NieR: Automata Swords and Katanas — Epic Guide to Mastering Weapons, Replicas, and Strategy

Enter the Battlefield: Why NieR: Automata Swords and Katanas Matter

What makes NieR: Automata swords and katanas so special? They are not just stat-sticks: they are extensions of combat style, pieces with history, and gameplay tools designed to provoke tactical decisions. In this article, you will discover how to choose the weapon that fits your playstyle, what unique abilities to look for, where replicas fit into the game’s culture, and how to gain an advantage from seemingly secondary items.

We will start with a quick overview of weapon structure, continue with a practical usage timeline, analyze iconic examples like the Virtuous Contract and other game-changing weapons, and finish with a maintenance guide and replicas for collectors and cosplayers. Get ready for a blend of technique and epic narrative: each weapon has a story, and each equipment choice is a small personal legend.

Weapons and Combat Styles in NieR: Automata — Usage Timeline and Characteristics

The following timeline is not a chronological line of the universe: it is a progressive guide to understanding when and why to use each weapon type as you advance through the game’s routes.

Era	Event
Introduction
Find your fighting style	Welcome to the post-apocalyptic world and summary: four weapon categories, each with its own strengths to choose from based on your playstyle and to combine in combat.
Small Swords
Main characteristics	Very fast attacks, high versatility, and excellent for chaining long, fluid combos; default weapon of YoRHa androids.
Advantages and disadvantages	Advantages: speed, agility, adaptability. Disadvantages: lower damage per hit and need for more impacts against heavily armored enemies.
Ideal playstyle	Players who prefer dodging, striking fast, and retreating, prioritizing mobility over powerful single hits.
Featured example	Virtuous Contract — ability Holy Blessing: increases attack power when health is at maximum, favoring precise and evasive gameplay.
Greatswords
Main characteristics	Brute force weapons: sacrifice speed for the highest damage per hit in the game, ideal against tough enemies and bosses.
Advantages and disadvantages	Advantages: extremely high damage, ability to eliminate enemies with few hits, and break defenses. Disadvantages: slow movements that leave you exposed and vulnerable to fast groups.
Ideal playstyle	Patient and calculated players who wait for the perfect moment to deliver decisive blows.
Featured example	Virtuous Treaty — when fully upgraded, it reaches between 1140 and 1254 damage points, allowing minor enemies to be eliminated in a single hit and shortening boss fights.
Spears
Main characteristics	Long reach and sweeping attacks; designed to control space, maintain distance, and manage crowds without being surrounded.
Advantages and disadvantages	Advantages: reach to attack from a distance, effective sweeps against groups, ability to interrupt enemy attacks. Disadvantages: slower than small swords and require good positioning; in some combos, the area of effect can be narrow.
Ideal playstyle	Players who prefer to control the terrain, attack before enemies get close, and maintain advantageous positions.
Featured example	Usurper’s Spear — ability Turn Coat: can temporarily convert an attacked enemy to fight for you, useful in chaotic battles.
Combat Bracers
Main characteristics	Faster melee weapons; designed for relentless offense that overwhelms the opponent with a flurry of blows.
Advantages and disadvantages	Advantages: faster attack speed, ability to stun enemies, and maintain constant pressure. Disadvantages: very short reach, lower damage per hit, and vulnerability to enemies that attack at range or move away.
Ideal playstyle	Extremely aggressive players who prefer close-quarters combat and maintaining offensive initiative.
Featured example	Angel’s Madness — ability Angel’s Mercy: partially heals upon defeating enemies, encouraging continuous offense.
Final Summary
Quick comparison	Weapon Type — Speed / Damage / Main Style: • Small Swords — High / Medium / Balanced and versatile. • Greatswords — Low / Very high / Slow but devastating. • Spears — Medium / Medium / Control and distance. • Combat Bracers — Very high / Low / Aggressive and melee.
Conclusion	Recommendation: experiment with combinations (two equipable sets and in-combat switching) to adapt speed, reach, and power according to the situation. The best weapon is the one that fits your style and is fun and effective for you.

How Unique Abilities Influence: Examples That Transform Your Game

NieR: Automata doesn’t just reward raw damage: many weapons add mechanics that rewrite how you play. Here we explain five key pieces (and the same appear in the official game’s arsenal) that you should know to build creative strategies.

1. Virtuous Treaty — Early Power That Redefines Encounters

This greatsword that 2B loses at the end of the prologue appears impaled in the Abandoned Factory. Recovering it early grants you an offensive tool that accelerates the pace of combat and forces you to rethink encounter trajectories. In narrative terms, it is a sword that tells how the past returns its strength to those who remember it.

2. Demon’s Cry — Crowd Control for 9S

Found by hacking a specific section of the Amusement Park, this pair of bracers turns 9S into a horde cleaner. Its ability activates a shockwave when you defeat enemies, generating area damage that highlights the combination of hack and melee.

3. Usurper’s Spear — Strategy and Persuasion in Combat

The Turn Coat effect temporarily converts enemies into allies. It’s not just a mechanic: it’s an invitation to think of the battlefield as a dynamic board where selecting targets completely alters the difficulty of the encounter.

4. Faith — Healing on the Edge

The Faith katana restores HP by cutting projectiles, an ability that transforms bosses with bullet hell into a source of survival. It’s ideal for players who integrate blocking and precision into their style and change the logic of “avoiding bullets” to “health pickups.”

5. Angel’s Madness — Purchase That Rewards Patience

A bracer that heals upon defeating enemies and requires specific conditions to appear for sale with Emil. The search and its reward are an example of design that makes a simple purchase a mini-adventure.

Practical Comparison: Choosing a Weapon Based on Situation

When the cameras open and multiple attack patterns appear, weapon choice dictates your survival. This table summarizes speed, damage, role, and recommended use.

Weapon Type	Speed	Damage per hit	Role in combat	Ideal use
Small Sword / Katana	High	Medium	Combo and mobility	Agile bosses and medium groups
Greatsword	Low	Very high	Critical hit / break	Boss encounters and armored enemies
Spear	Medium	Medium	Space control	Waves and enemy formation
Combat Bracers	Very high	Low	Pressure and stun	Rapid hit accumulation and combos

Replicas, Measurements, and Materials: Guide for Collectors and Cosplayers

2B’s katana — Virtuous Contract — is the most replicated due to its elegant design and futuristic lines. Functional replicas use steels like 1045 or Damascus steel for luxury editions; for cosplay, MDF, EVA foam, resins, and paints that imitate metallic finishes are used. In all cases, the goal is to capture the silhouette and details that make it recognizable.

• Approximate replica measurement: around 112 cm (total) for human-scale replicas; measurements can be shortened for comfortable cosplay.

• Finishes: mirror polish on collector’s editions, patinas and synthetic leather details on handles for greater realism.

• Safe materials for cosplay: MDF, EVA, PVC, and fiberglass for light and transport-resistant pieces.

Care and Maintenance of Sword and Katana Replicas

A weapon, even a replica, demands attention. Proper conservation preserves its appearance and prevents oxidation or deformation. Here are practical recommendations and techniques adapted to different materials:

• Functional steel: clean with a dry cloth, fine oil to prevent rust, store in a ventilated sheath.

• Wood / MDF: avoid humidity, seal with varnish, and check glued joints after transport.

• Foam and EVA: clean with a damp cloth and avoid prolonged sun exposure to prevent deformation or discoloration.

Oil Type	Main Characteristics	Recommended Use
Mineral oil	High penetration, does not degrade or attract dirt	Regular protection and maintenance
Camellia oil	Natural, acid-free, non-volatile	Antioxidant protection, lubrication
Lithium grease	Dense, durable, does not evaporate	Prolonged storage, protection

Mineral oil

• Main Characteristics: High penetration, does not degrade or attract dirt
• Recommended Use: Regular protection and maintenance

Camellia oil

• Main Characteristics: Natural, acid-free, non-volatile
• Recommended Use: Antioxidant protection, lubrication

Lithium grease

• Main Characteristics: Dense, durable, does not evaporate
• Recommended Use: Prolonged storage, protection

Clarifying Doubts About Swords and Katanas in NieR: Automata

What are the main differences between swords and katanas in NieR: Automata?

The main differences between swords and katanas in NieR: Automata focus on their size, speed, damage, and combat style.

• Small swords (which include katanas) are fast and agile weapons, with lower damage per hit but allow chaining many quick and fluid combos, favoring an agile and reactive playstyle.
• Greatswords, on the other hand, are slower but deal much more damage per attack and have a paused set of movements, ideal for powerful attacks and controlling the pace of combat.

The katana has a design linked to the characters and is an iconic weapon within the game.

What unique abilities do weapons acquire when reaching maximum level in NieR: Automata?

Upon reaching maximum level in NieR: Automata, each weapon acquires a special unique ability that enhances its combat effectiveness, such as bullet absorption (HP restoration upon cutting projectiles) or a high stun percentage to incapacitate enemies. These abilities vary by weapon and radically modify their strategic use in battle, improving specific characteristics for the weapon’s type and style.

How do small and large swords compare in terms of damage and speed in NieR: Automata?

Small swords in NieR: Automata are fast and agile, with lower damage per hit, but allow chaining complex combos and maintaining constant pressure due to their high attack speed. They are ideal for players who prefer mobility and speed in combat.

On the other hand, greatswords are slower in their attacks, but their damage per hit is considerably higher. These weapons deal more damage with each hit and have a more paused set of movements, suitable for delivering powerful blows and controlling the pace of battle with strong attacks.

In general, small swords excel in speed and quick combos with less damage, while greatswords offer slower attacks, but with much higher damage per hit.

What type of materials are used to make swords in NieR: Automata?

In NieR: Automata, the swords used by the android protagonists are primarily made of advanced materials and mechanical components, as they themselves are androids with sophisticated technology. Although the game does not specify traditional real materials such as steel or iron, the weapons are designed with futuristic technology, combining mechanical and metallic aspects to maximize their efficiency in combat.

In the game, weapons are divided into categories such as small swords, greatswords, spears, and combat bracers, with variations that include technological elements such as cables, mechanical parts, and special minerals that serve to upgrade these weapons. This indicates that the swords in NieR: Automata are not just simple normal metallic weapons, but incorporate materials and components typical of a robotic and technologically advanced world.

Swords in NieR: Automata are manufactured with advanced metallic materials and mechanical components typical of android technology, including alloys, cables, and minerals used for their enhancement, rather than traditional materials.

How to obtain 2B’s katana in NieR: Automata and what are its benefits?

2B’s katana in NieR: Automata, called Virtuous Contract, is obtained as a weapon in the game, specifically useful for protagonist 2B. In the game, it can be obtained by advancing through the main story and completing certain missions, although the exact acquisition varies depending on events and progress; it is not simply found at the beginning.

Its main benefits are:

• High attack speed and good balance between reach and damage.
• Versatile for quick combos and mid-range attacks.
• Suitable for engagements against more than one enemy thanks to its speed and fighting style.

In physical replica versions, the katana is crafted from high-quality steel and measures approximately 45 inches overall, with a blade of around 32 inches, reflecting its in-game design. However, in the video game, its concrete benefits translate into improved agility and combat dynamism compared to other weapons, favoring fluid and technical gameplay.

Finally, making a similar katana for cosplay or collection can be done with wood, foam, or other materials, but that is outside the game and does not affect its functional characteristics in NieR: Automata.

Oil Type	Main Characteristics	Recommended Use
Mineral oil	High penetration, does not degrade or attract dirt	Regular protection and maintenance
Camellia oil	Natural, acid-free, non-volatile	Antioxidant protection, lubrication
Lithium grease	Dense, durable, does not evaporate	Prolonged storage, protection

Mineral oil

• Main Characteristics: High penetration, does not degrade or attract dirt
• Recommended Use: Regular protection and maintenance

Camellia oil

• Main Characteristics: Natural, acid-free, non-volatile
• Recommended Use: Antioxidant protection, lubrication

Lithium grease

• Main Characteristics: Dense, durable, does not evaporate
• Recommended Use: Prolonged storage, protection

Advanced Usage Tips and Recommended Builds

If you want to get the most out of each weapon, think about synergies between passives and style: a katana with bullet absorption calls for modules focused on survival; a greatsword calls for runes that increase critical hit. Try hybrid configurations: spear + small swords to cover range and mobility, or alternating bracers and greatswords to control rhythm.

• Agile build: katana + evasion chips + recovery modules.

• Tank build: greatsword + defense chips + blocking and HP modules.

• Crowd control build: spear + bracers with area abilities.

Practice and experimentation are key: note which combinations work against enemy types and adjust between routes. Don’t be afraid to change your set to face a boss with different patterns; the freedom to alternate weapons is one of the pillars of the game’s design.

Replicas and Products Inspired by NieR: Automata

If, in addition to the game, you are interested in owning a replica, remember that there are options for all uses: display, cosplay, and high-level functional replicas. Below we show a random selection of products from the category that can inspire you to choose format and material.

Aesthetics, Narrative, and Why the Community Loves These Weapons

NieR: Automata’s swords and katanas connect with players through their design and how they fit into the narrative: each weapon has a name and a story, and that mythology is reflected in its abilities. The community, from modders to artisans, reproduces and reinvents these pieces because each replica is a bridge between the digital and tangible experience.

Final Clarifications and Silent Call to Action

You have covered the timeline, learned to value abilities beyond damage, seen practical examples, and gained guidelines for replicas and maintenance. Now it’s up to you: test, experiment, and let each weapon tell your own story in NieR: Automata. What combination will you try on your next route?

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