Desert Zone

Desert Zone
Zone Data
Main Zone:	Desert Zone
Sub-Zones:	Border Area Sand Cave Housing Complex Pit Hollow Trial of Sand (DLC)
Information
Appearances:	NieR:Automata NieR:Automata Ver1.1a

The Desert Zone is a location in NieR:Automata. Several bosses make their appearance here, including Hegel and the Emil clones.

Objects collected over the course of the game, along with data gathered by the researcher near the oasis, reveal that this was the area where Facade once stood. Its resident machines have taken to emulating the Masked People's (particularly the King's) style of dress and penchant for rules.

Location

The Desert Zone is located north of the City Ruins. The Border Area is the first part of the zone encountered, with the entrance to the main area blockaded by a barrier that Jackass blows up.

Points of Interest

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• Access Point
• Oil Field
• Pod
• Oasis
• Trial of Sand

Access points in the main area are located at the Desert's Center and the Oil Field southwest of the entrance.

The blonde YoRHa Soldier at the Oil Field can supply the player with E-Drugs after completing Jackass's Research. Effects last for 30 seconds.

The second usable Pod is lodged in the sand, up a slope slightly northwest of the Oil Field access point.

The oasis at the end of the desert contains a locked chest with Mysterious Lithograph 3 inside. The pond is also the only place where the extremely rare Beetle Fish can be found.

The Masked Machine in front of the elevator admits anyone who wishes to face the trials.

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Rules

In keeping in line with Facade's rules, the Desert Machines have also come up with a lengthy list of their own:

• Rule 8: Something should be done when the King addresses another, but the machine who cited this rule forgot what exactly.
• Rule 21: Always return a greeting.
• Rule 28: Whoever clears all six trials is deemed as the True Masked One, and will carry the title of "King".
• Rule 1,489: The King has to display dignity at all times.
• Rule 2,858: In order to become the True Masked One, six trials must be overcome.
• Rule 2,898: An explanation behind the six levels of trials must be provided by the Receptionist.
• Rule 5,493: Do not lose sight of yourself in the darkness (Trial 4: Fight in the dark).
• Rule 5,494: Do not let your feet touch the ground (Trial 5).
• Rule 10,286: The King deserves the most respect of all.
• Rule 15,392: Visitors should not be killed.
• Rule 24,389: There shall be spectators at the trials.
• Rule 29,450: Visitors taking the trials should be wished good luck.
• Rule 30,225: Respect must be paid to those undertaking the trials.
• Rule 30,284: The King must be welcomed upon their return.
• Rule 31,564: Spectators must stay quiet during the trials.
• Rule 43,953: The King must become a model for its subjects.
• Rule 60,513: Requests to partake in the trials shall be honored by the Receptionist.
• Rule 60,664: The Trial of Sand is off-limits for anyone not partaking in it.
• Rule 61,284: Rely on your own strength (Trial 1: Win without using your Pod).
• Rule 61,444: The current trial is deemed complete.
• Rule 61,446: The current trial is deemed to have been failed.
• Rule 61,512: The challenger is declared victorious over the third trial.
• Rule 61,891: If the trial taken was failed, the challenger is suggested to retake it.
• Rule 61,892: A reward must be granted upon completion of a trial.
• Rule 61,993: The fourth trial is declared complete.
• Rule 62,117: The third trial must end within 3 minutes.
• Rule 62,305: Train hard every day to become stronger.
• Rule 63,710: The challenger is declared victorious over the fifth trial.
• Rule 64,199: A true hero is untouchable (Trial 6: Win without getting hit).
• Rule 65,123: The challenger is declared victorious over the sixth trial.
• Rule 69,834: A reward must be granted upon completion of a trial already cleared.
• Rule 6...61...: Fight without evading (Trial 2).

Notes

• Aside from the soldiers in the Oil Field, one other YoRHa unit remains alive and unaffected at the oasis after the attack on the Bunker.
• Items of note:
  • Project Gestalt Report 8 is in a locked chest to the right of the Housing Complex entrance.
  • The Phoenix Lance is buried in the sand east of the Center access point, and requires the Scanner to reveal.
  • The Resistance Researcher west of the Desert: Center access point rewards the player with Spear of the Usurper upon completing Heritage of the Past. Mysterious Lithograph 2 is also acquired alongside one of the relics found during his quest.

Trivia

• Emil was revealed to be alive in Ending B of NieR RepliCant and NieR Gestalt—his head was shown landing in the desert area outside Facade. Quite fittingly, it was in the Desert Zone where he (or at least a clone of his) passes away.
• The Masked Receptionist tells the player that more than 124,000 rules have been passed after the player completes the third trial. Nier learns from Fyra during his time that Rule 124,046 had then just recently been passed.
• Two out of six trials are similar to some of the puzzle rooms in the Barren Temple:
  • Trial 1 resembles the third and fifth rooms (Magic-Spewing Bat).
  • Trial 2 resembles the seventh room (Evasive Mouse).
• The Receptionist notes while gifting the Destroyer Outfit that they were said to have been worn by the man who destroyed the world, but passes it off as mere legend.

Gallery

• Data
• Screenshots

Area location

Map

Rule 8.

Clothing worn by a Medium Biped.

The King of Facade spinning his mask.