NieR: Automata boasts a diverse arsenal of weapons, upgradeable multiple times to extend their viability throughout the game. Weapon upgrades require specific resources, including the less common Beast Hides. This guide details how to acquire and farm them efficiently.
Obtaining Beast Hides
Beast Hides are obtained by defeating wildlife such as moose and boar. These creatures spawn randomly in specific areas, typically avoiding players and robots. They're easily identifiable on the mini-map with their white icons (distinct from machines' black icons). Efficient farming is challenging due to their infrequent spawns.
Moose and boar are exclusively found in the game's ruined city and forest zones. Their behavior (fleeing or attacking) depends on the player's level relative to theirs. Higher-level animals may become aggressive even without provocation. Wildlife possesses substantial health, making early-game encounters challenging.
Utilizing Animal Bait can lure wildlife closer, simplifying their defeat.
Respawn Mechanics
Wildlife, unlike consistently spawning enemies, requires strategic hunting during exploration. Their respawn mechanics mirror those of machines:
- Fast traveling resets all enemies and wildlife.
- Traveling a sufficient distance triggers respawns in previously visited areas.
- Key story events can also cause nearby respawns.
Farming Strategies
There's no guaranteed, easy method for farming Beast Hides. The most effective approach is to eliminate all encountered wildlife while exploring the forest and city ruins. Beast Hides have a relatively high drop rate, ensuring you'll usually gather enough without excessive farming, especially if you avoid upgrading more weapons than you can equip simultaneously.
