Farm Machine Arms early in NieR: Automata at Adam's pit, the best respawning spot. Use Drop Rate Up chips for faster upgrades.
As a veteran of NieR: Automata who has spent hundreds of hours across multiple playthroughs, I can tell you that Machine Arms are one of those crafting materials that always seem to be in short supply. ⚔️ Whether you're upgrading your favorite weapon or enhancing your Pod, you'll need a steady supply of these mechanical limbs. But finding them early in the game? That's a different story. The drop rate is brutal at low levels, and if you're like me, you probably want to get your hands on them before the final hours of the game.
Machine Arms have a chance of dropping whenever you destroy a small machine—any variety will do. However, the drop rate isn't fixed. It scales with the enemy's level. That means at the beginning of the game, when you're fighting level 1-5 machines, the chance of getting a Machine Arm is painfully low. I remember spending an hour in the City Ruins early on and only getting one or two. So if you're determined to get them early, you need to maximize the number of machines you kill per minute. This is where a dedicated farming spot comes in handy.
After Chapter 4, you'll encounter Adam for the first time. The pit where you fight him becomes an endless spawning ground for enemies. Many small machines spawn every few seconds, and they keep coming. To get there, fast travel to the Desert: Housing Complex access point and follow the path deeper into the ruins. Once you drop into the pit, the enemies will continuously respawn a few seconds after you destroy them. I've used this spot many times, and it's easily the best early-game farming location for Machine Arms.
These machines aren't high level, so the drop rate for Machine Arms will still be low. But the sheer spawn rate makes this your best farming method early on. I've used this spot many times to stock up not just on Machine Arms but also on Titanium Alloy, which is another material you'll need for upgrades. 📍 To make your farming more efficient, equip plug-in chips that increase drop rate. The "Drop Rate Up" chip is your best friend here. Also, use a weapon with a wide attack range to clear groups of machines quickly. I personally prefer using a spear with a long combo to hit multiple enemies at once. And don't forget to use your Pod's attacks to supplement your damage. In my experience, farming at Adam's pit for about 20 minutes with a decent drop rate chip can net you 5-10 Machine Arms. That might not sound like much, but it's better than nothing early on.
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: The rest of this article contains slight spoilers for the final playthrough of the game.
If you'd rather skip the grind entirely, there's a much easier way to get Machine Arms—but it requires reaching the final playthrough. While playing as A2 during the main story, you'll have the option of erasing Pascal's memories after all the robots from the village are killed. If you choose to do so, Pascal will return to the village and become a merchant. You can visit him at any point up to the end of the game. I always make sure to keep Pascal's shop in mind during my final playthrough, because buying materials is far less tedious than farming them.
One of the items Pascal sells is Machine Arms. His full stock is:
| Item | Price (G) |
|---|---|
| Machine Heads | 15,000 |
| Machine Arm | 1,125 |
| Machine Leg | 1,125 |
| Machine Torso | 1,125 |
| Machine Head | 1,125 |
| Children's Cores | 30,000 |
As you can see, a single Machine Arm costs only 1,125 G. That's a steal compared to the time you'd spend farming. In 2026, with the game being several years old, this method is still the most reliable way to get Machine Arms without grinding. I often see new players asking about this on forums, and the answer remains the same: if you can reach Pascal's shop, just buy them. 💰
So there you have it. If you're early in the game, head to Adam's pit after Chapter 4 and farm those endless machine spawns. Use drop rate chips, wide attacks, and patience. If you're in the final playthrough, just buy them from Pascal. Either way, you'll have enough Machine Arms to upgrade everything you need. Happy hunting! 🤖
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