Weapons are important in any combat-oriented RPG. All the more so in NieR Replicant, where each weapon has its own story and gameplay style. Many players making their way through NieR Replicant will be looking to upgrade their weapons as early as possible. A single weapon upgrade can massively change the tide of a difficult battle, and it will unravel more of the flavorful text of a weapon's story. Weapon enthusiasts will need to get their hands on multiple copies of the E laborate Machine and Complex Machine for certain upgrades, though.
Players will find that they need Elaborate Machines or Complex Machines when upgrading weapons including Faith, Beastcurse, Iron Will, or Fang of the Twins. It takes a dedicated weapon hunter to find all these weapons. It takes an even more dedicated completionist to farm for all the materials needed for upgrades. This guide will advise on how to efficiently obtain Elaborate Machines and Complex Machines, including both early-game and late-game grinding locations.
First and foremost, players who are on the hunt for specific rare drops should take measures to increase the drop rate. Certain words of power (those starting with "Mah") increase item drop rate when inscribed to a weapon. The function of inscribing words is accessed from the Grimoire Weiss menu, under Word Edit. With these preparations in place, players can start hunting the Giant Shades that are hoarding all the Elaborate Machines and Complex Machines they need.
How to Get Elaborate Machine and Complex Machine in NieR Replicant
Giant Shades are mini-boss enemies that drop both Complex Machines and Elaborate Machines. They can be encountered very early in the game, starting when players have access to the Southern Plains. It is possible to defeat Giant Shades in the early game, but players should be wary of their character level. If the protagonist isn't a high enough level, a Giant Shade can easily swat the player to a game over screen in a single hit. Determined heroes can randomly encounter the Giant Shade anytime on the Southern Plains - it's a foe that's easy to spot by the large enemy HP bar that will appear along the bottom of the screen.
Some late-game areas allow for more efficient item farming. Giant Shades can be found during the late-game visit to the Lost Shrine. Better yet, though, is a farming strategy within the Barren Temple. Players visiting the Barren Temple during the side quests "A Shade Entombed" or "Disrupting the Sleep of Kings" will encounter a Giant Shade in a trial room.
Those who remember how puzzle rooms in the Barren Temple work can figure out a way to exploit the rules for farming purposes. After defeating a Giant Shade for a chance at earning an Elaborate Machine or Complex Machine, the player can purposefully break the room's rules to force the trial to start again. Using this method, it's possible to kill Giant Shades over and over again to rake in some precious machines.
While farming for materials can be tedious, it's necessary in NieR Replicant. Thrillseekers who challenge the game on Hard mode will need every advantage they can get. It's also in a player's best interest to make their character as powerful as possible when seeking to unlock every ending in the game. Observant fans will also come to realize that upgrading weapons can reveal the hidden depth of the mysterious game.
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139 is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.