NieR: Automata Guide: How To Self-Destruct

NieR: Automata presents many scenarios where you’ll have to give everything you have in order to defeat all of the enemies taking you on, but the game does offer a secret weapon you can use when things really get dire. You can actually have your character self-destruct to take out all of the enemies near you, but that of course comes at a price. This guide will show you how to pull off this interesting move.

To self-destruct, all you have to do is hold the L3 and R3 buttons, which will initiate the activation sequence. Do note that this takes a couple of seconds to pull off, so you’ll want to be in a position that won’t leave you open to an immediate enemy attack. Both 2B and 9S have the ability to do this move, but trying to do this with A2 will instead activate her Berserker mode. Whenever utilizing this move, always be sure that you’re in a spot where it can do the most damage, with lots of enemies being around to make the most of it.

Of course, self-destructing comes with its consequences, and doing so will deplete your HP almost entirely. Also, you will be left in a staggered state for a few seconds right after the blast, so be wary of your surroundings to avoid being finished off by any remaining enemies. You’ll always want to immediately use some restorative items to get your HP out of the critical zone, and after that you can get right back in the fight.

Using self-destruct is always something that you’ll want to save as a last resort, as the steep damage taken is a lot to deal with. Wait to use it when your HP is already low as it is, as it depletes your health to almost empty no matter how much HP you have. It’s a risky move, but in certain situations it can turn the tides of battle in your favor and is worth being aware of.