Nier has incredible value to most Dark teams. As a sub ally, she can protect the Main Character from lethal damage up to 13 times. As a main ally, her massive damage output combined with incredible buffs make her a valuable asset. She also has great synergy with Enmity parties, which are common grid builds in Dark.
Strengths
As a sub ally, she prevents the Main Character from being knocked out up if they had over 25% HP upon taking lethal damage. This effect works up to 13 times.
makes it easy to switch her into main ally position.
After switching in, grants Dark allies ThirstingRecovers once from a knockout while in effect / Partially absorbs DMG to recover HP (Can't be removed) , which is equivalent to Autorevive and damage absorption—useful in long and difficult raids.
Massive charge attack damage based on how low Love's RedemptionLowers by 2 each turn (Starts at 13) / Nier will be knocked out when 0 / DMG taken is lowered while in effect is.
BelovedDeals triple attacks / DMG taken is lowered by 50% (Can't be removed) grants Nier and the targeted ally guaranteed triple attacks and a 50% DMG Lowered effect for 4 turns.
Can grant C.A. ReactivationCharge attack reactivates to a Dark ally.
90% self DMG reduction from Love's RedemptionLowers by 2 each turn (Starts at 13) / Nier will be knocked out when 0 / DMG taken is lowered while in effect allows Nier to effortlessly tank most enemy attacks that aren't Plain Damage.
Deliberately knocking out Nier inflicts Unfinished BusinessDEF and multiattack rate are lowered / HP can't be restored (Can't be removed) Strength: 50% DEF DownDuration: 4 turns on your party, which can be used to stay in Enmity levels.
Weaknesses
If Nier is knocked out by any means other than running out of Love's RedemptionLowers by 2 each turn (Starts at 13) / Nier will be knocked out when 0 / DMG taken is lowered while in effect , she inflicts Unfinished BusinessDEF and multiattack rate are lowered / HP can't be restored (Can't be removed) Strength: 50% DEF DownDuration: 4 turns on all other allies. While it can be taken advantage of in certain setups, it may also be a great hindrance in other situations.
There are three main aspects to using Nier effectively: the utility of her support skills, management of Love's RedemptionLowers by 2 each turn (Starts at 13) / Nier will be knocked out when 0 / DMG taken is lowered while in effect , and proper usage of her buffs.
Death ReversedDark MC starts battle with Death Reversed (13 times)MC can withstand lethal DMG a set number of times when Nier is a sub ally and MC is not almost knocked out (Leaves 1 HP / Can't be removed) Duration: Indefinite. When Sub Ally: Dark MC can withstand a lethal hit without being knocked out when HP is above 25% before attacking (Leaves 1 HP / Consumes 1 Death ReversedMC can withstand lethal DMG a set number of times when Nier is a sub ally and MC is not almost knocked out (Leaves 1 HP / Can't be removed) ). At level 95: Dark MC's buffs can't be removed. At level 110: Upon Dark MC consuming Death ReversedMC can withstand lethal DMG a set number of times when Nier is a sub ally and MC is not almost knocked out (Leaves 1 HP / Can't be removed) to withstand a lethal hit: Dark MC gains Death's Inversion. ensures the Main Character's survival, which is usually of utmost importance. However, ThirstingRecovers once from a knockout while in effect / Partially absorbs DMG to recover HP (Can't be removed) is also extremely valuable in hard battles, so players should weigh their options and decide when to switch in Nier.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, lowering Love's RedemptionLowers by 2 each turn (Starts at 13) / Nier will be knocked out when 0 / DMG taken is lowered while in effect by activating BelovedGrant BelovedDeals triple attacks / DMG taken is lowered by 50% (Can't be removed) Duration: 4 turns to caster and a Dark ally. (Love's RedemptionLowers by 2 each turn (Starts at 13) / Nier will be knocked out when 0 / DMG taken is lowered while in effect Duration: Indefinite lowers by 2. Can't grant BelovedDeals triple attacks / DMG taken is lowered by 50% (Can't be removed) to more than 1 other ally at a time.) and Last LoveGrant Last LoveCharge attack activates twice / Deals bonus dark DMG upon using charge attack (1 time / Can't be removed) Duration: Indefinite to caster and a Dark ally. (Love's RedemptionLowers by 2 each turn (Starts at 13) / Nier will be knocked out when 0 / DMG taken is lowered while in effect Duration: Indefinite lowers by 1.) is beneficial to lower the risk Nier poses while on the field and her ability to deal high C.A. damage at lower stacks.
Buffing herself with C.A. ReactivationCharge attack reactivates lets you take advantage of her incredible C.A. damage when Love's RedemptionLowers by 2 each turn (Starts at 13) / Nier will be knocked out when 0 / DMG taken is lowered while in effect is low, but depending on your party and main weapon, it may be better used on someone else. For example, characters such as Seox and Helel ben Shalem may be better targets due to their high C.A damage.
In certain situations, Unfinished BusinessDEF and multiattack rate are lowered / HP can't be restored (Can't be removed) Local status effect and Unfinished BusinessDEF and multiattack rate are lowered / HP can't be restored (Can't be removed) Duration: 4 turns have certain strategic uses, notably with Death (SSR) to control its activation:
In raids with high or complete resistance to regular DEF DownDEF is lowered , Unfinished BusinessDEF and multiattack rate are lowered / HP can't be restored (Can't be removed) Local status effect is a guaranteed, capped 50% DEF Down.
In shorter battles, it can be used to ensure your party will not heal above optimal Enmity thresholds.
Death's call grants Guaranteed TAGuaranteed triple attack regardless of Triple Attack Lowered debuffs , bypassing Unfinished BusinessDEF and multiattack rate are lowered / HP can't be restored (Can't be removed) Duration: 4 turns's lowered multiattack rate.
Pain of Death
The special weapon Pain of Death allows for a different playstyle. So long as Nier is in the 4th slot she can be repeatedly killed off with Death (SSR) to give the whole team guaranteed triple attacks. The foe will be constantly debuffed by Unfinished BusinessDEF and multiattack rate are lowered / HP can't be restored (Can't be removed) Local status effect, and the multiattack hampering of Unfinished BusinessDEF and multiattack rate are lowered / HP can't be restored (Can't be removed) Duration: 4 turns will not really matter due to the Guaranteed TAGuaranteed triple attack regardless of Triple Attack Lowered debuffs Duration: 4 turns from Death (SSR)'s call. In addition to this, the whole team will gain major stacking ATK/DEF buffs due to the weapon skill of Pain of Death.
Nier's Domain bonus can also be invested in to give you a much freer hand with usage of her skills due to the regeneration of Love's RedemptionLowers by 2 each turn (Starts at 13) / Nier will be knocked out when 0 / DMG taken is lowered while in effect .
Ilsa (Yukata) greatly benefits from this playstyle as well, as each knockout of Nier raises DiuturnaSkills are boosted based on number of Diuturna (Max: 3 / Can't be removed) and resets Ilsa's skill cooldowns.
Synergy
Characters
Ferry (Grand): Ferry is a key character in Charge Attack-centric builds. By using Die UmkehrungGrant another Dark ally FreigeistDouble attack rate is boosted / Triple attack rate is boosted / More likely to be attacked / Charge attack DMG is boosted / Charge attack DMG cap is boosted / Charge bar gain is boosted / Recovers once from a knockout while in effect (Can't be removed) Duration: 5 turns. (From 10th turn onward: Ally also gains Triple StrikeAttacks 3 times each turn Duration: 1 turn .) on Nier, it provides AutoreviveRecovers once from a knockout while in effect and Hostility UpMore likely to be attacked via FreigeistDouble attack rate is boosted / Triple attack rate is boosted / More likely to be attacked / Charge attack DMG is boosted / Charge attack DMG cap is boosted / Charge bar gain is boosted / Recovers once from a knockout while in effect (Can't be removed) to better utilize her Damage reduction, and various Charge Attack related buffs.
Nier + Ferry + QilinDeltaMassive Dark damage to all foes. End all allies' skill cooldowns. (3★) can be used for a turn of massive burst damage after Turn 10. Nier and another ally can both benefit from BelovedDeals triple attacks / DMG taken is lowered by 50% (Can't be removed) 's guaranteed triple attacks, Triple StrikeAttacks 3 times each turn , and C.A. ReactivationCharge attack reactivates . This maneuver is very effective in difficult raids, giving the player a high damage potential without needing to take risks.
Zooey (Grand): Nier has a unique synergy with Dark Enmity teams by switching her out. By knocking her out with Death (SSR)Deathly Thirteen400% Dark damage to all foes. Knock out a dark ally in fourth position (MC or Lyria won't be knocked out). Dark allies gain Guaranteed TAGuaranteed triple attack regardless of Triple Attack Lowered debuffs Duration: 4 turns for 4 turns., Unfinished BusinessDEF and multiattack rate are lowered / HP can't be restored (Can't be removed) Duration: 4 turns prevents allies from healing out of Enmity range through ConjunctionReduce all allies' HP to 1. All allies gain UnchallengedNext DMG received will be ineffective Duration: 1 turn and DrainNormal attack and C.A. DMG dealt is partially absorbed to HP (Can't be removed) Strength: 100% of damage dealt (Healing cap: 15% of max HP)Duration: 4 turns.'s DrainNormal attack and C.A. DMG dealt is partially absorbed to HP (Can't be removed) Strength: (Healing cap: 15% of max HP), while Conjunction's UnchallengedNext DMG received will be ineffective Strength: 1 turn protects allies for 1 turn.
Helel ben Shalem: Nier enables Shalem's damage output immensely with her Last LoveGrant Last LoveCharge attack activates twice / Deals bonus dark DMG upon using charge attack (1 time / Can't be removed) Duration: Indefinite to caster and a Dark ally. (Love's RedemptionLowers by 2 each turn (Starts at 13) / Nier will be knocked out when 0 / DMG taken is lowered while in effect Duration: Indefinite lowers by 1.). This allows Shalem to gain stacks of EntrancedMultiattack rate is boosted based on Entranced lvl (Can't be removed) more quickly, enabling her skill, auto attack, and charge attack damage.
Prioritize C.A. Damage Cap and Critical Hit first to make sure that she hits high amounts of C.A. Damage. The rest is grid and setup dependent, but Dark ATK Up is usually the most valuable. Note that multiattack nodes may end up being less relevant since both BelovedDeals triple attacks / DMG taken is lowered by 50% (Can't be removed) and Death (SSR) (the most common way of switching her in) already provide Guaranteed TA. Therefore, players that find her almost consistently dealing Triple Attack can consider investing somewhere else such as ATK (Overdrive).
