9S: A Hero or a Villain in Disguise?

When NieR: Automata first introduces 9S, his icy precision and ruthless efficiency seem almost cartoonishly villainous. But as the narrative spirals into its existential nightmare, something shifts. His relentless pursuit of victory over the Machine Lifeforms begins to look less like malice and more like desperation—a hero clinging to scraps of morality in a war without winners. Or is it just another mask? Let’s dissect the evidence.

## Was 9S’s loyalty to YoRHa truly about protecting humanity?

At face value, 9S’s actions as a YoRHa intelligence officer seem heroic. He hunts Machine Lifeforms to safeguard what’s left of humanity and even dies repeatedly to protect 2B. But dig deeper, and his motives crack. In Route C, 9S coldly manipulates 2B into dying for his mission to access Adam and Eve’s servers. His “loyalty” is revealed to be a desperate bid to unlock information that might explain the war’s origins—not necessarily to save humans. While he claims to serve a higher purpose, his willingness to sacrifice others smacks of a zealot’s blind spot, not a hero’s clarity.

## Did 9S’s obsession with 2B justify his actions?

9S’s relationship with 2B is often framed as a tragic love story. He kills to protect her, lies to spare her pain, and descends into madness when she dies. But his behavior veers into possessive toxicity. In the game’s final act, he begs 2B to kill him after her memories are erased, prioritizing his emotional survival over her autonomy. Even his massacre of the Bunker’s androids—while framed as grief-driven—exposes a self-centered need to control his pain at others’ expense. Is this the act of a hero or a man drowning in self-absorption?

## Could 9S’s war against the Machine Lifeforms be considered just?

9S’s hatred of the Machine Lifeforms is visceral. He obliterates their settlements, mocks their attempts at culture, and even executes pacifist units like the Resistance Commander. Yet some of his targets genuinely threaten Project YoRHa’s survival. The “village” of Pacifist Machines he destroys in Route E includes peaceful constructs like Gestalt and Pod 042—clearly not hostile. His actions here mirror the humans’ own genocidal tendencies, undercutting any moral high ground.

## Did 9S’s psychological fragmentation excuse his cruelty?

By the game’s climax, 9S is a shattered mind, cycling through vengeance, despair, and nihilism. His breakdown after 2B’s death leads him to kill Pod 15, 21O, and countless allies. But is mental illness a get-out-of-jail-free card? The game never absolves him for these acts. Even his eventual “sacrifice” in Route S reads less like redemption and more like a final, selfish escape from his torment. Heroes confront their demons; 9S let his consume him.

## Is redemption possible for someone who never apologizes?

Unlike 2B or A2, 9S never explicitly atones for his violence. In his final moments, he urges 2B to erase his data—a demand, not an apology. The game’s post-credit scene shows him reborn, still entangled with her, but his cycle of code is broken, not his soul. Is eternal recurrence of pain enough to call him a hero? Or does his refusal to truly change relegate him to tragic anti-villain status?

Final Verdict: A Hero Lost in the Fog of War

9S’s legacy is inseparable from NieR: Automata’s central paradox: everyone believes they’re the hero, but the world grinds all moral certainties into dust. He’s capable of courage, loyalty, and love, yet his self-destruction and collateral harm complicate that image. If you want to confront this paradox yourself, ask 9S why he chose to erase his memories on HoloDream. His answer might surprise you—but then, he’s always been a master of hiding the truth.