NieR: Automata - Beast Hide Acquisition Guide

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

Obtaining Beast Hides

Beast Hides are dropped by wildlife like moose and boar, found randomly in specific map areas – primarily ruined cities and forests. These animals are easily spotted on the mini-map by their white icons (unlike machines' black icons). They tend to avoid players and robots, making them a bit trickier to farm than machines.

Wildlife encounters can be challenging, especially early in the game when facing higher-level animals. Higher-level animals may become aggressive even without provocation. Animal Bait can help lure them closer for easier kills.

Respawn Mechanics

Wildlife respawns operate similarly to machines:

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

Efficient Farming Strategies

There's no dedicated Beast Hide farming location. The best approach is to eliminate all wildlife encountered during exploration of forest and city ruin areas. Beast Hides have a relatively high drop rate, so casual hunting usually provides sufficient quantities, especially if you avoid upgrading more weapons than you can currently equip.