NieR: Automata boasts a diverse arsenal of weapons, upgradeable multiple times to extend their usefulness throughout the game. This guide focuses on efficiently acquiring Beast Hides, a crucial crafting material not readily obtained.

Obtaining Beast Hides

Beast Hides are dropped by wildlife such as moose and boar, found in specific areas. These creatures are easily spotted on the mini-map with their white icons (distinct from machines' black icons). They tend to avoid players and robots, making them slightly more challenging to farm than machines.

Moose and boar inhabit the game's ruined city and forest zones. Their behavior (fleeing or attacking) depends on your level relative to theirs; higher-level animals may become aggressive even with proximity. Wildlife possesses substantial health, making early-game encounters challenging, especially against similarly leveled or stronger animals.

Using animal bait can lure wildlife, simplifying the hunting process. Unlike consistently spawning machines, wildlife respawns are less frequent, requiring exploration to find new targets. Respawn mechanics are similar to those of machines:

• Fast traveling resets all enemies and wildlife.
• Traveling a sufficient distance triggers respawns in previously visited areas.
• Story progression can also trigger respawns.

Efficient Farming Strategies

There's no dedicated Beast Hide farm. The most efficient method is to eliminate all encountered wildlife during exploration of the forest and city ruins. Beast Hides have a relatively high drop rate, ensuring you'll usually acquire enough without excessive grinding, especially if you avoid upgrading more weapons than you can equip simultaneously.