Plug-in Chips
Plug-in Chips are items that you can equip to acquire or customize Skills in Nier: Automata. Which Plug-in Chips you equip will have a huge impact on your play style and can greatly enhance your survival, offense, defense, and utility.
- There are five Types of Plug-in Chips: Attack, Defense, Support, Hacking, and System.
- Plug-in Chips can have a Level between 0 and 8 that determines how strong the effect of that chip is. Not all chips have multiple levels.
- All Plug-in Chips have a Cost which determines how much space they take up when equipped in storage. You can purchase more storage space from merchants so that you can equip more chips.
- The Cost of a chip can vary, and so lower Cost is desirable because the chip will use less of your storage capacity.
- Chips have a minimum and maximum Cost that is determined by their type and Rank. Chips with the lowest possible Cost for their Rank are marked with a ♦.
- Plug-in Chips of the same Type and Rank can be Fused to create a new chip of the same Type that is one Rank higher.
- The Cost of a new chip is calculated from the Costs of the two chips being Fused. Check out the Plug-in Chips Reference Guide for optimal chip fusion if you need help creating ♦ Cost chips.
- Chips can be Fused to Rank 6 normally and up to Rank 8 at the Canyon Machine after completing her quest.
- Plug-in Chips can be purchased, obtained from quests, or acquired from enemy drops. Chips purchased are often a high rank while chips dropped from enemies have a random rank and can sometimes drop ♦ Cost chips.
- When you die you lose all the chips you had installed. To recover them you must make your way back to your prior body. Failing to do so results in losing the chips.
- When choosing which Plug-in Chips to equip the following tips may be helpful:
- There are caps when equipping multiple of the same Plug-in Chips to combine their effects. The Drop Rate Up chip effect is capped at 90% and so the maximum effect can be achieved with one Rank 8 chip. In contrast, the EXP Gain Up chip has an estimated 450% cap which is far greater than the 100% effect on a single Rank 8 chip.
- Sometimes equipping two lower Rank chips to achieve their maximum effect can cost less storage than equipping a max Rank chip, even if the max Rank chip is ♦ Cost.
- Some chips can be sacrificed in exchange for more power at the cost of convenience or utility, such as choosing to not equip HUD chips that display information like damage values, the mini-map, or even your HP.
System Chips
System Chips are a category of Plug-in Chips in Nier: Automata. They allow you to customize elements displayed on the HUD.
Name |
Description |
Cost |
Location |
HUD Damage Values |
Display the values of damage dealt and received. |
3 |
Resistance Camp Supply Trader |
HUD Enemy Data |
Displays enemy levels and HP. |
2 |
Resistance Camp Supply Trader |
HUD Objectives |
Display text showing your current objectives. |
1 |
Resistance Camp Supply Trader |
HUD Control |
Auto-hide HUD elements in certain situations. |
3 |
Resistance Camp Supply Trader |
HUD Save Points |
Display an icon in areas where you can save. |
1 |
Resistance Camp Supply Trader |
HUD Mini-map |
Display the mini-map. |
2 |
Resistance Camp Supply Trader |
HUD Text Log |
Display the text log. |
2 |
Resistance Camp Supply Trader |
HUD Skill Gauge |
Display the skill gauge (shows a Pod program's cooldown time). |
2 |
Resistance Camp Supply Trader |
HUD HP Gauge |
Display the player's HP gauge |
2 |
Resistance Camp Supply Trader |
OS Chip |
An android's central system. Removal means death. |
2 |
Just try and remove it (but save first) |
HUD EXP Gauge |
Display the EXP gauge and amount of EXP earned. |
1 |
Resistance Camp Supply Trader |
HUD Fishing Spots |
Display an icon in areas where you can fish. |
3 |
Resistance Camp Supply Trader |
HUD Sound Waves |
Display a sound analysis graph. |
3 |
Resistance Camp Supply Trader |
Plug-in Chips Reference Guide
Plug-in Chips Reference Guide is information about Nier: Automata's Plug-in Chip Levels & Fusion Ranks.
Attack Chips
| Name | Level 0 | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 | Level 7 | Level 8 | Most Efficient Load |
| ♦ Storage Cost | ♦4 | ♦5 | ♦6 | ♦7 | ♦9 | ♦11 | ♦14 | ♦17 | ♦21 | (Number of Chips)x(Level) [Cost] |
| Charge Attack | 120% | 140% | 160% | 180% | 200% | 250% | 300% | 350% | 400% | 1x8 [21] |
| Counter | 0% | 10% | 30% | 60% | 80% | 100% | 150% | 200% | 250% | 1x8 [21] |
| Critical Up | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 6% | 8% | 10% | 15% | 30% | 1x8 [21] |
| Down-Attack Up | 2% | 4% | 8% | 10% | 15% | 20% | 50% | 80% | 100% | 1x8 [21] |
| Last Stand | 5% | 10% | 15% | 20% | 30% | 50% | 60% | 80% | 100% | 1x8 [21] |
| Ranged Attack Up | 2% | 4% | 8% | 10% | 15% | 20% | 50% | 80% | 100% | 1x8 [21] |
| Shockwave | Weak | S. Weak | Normal | S. Strong | F. Strong | Strong | Powerful | P. Powerful | V. Powerful | ??? |
| Weapon Attack Up | 2% | 4% | 8% | 10% | 15% | 20% | 50% | 80% | 100% | 1x8 [21] |
Defense Chips
| Name | Level 0 | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 | Level 7 | Level 8 | Most Efficient Load |
| ♦ Storage Cost | ♦4 | ♦5 | ♦6 | ♦7 | ♦9 | ♦11 | ♦14 | ♦17 | ♦21 | (Number of Chips)x(Level) [Cost] |
| Anti Chain Damage | 0.5 sec | 1 sec | 1.5 sec | 2 sec | 2.5 sec | 3 sec | 4 sec | 5 sec | 6 sec | 3x3 [21] |
| Auto-Heal | 0.60% | 1.20% | 2.40% | 3.60% | 4.80% | 7.20% | 9.60% | 12% | 18% | 1x8 [21] |
| Damage Absorb | 5%/10% | 10%/20% | 15%/30% | 20%/40% | 25%/50% | 30%/80% | 35%/100% | 40%/150% | 50%/200% | 1x8 [21] |
| Deadly Heal | 5% | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 80% | 100% | 1x8 [21] |
| Max HP Up | 5% | 10% | 15% | 20% | 25% | 30% | 50% | 80% | 100% | 1x8 [21] |
| Melee Defense | 2% | 4% | 8% | 10% | 15% | 20% | 30% | 60% | 80% | 1x8 [21] |
| Offensive Heal | 2% | 5% | 10% | 15% | 20% | 30% | 50% | 80% | 100% | 1x8 [21] |
| Ranged Defense | 2% | 4% | 8% | 10% | 15% | 20% | 30% | 60% | 80% | 1x8 [21] |
| Reset | 5%/10% | 5%/20% | 10%/20% | 15%/30% | 20%/40% | 25%/50% | 30%/60% | 40%/70% | 50%/80% | 1x8 [21] |
| Resilience | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% | 5% | 2x3 [14] |
Support Chips
| Name | Level 0 | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 | Level 7 | Level 8 | Most Efficient Load |
| ♦ Storage Cost | ♦4 | ♦5 | ♦6 | ♦7 | ♦9 | ♦11 | ♦14 | ♦17 | ♦21 | (Number of Chips)x(Level) [Cost] |
| Auto-Use Item | 10% | 15% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 80% | 100% | 1x8 [21] |
| Drop Rate Up | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% | 1x4, 1x3 [16] |
| EXP Gain Up | 2% | 4% | 8% | 10% | 20% | 30% | 50% | 80% | 100% | 1x8 [21] |
| Evade Range Up | 10% | 20% | 40% | 60% | 80% | 100% | 120% | 160% | 200% | 1x8 [21] |
| Fast Cooldown | 2% | 4% | 8% | 10% | 15% | 20% | 25% | 35% | 50% | 1x8 [21] |
| Moving Speed Up | 2% | 4% | 8% | 10% | 12% | 14% | 16% | 18% | 20% | 2x3 [14] |
| Overclock | 0.8 sec | 1.5 sec | 2 sec | 2.5 sec | 3 sec | 3.5 sec | 4 sec | 4.5 sec | 5.5 sec | 1x4, 1x3 [16] |
| Taunt Up | 180% | 200% | 240% | 280% | 300% | 350% | 400% | 450% | 500% | 2x3 [14]; 1x3, 1x2, 1x0 [17] |
| Vengeance | 5%/10% | 10%/20% | 15%/30% | 20%/40% | 25%/50% | 30%/80% | 35%/100% | 40%/150% | 50%/200% | 1x8 [21] |
Hacking Chips
| Name | Level 0 | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 | Level 7 | Level 8 | Most Efficient Load |
| ♦ Storage Cost | ♦4 | ♦5 | ♦6 | ♦7 | ♦9 | ♦11 | ♦14 | ♦17 | ♦21 | (Number of Chips)x(Level) [Cost] |
| Combust | 3.5 sec | 4 sec | 4.5 sec | 5 sec | 5.5 sec | 6 sec | 6.5 sec | 7 sec | 2x1 [10] | |
| Heal Drops Up | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 90% | 100% | 2x4 [18] | ||
| Hijack Boost | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 1x4, 1x3 [16] |
| Stun | 5m/3 sec | 10m/3 sec | 10m/3.5 sec | 15m/3.5 sec | 15m/4 sec | 20m/4 sec | 20m/4.5 sec | 25m/4.5 sec | 25m/5 sec | 1x3, 1x1 [12] |
Miscellaneous & System Chips
| Name | Type | Cost | Location | Description |
| Continuous Combo | Attack | 6 | Devola & Popola | Combos continue while evading. |
| Auto-Collect Items | Support | 6 | Devola & Popola | Items are automatically drawn in and collected. |
| Item Scan | Support | 6 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | Display item locations on the mini-map. |
| Evasive System | Support | 6 | Devola & Popola | Time slows when near enemy projectiles. |
| Bullet Detonation | Support | 6 | Devola & Popola | Strike enemy bullets to detonate them. |
| Auto-Attack | Support | 1 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | This chip can only be equipped on Easy mode. |
| Auto-Fire | Support | 1 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | This chip can only be equipped on Easy mode. |
| Auto-Evade | Support | 1 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | This chip can only be equipped on Easy mode. |
| Auto-Program | Support | 1 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | This chip can only be equipped on Easy mode. |
| Auto-Weapon Switch | Support | 1 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | This chip can only be equipped on Easy mode. |
| Death Rattle | Hacking | 6 | Devola & Popola | Enemies emit death cries if defeated by hacking. |
| Name | Type | Cost | Location | Description |
| OS Chip | System | 2 | Just try and remove it. (But Save First.) | An android's central system. Removal means death. |
| HUD: HP Gauge | System | 2 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | Display the player's HP gauge. |
| HUD: Skill Gauge | System | 2 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | Display the skill gauge (shows a Pod program's cooldown time). |
| HUD: EXP Gauge | System | 1 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | Display the EXP gauge and amount of EXP earned. |
| HUD: Enemy Data | System | 2 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | Displays enemy levels and HP. |
| HUD: Mini-Map | System | 2 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | Display the mini-map. |
| HUD: Objectives | System | 1 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | Display text showing your current objectives. |
| HUD: Text Log | System | 2 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | Display the text log. |
| HUD: Save Points | System | 1 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | Display an icon in areas where you can save. |
| HUD: Fishing Spots | System | 3 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | Display an icon in areas where you can fish. |
| HUD: Damage Values | System | 3 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | Display the values of damage dealt and received. |
| HUD: Sound Waves | System | 3 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | Display a sound analysis graph. |
| HUD: Control | System | 3 | Resistance Camp Supply Trader | Auto-hide HUD elements in certain situations. |
Chip Fusion Map
- Fusion Combinations in Red are the most Efficient Paths to Maximize ♦ Rank Utilization.
| Chip Fusion | Rank | Rank | Rank | Rank | Rank | Rank | Ranks Worth Keeping | Key |
| Level 0 | ♦4 | ♦4 | ♦4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | ♦4, 5, 6 | ♦ Rank |
| Level 0 | ♦4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | ♦ +1 Rank | |
| Fuse | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ♦ +2 Rank | |
| Level 1 | ♦5 | ♦5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | ||
| Level 1 | ♦5 | ♦5 | ♦5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | ♦5, 6, 7 | |
| Level 1 | ♦5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | ||
| Fuse | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ||
| Level 2 | ♦6 | ♦6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | ||
| Level 2 | ♦6 | ♦6 | ♦6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | ♦6, 7 | |
| Level 2 | ♦6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | ||
| Fuse | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ||
| Level 3 Product | ♦7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | ||
| Level 3 | ♦7 | ♦7 | ♦7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | ♦7, 8, 9 | |
| Level 3 | ♦7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | ||
| Fuse | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ||
| Level 4 Product | ♦9 | ♦9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | ||
| Level 4 | ♦9 | ♦9 | ♦9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | ♦9, 10 | |
| Level 4 | ♦9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | ||
| Fuse | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ||
| Level 5 Product | ♦11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | ||
| Level 5 | ♦11 | ♦11 | ♦11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | ♦11, 12, 13 | |
| Level 5 | ♦11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | ||
| Fuse | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ||
| Level 6 Product | ♦14 | ♦14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | ||
| Level 6 | ♦14 | ♦14 | ♦14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | ♦14, 15 | |
| Level 6 | ♦14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | ||
| Fuse | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ||
| Level 7 Product | ♦17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | ||
| Level 7 | ♦17 | ♦17 | ♦17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | ♦17, 18 | |
| Level 7 | ♦17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | ||
| Fuse | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | ||
| Level 8 Product | ♦21 | ♦21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 |
Notes
- Special Thanks to Project2501 (PSN: FILE_PRJ2501) for letting us use his Spreadsheet.
- Original Spreadsheet
Anonymous26 Mar 2020 05:25
The "ranks worth keeping" data is also wrong. That only considers levelling up chips to diamond (or near diamond) rank at the next level. However if you intend to attain a diamond level 8 chip you can use a lot of higher rank chips at the lower levels to achieve that. Here is one example (there are other variations) of getting a Diamond Level 8 chip (every = shows the set of chips required at the next lower rank to fuse into the required chips of the rank above: 8[21] = 1x7[17] + 1x7[18] = 3x6[14] + 1x6[16] = 4x5[11] + 3x5[12] + 1x5[16] = 11x4[9] + 3x4[11] + 1x4[12] + 1x4[16] = 15x3[7] + 11x3[8] + 3x3[12] + 3x3[14] = 41x2[6] + 11x2[8] + 3x2[9] + 9x2[13] = 55x1[5] + 41x1[6] + 11x1[10] + 21x1[12] = 96x0[4] + 55x0[5] + 41x0[7] + 11x0[8] + 53x0[11] So as you can see, you can still use 53 of the highest rank level 0 chips to fuse into a diamond level 8 chip. This also means ones you pick up can be useful until higher ranks so only sell L5 rank 17 & up, L6 rank 17 & up and L7 rank 19 & up.
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
25 Sep 2019 18:52
This is how you fuse: °Save only plug-in chips of storage cost 9,9,9,10,11,13,15,18 and 21 *and below* for ranks 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8 respectively. °Fuse from rank 0 and continue all the way to 8. °When fusing two chips of rank 2,4,6: just fuse from top to bottom. pretty much press X multiple times (or A on xbox controller) °When fusing two chips of rank 0,1,3,5 or 7: fuse every chip with a chip of a lower cost of 1,3 or 5 points lower. and make sure the biggest chips dont surpass the limit (of 9,9,9,10,etcetc)sorry for formatting this site is shiette
- Anonymous
01 Sep 2018 07:53
Here is a list with most if not all the chips with there max effects. Note i can't find every max and some chips are not applicable but are included. Attack Weaponattack max: 100% Down attack max; unknown Critical up max: 30% Range attack: 100% shockwave: (very powerful) Last stand: unknown Counter: 250% Charge: 400% Defense Melee defense: 80% Range defense: unknown anti chain: 6 seconds Resilience: 5% hp or more Max hp up: 100% Offensive heal: 100% Auto heal: unknown Damage asorbe: unknown Reset: 50% revive 80% health Support Fast cooldown: 50% Evade range: 200% Moving speed: 20% Drop rate: 90% Exp gain: unknown Vengeance: unknown Overclock: 5.5% Taunt up: 500% Auto use item: unknown Auto collect items: NA Item scan: NA Hacking Hijack bost: +9 Stun: unknown Conbust: unknown
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
02 Jul 2017 06:21
For some reason I have no control over how many of a certain chip I can place and its really bothering me, anyone have an answer as to if this is even possible on PC or how to do it?
- Anonymous
17 Apr 2017 05:16
Quick reference guide to all chip locations, values, most efficient loads to achieve effect limit, and locations.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fNMz4foJEWZpbbZH3GcdwucftESNYNffEOobdCyRO4E/pubhtml
- Anonymous
25 Mar 2017 05:19
Do chip levels (as in chip +1, +2, +3 etc) increase on drops from higher level enemies? For example, will I find +4 or higher drop rate chips in the amusement park if I come back on route B at a much higher level or am I better off farming them on route A before enemy levels scale?
- Anonymous
14 Mar 2017 15:25
Did some math, correct me if i'm wrong
This is how many chips to reach Lvl10 Rank from +0
Rank # Needed of previous rank
10 2
9 4
8 8
7 16
6 32
5 64
4 128
3 265
2 512
1 1024
04 Jun 2021 11:56
How to pass rank 99 of the CLEAR Colosseum, I need advice and everything you have please, that level is impossible
1
+10
-1