In *NieR: Automata*, the array of weapons across various categories offers players the chance to experiment and find their favorites throughout multiple playthroughs. Each weapon can be upgraded several times, enhancing their effectiveness and allowing you to use them throughout the entire game, if desired. Upgrades are conveniently accessible at the Resistance Camp, requiring specific resources that vary depending on the weapon in question. One such resource, Beast Hides, might not come naturally to players but is essential for upgrading; here’s how to acquire and efficiently farm them.
How To Get Beast Hides In NieR: Automata
Beast Hides are potential drops from wildlife like moose and boar. These creatures spawn randomly in designated areas, such as the ruined city and forest zones, and generally steer clear of both players and nearby robots. On your mini-map, wildlife stands out with white icons, contrasting with the black icons of machines. While there's no straightforward method to farm these animals due to their less frequent spawn rates, knowing their locations is key.
Moose and boar appear exclusively in the ruined city and forest areas. Their behavior towards you depends on your level relative to theirs; they might flee or attack if you engage them first. Higher-level animals may become aggressive just by your proximity. Additionally, these creatures boast substantial health pools, making early-game encounters with them challenging if they're at or above your level.
To lure wildlife closer and simplify the task of defeating them, consider using Animal Bait. Since wildlife doesn't respawn as frequently as enemies during the main storyline, you'll need to hunt them while exploring and then seek out new spawns. The respawn mechanics for wildlife and machines are similar:
- Fast traveling respawns all enemies and wildlife.
- Traveling a significant distance away respawns enemies and wildlife in previously visited areas.
- Triggering story events can respawn nearby enemies and wildlife.
Farming Beast Hides isn't straightforward at any point in the game. The best approach is to systematically eliminate all wildlife you encounter while navigating the forest and city ruins. Beast Hides have a decent drop rate, so as long as you're not upgrading more weapons than you can equip simultaneously, you won't need an excessive amount of Beast Hides at any given time.
