Can you change 2B‘s outfit in Nier: Automata?

Dear gaming friend,

As a fellow tech and gaming enthusiast, I‘m sure you‘ve also wondered about changing the iconic outfit of 2B, the protagonist of the popular game Nier: Automata. Her default revealing black leotard is instantly recognizable and a fan favorite, but also limiting if you want to customize her style.

In this detailed guide, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about outfit changes for 2B, 9S, A2 and pods in Nier: Automata. You‘ll learn:

• Why 2B‘s base design is so iconic
• All alternate outfit unlock methods
• Outfit limitations between platforms
• How to acquire premium DLC outfits
• The meaning behind "dress to the 9s"
• And my own tips for customizing your Nier: Automata experience

Let‘s get started!

Why 2B‘s revealing design was an intentional creative choice

As a fellow gaming enthusiast, I‘m sure you‘ve appreciated 2B‘s standout visual design in Nier: Automata just as much as I have. But why did creator Yoko Taro decide on the black leotard and short skirt outfit?

Based on Taro‘s comments in interviews, the choice seems to stem from a mix of aesthetic goals and thematic symbolism:

• Sex appeal – Taro has openly admitted he simply likes the style of women in high heels. As he put it: "I just really like girls" (Source)
• Contrast – The revealing outfits contrast with the violent actions of the androids, representing innocence and repression (Source)
• Symbolism – The blindfold represents concealed emotions and secretiveness ([Source](https://theinnercirclegamer.com › why-does-2b-wear-a-blindfold))

Based on Taro‘s history of subversive themes in the Drakengard series, this was likely an intentional choice rather than pure objectification. As Taro himself said:

"I don‘t create characters to fulfill people‘s fantasies. I create characters I personally want to see." (Source)

So while Taro clearly embraced sex appeal in 2B‘s design, the outfit stems from layered creative and symbolic motivations vs just appealing to fan service.

Alternate outfits do allow changing up 2B‘s look

Now that we understand the intent behind 2B‘s default style, let‘s look at options for changing up her iconic appearance by unlocking alternate outfits:

While you can‘t alter 2B‘s base outfit directly, collecting these alternate looks allows mixing up her iconic style. My personal favorites are the Destroyer outfit for a gothic twist and the 3C3C1D119440927 DLC for its sleek monochrome look.

These outfits can help refresh your experience if replaying the story multiple times to get the full ending.

9S and A2 also get alternate outfits

In addition to 2B, her YoRHa android companions 9S and A2 also have unlockable looks:

My go-to for 9S is the casual Young Man‘s outfit as a nice change of pace from his formal shorts. For A2, the Destroyer look complements her berserker fighting style.

So all three key androids can be customized for replay value.

Outfits for POD support bots add more flair

On top of the character outfits, cosmetic skins for your POD support bots help show off your style:

• Emil Heads
• Retro Red
• Retro Grey
• Cardboard
• Popola
• Devola
• NieR: Automata Armor

My personal favorites are the Emil Heads and Retro Grey for subtle but fun changes to your POD‘s floating design.

Costume options vary slightly by platform

When it comes to acquiring outfits, availability differs slightly depending on whether you play on PC or console:

• All major outfits accessible on PS4, Xbox One, and PC
• Revealing Outfit DLC only purchasable on PC
• Consoles require unlocking in-game or buying full DLC packs
• PC players can mod for costumes beyond base options

So while console users have most major outfit options through unlocks, PC players can access certain extra costumes through mods or individual DLC purchases.

However, mods require tampering with game files which carries some risk. Overall the core customization experience is consistent across platforms.

Premium DLC requires starting a new game

If you do plan on grabbing premium DLC outfits, be aware they only apply to new games and do not unlock retroactively.

For example, I purchased the 3C3C1D119440927 DLC but had to start a fresh playthrough to access the outfit. It did not automatically appear in my existing saves.

So for the optimal costume experience, I recommend:

• Purchase DLC outfits before beginning your first story playthrough
• Equip premium outfits as you level up and progress
• Use unlocked outfits to mix things up on repeated story routes

This prevents any frustration from being unable to use paid DLC items in your existing games. Plan ahead.

What does "dress to the 9s" actually mean?

Let‘s take a quick break from Nier costumes to cover the meaning behind the phrase "dressed to the 9s" which relates to our friend 9S.

Definition

"Dressed to the nines" refers to being dressed to absolute perfection, pulling out all the stops. For example:

• "She was dressed to the nines for the Oscars red carpet in a gorgeous gown."
• "I‘m dressing to the nines for my wedding and want to look my best."

It evokes going above and beyond to look extra fancy and stylish for a special event.

Origin

While the exact origin is uncertain, theories point to 9 symbolizing perfection:

• Nine is the highest single digit number
• Earlier variations were "dressed to the eights"
• In the 1800s it became "dressed to the nines"

Use in culture

The term is commonly used in fashion culture:

• Celebrities and models are always dressed to the nines on the runway
• Looking dressed to the nines means you pulled out all the fashion stops

So in summary, this idiom denotes being dressed as stylishly as possible to impress and stand out.

How "dress to the 9s" is cleverly linked to Nier: Automata

So how does this fashion phrase connect back to our android companions 2B and 9S?

Well, fans affectionately refer to 9S as "Nines" – a direct reference to being dressed to the nines!

While androids don‘t care about fashion, this nickname link provides a fun lens for players to view costume collecting in Nier: Automata. By unlocking flashy outfits and accessories for our squad, we are essentially "dressing them to the nines" in style.

Some of my favorite outfit combinations are:

• 2B: Revealing Outfit + Devola POD skin + Emil heads accessory
• 9S: Young Man‘s outfit + Retro Grey POD + Machine mask accessory
• A2: Destroyer outfit + NieR armor POD + Beastlord sword accessory

Mixing up their looks keeps repeated playthroughs fresh and allows roleplaying dressing up our automatons in all their over-the-top cyberpunk glory.

So while the phrase "dressed to the nines" originated in fashion culture, it nicely matches up with Nier: Automata‘s character names and customization system. Just a fun bit of wordplay for fans to enjoy!

My tips for the optimal Nier: Automata customization experience

Based on my multiple playthroughs, here are my top tips for fellow gamers looking to customize their experience:

• Buy DLC outfits early – Purchase any premium outfits at the start so they unlock properly
• Spread unlocks across routes – Don‘t collect all outfits in your first play. Save some for subsequent story routes.
• Match outfits to personalities – Tailor 9S, A2, and 2B‘s looks to complement their combat styles
• Experiment with accessories – Try out different POD skins and accessory combinations to find your favorites
• Take outfit screenshots – Capture photos of your decked out androids to show off your style
• Don‘t worry about stats – Outfits don‘t affect gameplay, just have fun with the looks!

Hopefully these tips help you enjoy customizing Nier‘s characters as much as I do. I love putting together aesthetically pleasing outfits and showing them off on gaming forums and sites like Reddit. It really enhances the experience!

Let‘s recap everything we covered…

In this detailed guide, we covered:

• 2B‘s revealing base design was an intentional creative choice, not pure fan service
• Players can unlock alternate outfits for 2B, 9S, A2, and PODs by playing repeatedly
• Costume options are largely consistent across PC and console, with some exceptions
• Premium DLC outfits only work on new playthroughs, not existing saves
• "Dressed to the nines" has fashion origins but cleverly matches 9S‘s nickname
• With customization, you can roleplay dressing up your android squad in style

While 2B‘s iconic leotard look can‘t be directly altered, her appearance can be creatively changed up over the course of the game.

Collecting outfits and accessories for 2B, 9S, A2 and PODs allows you to put together aesthetically pleasing looks while exploring Nier: Automata‘s deep storyline.

Unlocking costumes also provides great replay value and lets you roleplay dressing up your automatons to the nines!

Let me know if you have any other Nier outfit questions. I‘m always happy to chat with a fellow gaming enthusiast!

Your pal,

Terry