RELATED: Nier Automata: How Long To Beat
Fully completing NieR: Automata requires a great deal of patience and dedication, but it is exceptionally difficult even then. The game’s secret boss Emil is perhaps the most elusive challenge hidden beneath the crumbling world of NieR. Not only is he difficult to locate, but his battle provides what is arguably the most frightening encounter in the entire game.
The Emil’s Memories Sidequest
Unlocking Emil’s boss fight requires the “Emil’s Memories” side quest to have been completed. Doing so grants 2B and 9S access to his home where the battle will take place, but it can be a slow process to complete due to Emil’s vague directions. During Route C, players will need to locate Emil in the City Ruins and browse his wares. Upon exiting the menu, Emil will reminisce about his past while alluding to his love of Lunar Tears.
Once this snippet of information has been divulged, players can head across the bridge and enter the Commercial Facility to locate the first Lunar Tear of the quest. Investigating the far right-hand corner of the room will uncover it and officially begins the quest. There are four other Lunar Tears to be found, but luckily, they will now be marked on the player’s map.
The Lunar Tear Locations
How to Find the First Lunar Tear
The Lunar Tears are scattered across the expanses of NieR’s world, so players should use the vending machines to fast travel to their closest points. First, they’ll want to journey to the Amusement Park and follow the side path leading to the rollercoaster. They should spot the Lunar Tear while navigating the alleys on the way.
How to Find the Second Lunar Tear
The next Lunar Tear can be found in the Forest Kingdom. Once there, players should travel to the waterfall in the center of the area and drop down to its base to find a small cave-like structure lurking beneath. Inside lies yet another Lunar Tear.
How to Find the Third Lunar Tear
Next, players will need to journey to the desert from the City Ruins to locate what is arguably the most well-hidden Lunar Tear. Upon entering this vast sea of sand, looking ahead and to the left will reveal an entrance to a cave. After heading inside and falling through the interior hole players will gain access to an area with a new camera angle. From here, they’ll want to head West, then South, before following the linear path until the camera returns to its usual position. Continuing up the spiraling cave system will eventually take 2B outside where he’ll need to scale the nearby platforms of the surrounding cliffs. Players can then follow the next linear path until a more open area is reached and use the Pod to glide across to the different cliff tops. Upon reaching a dead end, they should investigate the back right corner of the area to locate the Lunar Tear.
How to Find the Fourth Lunar Tear
For the final Lunar Tear, players will need to journey to the Flooded City. First, they should travel to the final area of the city and behind the small, wrecked building to uncover the last flower needed to complete the side quest.
Where to Use the Elevator Key
Emil will appear to congratulate the party on locating his Lunar Tears. Struck by memories from his past, Emil will reward 2B and 9S with an Elevator Key. With this key now in hand, players should venture to the Commercial Facility once more and use the key on the previously inaccessible elevator.
RELATED: Mods That Add Nier Automata’s 2B To Other Games
Entering will lead to the elevator descending for a long time before eventually opening in a new area, engulfed by the elusive flowers 2B was just searching for. Emil will promptly appear to further explain who he is and will reward the player with their very own Lunar Tear for listening.
Finding Emil’s House
After obtaining the Lunar Tear from Emil, players should backtrack to the center of the City Ruins to uncover the entrance to Emil’s home. Like the entrance to the Flooded City, this new area is only accessible via the opening in a large sewage pipe protruding from the crater’s cliffside. Players should ignore the crater for now and follow the path to the Amusement Park.
Eventually, players will come to a gap blocking 9S’ path. After jumping over it, they should proceed to investigate the crater’s edge on the left. They’ll need to be careful though as if they tread too close 9S may fall off. Facing the center of the crater, they should examine the partially destroyed building just below and to the right, jump toward it, and land before turning slightly to the left. There will be a circular pipe with water spewing from its base. Using the Pod to jump inside of it will uncover a secret elevator.
The elevator will take 9S deep into the earth and release him into a series of poorly lit caves. There are multiple machines down here that can inflict great damage, but they shouldn’t be too difficult to dispatch if the player has been preparing to face Emil. Players should wander through the cave systems until a bright opening is reached and then jump down to the bottom level. They’ll then need to continue into the cave’s dark depths, down an elevator, and through a final tunnel to uncover a door at the end of the area. After dispatching the machines guarding it they’ll be able to enter inside to be greeted with Emil’s charming abode.
Stealing From Emil
Once inside, players should approach the rack of Emil heads to the right of his home and choose to take one of them. Doing so will activate a new dialogue option from Emil upon encountering him again in the City Ruins. With this in mind, players should return to the surface and talk to Emil once more to learn that he has placed his most valuable possessions inside a secure chest to prevent further theft of his belongings. At this point, players should make sure to save the game before returning to Emil’s house, as the boss battle with him has finally been unlocked.
Playing as 9S, players can now return to Emil’s underground home and locate his new hidden treasures. If they hack into the chest in front of his home they’ll obtain the Emil’s Head combat bracers. Before leaving, they should make sure to prepare for one of the most challenging fights the game has to offer, as, lurking at the other side of the door’s exit, waits an incredibly displeased Emil.
The Emil Boss Fight
Emil is arguably the least threatening presence out of all the enemies in NieR: Automata, primarily due to his childlike demeanor. However, his unveiling as the game’s superboss paints him as a terrifying foe capable of decimating all those who oppose him. He is one of the only Lvl. 99 bosses in the entire base game, so besting him will more than likely be one of the last things the player will do during their playthrough.
The fight begins with Emil expressing his disappointment in the 9S before promptly swinging his entire body in their direction. He will regularly lunge at 9S while using this move, so players will need to learn his cues and dodge when necessary. Though his physical attacks are nothing to scoff at, the projectiles he launches are what make him such a frightening foe.
RELATED: Nier Automata: How To Get All Endings
Emil will flood the room with his head-shaped projectiles if allowed to continuously launch them, so speed is necessary to ensure one’s victory. Players should race around the room while avoiding both him and his projectiles at all costs and be sure to deliver a few blows when an opening reveals itself. If struggling, they can focus on launching projectiles at Emil while dodging his attacks. Though it will take longer to beat him this way, it is a far less risky tactic that will allow 9S to maintain a safe distance.
Emil can also send out blasts of red energy that can completely devastate 9S’ health, so players should try to jump over them if possible. Surviving the battle depends on how fast the player can heal, so they’ll need to be prepared to quickly navigate the menu when 9S’ health begins to deplete. Once beaten, the final superboss of the game will become available to fight in the desert.
NieR: Automata is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
MORE: Nier Automata: Best Weapons
