Summary
Although the world of Nier: Automata has been overrun by countless killer robots, known simply as “Machine Lifeform”, there are still several notable individuals who are powerful enough to push back against these mindless machines. Likewise, some of these machines have also evolved into something that is not only different from its peers but also way more powerful.
To avoid any unnecessary spoilers for the ongoing second cour of this thrilling series, this list will only focus on characters who appeared in the first cour. With that in mind, here are ten of the strongestcharacters in Nier: Automata Ver1.1a,ranked based on the power and unique combat abilities that they’ve shown throughout the series.
10Pods
The All-Purpose Support Bots
Not all powerful forces come in a big and intimidating form factor. Sometimes,deadly things come in small packages.That is precisely the case for the tactical support unit given to every YoRHa soldier, also known as Pods. 2B is accompanied by Pod 042, while 9S is accompanied by Pod 153.
From communicating with the YoRHa headquarters, also known as the Bunker, to becoming a temporary mode of transportation by letting the android hang on to their little mechanical hand for a brief flight across difficult terrain, these pods can do all sorts of things to support their designated YoRHa soldiers. They can also provide firing supports through their machine guns and their powerful beam cannons that can easily destroy a thick slab of iron wall.
9Enhanced Machine Trio
A Group of Berserk Machine Lifeform
Small Biped robotsare the most common type of Machine Lifeform that you may find roaming around the Earth. They are usually not that powerful and their movements are also somewhat limited. However, some small bipeds manage to receive an enhancement when Adam’s powerful rage consumes the entire Machine Lifeform network.
As a result of this sudden enhancement, they gain an extra boost of raw strength and extreme movement capability. They can now jump from one building to the next with ease and decimate a squadron of highly capable resistance fighters in no time at all. Three of them even manage to give 2B a hard time before she eventually destroys them all in one slash.
89S
A Highly Dependable Scanner Androids
Every YoRHa soldier is divided into several categories, such as Type A (Attacker), Type D (Defender), or Type O (Operator).YoRHa No.9 Type S, also known as 9S,is the Scanner model. As a scanner, his main job is to look for information, analyze said information, and use it to help their Attacker or Battler partner.
Similar to their combat-oriented partner, Scanner types like 9S are also equipped with a katana and a battle-ready flight unit. That being said, his combat prowess is significantly lower than a battler like 2B. However, 9S’ greatest power is his hacking ability. He can hack into any machine, even a unique one like a Special Unit Machine or even a rare being like Adam, and slowly destroy them from within.
7Songstress
A Manic and Chaotic Robot
Machine Lifeform is supposed to be an emotionless killing machine that would only do what is already programmed into its artificial brain. However, there are some instances throughout the story where some machines manage to gain not only a consciousness but also a genuine emotion. Some of those who have gained an emotion turn intopeace-loving robots, such as Pascal,while others turn into deranged killers, such as a certain special unit machine known as the Songstress.
The Songstress started out as a normal bipedal machine lifeform. But then something happened to its circuit and it became obsessed with looking like a beautiful princess. To achieve its ideal body, the Songstress begins to graft numerous body parts from other robots, and some YoRHa androids, onto its body. As it turns out, the countless grafting not only alters its appearance but also its power tremendously. The Songstress can unleash a torrent of highly irregular and bizarre attacks, which makes it an extremely challenging opponent to deal with.
6Goliath
A Colossal Murder Machine
Goliath is the first enemy that 2B and 9S encounter at the start of the series. It is arguably the least intelligent Machine Lifeforms on Earth. However, it is also arguably one of the strongest ones, especially in terms of raw strength and firepower.
One of the biggest reasons why he has so much raw power is simply due to his sheer size. As its name suggests,Goliath is an absolute Colossus.This Special Unit Machine is composed of different massive structures. It is literally a living building. However, its biggest power has to be its massive beam cannon. A single shot of this cannon has enough firepower to decimate a team of elite YoRHa soldiers.
5A2
A Disgraced YoRHa Fighter
Before YoRHa B-Type, better known as 2B, came along, YoRHa deployed the first iteration of the Attacker android model,the YoRHa A-Type, also known as A2,to fight against the Machine Lifeforms. As the next generation of YoRHa androids, 2B clearly packs a lot more power than A2, but A2 is no slouch either. It can easily destroy numerous Machine Lifeforms grunts without any trouble.
A2 was thought to be destroyed years ago until YoRHa found out much later that not only is she still alive, but she has apparently defected from YoRHa. For years, A2 tirelessly destroys every single Machine Lifeform that is unfortunate enough to cross her path. Likewise, she has also killed every YoRHa soldier who was sent to capture her. A2 only appears for a brief moment in the first cour of Nier: Automata Ver1.1a, but we can expect to see her more in the second cour.
4Eve
An Evolved Machine Lifeform with Unrealized Potential
Throughout their long time on Earth, the Machine Lifeform has slowly but surely evolved into a much stronger and more intelligent being. Adam and his brother Eve are the pinnacle of that evolution. A pair of Machine Lifeforms that are not only powerful but also look uncannily similar to a human.
Both Adam and Eveare powerful enough to send 2B flying through concrete walls with a single punch. The only reason why Eve died so early is because he sacrificed himself to protect his brother. Had he decided to fight 2B seriously, the YoRHa android would be in a lot of trouble.
3Adam
A Curious Humanoid Killer Machine
Adam is the older brother of Eve. As mentioned earlier, they are both humanoid Machine Lifeforms that have attained powers and intelligence far surpassing their brethren. But unlike his brother who simply wants to play around and destroy everything in sight without a care in the world, Adam has a deep desire to learn about everything, which is why he is often seen with a book in hand. Ironically, the one thing that he loves to learn the most is none other than human beings.
Adam loves to play around with his enemies, especially those he is interested in. He loves talking to and learning more about his enemies as he fights them. He would try to dissect anybody that piques his interest,just like a mad scientist.He should be more than capable of defeating 2B by himself without suffering any meaningful damages. But at the end of the day, it is his giddy delight at the prospect of discovering a new toy that makes him lose focus, which allows 2B to defeat him.
22B
A Loyal and Relentless Battle Android
On paper, 2B should be no different than the other YoRHa B-type androids. They should have the same combat capability and yet 2B manages to somehow stand out from the rest. There’s even an argument to be made that she is way better than the other Battle Model androids within YoRHa’s army. After all, she has fought against so many powerful opponents, most of whom are present in this list, and defeated them.
What makes 2B differentis basically her personality and approach to combat. She is an incredibly calm and composed android and she also knows how to utilize every tool that she gets. She charges forward and relentlessly attacks the enemy while analyzing its movements and intentions. She also uses every piece of information obtained either by her personal Pod or through 9S scanning and hacking ability and adjusts her combat approach accordingly. That’s why she can be such an effective and deadly fighter despite only using a single katana as a weapon.
1Berserk Adam
A Mindless Mass of Raging Machine
After Eve’s death, Adam began to lose his mind rapidly. He discovers the dreadful feelings of sorrow and regrets and his newborn mind, however advanced it may be, cannot cope with such extreme emotions. Since he is basically in control over the whole Machine Lifeforms network on Earth, the deterioration of his brain means the network becomes corrupted as well.
The corrupt network briefly sends the countless Machine Lifeforms on Earth into a killing frenzy. But after a while, Adam completely takes over those mindless machines and integrates their bodies into himself. The result isa giant rampaging blob made out of countless machineswith the insane Adam at its center. This berserk Adam is driven by pure rage and will destroy everything in sight. 9S’ hacking and 2B’s relentless attacks can slow him down somewhat, but what eventually kills it is the Bunker’s Satellite Laser Cannon.
While every entry on this list is quite impressive in their own way, do keep in mind that this is merely a list of strong characters that have appeared inthe first cour of the series.More powerful and destructive characters will appear in the second cour of Nier: Automata Ver.1.1a. So be sure to follow the currently ongoing second cour as well.
