items, it also highlights nearby enemies on your minimap. This can help you quickly identify groups of machines that are likely to drop Beast Hide, preventing wasted time searching.
Master Combat for Speed: The faster you defeat enemies, the more enemies you can defeat within a given timeframe, leading to more drops. Practice your combos, weapon switching, and Pod Program usage to clear areas as quickly as possible. Efficient combat directly translates to efficient farming.
Consider the "Enemies are Stronger" Chip (with caution): While higher difficulties don't increase drop rates, some players theorize that the "Enemies are Stronger" chip (which effectively increases enemy levels) might subtly influence the quality or quantity of drops. However, this chip also makes enemies significantly tougher, potentially slowing down your farming. It's generally not recommended for Beast Hide specifically, but worth mentioning for those experimenting with advanced farming setups for rarer materials.
The Importance of Saving and Loading: If you're running a specific route and get particularly unlucky with drops, you can always save your game, restart the application, and reload. While this won't change the underlying drop rates, it can sometimes feel like a "reset" for the RNG, offering a psychological boost if nothing else. More practically, it's essential to save *after* a successful farming session to secure your gains.
Listen to the Music: A lighter, more playful tip, but many players find that putting on some of Nier Automata's incredible soundtrack, or even their own music, can
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