Most existing NieR:Automata modding guides are either outdated or built around mod managers that are no longer maintained and prone to breaking. This guide takes a different approach by focusing on manual installation. Instead of a simple drag and drop tutorial, you’ll be walked through each step in detail, while also learning how the game’s basic file system is structured. With this knowledge, you won’t just be following instructions you’ll understand how mods work, making it easier to troubleshoot, customize, and maintain a stable modded setup over time.

Moreover, the intention of creating this guide is to try and keep things up to date. Persistent bugs and issues will be added in a section at the end of this guide along with their solutions and proper credit to the individuals who contributed their valuable input.

1. Install updated GPU Drivers - NVIDIA GeForce[www.nvidia.com] AMD Radeon[www.amd.com] Intel Arc / iGPU[www.intel.com]
   
2. NieR: Automata uses DirectX 11, but older DX libraries are sometimes needed by mods, so install DirectX End-User Runtime (June 2010)[www.microsoft.com].
   
3. Install both x86 and x64 versions of Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables[learn.microsoft.com]
   
4. Install .NET Framework 4.8 Runtime[dotnet.microsoft.com]
   
5. Install your file archiver of choice - WinRAR[www.win-rar.com] 7-zip[www.7-zip.org]

1. Create a backup of your save data.
   Documents\My Games\NieR_Automata
   
2. Uninstall/Remove/Delete all previously installed mods and mod managers and preferably start with a clean copy of the game.
   

   To completely uninstall all previously installed mods, simply reinstalling the game isn’t enough, most mods will remain unless you manually remove them. The only exception is cutscene mods, since those replace original files and get re-downloaded. If you want a fresh start, it’s best to manually delete the entire root folder and its contents to clear out leftover files that don’t get removed during uninstall. If you don’t use cutscene mods, a lighter cleanup should work. Make sure to uninstall any external mod manager, and if the uninstaller provides an option to remove all installed mods and components, make sure to select it before proceeding with the following steps.
   

   1. Delete these files from the root directory, the data folder and the documents folder.
      
   2. Open steam, go to the game and verify integrity of game files(if you installed cutscene mods at some point, steam will likely download the cutscenes again on this step).
      
   3. Run the game once to get rid of all the temporary files.
      

   The root folder should only contain two folders, one executable, and one DLL file.
   

   Type

   Name

   Folder

   data

   Folder

   Wallpaper

   File

   NieRAutomata.exe

   File

   steam_api64.dll

   The data folder should only contain four folders and twentyfour .cpk data files.
   

   Type

   Name

   Folder

   Enlighten

   Folder

   movie

   Folder

   movie_logo

   Folder

   sound

   File

   data000.cpk

   File

   data001.cpk

   File

   data002.cpk

   File

   data003.cpk

   File

   data004.cpk

   File

   data005.cpk

   File

   data006.cpk

   File

   data008.cpk

   File

   data009.cpk

   File

   data010.cpk

   File

   data012.cpk

   File

   data013.cpk

   File

   data014.cpk

   File

   data015.cpk

   File

   data016.cpk

   File

   data018.cpk

   File

   data019.cpk

   File

   data100.cpk

   File

   data101.cpk

   File

   data102.cpk

   File

   data103.cpk

   File

   data105.cpk

   File

   data107.cpk

   File

   data108.cpk

3. Navigate to your game files and add it to quick access, we'll refer to this as the root directory.
   
4. Create a nexusmods[www.nexusmods.com] account as we will be downloading all the mods from there.
   
5. Since all mods are distributed as compressed files, you’ll need to extract them before using their contents. I’ll assume you understand this for each installation.
   
6. The clean copy of game must be launched at least once before proceeding with mods.

1. Root Directory : This contains the main executable NieRAutomata.exe, mods that depend on .dll files like FAR or ReShade are also placed here. Mods that replace texture packs and other in-game visuals also go here, texture injections are done through SK_Res(discussed later in the guide).
   
2. Data Folder : This folder stores most of the game’s assets like textures, models, animations, and effects. Hindering of the folder structure inside the Data folder causes failure in loading mods.
   As far as the installation of mods is concerned, you mainly need to know about these three category of files. These are the files associated with the player models, weapons and accessories that you will be often replacing under the data folder to swap between different cosmetic mods of playable characters, weapons and key items.
   
   Note: You need to paste/replace both .dat and .dtt files.

   • pl : player models
     
     
     File ID

     Character

     pl000d

     2B

     pl010d

     A2

     pl020d

     9S
     
     
   • wp : weapons and pods
     
     
     File ID

     Weapon/Pod

     wp0013

     Iron Pipe

     wp0020

     Beastbane

     wp0030

     Ancient Overlord

     wp0040

     Phoenix Dagger

     wp0060

     Type-3 Sword

     wp0075

     Engine Blade

     wp0076

     Cypress Stick

     wp0081

     Sword Sheath

     wp0090

     Machine Sword

     wp0203

     Iron Will

     wp0213

     Fang of the Twins

     wp0220

     Beastlord

     wp0230

     Phoenix Sword

     wp0250

     Type-3 Blade

     wp0270

     Machine Axe

     wp0400

     Phoenix Lance

     wp0420

     Beastcurse

     wp0430

     Dragoon Lance

     wp0440

     Spear of the Usurper

     wp0460

     Type-3 Lance

     wp0470

     Virtuous Dignity

     wp0471

     Cruel Arrogance

     wp0480

     Machine Spear

     wp0600

     Type-3 Fists

     wp0620

     Virtuous Grief

     wp0621

     Cruel Lament

     wp0630

     Demon's Cry

     wp0640

     Angel's Folly

     wp0650

     Machine Heads

     wp0655

     Emil Heads

     wp0900

     Commander's Baton

     wp1040

     Machine Axe

     wp1060

     Machine Saw Weapon
     
     
   • et : key items and accessories
     
     
     File ID

     Item/Accessory

     ete00a

     Desert Mask

     ete00b

     Yosuke Matsuda Head

     ete00c

     Kenichi Sato Head

     ete009

     Cruel Lament Mask

     ete000

     Flowers

     ete001

     Desert Mask

     ete002

     Glasses

     ete004

     Emil Mask

     ete005

     Emil Head

     ete006

     Alien Head

     ete008

     Bows

3. Documents Directory : This folder stores the saves and certain .ini configuration files generated by FAR, ReShade, and the game itself.

• Wolf's Limit Break[www.nexusmods.com]
  This mod is essential if you plan to heavily modify the game by replacing characters, weapons, or using multiple large texture packs. The base executable has strict file size and VRAM limits, which can prevent the game from starting when too many mods are installed. This modified executable raises those limits.
  NOTE: Make a backup of the original NieRAutomata.exe before applying Wolf's Limit Break. You can copy it to a folder outside the root directory or create a "Backup" folder inside it. If you ever remove the Wolf's Limit Break, you’ll have the backup ready. Otherwise, you’ll need to recover the executable by verifying game files on Steam, which restores it but also re-downloads all cutscenes if you’ve used a cutscene mod.
  
  Installation
  1. Copy NieRAutomata.exe from the unpacked archive and replace the original executable with this one in your root directory(the folder we pinned to quick access earlier).
     
  2. From this point on, the game must be launched through Steam only.
  ⠀
  
  

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• FAR/SpecialK (SK)[discord.com]
  FAR is required for texture mods such as the HD Texture Pack. It also offers options like faster loading, FPS cap adjustments, and other tweaks, though many of these features are experimental for Automata and may introduce unwanted issues. One of the well known issues is the camera mode plugin malfunctioning with fast loading turned on. I recommend using FAR only for textures.
  There is no need to keep SpecialK updated and it's totally fine to keep using the most stable version you find for yourself, you can either download the latest version which doesn't have any known issues(as of now) or just go with version 24.1.18.2 which I personally use.
  
  Installation
  1. Rename the SpecialK64.dll from the unpacked archive to dxgi.dll.
     
  2. Paste the dxgi.dll in your NierAutomata root directory where the NieRAutomata.exe is stored.
     
  3. Run the game, a message should appear on the top of your screen if you did everything correctly.
     
  4. Use Ctrl + Shift + Backspace to open the pop up and turn off the remove 60fps cap, this will prevent the camera mode plugin from malfunctioning when you try to pause the game through the tool.
     
  ⠀
  
  

  ---

  
  
• HD Texture Pack[www.nexusmods.com]
  The game contains several low-resolution textures that disrupt the game’s visual consistency. This mod significantly improves those textures and is highly recommended for all players.
  Note: FAR is required for proper texture injection.
  
  Installation
  1. Place the SK_Res folder from the unpacked archive into the root directory where the NieRAutomata.exe is stored.
     
  2. That's it, run the game and see the difference in textures.
     Note: After successful installation of Wolf's Limit Break, FAR/SpecialK (SK), and HD Texture Pack the root folder must look like this.
     
  ⠀
  
  

  ---

I strongly recommend following the installation instructions on each mod’s respective page. The process is generally straightforward, and if you’ve followed this guide so far, most requirements are already covered. Any additional steps known to cause issues will be highlighted under the corresponding mods below.

• NieR Automata Input Overhaul Mod (NAIOM)[www.nexusmods.com]
  The NAIOM mod is designed primarily for keyboard and mouse players, offering greater control and flexibility. It removes negative mouse acceleration, and addresses several input-related issues such as a dedicated dodge button (instead of the default double-tap).
  
  • NAIOM uses dinput8.dll so your FAR must be called dxgi.dll(which is already addressed if you have followed this guide so far).
  ⠀
  
  

  ---

  
  
• LODMod[www.nexusmods.com]
  LODMod enhances visual quality by reducing pop-in and keeping textures/models sharper at longer distances, though it may come with a small performance cost depending on hardware. Personally I don't think that this is relevant unless you want to install enhanced cutscene mods, for which the LODMod is a dependency.
  
  • The mod is usually provided as xinput1_4.dll, but it may also come as dinput8.dll. If you’re using XInput for a custom controller, LODMod must be named dinput8.dll. However, keep in mind this will disable NAIOM, since it also relies on dinput8.dll.
  ⠀
  
  

  ---

  
  
• NieR Automata AI Upscaled 4K and 1440p Cutscenes[www.nexusmods.com]
  This mod replaces the default pre-rendered 900p cutscenes with 4K or 1440p resolution AI upscaled ones.
  
  • This mod requires LODMod to be installed as a dependency.
  ⠀
  
  

  ---

  
  
• Mods related to Characters, Weapons and Key Items[www.nexusmods.com]
  This mostly involves swapping of files in several folders inside the Data folder of root directory. All of these mods come archived differently, some are served well seasoned and you only need to copy the contents of the archive into the root directory for the mods to immediately start working, others come in the form of .dat and .dtt files, both of which should be placed in the appropriate directory for the mods to load. The thumb rule is to follow the instructions that come with each one of them.
  
  • In the root directory, open the Data folder and create three new folders: pl (player models), wp (weapons), and et (key items/accessories) for installing respective mods.
    
  ⠀
  
  

  ---

  
  
• NieR: Automata photomode mod v1.0.0[www.patreon.com]
  The Camera Tool lets you freely control the camera, create custom paths, stop time, and take high-resolution shots.
  
  • The tool is known to malfunction with several versions of SpecialK, as mentioned earlier the version 24.1.18.2 of SpecialK is the latest known version to not have any compatibility issues with other mods so far.
    
  • Launch IGCSClient.exe while the game is running, the game will appear as a process, hit InjectDLL, you will see a pop up saying "Camera found." and the camera tool will start working.
    
  ⠀
  
  

  ---

• ReShade[reshade.me]
  ReShade tends to disrupt the original ambience and aesthetics of the game, I personally discourage the use of ReShade on this game. Moreover, most presets are just low effort saturation tweaks that don’t justify the performance cost. If you’re looking for some eye candy, adjusting your monitor settings will achieve the same effect without impacting performance.
  ⠀
  
  

  ---

  
  
• NAMH[www.nexusmods.com]
  NAMH is unmaintained and often breaks the game. The issues it causes are difficult to troubleshoot, the manager has become outdated and irrelevant.
  ⠀
  
  

  ---

1. An error popping at launch which says "ERROR : Graphic::Startup() FAILED. No Graphic Memory".
   
   • This is not caused by Wolf's Limit Break. As discussed earlier in dependencies, NieR: Automata uses DirectX 11, but older DX libraries are sometimes needed by mods, so install DirectX End-User Runtime (June 2010).

   ---

   
   
2. Various Free Cam mod malfunctions.
   
   • Freezing, Black/White screens, and various free cam functions "not working" can be solved by installing SpecialK version 24.1.18.2 and turning off Remove 60FPS Cap under SK/FAR.
     
   • If it is not detecting the game, try launching the tool as admin.

   ---

   
   
3. ReShade malfunctioning with SpecialK.
   
   • Method 1: ReShade should be installed before installing SpecialK/FAR, and the dxgi.dll that it creates in the root directory should be renamed to reshade64.dll before installing SpecialK/FAR because SpecialK/FAR is also a dxgi.dll
     
   • Method 2: If you already installed SpecialK/FAR then you have to remove the dxgi.dll(move it to a different folder) from the root directory, install ReShade, rename the new dxgi.dll to reshade64.dll and then move back the original dxgi.dll to the root directory.

   ---

   
   
4. Vortex Mod Manager not working.
   
   • Vortex Mod Manager is not suitable for NieR:Automata because the game uses raw file replacements and depends on FAR/Special K with manual configs. Vortex’s virtual file system often breaks the strict folder structure, making manual installation the only reliable method.

   ---

   
   
5. NAMH not working.
   
   • NAMH is unmaintained and often breaks the game in ways that are nearly impossible to fix. The whole point of this guide is to help avoid those problems. The best solution is to uninstall NAMH and its mods, then start fresh with a clean copy of the game and install everything manually, the [R]ight way.

   ---

This guide was only possible thanks to the incredible NieR:Modding Community and their years of documentation, testing, and support. Most of the knowledge shared here is based on their work. If you’re interested in modding further, I strongly encourage you to join our Discord Server[discord.com], where you can find instant help, troubleshooting tips, and various updates related to NieR:Automata.

I’d also like to acknowledge the Nexus Mods community, all the mods featured here come from there. If you find a mod useful, please consider endorsing it to show appreciation for the modders’ hard work and dedication towards the community.

Lastly, thanks to my friend baalsilverwing, I had a great time breaking and fixing stuff with you.

This guide is meant to be a living document, I plan on keeping it up to date. If you encounter any bugs, fixes, or helpful tips, feel free to share them. I’ll add them here with full credit to you, so the whole community benefits.