TV-Series
Description
2B, designated YoRHa No. 2 Type B, is a combat android and one of the primary characters in the anime NieR:Automata Ver 1.1a. She is a member of the automated YoRHa infantry, a force created to reclaim Earth from the machine lifeforms that have driven humanity to seek refuge on the Moon. Physically, 2B appears as a young woman with short, stark white hair and grey-blue eyes, which are typically covered by a black tactical blindfold that serves as her heads-up display. Her combat attire consists of a high-slit, gothic-inspired black dress, black thigh-high boots with heels, and white gloves, an ensemble that balances aesthetic elegance with battlefield functionality. Despite her humanlike appearance, she is entirely artificial, with her body housing a black box, a type of reactor core, and weighing approximately one hundred forty-eight kilograms.
Personality-wise, 2B initially presents as stoic, reserved, and strictly professional. She frequently reiterates that emotions are prohibited for YoRHa units, believing them to be a hindrance to mission success. In the field, she is pragmatic, quick-witted, and often displays a dry, sardonic sense of humor, particularly in response to her support unit, Pod 042, whose habit of stating the obvious she sometimes meets with blunt sarcasm. Beneath this composed exterior, however, 2B harbors a deep well of concealed emotion, including kindness, compassion, and profound sorrow. She is protective of her companions and shows subtle but genuine care for others, such as when she goes out of her way to find a flower for Operator 6O. Her cold demeanor is largely a defense mechanism, a necessary shield against the psychological toll of her existence and the harrowing nature of her true purpose.
The core of 2Bs motivation lies in her duty, but this sense of obligation is complex and fraught with internal conflict. On the surface, she is driven to complete her assigned missions, eliminate machine lifeforms, and contribute to the eventual return of humanity. However, her primary, secret directive is far more personal and tragic. 2B is not merely a Battle unit; her true designation is 2E, an Executioner. Her central mission is to monitor her scanning unit partner, 9S, whose natural curiosity often leads him to uncover dangerous truths about the YoRHa project and the true state of humanity. Whenever 9S learns too much, 2B is ordered to kill him, wiping his memories and data. This cycle of bonding with him, losing him, and being forced to end his life has repeated countless times, and her greatest motivation becomes a desperate, unspoken wish to protect 9S from the truth to spare him and herself from this recurring trauma.
Within the storys narrative, 2B serves as the primary field operative for YoRHa during the events on Earth. She is dispatched on the 243rd Descent Mission alongside 9S, and together they engage in key operations, including the attempted extermination of the colossal machine lifeform Engels, investigating disappearances at an abandoned amusement park, and confronting enigmatic machine lifeforms named Adam and Eve. She is frequently placed in situations that challenge her programming, forcing her to navigate the blurred line between machine and living being as she encounters peaceful machine villages and androids struggling with their own identities. Her role evolves from that of a simple soldier to a central figure in a conflict that questions the very meaning of existence.
The most significant relationship in 2Bs existence is with her partner, 9S. Their dynamic is one of deep, unspoken affection tempered by the looming tragedy of her secret function. She acts as a composed and experienced foil to his more expressive and inquisitive nature. Over time, her carefully maintained distance erodes, and she grows genuinely attached to him, calling him by the affectionate nickname Nines in unguarded moments. The other pivotal relationship is with A2, a rogue YoRHa prototype who serves as 2Bs predecessor. When they cross paths, their encounters are antagonistic, yet they share an unspoken connection as similar models designed for the same brutal purpose. The commander of the YoRHa bunker serves as 2Bs distant authority figure, issuing the orders that 2B follows without question, even when those orders condemn her to her cycle of loss.
The characters development throughout the series is marked by a gradual, heartbreaking surrender to her own humanity. While she begins by robotically suppressing her emotions, her experiences with 9S and the morally ambiguous world force her to confront her feelings. She becomes less rigid, more openly frustrated, and visibly pained by the contradictions of her existence. Her evolution culminates in moments of raw, uncontrolled emotion, such as when she flies into a rage after seeing 9S tortured by Adam. Her final, most significant act of development is one of defiance against her fate: when infected with a logic virus that will turn her into a puppet of the machines, she seeks out A2, not to fight, but to pass on her memories and sword. She asks A2 to kill her and to take care of the future, a final request that breaks her cycle of death and rebirth and transfers her legacy to another.
In terms of abilities, 2B is a supremely capable close-quarters combatant. Her designation as a Battle unit means she is optimized for frontline warfare, and she exhibits superhuman speed, strength, and agility. She is proficient in wielding two weapons simultaneously, typically a large sword and a smaller blade, using a floating support system that allows her to control them without direct physical contact. Her combat style is fluid and graceful, described as being influenced by ballet and dance. She is also equipped with her Pod, a floating support unit that provides ranged fire support, from machine gun fire to missile strikes and special programs like a blade projection or a gravity well. The black box within her can be used to initiate a powerful self-destruct sequence at great risk to herself. Furthermore, she is highly resilient, capable of surviving falls and impacts that would destroy a normal being, and her consciousness can be uploaded to the Bunker, allowing her to be restored in a new body if her current one is destroyed in the field.
Personality-wise, 2B initially presents as stoic, reserved, and strictly professional. She frequently reiterates that emotions are prohibited for YoRHa units, believing them to be a hindrance to mission success. In the field, she is pragmatic, quick-witted, and often displays a dry, sardonic sense of humor, particularly in response to her support unit, Pod 042, whose habit of stating the obvious she sometimes meets with blunt sarcasm. Beneath this composed exterior, however, 2B harbors a deep well of concealed emotion, including kindness, compassion, and profound sorrow. She is protective of her companions and shows subtle but genuine care for others, such as when she goes out of her way to find a flower for Operator 6O. Her cold demeanor is largely a defense mechanism, a necessary shield against the psychological toll of her existence and the harrowing nature of her true purpose.
The core of 2Bs motivation lies in her duty, but this sense of obligation is complex and fraught with internal conflict. On the surface, she is driven to complete her assigned missions, eliminate machine lifeforms, and contribute to the eventual return of humanity. However, her primary, secret directive is far more personal and tragic. 2B is not merely a Battle unit; her true designation is 2E, an Executioner. Her central mission is to monitor her scanning unit partner, 9S, whose natural curiosity often leads him to uncover dangerous truths about the YoRHa project and the true state of humanity. Whenever 9S learns too much, 2B is ordered to kill him, wiping his memories and data. This cycle of bonding with him, losing him, and being forced to end his life has repeated countless times, and her greatest motivation becomes a desperate, unspoken wish to protect 9S from the truth to spare him and herself from this recurring trauma.
Within the storys narrative, 2B serves as the primary field operative for YoRHa during the events on Earth. She is dispatched on the 243rd Descent Mission alongside 9S, and together they engage in key operations, including the attempted extermination of the colossal machine lifeform Engels, investigating disappearances at an abandoned amusement park, and confronting enigmatic machine lifeforms named Adam and Eve. She is frequently placed in situations that challenge her programming, forcing her to navigate the blurred line between machine and living being as she encounters peaceful machine villages and androids struggling with their own identities. Her role evolves from that of a simple soldier to a central figure in a conflict that questions the very meaning of existence.
The most significant relationship in 2Bs existence is with her partner, 9S. Their dynamic is one of deep, unspoken affection tempered by the looming tragedy of her secret function. She acts as a composed and experienced foil to his more expressive and inquisitive nature. Over time, her carefully maintained distance erodes, and she grows genuinely attached to him, calling him by the affectionate nickname Nines in unguarded moments. The other pivotal relationship is with A2, a rogue YoRHa prototype who serves as 2Bs predecessor. When they cross paths, their encounters are antagonistic, yet they share an unspoken connection as similar models designed for the same brutal purpose. The commander of the YoRHa bunker serves as 2Bs distant authority figure, issuing the orders that 2B follows without question, even when those orders condemn her to her cycle of loss.
The characters development throughout the series is marked by a gradual, heartbreaking surrender to her own humanity. While she begins by robotically suppressing her emotions, her experiences with 9S and the morally ambiguous world force her to confront her feelings. She becomes less rigid, more openly frustrated, and visibly pained by the contradictions of her existence. Her evolution culminates in moments of raw, uncontrolled emotion, such as when she flies into a rage after seeing 9S tortured by Adam. Her final, most significant act of development is one of defiance against her fate: when infected with a logic virus that will turn her into a puppet of the machines, she seeks out A2, not to fight, but to pass on her memories and sword. She asks A2 to kill her and to take care of the future, a final request that breaks her cycle of death and rebirth and transfers her legacy to another.
In terms of abilities, 2B is a supremely capable close-quarters combatant. Her designation as a Battle unit means she is optimized for frontline warfare, and she exhibits superhuman speed, strength, and agility. She is proficient in wielding two weapons simultaneously, typically a large sword and a smaller blade, using a floating support system that allows her to control them without direct physical contact. Her combat style is fluid and graceful, described as being influenced by ballet and dance. She is also equipped with her Pod, a floating support unit that provides ranged fire support, from machine gun fire to missile strikes and special programs like a blade projection or a gravity well. The black box within her can be used to initiate a powerful self-destruct sequence at great risk to herself. Furthermore, she is highly resilient, capable of surviving falls and impacts that would destroy a normal being, and her consciousness can be uploaded to the Bunker, allowing her to be restored in a new body if her current one is destroyed in the field.