LogFAQs > #942630215

The most impressive thing about 9S is his hacking ability. It ranges from "can mind control any robot next to him" to "he can project his consciousness into any machine nearby just before his death, and transfer his consciousness to any machinery in sight, hot-swapping until his consciousness is totally wiped out". He may also immediately detonate any mechanical object within sight.

In addition, 9S is significantly more reliant on his flight unit, to the point where it's included in his Final Fantasy XIV raid/cameo. If you are familiar with any bullet Hell, it is very similar to Ikaruga, but able to turn into a small robot with swords. These are capable of orbit-to-land travel and can very easily be seen here (trying to link videos with the least amount of Automata spoilers. This is late-game, but it demonstrates the flight unit in all perspectives well, just drop out after 10:30)

https://youtu.be/BoOZGWV27-k

Additionally, 9S is followed by his pod, which allows him to have:

-Protective shields against both projectile and melee attacks (up to and including massive lasers and chainsaw arms the size of buildings)
-After-image decoys
-A time slow field
-Healing
-A gravity well that attracts those in its radius toward its epicenter
-Ultrasonic waves to scout out hidden items and enemies
-Lots of lasers
-Constant gunfire or missiles entirely separate from his person and consciousness.

And yeah, you can jump in the water in Nier. Your pod has to rescue you, but it's not like he can't, say, stand under a waterfall without short circuiting.

I suppose the question comes down to "how quickly 9S can find an environment suited to his skillset"? Which should not be difficult based on his sheer movement speed. At this point, 9S's hacking ability is unprecedented - he does not have to be able to touch an object to hack it, just be able to see it, AND is able to perform any major hacking in seconds (Automata slows time during 9S's hacking, rather than strictly freezing it, so he is essentially hacking in what would be considered "bullet time" to most others). The more time he has to plan, the stronger he can become.

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