How to level up fast in NieR Replicant (Remake/PS4). Guide includes best places to level up efficiently in both the Boyhood and Adulthood arcs as well as the leveling up advantage.
Table of Contents
Efficient Leveling in Boyhood
Hunting Robots at the Junk Heap
| [How-to/Steps] 1. Go from the Protagonist's Village through the Northern Plains to the Junk Heap. 2. Hunt robots in the first map of the dungeon. - Make sure to hunt SG-10 as much as possible 3. When finished, go outside and repeat from step 1. |
If you want to level up during Boyhood, farming at the Junk Heap is the most efficient method. If you farm it as if you were collecting "Titanium Alloy" for the story, your level will naturally increase.
Selling Items Also Earns Money
Selling the items you collect while farming the Junk Heap is also an efficient way to make money early on. Refer to the list above for the required number of items, and sell any surplus.
Efficient Leveling in Adulthood
| Leveling Spot | Period |
|---|---|
| Mansion | Anytime |
| Forest of Myth | After The Magical Stone quest 〜 |
Hunting Shades in the Mansion's B2F
| Entrance to B2F | Map |
|---|---|
 |  |
| [How-to/Steps] 1. Go to the B2F of the underground facility in the Mansion. 2. Defeat the large number of Shades in the room opened with Keycard AA. 3. After defeating them, change areas using the stairs. 4. Return to B2F and defeat the Shades again. |
A large number of Shades appear on the B2F of the Mansion. Use Dark Phantasm while moving to defeat them all at once to level up. Once you can access the underground facility, you can do this anytime, making it useful for leveling up in the early Adulthood arc.
Head to Shinjuku from the Forest of Myth
| [How-to/Steps] 1. Clear The Magical Stone quest (after obtaining all keys). 2. Have your fortune told in the Forest of Myth. 3. Keep defeating enemies until you return to the original world. 4. Once you return to the original world, repeat from step 2. |
This is a leveling method available late in the story. There's no area transition, you just keep defeating enemies, so it's not difficult. You can also collect Words you missed in the Boyhood arc, killing two birds with one stone.
Efficient Leveling Methods
| 1. | Equip Words that increase EXP |
|---|---|
| 2. | Use the Dark Phantasm magic |
| 3. | Set the difficulty to EASY |
Equip Words that increase EXP
Some Words increase the amount of EXP you gain. When farming for levels, equipping Words with the highest possible multiplier will allow you to earn EXP more efficiently.
List of EXP-Boosting Words
| Word | Increase Rate / Location |
|---|---|
| Grasp, Strong, Squeeze | EXP +2% Barren Temple (Heavy Armor Shade with Hammer) |
| Resentment, Hatred, Subjugation | EXP +4% Mansion (Heavy Armor Shade) |
| Break, Split, Crush | EXP +6% Protagonist's Village (Shade Mage with rapid-fire) |
| Shoot, Shoot, Shoot | EXP +8% Northern Plains (Shade Mage with rapid-fire) |
| Pressure, Pressure, Crush | EXP +10% Barren Temple (Heavy Armor Shade Mage with shield) |
| Resist, Defy, Perish | EXP +12% Southern Plains (Light Armor Shade with sword swarm) |
| Cut, Tear, Shred | EXP +15% Rooftop of the Lost Shrine (Light Armor Shade with sword swarm) |
| Deep, Deep, Pierce | EXP +20% Desert (Light Armor Shade Mage) |
| Shave, Cut, Carve | EXP +25% The Aerie (Shade with rapid-fire sword attacks) |
| Kill, Kill, Kill | EXP +30% Shadowlord's Castle (Heavy Armor Shade) |
Use the Dark Phantasm Magic
When leveling up against large groups of enemies, Dark Phantasm is recommended. By charging it, you can continuously deal damage around you and also stop enemy movement. By attaching status effect Words, you can also inflict them with a high probability.
EASY Difficulty is Recommended
There is no difference in the amount of EXP gained from enemies between NORMAL and EASY. On EASY, the protagonist's HP increases and damage taken from enemies is reduced, making you harder to defeat. This also reduces the need for healing, allowing for smoother farming.
HARD Increases EXP Gain, but is Not Recommended
Only on HARD difficulty is the amount of EXP gained slightly higher than on NORMAL or below. The multiplier is about 1.1x, which is close to negligible, and since enemies are stronger, your farming efficiency will decrease.
Benefits of Leveling Up
The Protagonist's Stats Increase
By leveling up, the protagonist's stats will also increase. HP, MP, and Attack Power will rise with each level, making combat easier. Note that leveling up does not increase movement speed.
Companions' Levels Also Increase
Along with the protagonist's level, the stats of companion characters like Kainé and Emil will also increase. Your companions become more reliable, making it easier to progress through combat smoothly.
