Set in the far future,NieR: Automatatakes place after the fall of humanity at a time when Androids are at war with the machines. Throughout the game, players will follow the story of the Androids through the eyes of 2B, 9S, and A2. As they do so, they can customize their appearances by changing outfits, using hair dyes, and even changing the skins of their Pod companions.
Outfits and accessories are purely cosmetic and have no bearing on stats, giving players the freedom to dress up the characters to their own tastes. Although some items werepreviously restricted to DLCor pre-order bonuses, they have been added to subsequent releases ofNieR: Automata. There is exclusive content, including outfits, forThe End of YoRHa Editionon the Nintendo Switch.
Updated June 15, 2025, by Michael Llewellyn:There are several secrets and endings to discover in Nier: Automata as the game’s plot opens up through repeated playthroughs. This includes cosmetics like accessories and outfits that can be equipped for 2B and her companions. This guide has been updated to include a cheat that unlocks all chapters and outfits, allowing you to access them from the start of the game.
How to Change Outfits in NieR Automata
Various types of clothing and accessories can be obtained by completing side-quests, purchasing from shops, or as items collected on the go. Accessories such as the Pink and Blue ribbons are awarded to the player for completing the side-quest, “Lost Girl,” which can be unlocked after finishing the main quest, “Machine Trade.”
On the other hand, some can be more of a challenge to acquire. Completing the “Emil’s Memories” quest will take players across the map on multiple occasions to track down Lunar Tears, a flowerimportant to Emil’s pastand links directly to the originalNieR.
Furthering that connection are the Colosseum battles in which players can earn outfits worn by the main characters of the first game, but these fights are difficult, and it is recommended that players are level 80 or above before attempting them. 2B and 9S also have Heavy Armor that players can receive, but these are only granted aftercompleting the game three timesand going through the credits.
After acquiring them, players will need to go into the Key Items tab in the menu, select the desired cosmetic item, and click equip it to implement the changes. This can be done for costumes, accessories,and hair dyes, as well as Pod skins and models.
Clothing will appear tattered over time as players take damage, but this can be prevented by purchasing a Dress Module from Emil, who roams the ruins after players first discover him. Emil will have different wares depending on the location in which players stop his traveling shop. The Dress Module can be purchased if players encounter him outside the Resistance Camp. The steps to equip new cosmetics and outfits are as follows:
Unlock The Outfits Early In Nier: Automata
Thanks to a cheat hardcoded intoNier: Automatadiscovered by a modder named Lance “manfightdragon” McDonald. The cheat was revealed three years afterNier: Automatalaunched and was confirmed to be the title’sfinal secret by Yoko Toro.Using the cheat unlocks all the chapters, outfits, accessories, and a debug mode early. Use the following steps to activate the cheat:
Don’t leave the area, as leaving will void your only opportunity to activate the cheat.
On the PlayStation:Hold R2 then up, down, up, right, left, Square, Circle, Triangle, and Cross.
On the Xbox:Hold RT, then up, down, up, right, left, X, B, Y, and A.
Ensure you save the game and you can replay the game with unlocked items or restart from any chapter in the game.
