Ending A
The Shadowlord is defeated, but his death ensures humanity's extinction.
Ending A is the first conclusion reached in Nier Replicant, following the player-named protagonist's defeat of the Shadowlord. After the party defeats the twins Devola and Popola, Emil sacrifices himself, and the remaining group defeats the Shadowlord — revealed to be the Gestalt of the prologue's protagonist, driven by the wish to save his Yonah by reuniting her Gestalt and Replicant. Though successfully rejoined, the Gestalt Yonah dissipates to save her Replicant version's life, and after Grimoire Weiss sacrifices himself to weaken the Shadowlord's power, the protagonist kills him. This ending confirms that the Shadowlord's death will lead to humanity's extinction, as Replicants and Gestalts can no longer be rejoined.
Quick Facts
- Protagonist
- Nier (Replicant)
- Kainé's fate
- Survives
Lore & Background
This ending reveals the full backstory of the world through Devola and Popola's confession. 1300 years prior, humanity faced extinction due to an incurable disease. In an attempt to survive, they separated their souls from their bodies; the current humans are artificial Replicant bodies who developed their own personalities, while the Shades are human souls — dubbed Gestalts — who are slowly losing their minds through being unable to reunite with their bodies. The Black Scrawl is a side effect of the Gestalts' insanity degrading their Replicant counterparts. The Shadowlord is the prime Gestalt used to stabilize them, and Devola and Popola are androids who oversee the system. The party defeats the twins, with Emil sacrificing himself in the process. The remaining group then defeats the Shadowlord, revealed to be the Gestalt of the prologue's protagonist, with his actions driven by the wish to save his Yonah by reuniting her Gestalt and Replicant.
Reader's Guide
To unlock Ending A, players must complete the main storyline by defeating the final boss — the Shadowlord — in the first playthrough. This involves following the standard path of quests and battles, culminating in the confrontation where Devola and Popola reveal their true nature as androids overseeing the Gestalt/Replicant system. After defeating the twins, Emil sacrifices himself, and the party defeats the Shadowlord. The ending plays automatically after the final battle. Upon reaching this conclusion, the game allows the player to begin a new playthrough, where events start just after Kainé is freed, and new story sequences show the Gestalt antagonists' motivations and backstory, revealing them to be sentient and fighting for their own beliefs and goals.
More in Story & Endings
Elsewhere in Nier Replicant
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