Goddess of Victory: Nikke
Goddess of Victory: Nikke is a South Korean third-person shooter action role-playing video game developed by Shift Up, published by Level Infinite. Development of Nikke began as early as 2017, and it was released for Android and iOS in 2022, and Windows in 2023. The game's action-based battle system revolves around quick character-switching and the usage of combat skills in an anime-style environment. The game is free-to-play and features a gacha game system, through which in-app purchases are used as a method for monetization. It garnered over US$70 million in its first month of release. Goddess of Victory: Nikke set in a post-apocalyptic future where the surface of the Earth was overthrown by mechanical aliens, called Raptures. The surviving humans fled underground and produced artificial soldiers called Nikkes. The story follows a Commander and his squad of Nikkes who hope to reclaim the surface. Gameplay

Goddess of Victory: Nikke is a role-playing video game (RPG) in which the player controls one of up to five interchangeable characters (Nikkes) who are distributed in a row facing a battlefield and positioned behind a defensive object. A third-person shooter, the player aims a reticle to shoot at enemies and takes cover to reload—which automatically happens when a character is out of ammunition—allowing them to strategically plan their attacks. Each Nikke wields her own firearm and possess one of five possible elements that determine strengths and weaknesses when attacking foes. Characters each have three unique combat skills: two normal skills and one Burst skill, the latter is each assigned with a numeric value of up to three and requires users to accumulate enough cost, amassable through damaging enemies, before activating the initial Burst—subsequent skills can be activated immediately—and a temporary Full Burst mode is entered upon triggering the final skill, which significantly increases the attack power of all allies. A stage ends once the player defeats a powerful boss following several swarms of basic enemies. Moreover, a special battle mode called the Interception requires the player to destroy a runaway locomotive throughout the stage. The game features a cooperative multiplayer mode of up to five players who can challenge the environment. New characters are obtainable via a gacha game system, which costs in-game currency—acquirable by playing the game or via microtransactions—to use. A pity system guarantees the player a rare character after a set number of draws. The player can raise characters' strengths by enhancing their levels and skills, increase their level caps, and equip better armor; the resources for all of those are obtainable by completing various quests. Story

Characters

Main characters 
 The Commander (Protagonist/The Player)
 He is the Rookie Commander newly graduated from the Military Academy in charge of the Counters Squad and the Outpost, a Shangri-La of sorts for Nikkes. Through various feats such as defeating a Heretic, finishing impossible missions with 0% chance of survival, and keeping the peace in the Ark, the Commander is a rising star that is compared to “New Hope”. Able to command a plethora of squads, he is a force to be reckoned with, bringing the best out of the Nikkes he commands. Despite his position and his feats, the Commander is still humble and kind, treating Nikkes as human, even if Nikkes from the Heretics and Exotic treated him harshly and tried to kill him. A ragtag commando squad led by a rookie Commander who just graduated from the Military Academy. Stationed at the Outpost, they take on all manner of assignments. Rapi
 Voiced by: Yui Ishikawa (Japanese); Kayli Mills (English); Kim Bo-na (Korean)
 Rapi is a Nikke manufactured by Elysion and the leader of the commando squad, Counters. A troubled yet reliable girl who seeks to answer the question of just what Nikkes really are. As a member of Counters, she always ensures harmonious relations between various squad mates. A veteran with many years of combat experience on the battlefield, she can understand the situation and carry out operations and stands out among other Nikkes in Elysion. It’s easy to be misunderstood by people as being cold in the first place by sticking an extremely clerical and rigid attitude to them, but it also shows an infinitely softened look to the person who opens her heart. Anis/Anis "Sparkling Summer"
 Voiced by: Miho Okasaki (Japanese); Michelle Marie (English); Kim Seong-hui (Korean)
 Anis is a Nikke manufactured by Tetra Line and a member of the Counters Squad. A girl who knows exactly how to survive in this forlorn world. Somewhere in between somber Rapi and off-the-wall Neon, she is fond of telling jokes to lighten the mood whenever things get too tense. Among the three, Anis is the most sarcastic and insolent, although she still shows her obedience and loyalty towards the Commander. Her impertinence knows no bounds, employing it regardless of whether the situation is trivial or dire. Anis rarely gets shaken off, but if she does, she won’t hesitate to destroy her adversaries. Despite her “aloof” attitude, she has that caring side with overbearing concern when she’s overly invested in someone. Neon/Neon "Blue Ocean" 
 Voiced by: Rina Hidaka (Japanese); TBA (English); Jang Mi (Korean)
 Neon is a Nikke manufactured by Elysion and a member of the Counters Squad. A rabid gun nut who thinks about nothing else. Neon openly preaches the strength of the almighty “Firepower”, believing that Firepower is the dream and solution to everything. She has a strong egotistical personality, but not to the point where it becomes a nuisance to others. She’s the type of Nikke who gets along with others fairly well and can take care of her own things at the same time. Her true identity as a spy for Ingrid is an open secret, and she embraces the role well. Marian/Modernia
 Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa (Japanese); Ryan Bartley (English)
 Marian is a warmhearted, protective Nikke who has no qualms about protecting others as her own duty, forming a bond between herself and her human commander. She was presumed dead after the corruption during the first chapter of the game. She has changed to Modernia in later chapters. As Modernia, she's a plain and delicate girl who sold out mankind. A member of the Queen's elite squad, the Heretics. Her name is taken from “Modernism". She came back to the good side when she was saved and was taken back to the Ark, but was later given to the Pilgrims to protect her from the people like Burningum to dissect her or take advantage of her. Currently, she's with another group of Pilgrims. Antagonists 
 Chatterbox
 
 A unique Tyrant-class Rapture who is capable of speech and rational thinking. Before the events of the game, Chatterbox approached Enikk with a deal to not attack the Ark in exchange for Nikkes to be corrupted and be used as Rapture parts or food for other Raptures. Enikk made a deal with Chatterbox, realizing that the Raptures are actually aware of the Ark's whereabouts and humanity has zero chance of fighting back. He was destroyed during the events of the game and was later revived by Nihilister along with Indivilia. Crow
 
 The leader of Exotic, a group of convicts turned Nikkes from the Outer Rim. There is a whiff of madness underneath her calm exterior, like a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment. Members of Exotic are outfitted with explosive collars to ensure their obedience. In contrast to her composure, Crow vehemently loathes the Ark and its people due to them forcefully turning many women into Nikkes. She was responsible for the bombing attacks on the AFX, killing most passengers including Diesel's little brother,  and the ringleader of the attack on the Ark, letting the Raptures in. Despite her NIMPH, she controls her mind using her will alone. She is currently detained and is being studied in the Rehabilitation Center. Traitor Nikkes who fight for the Raptures and their Queen, hybridized with Rapture technology and armor to serve as her personal agents. Despite the corruption running through their veins, they are still Nikkes. According to Nihilister, the other three known Heretics include Liberalio, Indivilia, and Anarchio and all of them are transformed into the ideal figures envisioned by their minds. The squad members are named after various philosophies. Nihilister
 
 Nihilister is a Heretic and loyal subject to the Rapture Queen who has long been a scourge to all Nikkes. As the lead general of the legions under the Queen's command, her belligerence knows no bounds, nor does her appetite for destruction. According to her, Nihilister was built to fight. Her Rapture form allows her to transform into either a reptilian-like Rapture or a twin-headed dragon-like form. During her defeat, she wanted to seek revenge on the Counters Squad for the humiliation she received from them. Her name is taken from Nihilism. Liberalio
 One of the Heretics serving the Rapture Queen, Liberalio takes the form of a deep-sea creature, taking that of a jellyfish (Medusozoa). Liberalio awakens from slumber to silence Nihilister, who is revealing information about Lilith and the Queen to the humans and their Nikke servants. She gives a final warning against disturbing her slumber, leaving without a fight as Counters and Inherit are reluctant to fight a Heretic without Vapaus as a trump card. She has longed for peace, wanting to continue her slumber for as long as she can. Her name is taken from Liberalism. Indivilia
 Indivilia is a member of the Heretics, traitor Nikkes who sold out mankind and served the Rapture Queen. Indivilia was defeated by Matis and Absolute Squad during a joint mission before the events of the game. She became the fragment known as "Material H" and was brought back to the Ark to be studied. During the attack on the Ark, she was later revived by Nihilister along with Chatterbox. Her name is taken from Individualism. Anarchio
 Anarchio is a member of the Heretics, traitor Nikkes who sold out mankind and served the Rapture Queen. Her name is taken from Anarchism. Syuen
 
 Former CEO of Missilis Industry. Syuen often abuses her powers as CEO, harassing both humans and Nikkes to do her bidding. She is willing to do everything in her power and has no qualms about endangering the Ark to bring back both Missilis and Matis' good reputations as well as gaining profit from it. She was later fired from her position and forcefully turned into a Nikke. Doban
 One of the deputy chiefs of the Central Government. Despite being born in the Outer Rim, Doban absolutely despises the Outer Rim, its people, and its way of life and wants nothing more but to destroy it. Supporting characters 

 
 Andersen
 
 One of the deputy chiefs from the Central Government. He aids the Commander on numerous occasions, providing supplies and oftentimes access to secret intel that the Commander needs. Andersen also shares the same blood type as the Commander, although they are not relatives. He has an unusual obsession with Pilgrims and wants to collect their data, as Pilgrims are headhunted by the Central Government. Burningum
 
 One of the deputy chiefs from the Central Government. Burningum dedicates his life to protecting the Ark and reclaiming the surface from the Raptures even if his methods are morally questionable, such as dissecting Marian. Burningum shows high regard for the Nikkes he holds authority such as the Aegis Squad or Papillon, the latter of whom is always wanting to favor herself as his "one and only." Shifty
 
 Shifty is an operator at the Central Government Intelligence Agency and one of the finest Enikkites handpicked by Enikk. She has much experience in providing support for squads up on the surface. Mainly, she supports the Counters Squad. Enikk
 
 The supervisory AI that maintains order and stability throughout the Ark. The role people of the Ark will commonly see her perform is in the courtroom, where she judges any case brought before, and renders pardons or sentences based on precedent from previous cases or forms a new case if the situation demands. It was never mentioned if she knew if she had a sister or not. Einkk
 
 The supervisory AI that oversees the Simulation Room alongside Ingrid. She oversees providing various scenarios and tactics that Raptures might do and simulates them to train Nikkes in their combat ability to survive battles on the surface. The scenarios she makes in training are simulated using past reports and combat data. She longed for the day that she could step outside the Simulation Room, pondering what purpose would she possibly serve once the surface was recaptured. Enikk and Einkk are apparently sisters, but Einkk had never seen Enikk before. Ingrid
 
 The CEO of Elysion, one of the Big Three of the Ark. Embodying the company's principle that Nikkes are to be unparalleled soldiers, Ingrid tends to act like a drill sergeant, barking out orders and taking little, if any, backtalk. She has a side hobby of overseeing squad training in the Simulation Room and often talks about tactics. Mustang
 
 The CEO of Tetra Line, one of the Big Three of the Ark. A male of unknown age. He looks gorgeous and you can tell that he is a celebrity at a glance. To make the girls more dazzling, he prepares everything in accordance. Taking the appearance of a fairly flamboyant man, Mustang has the habits of dancing and yelling "EEEEEEEEE-NTERTAINMENT!" as part of his lingo. He oversees the Arena and provides entertainment in the Ark by having various businesses in connection with entertainment. Cecil
 Cecil is one of the denizens of Eden, an advanced settlement located on the surface situated in a remote region. Like Shifty, Cecil serves as the operator of Eden, additionally, she is also a researcher. She’s responsible for the creation of many advanced technologies in Eden such as the Optic Camouflage of the settlement that conceals Eden from Raptures and the entire Inherit squad. She even built and designed Eden itself. Johan
 Johan is one of the denizens of Eden. He is the human commander of Inherit, a squad of Pilgrims hailing from Eden. Unlike the Ark’s commanders, Johan is cybernetically enhanced, and capable of fighting the Raptures by himself. According to Harran, Johan used to be a weak commander until he made mechanical modifications within his injured body, endowing him with superhuman levels of physical attributes. He is highly critical and brash, holding an immense distaste for “ill-prepared” squads for the mission at hand. He is far more tactical and thoughtful for a human commander since he is far more capable of calculating and determining many possible scenarios upon analyzing a plan. Johan still holds pride in his title as “New Hope”. Should he decide someone is worthy of his time showing the ropes, he’ll become a strict but fair teacher. Elysion Harper (E.H.)
 Elysion Harper or E.H. is the leader of Heavenly Ascension, a "terrorist" group attacking the Ark. She is a good woman who wants nothing but the best treatment for the Outer Rim and doesn't want to get into trouble. All she wanted and wished for was for the Ark to recognize the troubles that the denizens of Outer Rim were experiencing and wished for the Ark to help them, or to let them in. She and her organization was used as a pawn for Crow's plan, giving her a bomb that could make a hole in the Ark's Dome of Eternity, a protective barrier of sorts in the Ark. Despite being human, she can keep up with a Nikke and can survive a huge blast during the bomb's explosion. She knows that she can't survive any longer and is dying. She requested to be made into a Nikke to prevent death. The top squad of Elysion, if not all of the Ark. Named as the "Miracle Squad” for coming back from high-difficulty missions completely unscathed. Eunhwa
 
 The leader of Absolute, the strongest squad of Elysion, if not all the Ark. Possesses immense firepower, charisma & splendid troop management, making it hard to manage her. Famed as the "Miracle Squad" for coming back from missions with not even a single hair out of place, a good chunk of that success can be chalked up to Eunhwa's ever-present demand for perfection, from herself, her squadmates, and even some of the people she works with. This, combined with her already cold attitude gives her an unfriendly vibe, but anyone with the will (and patience) will find a surprisingly caring side, albeit one that puts the "tough" in "tough love." As the leader of Elysion's strongest squad, Eunhwa sometimes gets work as an instructor for Nikkes. Those who make it through her lessons have a moderately higher survival rate, though even those looking at it from the outside might find it a bit much. Emma
 
 A member of Absolute, widely considered to be the best squad in all of the Ark. Once she decides to help, no one can resist her charms. Emma offers a personable balance to Eunhwa’s nigh-misanthropy and Vesti’s introversion, often acting like a big sister to her squad or her Commander. Fond of cooking, she likes to feed those around her, but everyone keeps mum about her cooking. Just… don’t let her cook… ever. Vesti
 
 A member of Absolute, the most elite squad in all the Ark. Despite being treated as the baby of the bunch by Eunhwa and Emma (not helped at all by her shy, delicate demeanor), her combat ability, kill count, and absolute refusal to let her opponents survive unscathed have earned her the moniker of “Reaper” by the citizens, garnering both respect and fear. The juxtaposition of having a fearsome reputation and being a through-and-through introvert has done Vesti no favors in connecting with anyone outside her squad, much to her dismay. A squad that operates and maintains the Ark’s railway systems, both the civilian transits and the supply convoys on the surface. The Nikkes from this squad are named after fuel or automobile-related items. Diesel
 
 The leader of Infinity Rail, the Ark's railway express. The leader of the Infinity Rail squad who has a heart of gold. Always seen with a smile on her face, she has a sunny disposition and enjoys cracking jokes. Once you get to know her better, she slowly reveals a more caring and mature side. She loves singing, and she even claims that she had been training to be a pop star in the past. but unfortunately, she is completely tone-deaf. She used to work for the now-defunct AFX along with the other members of AZX until a terrorist attack instigated by Crow occurred, killing all passengers aboard including Diesel's little brother. Brid
 
 A member of Infinity Rail, the squad that manages and maintains the AZX, the Ark's railway system. Professional to a fault, Brid is mostly found driving the train, and as a result, is rarely seen outside of the train unless on a mandated break. Despite her detached demeanor, she's surprisingly fond of coffee and looks after her fellow Infinity Rail Nikkes. Soline
 
 A member of Infinity Rail, the squad that operates and maintains the AZX railway system of the Ark. Her relative size and inexperience with her work, coupled with her behavior, give off the impression of a child trying to quickly become an adult. Her high level of confidence can sometimes come off as arrogance. A squad charged with reconnaissance and mapping out routes through Rapture territory and the Lost Sectors. Delta
 
 The leader of the Scouts, the Ark’s forward reconnaissance squad when it comes to Rapture territory or the Lost Sector. She’s an exemplary soldier, professional and skilled. Delta is the epitome of what it means to be a soldier. Her military professionalism is reflected in the tactical competency of her squad though this has left her deficient when the situation demands she act as a normal person/civilian would. Signal
 
 A communicator for the Scouts and the best in her field. In contrast to her leader, Delta, Signal is a stutter-ridden mess with little self-confidence, but when the chips are down, she’ll pull through as the Scouts’ comms specialist. As a massive fan of soap operas, she always harbors fantasies about torrid love affairs. A squad of Nikkes adapted for operations near or even in water, posted to the Elysion battleship, the Admire, to act as a naval force. Unfortunately, the land-dominated nature of the war means neither ship nor squad have been sortied in their intended role, if at all until the time when there’s a report about a Tyrant Class Sea Rapture discovered during the “Sea You Again” event. The Nikkes under this squad are named after parts of a ship. Helm/ Helm “Aquamarine”
 
 The leader of Aegis and the captain of the Admire, an amphibious warship. To this end, Nikkes of Aegis are adapted to be able to swim and operate in water. She runs a tight ship and always demands discipline, often butting heads with her whimsical subordinates, Mast, and Anchor. Despite being a Nikke meant for naval ops, Helm can’t bring herself to like sea creatures, whether it be handling them or trying to eat them. As there are no oceans within the Ark, she trains her members to face real naval combat one day. She eagerly awaits the day when she can prove her mettle in naval combat. Mast
 
 Mast is one of the members of the Aegis squad alongside Helm and Anchor, serving as the Ark’s naval force. She is always accompanied by a parrot named Morgan. A whimsical sort who fancies herself as a kind of privateer. Mast’s tendencies to kick back and drink cause no end of headaches for Helm. A good chunk of this behavior stems from how she chafes at the Admire’s state of wasting away as a glorified party boat for the rich, wishing nothing more than to sail out the open seas. Her soul-crushing tenure with the Naval Squad has slowly made her disillusioned. Even so, she remains vivacious and always brightens everyone’s day aboard the ship she serves. Anchor
 
 Anchor is one of the members of Aegis Squad alongside Helm and Mast. Her love for marine life and the sea spurred her to join the Navy. Has top-tier surveillance skills equipped with radar detectors inside her body, so she has made significant contributions to the Admire’s voyage and combat. She loves fishing but is quirky and always excoriated by Helm due to her throwing starfish at someone’s face gaining notoriety for it. Elysion’s black ops squad for dealing with Irregular Nikkes who have gone berserk in the Ark. The two Nikkes assigned to this squad specialized in anti-Nikke warfare but were kept secret due to the sensitive nature of their work. Ingrid considers this squad as her “ace in the hole”. Each Nikke from this squad is named after Execution Devices. Maiden
 
 The leader of Extrinsic, Elysion's black ops squad for locating and eliminating Irregular Nikkes before they cause (further) harm to the Ark and its citizens. To that end, Maiden can hypnotize Nikkes using code embedded into her words, referred to as "Kotodama". This ability is kept in check by the mask Maiden wears, which can only be removed with express permission from Ingrid. While Maiden herself doesn't mind keeping the mask on, it does lead to inconveniences like being unable to drink from a straw. Compared to her...colorful coworker, Guillotine, Maiden can more easily hold a normal conversation. For a given definition of normal. Maiden often laments how the sensitive nature of her work and the hours she holds means her social life is nigh-nonexistent, wishing she could just blow it off and eat snacks on the sofa like a couch potato. Guillotine
 
 A member of Extrinsic, Elysion’s squad for locating and subjugating irregular or corrupted Nikkes before they cause (further) harm to the Ark and its citizens. To that end, Guillotine's eye has the power to scan for brain wave patterns that do not belong to registered citizens and shut them down, allowing her to subdue Nikkes without firing a single shot. The only catch is that Guillotine must receive express permission from Ingrid, Elysion’s CEO, to remove the limiter on her eye. Her mind is a delusional mess of eighth-grader syndrome or Chūnibyō. Arks Central Police Unit or A.C.P.U. is a mobile patrol squad that is responsible for keeping the peace in the Ark. Even so, the public is not aware that they are Nikkes. Their names are taken from law enforcement-related terms. Poli
 
 Poli is the captain of A.C.P.U., the primary law enforcement of the Ark. Between this, her penchant for literally sniffing for clues, and how she practically melts when she’s petted, her appearance, impression, and temperament are like that of a little puppy though she doesn’t appreciate this comparison. Poli is largely instinct-driven when it comes to investigating crime scenes. Poli takes her job seriously, as does her colleague, Miranda, though it becomes clear that she is significantly less prone to blunders. Due to regulations prohibiting Nikkes from working in law enforcement, Poli is required to keep her status secret except from relevant parties. Miranda
 
 A Nikke from the A.C.P.U. who has no lack of passion but sometimes falls short in her work performance. Miranda shares her colleague’s passion for preserving the peace of the Ark, though she’s a bit of a klutz and can’t even direct traffic or find lost children without making mistakes. Despite her supposed secret of being an A.C.P.U. Inspector, everyone is all too aware of it. Elysion’s other black ops squad whose work is just as, if not more sensitive than Extrinsic’s as they deal with human terrorists and corruption in the Upper Echelons of the Ark. Nikkes of Perilous Siege have their limiters removed, allowing them to exact deliberate lethal force against humans. They can and will kill humans if the mission demands it as ordered by the Judges, enigmatic authority figures of the Central Government. D
 
 The leader of Perilous Siege. Not a single wicked soul will escape her grasp, so as long as she believes their death will be of benefit to the world. She assassinates targets who pose a potential security risk and operates according to her own code of conduct and only carries out an order after thorough observations, thoroughly researches her targets and her involvements before deciding on whether her targets deserve to live or die. Tends to play up her persona when carrying out a mission. She is a woman of a few words who treats her work with seriousness and attentiveness. She never allows her emotions to compromise her work, which results in her aloof and stoic demeanor. K
 A member of Perilous Siege. Opposite to D’s quietness, K is loud and obnoxious, coming off as a woman with loud expressions and an explosive mouth to match her personality. Despite her loud personality, she takes her work seriously, working with D with the same seriousness and finesse, and would kill with extreme prejudice after D’s thorough investigations of their target. The most elite unit of Missilis Industry that answers directly to Syuen, outfitted with her company’s most advanced technology. As part of the CEO’s Plans to bolster her company, Matis is heavily marketed as heroes to the Ark’s people. Each member is named after real-life polymaths/mathematicians. Laplace
 
 The leader of Matis squad who believes she is a hero of the highest caliber. Willing to sacrifice for others, Laplace is a true hero in every way. Considered to be Syuen's best Nikke from Missilis. As the leader of Missilis' elite squad Matis, Laplace always charges headlong into danger, eager to prove her mettle as a hero. She loves to make her entrance by recklessly crashing through a window. Laplace is a Nikke from the 9th generation series, as they don't grow muscles. Drake
 
 Member of Matis squad. Highly irascible, arrogant, and prone to outbursts but those who know her well understand that she is not so difficult. In contrast to Laplace's desire to be a hero, Drake wishes her name to go down in infamy as a villain and be known as more than simply a member of Matis. In practice, though, Drake is far too nice for her own good. Either her "evil" deeds are something incredibly small and petty, or they backfire, and she inadvertently performs a good deed, raising her stock as a hero. This villain-like motif often shows her innocent and airheaded attitude. Maxwell
 
 The strongest member of Matis and an ace in technology. Intelligent, rational, and talkative, but smart and hides her true feelings behind a smile. In contrast to Laplace's obsession with heroism or Drake's obsession with villainy, Maxwell comes off as the voice of reason keeping the two in check. And she is, at least when the subject isn't about weapons or anything else she's researching. Her curiosity is always on the brink of overflowing, and the moment something stimulates it, she'll stop at nothing to get her hands on it and learn everything she can about it. The strongest Nikkes of Tetra Line, who work as freelance fixers. Their day job consists of serving coffee in a café, and each member will proudly extol their drink of choice as the best. Their names are after condiments used in coffee. Frima
 
 The leader of Café Sweety who sells cream coffee. As laziness incarnate, she thinks deeply about the most efficient way to behave and get things done, hence she doesn’t speak or move any more than necessary in her daily life. No matter how much she drinks her cream coffee, as long as she has a couch and eye mask, she can fall asleep 3 seconds flat. Sugar
 
 The motorist member of Café Sweety who sells sugar coffee. She gets a thrill from burning rubber, bringing her motorcycle everywhere adoringly naming it Black Typhoon. Despite her appearance as a femme fatale in a Biker Gang, she is friendly and kind to those who ask for favors. She will help a client in trouble regardless of the payoffs and losses. Milk
 
 Milk is a combative girl who likes to provoke others, selling milk coffee in Café Sweety. Belligerent and confrontational, Milk is always eager to get into a scrap, and has a short fuse. She also tends to be surprisingly low on effort, often being the first one to suggest taking an easier method if the squad’s Plan A goes south. She isn’t afraid to be vocal about her favorite drink and is willing to punch anybody who she hears smack-talking milk coffee. A black ops squad that performs live captures of Raptures at Syuen’s behest. Its only two members are particularly specialized for this task. Mihara
 
 The sadomasochistic leader of Wardress, a squad charged with live captures of Rapture specimens at Syuen's command. To facilitate this, Mihara can swap her senses with a target of her choice, making it so that if Mihara is injured or hurt, the target will feel the pain instead. This goes both ways, however, as the pain of any injury the target suffers will transfer over to Mihara and can overwhelm her if she isn't careful. This essentially makes her the "other half" to her fellow Wardress Nikke Yuni, who relishes causing pain to others. She considers Yuni to be her "only" dear friend. Yuni
 
 A sadistic member of the Wardress squad. To aid in the non-lethal subjugation of targets, Yuni can remotely toggle the senses of her target on or off, human, Nikke, or Rapture. Due to a quirk in her physiology, Yuni cannot feel anything unless she is in physical contact with another person. She has mastered some sadistic skills, such as controlling the senses, emotional torment, and immobilization. As a pure sadistic right to the heart, Yuni believes all this is just a way of expressing love. Once she falls for someone, she gives all of herself to them. A “squad” specializing in construction and repair jobs, though given Misillis’ technological leanings, they can perform some level of R&D. Liter
 
 The leader of the combat engineer squad, Mighty Tools, specializing in architecture and construction jobs throughout the Ark. Despite her diminutive size, Liter tends to talk like an elderly lady, owing to the long life she’s lived as a Nikke. She’s almost always seen with her robotic dog companion, Volt (or Bolt), and has a pet peeve for things being unclean and disorderly. At present, no other Nikke can surpass her when it comes to construction. Centi
 
 A Nikke who works in Mighty Tools, she’s an artisan with incredible strength who puts her heart into everything she does, never failing to get the job done at Mighty Tools. As Liter’s first apprentice, she has great respect for her mentor. She always listens to what Liter says and studies her techniques in earnest. Centi is passionate about her work and aspires to become the “Queen of Architecture”, though sometimes she gets carried away when it comes to a job. A “squad” whose purpose is to research NIMPH and its relationship with memory in Nikkes. However, in practice, it mostly seems to involve wiping the memories of any Nikkes dumped in R&R’s custody. N102/Anne “Miracle Fairy”
 
 N102 nicknamed "Anne" is a member of Recall & Release. Before becoming a Nikke, N102 suffered from a neurodegenerative disease at the age of 10, leading her mother Angelina to convert her daughter into a Nikke. Despite this, her daughter did not make any improvements at all, and the constant memory wipes have caused Angelina to work multiple part-time jobs to pay for the expenses. At initial glance, N102 seems to be a cheerful and curious child, not really knowing much about the world but eager to find out and experience it, except all this stems from her memories being wiped daily. While she seems upbeat, outgoing, and energetic, from time to time, a pained expression can be seen on her face, feeling a sense of emptiness inside herself. As a result of constant memory erasure, she has no recollection of what she’s gone through, meaning she goes into every combat sortie like it’s her first battle ever. Despite constant memory wipes, she seems to retain some subconscious aspects such as her love of mild croquettes and calico cats. Due to indoctrination, N102 becomes mentally unstable and unable to even act for herself without her diary, remembering what basic information is written down in it. The squad responsible for maintaining order in the Ark. They act for the Central Government and keep Ark citizens safe from various threats. Even so, the public is not aware that they are Nikkes. Yulha
 
 The leader of Triangle who protects the squad with all her effort. Possesses superb skills in the office and on the battlefield but has an ill temperament. Nigh-constantly swamped in paperwork for what Triangle has done or is going to do, Yulha sports a very distinct pair of bags under her eyes from endless all-nighters. She enjoys going out for a drink, though she can rarely find the time to do so. Privaty
 
 A member of the Triangle Squad, the Central Government Army's foremost law enforcement and counterterrorism units. Notorious for treating others poorly, she is regarded as a princess and considers Rapi her rival. Her tsundere attitude of caring while pretending not to and getting temperamental when someone points it out has earned her a devoted following among the First Squad. Admi
 
 Member of the Central Government Triangle squad. Possessing maturity beyond her age, she learned that with expectation comes disappointment. As a member of Triangle, Admi is charged with keeping the peace of the Ark, primarily by handling counterterrorism operations and working with the Central Government Army. Admi herself is aloof and taciturn, but to those in the know, she's a gentle girl with a fondness for cats. A search and rescue squad that patrols the northern tundra, guiding lost Nikkes back to the Ark. Ludmilla
 
 The leader of Unlimited, a squad based in the frozen north of the surface, is charged with keeping an eye on Rapture incursions to the area and rescuing lost Nikkes. Ludmilla's imperious attitude is only emphasized by Alice gleefully calling her "Queen." With a noble yet tough demeanor, Ludmilla has the air of a Queen. Despite her frosty demeanor, she is dedicated to her job and will guide lost Nikkes (and occasionally humans) back to the Ark. She is generous and often gives to the less fortunate. Machinery tends to inexplicably break down when Ludmilla tries to use them or even get near them, leaving Alice to do everything from operating communications to opening doors. Alice
 
 A member of the Unlimited squad, Alice has a wild imagination and views the entire world as a kind of sprawling fairytale kingdom. A girl with a wonderland in her head, she is a cute delusional who thinks with a fairy tale filter on everything. So, she believes that if she meets "Mr. Rabbit" and defeats the "Queen of Hearts" who is harassing people, she will be able to enter a happy world. Alice's perception is heavily filtered; she refers to her leader Ludmilla as "Queen," the Commander as "Rabbity," and calls the Raptures' leader "the Queen of Hearts.". Despite its look, the form-fitting spandex Alice wears is a cooling suit meant to regulate her high body temperature. Neve
 
 Belongs to Unlimited, focusing on conserving areas of extreme environments. Has a placid demeanor and odd character but can be savage without enough sleep. Neve is incredibly fascinated by polar bears and wishes to find one out in the wild. To that end, she's taken to dressing like a polar bear and taking up bear-like behaviors such as hibernation. Despite being part of Unlimited, Neve often works alone due to her hibernation habit. Nonetheless, she's skilled enough at sniffing out lost Nikkes and getting her tasks done that Ludmilla doesn't give her grief over it. A squad that belongs to the Central Office of Strategic Services. They gather intelligence in the Ark by acquiring it through hacking or on-site. Exia
 
 The backbone of Protocol with an outstanding ability to analyze situations. A genius in both hacking and gaming, where Exia always ranks first in an instant. Her advanced intellect makes it difficult at times for her to identify with normal people. Her insatiable thirst for knowledge and incredible powers of analysis have led to her taking on the role of the primary gatherer of information in the Ark. Excess mental supremacy is also reflected in gaming, as she quickly ascends the leaderboards in whichever game she plays. Lately, perhaps due to boredom, she has taken some pleasure in taking inexperienced players under her wing. Novel
 
 Novel is a detective who collects intelligence. A detective runs to the scene whenever a crime occurs. Tends to get over-excited during serious cases. This is especially true for murder cases, where she can barely keep her head on straight. She aspires to become the Ark’s version of Sherlock Holmes and, possesses powers of destruction that are very much comparable. However, these skills can only be used when her so-called “Detective Sense” kicks in. This results in her often reaching rather absurd conclusions. A squad formed of ex-convicts from the Outer Rim who’ve been outfitted with bomb collars to keep them in line. Despite the tight leash they’re ostensibly kept on, they’ve found several ways to slacken the chain, if not slip loose entirely. Their names are taken from wild animals. Viper
 
 A member of Exotic, a penal squad of Outer Rim convicts turned Nikkes. To ensure compliance, Viper is outfitted with a bomb collar like her fellow Exotics, which will detonate at the push of a button. She can manipulate any human with her verbal trickery and personal beauty. She always seemed to be on edge and gave off a very effervescent vibe. Her fellow exotic team members believe she is somewhat of a pushover. Jackal
 
 A member of Exotic, Missilis’ penal squad of Outer Rim convicts. As a precautionary measure, Jackal is outfitted with a bomb collar that will kill her if she steps out of line. She's somewhat wide-eyed in her overly simplistic view of life. Rather than overthinking things, she prefers to go with the flow and live in the moment. A “squad” formed of criminal Nikkes who’ve been locked up in the Rehabilitation Center. They’re too dangerous to roam free or to be exiled, but also, they have too much potential to simply turn them to scrap. Sin
 
 The leader of Real Kindness. She has the power to brainwash others with her words. This ability, in combination with some additional verbal gymnastics, makes her capable of anyone into her mindless puppet and doing her every whim. The dangerous part is that Sin’s power is not restricted to Nikkes. She is outfitted with a mask that stymies her powers. But even so, Sin’s silver tongue makes every conversation a minefield. Guilty
 
 Guilty is a Nikke from Reak Kindness. Possessing physical strength far beyond most Nikkes, Guilty was incarcerated for heavily damaging more than 40 allied Nikkes in 2 weeks with just her bare hands. Guilty may seem quiet and demure at first glance, but there’s a reason her handling advisories warn to never remove her restraints no matter how much she whines or guilt-trips about it. Quency
 
 Quency is a master escape artist, smuggler, and petty thief who can break out of any prison where she is being kept captive. A highly amiable individual who excels in wheeling and dealing. She is always the life of the party at the Rehabilitation Center. Having a knack for making connections, she places herself squarely at the epicenter of the Rehabilitation Center’s economy, using Bottle Caps for currency. She is the friendliest of the squad, but her smile belies some serious sticky fingers. A squad made at the Central Government’s behest to stimulate the economy. Each member of Talentum runs her own business and rakes in billions of credits regularly. Each member is named after the currencies of different countries. Dolla
 
 A businesswoman and owner of her own electronics company, she has a true enterprising spirit. Her first and last thought is on how to profit from the right investments. Rumors abound have her fingers in more than a few… unsavory pies, being a VIP of a large illegal website, and exploring the Dark Web and Black Markets as her “hobby”. She’s the most rational member of Talentum. Rupee/ Rupee “Winter Shopper” 
 
 As the CEO of the company “Rushae”, and an owner of a shopping mall in Royal Road, Rupee makes billions of credits regularly selling all manners of luxury goods and fashions, which she then starts throwing around in high-end boutiques because she’s also a bombastic, hardcore shopaholic. She even hosts a livestream called “Rupee’s Shopaholics Anonymous” where she regularly goes on shopping sprees in Royal Road. Her fans (nicknamed Lupins) span from the low-income crowd who gets a kick from her big spending to the people who just simp for a cute girl doing cute things. She is Talentum’s hottest star. Personality-wise, she’s energetic and friendly, though she is a little fixated on the idea of finding herself a lover, which she finds with the Commander. Yan
 
 An experienced merchant with a knack for striking deals. Whilst Rupee is all about high-end fashion and Dolla is all for getting a slice of the technology pie, she has taken to grabbing something everyone in the Ark needs: basic daily necessities. From office organizers to canned Nutrium meat for tonight’s dinner, if it’s a part of your daily life, you can find it at one of Yan’s many shopping outlets having it all for the customer. A cunning merchant to the core, Yan is skilled in the art of upselling, wheedling customers into buying and spending far more than they planned. She uses her business acumen to operate several large-scale supermarket chains. Talentum’s rise to fame can all be traced back to her. The Ark’s medical support squad, is full of caring and professional medical staff. The squad name is named after Seraph, an angelic being in Ancient Judaism said to be associated with light, ardor, and purity and each member of the squad is named after herbs and spices. Mary/Mary “Bay Goddess”
 
 A talented and proficient doctor who treats her patients with an unsurpassed solicitude. She is kind and considerate to patients and people around her. She often uses jokes and comforting words to make her patients feel at ease. Because of her gentle and angelic-like attitude, she’s known as the “Angel in White”. But her smile hides sadistic tendencies to those patients who misbehave, dubbing her the “Black Devil”, brandishing a shiny metallic syringe full of sedatives. Pepper
 
 Pepper is a doctor who dresses up as a nurse. She takes care of her patients with optimism. She is kindhearted and passionate about her work. She is like a vitamin to Seraphim, and her cheery demeanor earns her a devoted following from patients as the hospital’s idol. What most don’t see is the vindictive underbelly, that she can’t forgive those who hurt others or disgrace the profession of saving lives. A squad that hosts and performs in all manners of sports activities to entertain the citizens and improve public health. Epinel
 
 Known as the trickster, Epinel is a master skateboarder. She is revered among teenagers because of her distinctly cool and chic demeanor. The ponytail made of LED draws a wonderful trajectory of light like a trail lamp whenever she's performing tricks, gathering a lot of young fans. She always has a cynical expression and attitude but behind the scenes, she is a hard worker who can handle an unimaginable amount of practice. Folkwang
 
 An athlete from Nepenthe. A quirk in her Physiology has left her with no tolerance for heat, leaving her in a state of constant sweating. As a result, Folkwang is never seen without ice cream in her mouth and a portable fan to cool off. She is sweating all the time due to having no resistance to heat but she is full of vigor. She has a bright and energetic personality but is also careless and clumsy, which often results in being nagged by others. Rumani
 She is a member of Nepenthe, Tetra Line’s squad used in maintaining physical health through exercise and sports activities. Rumani is notorious for being highly persuasive to others, enticing them to exercise. Currently, she works at the Fitness Club as a fitness instructor coaching people to push beyond their limits to become healthy and strong. A heavy artillery squad specialized in sieging rapture-controlled emplacements. Belorta
 
 The leader of Carronades who is adorable and cuddly. She possesses above-average intelligence and has a soft spot for pulling pranks. Mischievous to the core, Belorta is rarely seen standing still and behaving, preferring to perform all manners of pranks on the Commander or Mica. Having a chip on her shoulder when it comes to authority, her pranks have seen her through a revolving door of commanders who couldn't or wouldn't tolerate her antics. As an avid foodie, she won't hesitate when it comes to stuffing her face with good eats. She'll even go so far as to sneak bites in the middle of battle. Mica
 
 A member of Carronades is a gentle girl who is extremely naïve. Her sole friend, Belorta, is the only one she will fully trust without hesitation. Due to her traumatic past, she doesn’t believe anyone and doesn’t want to leave Belorta’s side despite being a constant victim of Belorta’s elusive pranks. A squad focused on serving the citizens of the Ark with its on-call maids, each with their own specialties. Each member of this squad is named after beverages. Moreover, the squad's name can be interpreted to be a play for “Made for you”, referencing their duty estimates and the fact that Nikkes was created to protect and serve humanity. Cocoa
 
 The pampered youngest member and the Maid leader of Maid for You. Even though the lights are on, but no one is home, she works tirelessly to complete her duties. Cocoa is quite a colorful character between being the youngest of the squad, carrying a bottle of ketchup wherever she goes, and confidently applying said ketchup to every culinary problem (and maybe even things that have nothing to do with food). All things considered; Cocoa is either to carry out her task as a maid although sometimes whatever she sets out to do something gets accomplished in a fashion no one expected. Soda
 
 A member of Maid for You who is responsible for house duties. Her favorite scent is the freshly sun-dried laundered quilts and she loves keeping the house spick and span. She is focused on housekeeping and cleaning and will often get to cleaning without prompting. She can almost always be seen with a permanent smile on her face which never fades even when she makes the occasional mistake at work. Her bright cheer is as much of a welcome service as her cleaning. This indefatigable cheeriness is infectious to those who hang around her. Ade
 Ade is the third member of Maid for You, Tetra Line’s squad created to serve the Ark citizens. Compared to Cocoa and Soda, Ade is by far only professional in her duties as a maid. Her gentle and mature nature brings people's hearts to ease. She is oftentimes mistaken as the leader of the squad by people who don't know her. A squad that oversees the criminal underworld of the Ark. Its members run the three biggest crime syndicates in the Ark. Despite being crime Lords, they are responsible for maintaining order and security within the Outer Rim. Their names are taken from flowering plants from different translations. Sakura
 
 As a member of Tetra Line’s crime management squad, Underworld Queen, Sakura leads the “Seimeikai”, a criminal group that styles themselves after the yakuza syndicates of old. Despite running a gang in many aspects, Sakura holds herself and her subordinates to a code of honor and ethics, preventing her gang from catching too much attention from the authorities. A woman of principle, the Seimeikai refrained from engaging in immoral acts thanks to her leadership. Under her guidance, the Seimeikai has become an organization with a well-deserved reputation for its honorable conduct. As no one in her gang knows she is a Nikke she is sometimes subject to issues that plague yakuza such as pressure to ensure a line of succession, though that's a far preferable alternative to what the gang would likely do if they did know she was a Nikke. Rosanna
 
 Rosanna is part of the Underworld Queen and the leader of Hedonia, a mafia-esque crime syndicate. Rosanna is the Underworld Queen’s thrill seeker and she always uses violence as a measure to solve all problems, believing that violence is the ultimate panacea. She has no fears of meddling with death either. She loves messing around and fiddling with life and death. Everyone is always anxious around her as her character is far more pugnacious than other members of Underworld Queen. She does, however, take exceedingly good care of those who are part of her gang. Moran
 
 As a member of Tetra Line’s crime management squad, Underworld Queen, Moran leads the Peony Association, a Chinese triad-esque crime syndicate. Among the three, she was often picked on by her fellow squad mates due to her airheaded attitude, leaving her out of the loop sometimes. Despite her airheaded-ness, Moran gets the job done in more ways than one as if she attended Sakura and Rosanna’s secret meetings. Oftentimes, Moran is willingly offering Peony Association’s services without a charge, unlike Hedonia or Seimeikai. Despite having fewer members in her syndicate, her gang is capable and competent enough to get the job done as if they have equal members as Hedonia and Seimeikai do, keeping the peace on her side of the Outer Rim. A squad that owns Coin Rush, the biggest casino in the Ark. It is said that great fortune will rain down upon when the two sisters are together. Their names are French translations of colors. Blanc
 
 A member of Squad 777 who draws throngs of customers to Coin Rush. Nothing gives her more pleasure than dressing herself up as a Bunny, and she takes an immense amount of pride in her crowd-pleasing shows. Unlike her diffident sister, blank is an exuberant extrovert. It is said that any gambler who sees both twin sisters in Coin Rush will hit the jackpot period to bring good luck, she always forces her sister, Noir, to join her. Noir
 
 Noir is a member of 777, the squad that runs the Ark’s casino resort, Coin Rush. She is a pusillanimous girl who is both fond and proud of her dedicatedly bolder sister, Blanc. Because of her introverted nature, Blanc forces Noir to do shows with her to rack up crowds and entice them to spend credits. Although they look different, Blanc pampers her constantly. While timid, she is not afraid to show her intentions. Rouge
 Rouge is a member of 777, the squad that runs the Ark’s casino resort, Coin Rush. She serves as a Casino Dealer in different types of games and a Host for events within the casino resort. She is also the manager and handler of Blanc and Noir, protecting them when dubious people try to get close to the two Bunny Girls. She is both teasing and professional, providing fair game to the customers of Coin Rush whether they're a High Roller or not. Missilis Military Research or M.M.R. “squad” represents the institute where the company does all manner of study and R&D Division to develop even better weapons and medicine. Ether
 
 Ether is a mad scientist who believes that science is the domain of humankind. She has a scientifically inclined mindset, referring to the Commander as (Test Subject) Number 7 and cajoling them into trying whatever kind of shady drug she’s cooked up. Her time and focus are so dedicated towards work that should her stockings tear, she would simply carry on wearing the torn ones that take the time to change, despite being repeatedly told off by her superiors over this. She can often be seen carrying out all manner of experiments and overseeing the lives of her fellow M.M.R. members. A Nikke squad specially manufactured by Elysion for educational purposes after the company noticed the potential of the M.M.R. Vocational School. They are responsible for taking Nikkes that show promise and honing their skills so they can reclaim the surface one day. Marciana
 
 Marciana is a member of Academia, a squad manufactured by Elysion for mentoring other Nikkes. The rational perfectionist teacher at M.M.R vocational School. She continuously strives to provide excellent education to students. She also has a girly side and adores cute things. Her belly ring is a special device that helps make informed decisions in an emergency. Has a drone as a secretary. A squad of fresh graduates of M.M.R. Vocational School. Each member of this squad stood out amid fierce competition and entered the graduating class, showcasing outstanding capabilities. Naga
 
 Naga is a member of Dazzling Pearl, a Nikke squad of graduate students from M.M.R. Vocational School. The spiritual glue that holds Dazzling Pearl together. She dotes on the forgetful Tia much like an older sister does to ensure that she remembers things. Appears mature regularly, but if an accessory catches her eye, she often indulges in impulse purchases and overspending. Tia
 
 Tia is a member of Dazzling Pearl, a Nikke squad of graduate students from M.M.R. Vocational School. Ditzy and airheaded, she's a food enthusiast who's fond of sweets and reptiles. Her dream is to see a dragon one day and make a wish to it. A group of students from M.M.R. Vocational School, an educational institution established to improve Nikke’s performance. This squad is composed of students who have excelled in their studies, and its members are placed in genuine combat situations outside of school hours. Their names are derived from numbers in the German language. Rei
 
 A third-year student from the M.M.R. Vocational School, who nevertheless has the appearance of a small child. Despite the fact she is childlike in both her demeanor and personal hobbies, she utterly despises being referred to as a “kid” or “little girl”. As a senior, she feels obligated to take care of her fellow students who are younger than her and spares no effort in doing so. She hates being told but she acts like a third grader. Zwei
 A second-year student from the M.M.R. Vocational School. First appeared in the bond story of Rei. She is a fellow student who plays with Rei after their studies are finished. Ein
 A first-year student from the M.M.R. Vocational School. First appeared in the bond story of Rei. She is a fellow student who plays with Rei after their studies are finished. A squad of musical performers, each an icon of her genre of music. The squad’s name is a term referring to a female opera singer and each member of the squad is named after terms related to sound and music. Noise
 
 Noise is a member of Prima Donna, a “squad” of musical performers from Tetra Line. In contrast to the calm classical Aria or the fiery-headed Volume, Noise takes more after a modern-era pop star when it comes to personality, aesthetics, and musical style. Her debut song “Diva” was quick to put her both on the map and at the top of the charts, but as of late, she felt pressured by her fans clamoring for a new song, worried she'd go down as another one-hit-wonder. Volume
 
 As a part of Tetra's Prima Donna performance “squad”, Volume is a rap artist of excellence. She's also the most volatile of Prima Donna, as her “my way or the highway” attitude and smack-talking tendencies see her regularly embroiled in controversy. Nonetheless, her brush devil-may-care personality mixed with her fiery bars never fails to get her crowd pumped and screaming in adulation. Aria
 
 A member of Prima Donna, Tetra Line’s “squad” of musical performers. While Noise and Volume hold on the modern genres of pop and hip hop respectively, Aria is more on the genre for classical and opera music. Being in the starring role in so many plays and operas, some wonder if there's any leading role that Aria can't play. The Central Government’s ceremonial guard. They are musicians who preserve the musical legacy of the surface. Julia
 
 A violinist whose life revolves around music. A member of Master Hand, she uses music to express herself. She is sensitive but seldom expresses her emotions through facial expressions. Even when in awe, she will not speak too loudly. While she was made by Missilis, Syuen saw no value in Julia being made to record music and threw her into the battlefield as fodder. There, Mustang of Tetra Line saw her musical leanings and took her in. The Ark’s Animal Management squad. They have incredible empathy for animals and devote every fiber of their being to bettering the lives of animals in the Ark. Their greatest desire is to run wild amongst the animals after reclaiming the surface. Nero
 
 Nero works for the Ark’s animal management squad, Happy Zoo. She tends to all things about cats. Although soft-spoken, she is not in any way timid. Befitting her appearance and the theme, she is exclusively fond of cats. Her personality and appearance are pretty feline-esque. Nero is quite capable of understanding the language of cats as well. Biscuit
 
 Biscuit works for the Ark’s animal management squad, Happy Zoo. Her personality and appearance resemble a puppy. She is kind and gets along with every other Nikke. Due to her ability to communicate with animals, her responsibilities consist of rescuing stray and abused animals. Biscuit has an incredible empathy for dogs and even seems to be able to intuit what they're saying. This has allowed her to not only take care of all the dogs in the shelter but even find work as a dog sitter for citizens of the Ark. Though it seems she herself has some doglike behaviors in green, from eating kibble to literally sniffing out clues. Leona
 Leona is the third member of Happy Zoo, Ark’s animal management squad. She is accompanied by a white lion named Timi. She is responsible for exotic animals like lions, tigers, etc. Just like other members of Happy Zoo, she can understand animal languages and intuit what they’re saying. Remnants of the legendary squad Goddess, who uphold their duty to reclaim the surface. Despite being considered a group, the Pioneers largely work separately, each with their own goals and methodologies. While they all stay on the surface for different purposes, they have sworn to protect humans. The squad members are named after fairy tale/folklore characters. Snow White
 
 A Pilgrim Nikke who is a member of the Pioneer squad, remnants of the legendary Goddess squad. She's one of the prototype Nikkes who fought during the First Rapture Invasion. She lost all her past memories and now wanders the earth with one singular goal in mind: the annihilation of the Raptures. While her past is almost shrouded in mystery, what is undeniable is that she now possesses the reliability of a true leader. She shows respect to dignified individuals, people who have a sense of pride and dislikes malicious people, fighting against evil with everything she has. She is a righteous person who is willing to sacrifice herself for her comrades. Rapunzel
 
 A Pilgrim Nikke who is a member of the Pioneer squad, remnants of the legendary Goddess squad. As with most Pilgrims, Rapunzel suffers a quirk in her neurology where her memory storage is very limited, risking a Mind Switch if she does not regularly purge old memories. Her way of dealing with this is to delete everything except two memory sets she deems most important: the early days of the Rapture invasion, and the most recent memories of wandering the surface. The latter is important due to the duty she has charged herself with, of finding Nikkes who have died on the surface and giving them their last rites, allowing them some dignity and hopefully peace in death. Despite her religious fervor, her mind is full of salacious thoughts. No matter when, where, or who she's with, her lewd flight of fancy never ceases. Scarlet
 
 A Pilgrim Nikke who is a member of the Pioneer squad, remnants of the legendary Goddess squad. A wandering swordswoman with no place to call home, she walks the land alone, seeking to reclaim the land from the Raptures one cut at a time. As a result of wandering by herself for the most part, she's become very adept in foraging and crafting sustenance on the surface. Despite her fondness for alcohol, she can’t hold her liquor, getting tipsy fairly quickly. Accustomed to close-quarters combat, fear is a foreign concept to her. Often has a playful smirk on her face as she does not take things seriously. Nikkes equipped with advanced technology and weapons from Eden. Despite obeying the orders of their commander, Johan, the Nikkes of Inherit don’t care much for grand ideas like “reclaiming humanity’s future”. Except for Dorothy, all Nikkes from Inherit are created by Cecil, Eden’s resident scientist. As such, they are both mankind's last hope and biggest threat. The squad members aside from Dorothy are named after biblical figures. Dorothy
 
 The leader of Inherit, Eden's Nikke squad. Dorothy appears innocent outside, but her mind is full of insidiousness. In the past, Dorothy was a member of the Goddess squad. When their leader Lilith died, she took the role of an acting leader. Despite managing to secure the Ark's safety from the Raptures, the Goddess squad was disallowed from entering, leading to Dorothy's hatred towards the Ark. Noah
 
 Noah is considered part of Inherit, Eden’s Nikke squad. Noah is, for lack of a better term, a complete and utter troll. In battle, her strategy amounts to being so infuriating and attention-grabbing that Raptures can't help but ineffectually fire on her extremely durable Shields, during which Noah will either blast them with her shields’ canons or have another ally take them out. Apart from her diversion tactics, Noah also served as an area denial specialist, preventing the enemies from either advancing or escaping. Isabel
 
 Isabel is a member of Inherit, the Pilgrims that possess advanced technology and fight Raptures, yet disregard humanity for their own desires. An aerial pursuer with a twisted mind, she will track her targets to the ends of the earth regardless of whether they're friend or foe. It's because of her that Inherit is of force to be reckoned with in the skies. Isabel is obsessed with the Commander for some reason and will go to any lengths to keep him with her forever, even if it means imprisoning him and killing anyone whom she believes will take him away. Harran
 
 A charming necromancer from Inherit who relishes her role as an apex predator on the surface. She uses a large scythe and mechanical crows to fight. She also wanders the surface, fighting off Raptures for her self-interests rather than something grand and noble like “duty to humanity”. Harran’s belief is one of survival of the fittest; the strong can live as they please and the weak can wither and die. Fancying herself as a “predator”, Harran stalks the lands in search of things to further her beauty, being incredibly absorbed in policing her own radiance. In fact, one way to curry her favor is to acknowledge and exalt her beauty and follow her orders with little to no complaints. The first and legendary yet ill-fated squad who strives to reclaim the surface and protect humanity since the First Rapture Invasion. They were led by the legendary commander. Their leader Liliweiss died at some point, leaving Dorothy to lead the squad in her stead. Red Hood became MIA, presumed dead, sometime before the ARK was completed. Liliweiss
 Also known as "Lilith." She was the leader of the Goddess squad. Moments before her demise, Liliweiss made a recording to reminisce about her days with her comrades and her last will is to protect humanity at all costs. Later, the Raptures found her grave and stole her corpse's head. Red Hood
 Little is currently known of how Red Hood acted, though she apparently had a hobby of listening to old music and consuming adult material such as erotica novels and dirty magazines. The latter tendency often got her into fights with the straight face Rapunzel who tried to curtail it. The Red Hood that Rapi interacts with when activating “Secret Body” seems to be more of a rabid beast, clamoring at her to destroy the Ark and potentially threatening to consume her if active for too long. Abnormal is a company that manages the very existence of individuals, as well as their social position. Its origin and true purpose lie behind the door it is implied to be an overseer of Nikke-like existences. These squads are part of the Limited Time Collaboration Events in Nikke. They have a separate storyline. A squad of Devil Hunters from the Public Safety Bureau of another world. Makima
 
 A member of the Public Safety Devil Hunters Special Division 4. She is a devil hunter working directly under the Chief Cabinet Secretary. Makima is polite but enigmatic, and it always feels like there's something beneath her calm smile. Power
 
 Power is a “fiend” with the ability to manipulate blood. She is a member of Public Safety Devil Extermination Special Division 4. Brash, selfish, and arrogant. Power is always crowding to the rooftops about her “greatness”. Himeno
 
 She is a member of Public Safety Devil Extermination Special Division 4. Hayakawa’s senior officer and buddy. Himeno tends to be the more personable one of the squad, a feat accomplished by a combination of factors. One is that she's almost always asking about food or booze when she's not on the clock. The other is the fact that Makima keeps a polite but distant relationship with everyone, and Power is… Power. Androids are created in the image of humans, considering humans as gods. They are combatants from another world created to fight the Machines. 2B
 
 YoRHa No. 2 Type B, or simply 2B is the main protagonist of Nier: Automata alongside YoRHa No. 9 Type S or 9S for short. She is a taciturn blade of silent resolve. 2B is an all-around YoRHa Android created to fight a race of sentient robots aptly known as the Machines. A2
 
 YoRHa Type A No. 2 or A2 is a prototype of the YoRHa androids, and a member of the first squadron during the 14th Machine War that lasted from 11939 to 11945. She’s a hate-filled vortex with a painful past. Sentient robots from another world created by the aliens from Millennium
 Pascal
 
 Pascal is a Machine who searches for a path of peace and serves as the Village Chief in the Machine Village. Unlike most Machines, he has a keen interest in human philosophy and history, being a pacifist who dislikes fighting and rather yearns for peace. Setting
Goddess of Victory: Nikke takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where the Earth was suddenly attacked by extraterrestrial mechanical creatures called Raptures that destroyed everything on the surface, forcing the remaining humans to take refuge underground and establish the Ark, a metropolis ruled by the Central Government. The PMC manufacturers Elysion, Missilis Industry and Tetra Line—owned by Ingrid, Syuen and Mustang, respectively—that compose the Big Three work on converting women and children into powerful obedient soldiers called Nikkes to be used as a weapon to defeat the Raptures and restore humanity on the surface. Due to their prominence, the Big Three CEOs have very high authority; they are, however, heavily monitored by the Central Government to prevent any hostile behavior. The story is played from the perspective of the Commander who graduated from the Military Academy one day prior to the events of the game; despite this, they perform extraordinarily in the operations and survive various encounters with rare Rapture species throughout the journey. They lead a squad called Counters, which consists of the Nikkes Anis, Rapi and later down the story, Neon. The Commander views Nikkes with sympathy and privately advocates for Nikke rights, which is illegal in accordance with the laws of the Ark. Outlaws may be sent to the Rehabilitation Center or the Outer Rim, an area fully isolated from the rest of the Ark, and they have formed terrorist organizations claiming to fight for human rights for themselves. Plot 

The Commander is en route to reinforce a search and rescue party when their aircraft is shot down. They are rescued by a Nikke named Marian, who is executed following confirmation that she has been corrupted by the Raptures. Deputy Chief Andersen orders the newly formed squad, Counters, on a mission to test their combat ability, joined by Elysion's Neon. During the mission, they encounter intelligent Raptures capable of operating a power plant; they demolish the facility after noticing the squad. Andersen, impressed, banishes the group to the Outpost to operate without government surveillance, at which Syuen forces the Commander on a black operation to capture Chatterbox, a high-class Rapture capable of speech. Chatterbox overwhelms Counters, who only survive due to the arrival of Snow White, a Nikke from an independent group called the Pilgrims. Unable to continue, Counters call for an evacuation, which reveals the clandestine mission to the public, much to Syuen's frustration. All those involved except Syuen are temporarily suspended. In addition, Rapi and Mihara are sentenced to undergo a memory wipe, though the memory wipe doesn't work on Rapi. Andersen then orders the squad to gather intel relating to Chatterbox and Marian's corruption. However, they are soon caught in a trap set up by Chatterbox, who captures the Commander. Snow White intercepts them and defeats the Raptures, but before she can eliminate Chatterbox, they are rescued by Modernia, a Heretic Nikke who has joined the Raptures. The Commander recognizes her as Marian before she escapes with Chatterbox. Authorities rescue the squad and promote them into Special Commandos, giving them more autonomy. Counters ascend to an ammunition factory to research a bullet dropped by Modernia, which contains an unregistered substance called vapaus. Failing to salvage any information, Exia, who is on a call with them, hacks into the Central Government's database but gets caught and sends them an encoded message before getting shot by Triangle, a police force. The squad descends down the Ark to Andersen's office, where Rapi reveals that she had been affected by vapaus, thus rendering the memory wipe ineffective, and offers to cooperate. Andersen and Ingrid authorize a new joint operation with the latter's squad to collect Heretic fragments left over from a previous skirmish. En route, they meet up with Matis, Syuen's top squad. At their destination, Matis are ambushed by Raptures before they discover an underground stronghold system. After safely retrieving the fragments and requesting for evacuation, Rapi suppresses the members of Matis realizing they have been corrupted from the ambush. With all the found discoveries, the Central Government authorizes a major operation with the goal of capturing Modernia using firsthand interaction from Counters; they get her to regain mental clarity, but Chatterbox jumps to corrupt her again. They rescue her nonetheless and perform a neural wipe on her, the only known method to cure Nikkes' corruptions. Due to Marian's value, many attempt to raid the Outpost and detain her, including Triangle who is sent on behalf of their Deputy Commander-in-Chief, but Andersen forcefully coerces him to rescind the mission. Unable to protect her further, Counters hand her over to the Pilgrims and fabricate that she had been kidnapped. Syuen secretly retrieves the vapaus bullet and cures Matis from their corruption. Syuen sends Counters and Exotic, a patrol group from the Outer Rim, to ask the Pilgrims about the vapaus. Exotic, however, betrays Counters and flee the scene, but they fail to kill the Commander. The Pilgrims take care of him and tell him there is a Vapaus Institute which contains historical records. The vapaus-curing process terminates Nikkes' nanomachines that give them their obedience and courage to fight, causing public discrimination against Missilis; conversely, the Commander wants Nikkes to have their own free will and proceeds back to prepare for the institute. Syuen convinces him to act out a fight between Matis and the Raptures as a last resort to sway public opinions towards Missilis. They lure large groups of Raptures near the Ark. Matis' leader Laplace, after overcoming emotional trauma and seeing her teammates suffering, kills all the Raptures, successfully regaining public support. Andersen approves to let Counters head to the institute. After replenishing their supplies, the Counters set their sights on going to the research institute, but as they went ahead and cleared a wave of Raptures, Rapi noticed that they were being followed. Rapi called out to the person that he or she came out or she will open fire. The person was left with no choice but to reveal herself, Papilion, A Nikke who belonged to Deputy Commander Burningum who previously ordered a manhunt operation against the Counters. After much debate, Papilion 'revealed' that there are in fact human survivors on the surface and the 'zero survivors' story made by the Ark was fabricated. In turn, Papilion asks where the Counters are headed, most likely she already knew before even asking them, but Anis and Neon answered her anyway. The Counters agreed to let Papilion tag along with their journey. They eventually reached the research institute, only to find out that the Vapaus they were looking for was no longer there. Rapi surmised that there was something wrong the moment they entered the building, as the security system was already down even before they entered. Sure enough, that proved to be true, as they suddenly got ambushed by a group of Pilgrims led by Johan, a commander from Eden, an oasis of sorts on the surface. The Counters and Papilion were quickly subdued without much of a fight. Johan, recognizing that the protagonist hails from the Ark, seemingly taunted him by asking what he is doing on the surface risking his life where he should have been underground, referring to the Ark. The protagonist told him that he was looking for Vapaus to 'liberate the Nikkes'. Johan then showed him a vial of Vapaus that was taken from the research building, then asked the protagonist what's more important; the liberation of Nikkes or recapturing the surface. Regardless of the protagonist's response, Johan will try to kill him by throwing him outside bare-handed and trapping the protagonist's squad inside the building by luring the Raptures. After some time, the protagonist woke up dazed, only to find out that he had been rescued by Harran, one of the Pilgrims they have encountered earlier. He asked her why she rescued him but Harran simply told him just because she feels like it. Harran then talked about Eden a bit with the protagonist and the protagonist told her that he wanted to go there but before that, Harran put the protagonist on a series of grueling tests, including taking on hordes of Raptures all by himself, to 'test his resolve'. And after a long and excruciating battle, the protagonist was able to clear Harran's test, passing out while still standing in the process. Amazed by the protagonist's undying resolve, Harran told him how to go to Eden and he proceeded to walk in its direction. Soon, the protagonist eventually reached Eden, and was greeted by Dorothy, A Pilgrim, who then proceeded to be a tour guide of sorts inside Eden. Meanwhile, Johan and Cecil are conversing about how to take down a Heretic known as Nihilister, using the Vapaus (now called Unchained in this chapter) retrieved from the research institute. They have also heard about Dorothy's actions and about the protagonist reaching Eden, but ultimately decided to let Dorothy be, as it could be beneficial for them as well. After Dorothy finished her tour of Eden, she revealed that he already have had heard about the protagonist from an 'old friend' though she didn't specify who, and the protagonist being a miracle worker of sorts, being able to take down a Heretic. She then proposed a deal that if the protagonist helped them fight Nihilister, then he can have the Vapaus. The protagonist reluctantly accepted and then soon reunited with his squad, with them being rescued the same way he was rescued prior to him. Nihilister was eventually defeated with the help of Vapaus, retreating in the process and plots to seek revenge against the squad. The Counters and Inherit later on are tasked with capturing an enormous Tyrant-class Rapture known as 'Mother Whale', which specialises as a carrier for hordes of Raptures. The squads began repairing a giant harpoon cannon which will be used in bringing down Mother Whale to the ground. As the group managed to land a direct hit on Mother Whale in an attempt to bring it down. Meanwhile, Noah and Neon attempted to climb on the harpoon before entering Mother Whale, attacking its interior in order to plunge down to the ground. The squad eventually defeated Mother Whale and its core was synthesized with the protagonist's blood to create two Vapaus bullets. As the protagonist bids farewell to Johan, he gave him the other bullet before they depart to return to the Ark. Soon, the Commander and the Counters discover that the Raptures have invaded the Ark, a bomb had exploded on the surface to due influences from the Outer Rim, allowing Raptures to invade the Ark. Development and release
Nikke was developed by South Korean-based studio Shift Up working with Level Infinite, a publishing brand of Tencent Games. Development began between 2017 and 2018 with an internal planning competition of which one idea was selected to be the predecessor of the game. It was originally planned to be played from a first-person perspective but later was changed to incorporate battle poses inspired by the Gears of War series. Shift Up's CEO Kim Hyung-tae, who was responsible for the production and illustrations of the game, said in an interview with IGN Japan that  the battle environment features life-size models using Live2D, instead of chibi-style characters, to amplify sex appeal. Contributing composers include Hiroyuki Sawano, who produced one of the game's theme song. Shift Up and Level Infinite hosted closed beta tests for the global version between the announcement and its release, allowing selected registrants to test out the game mechanics. The game contains voice-overs in English, Japanese and Korean. Shift Up first revealed Nikke along with Stellar Blade at the Crank in Showcase event in 2019, with several trade exhibitions being held ahead of its launch, such as at BEXCO and Tokyo Game Show. The game was initially planned to be released worldwide for Android and iOS in 2020, but it was rescheduled and officially released on November 4, 2022. A Microsoft Windows version of the game was released on February 15, 2023, with, soon later, a brand collaboration with manga series Chainsaw Man that introduced characters therefrom as playable characters. The game has since collaborated with the RPG Nier: Automata in September of the same year. Reception

According to data analysis from SensorTower, Nikke grossed over $70 million in revenue in its first month of release, which was mostly generated from Japan, South Korea, and the United States. It reached a total of $400 million not one year after its release, and saw over 25 million downloads before the Windows port's release. PocketGamer.biz reported that though the game's "excess of fanservice" played a significant role in its "more than respectable levels of success", its unique gacha mechanics may have also been a contributing factor. Goddess of Victory: Nikke was nominated for the Famitsu Dengeki Game Awards 2022's "Best App" category. Controversies 
Following the release of a character costume, players criticized Tencent for having the design altered from beta versions to show less revealing clothing. Since Tencent is based in China, its video games must adhere to the censorship policies of China in addition to those of other jurisdictions. In January 2023, an official Thai advertisement—which depicted a Nikke player watching a character's bouncing buttocks and fantasizing about such with cosplayers—was taken down and apologized for by Tencent after they received backlash from Thai fans who were unhappy with the portrayal of the playerbase. This pullback, however, faced another backlash from a different portion of fans who were already upset with the censorship, claiming that "there is nothing wrong with the ad for being honest about why some players are attracted to the game". Notes

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