Nier Automata: Best Pod Programs & How To Get Them

Apart from 9S or 2B (depending on the playthrough stage), there aren't many available companions in Nier: Automata. The best players can get is the Pod, which is a sentient combat assistant robot. Still, they make the lonely existentialist trudge through an apocalyptic Earth more bearable. And besides, their Pod Programs help a lot.

As always, Pod Program usefulness can be subjective depending on the player's needs. It's just that some Pod Programs in Nier: Automata fit more situations better and can often have universal applications when it comes to their versatility. So when it comes to killing machines or finding the meaning of existence, these Pod Programs are best suited for the job.

9 A170: Scanner

Location: From Devola and Popola when 2B is searching for 9S

The Scanner Pod Program will likely be a permanent module of the Pod in most playthroughs. Because it minimizes the need for some clumsy searching or exploration in the open world. In fact, the game even requires it at a certain point if players want to progress.

The Scanner will automatically highlight quest items, hidden items, or even black box signals in case players get too close to some of them. It can also operate independently from other Pod Programs, so players don't need to worry about cooldown interference. This Pod Program has none of that.

8 R010: Laser

Location: Operator 60 during the fight with Marx (Prologue)

The Laser is also one of the earliest Pod Programs that players will automatically obtain, and it actually scales well into most playthrough stages. It's a straightforward Pod Program that focuses on auxiliary damage and can be useful when squeezing in a killing blow.

Players will need Lock On or Manual Aim in order to utilize the Laser properly. It's also effective regardless of how many enemies are present since the beam will penetrate targets. Players can even line up enemies during a chase and then skewer them with light.

7 A080: Wave

Location: The Wandering Couple quest reward (Machine Village)

The Wave is yet again another straightforward Pod Program that focuses on crowd control and stripping away enemy defenses. Its damage isn't focused enough to reliably finish most fights. Nevertheless, it's a great tool in open-world fights if the players are getting swarmed.

If not, it can also be useful against boss fights or fights against enemies with heavy defense. The Wave's shockwave can strip any enemy's layer of defense if they get caught in the impact. There's also a charge attack variant for those who want more oomph.

6 R030: Hammer

Location: Maintenance Shops in the Resistance Camp/Bunker

Speaking of unleashing shockwaves, the Hammer Pod Program is also another banger. Think of it as a more focused version of the Wave Pod Program as players can direct the impact instead of having it originate from the Pod. There's even a hammer visual aid in case the enemies aren't convinced of this Pod Program's power.

In any case, this Pod Program deals massive damage and with additional pods, players can even unleash several hammer strikes if they perform a charge attack. The cooldown is quite long, however, so it's best to reserve this move for big and threatening enemies.

5 A090: Wire

Location: Amnesia quest reward (City Ruins, exclusive to 9S)

In terms of versatility, the Wire Pod Program is way too invaluable. It has a use for any situation, be it combat or exploration. Players can use it like a grappling hook. The Pod will fire it and will pull its owner close to the target to close in for a melee range or to save time.

This makes it a stylish tool for tactical maneuvers during combat. Players can easily isolate the most immediate threats and then focus on killing them first without the need for a ranged weapon. The pull can also be canceled at any time by using a melee attack, offering a good degree of control.

4 A130: Bomb

Location: Find a Present quest reward (Resistance Camp)

The Pods are already militaristic murder machines anyway, so there's no need to complicate matters with virtual melee weapons or other flexible functionalities when all the players need is a plain mass murder tool. For that, a simple Bomb Pod Program ought to do wonders on the battlefield.

Also, the name ought to be changed to "Bombs" since this Pod Program makes the Pod throw a volley of small explosives in a short time span. This introduces a shotgun effect of explosives that will damage multiple enemies, perfect for causing mayhem against squads of machines.

3 A110: Slow

Location: Data Analysis Freak 2 quest reward (Resistance Camp)

Slow is a nifty Pod Program that offers a selective way to slow time during battle or whenever. This manifests in a rather large radius set up by the Pod. Any enemy caught within this radius will be slowed to a crawl, leaving them free to be slashed to scrap by whoever's controlling the Pod.

There's also a charge attack variant and players might want to use that instead of the regular one since it increases the radius. The bad crippling drawback for this Pod Program is the rather slow cooldown (seems apt). It's best to reserve it for sticky situations.

2 R020: Mirage

Location: Maintenance Shops in the Resistance Camp/Bunker

Mirage is a bit of a misnomer here as far as Pod Program names go because this ability is practically an Omni-slash from Final Fantasy. The Pod will analyze several enemies within a radius and unleash a series of deadly slashes, typically killing off weaker enemies.

This flashy tool is thus great for fighting against multiple enemies. It only has one level cooldown and the charge attack variant increases the coverage and the damage per pod. Overall, it's a pretty good tool for both starting and finishing combat encounters.

1 R040: Blade

Location: Maintenance Shops in the Resistance Camp/Bunker

Blade is similar to Mirage except the Pod becomes a lot less selective and intricate with its damage move. This simply makes the pod spin around its controller at high speed while brandishing a blade. This is the more futuristic and elegant version of the mandatory video game "whirlwind" move.

As expected, it's great for when players are surrounded, and it's also decent enough to fire off in boss fights since they'll get his multiple times as long as the players stick to the target. Charge variants add more damage and stagger to the Pod Program, doubling it as a crowd-control ability. It's about as berserk as the Pod can go without going full 9S.

NieR: Automata is available to play on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

More: Games To Play If You Liked NieR Replicant