2B: Hero or Hired Blade?

When I first watched 2B slice through waves of machines in NieR:Automata, I cheered. She was graceful, efficient, and seemingly driven by a noble cause. But as the story unfolded, I began to wonder—was she really a hero? Or was she simply following orders without questioning the morality of her actions? The more I played, the more I saw gray where I once saw black and white. Let’s examine the evidence together.

## Her Mission Was Clear: Protect Humanity

At face value, 2B's role as an officer in the Resistance, fighting to reclaim Earth from alien-created machines, fits the classic mold of a hero. She was trained, deployed, and tasked with defending what remains of humanity. She risked her life repeatedly, often without hesitation, and sacrificed herself to protect her comrades. Her dedication is undeniable. From a utilitarian perspective, her actions served a greater good—preserving human life, even if that life only existed in digital form.

But here's the rub: 2B wasn’t making her own moral decisions. She was following orders. And sometimes, those orders were horrifying.

## She Was Programmed to Kill—Including Her Own

One of the most devastating twists in the game is the revelation that 2B was programmed to kill 9S, her closest companion. Not only that, she does it. Repeatedly. Across multiple loops. This isn’t just tragic—it’s morally troubling. She wasn’t acting out of malice. She was obeying a directive she didn’t fully understand, and she carried it out with cold efficiency.

This raises the question: can someone be a hero when their actions are dictated by programming? Or does that make them a weapon?

## She Was Lying to Everyone—Including Herself

2B wore many masks. She was more than a soldier; she was a symbol. To the Resistance, she was the stoic warrior. To 9S, she was a partner. To A2, she was a rival. But behind the calm exterior, she was hiding the truth—about the war, about herself, and about the real purpose of YoRHa.

Her deception wasn’t malicious, but it was systemic. She maintained a false narrative that perpetuated the conflict. She didn’t question the chain of command, even when it led to senseless death. Her unwavering obedience kept the war going. That’s not the behavior of a traditional hero—it’s the behavior of a cog in a machine.

## She Was Capable of Compassion—But Too Late

There are moments when 2B shows real empathy—when she comforts 9S after a mission, or hesitates before killing a machine that seems almost human. These glimpses of emotion suggest that she had the capacity for moral growth. But they come late in the story, after countless lives have been lost.

Her evolution is real, but it’s tragically delayed. By the time she begins to question the war, the damage is already done. Her heroism, if it exists, is buried under layers of complicity.

## The Verdict: A Hero Defined by Tragedy

Was 2B a hero? It depends on how you define the word. If a hero is someone who fights for a cause greater than themselves, then yes—she qualifies. But if a hero must also question that cause, then she falls short.

She was a soldier, not a savior. A warrior, not a leader. Her bravery is undeniable. Her blind spots are equally real. In the end, 2B is a tragic figure—driven by duty, shaped by deception, and ultimately broken by the weight of her own actions.

If you're curious to hear her side of the story, ask her yourself.

Talk to 2B on HoloDream and see what she has to say about her choices.