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Desert Zone
Nier: Automata

Desert Zone

Navigate Nier: Automata's vast Desert Zone with our comprehensive guide. Discover walkthroughs for 'The Machine Surge' mission, enemy locations, item drops, and boss strategies.

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Navigate Nier: Automata's vast Desert Zone with our comprehensive guide. Discover walkthroughs for 'The Machine Surge' mission, enemy locations, item drops, and boss strategies.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Begin the 'The Machine Surge' mission in the Desert Zone.
  2. 2
    From the entrance, head right to the cliff edge, then north down the cliff and south to find an underground cave entrance.
  3. 3
    Navigate the underground path, defeating Medium Bipeds. At the first fork, go right to find Small Stubbies and a chest with Animal Bait.
  4. 4
    Return to the Small Stubbies' location, go up to find a chest with multiple crafting materials (Broken Battery, Small Gear, Rusty Bolt, Severed Cable, Dented Socket, Stripped Screw, Crushed Nut).
  5. 5
    Return to the first fork, go left and down to find a chest with 2000G.
  6. 6
    Continue down the path to exit back outside. Open the regular chest for Gold Ore x2.
  7. 7
    Return to the previous fork, go left to find a chest with Medium Recovery.
  8. 8
    Go up, defeat Medium Bipeds, and follow the path to a chest with Memory Alloy x2.
  9. 9
    Explore the surface: find the 'G' shaped boulder on the mini-map. To its right is a cave with Sparkly Items. Southwest of the boulder, defeat enemies and find a chest with Ranged Attack Up (S).
  10. 10
    Speak to Jackass to blow open the path to the inner Desert Zone.
  11. 11
    Follow the path, noting you can go under the sand 'waterfall' for sparkly items.
  12. 12
    In the large area, locate and clear the four red areas on the map, fighting Stubbies and Bipeds.
  13. 13
    Northwest of an Access Point, find a chest with Melee Attack Up (S) among debris. Note new enemies like the Small Exploder (runs and detonates) and scarf-wearing variants of existing enemies.
  14. 14
    Head to the destination marker, fight a Biped that flees, and follow it.
  15. 15
    Enter the Desert Zone: Housing Complex. Head to the red area.
  16. 16
    Before the red area, find an Access Point. Northwest in a dead end is a locked chest.
  17. 17
    In the red area, defeat enemies. Use the northern fire escape ladder to find the weapon Fang of the Twins.
  18. 18
    Use the southern fire escape ladder to find a chest with Titanium Alloy x3.
  19. 19
    Continue chasing the Biped, encountering a Goliath Biped (armored, melee effective, slow dodges, can use tank form with energy orbs).
  20. 20
    Follow the Biped into an opening, entering a side-scroller section. Follow the path until it breaks, leading to an arena.
  21. 21
    Defeat infinite Small Stubbies. A scene triggers, leading to the boss fight against Adam.
Tips
  • The Multi-tier Type is a new, non-aggressive enemy.
  • Small Exploders have low HP and can be shot before they reach you.
  • Goliath Bipeds are heavily armored; melee is more effective than bullets. Dodge their slow attacks and energy orbs.
  • In the arena with infinite Small Stubbies, prioritize collecting dropped money and items if possible before the boss fight triggers.
  • Sparkly items can be found near the 'G' shaped boulder cave and under the sand 'waterfall'.
  • Fang of the Twins (weapon)
  • Titanium Alloy x3
  • Memory Alloy x2
  • Gold Ore x2
  • Animal Bait
  • Broken Battery, Small Gear, Rusty Bolt, Severed Cable, Dented Socket, Stripped Screw, Crushed Nut
  • Medium Recovery
  • Ranged Attack Up (S)
  • Melee Attack Up (S)
  • Access Points
  • New Enemies: Multi-tier Type, Small Exploder, Goliath Biped
  • Boss Fight: Adam

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