The Heritage of the Past side quest in NieR: Automata provides players with a fascinating look into the lore of the old world while offering valuable rewards. To undertake this mission, players must travel to the vast Desert Zone and speak with an enthusiastic Resistance researcher who needs assistance locating ancient relics. Equipped with the Scanner Pod program, players must sweep the sandy expanse to uncover four distinct artifacts hidden deep beneath the dunes.
Starting Requirements and Setup
Before initiating Heritage of the Past, players need to make sure they have progressed far enough in the main story. This quest becomes accessible while playing as 2B after securing the Pod Scanner program during Chapter 8. Once the equipment is ready, head toward the Desert Center area to locate the Resistance researcher near the edge of the zone.
Using the scanner effectively is crucial for discovering each buried object efficiently. Equipping the Pod Scanner allows players to track audio cues and visual pings that point directly toward buried treasure. This tool eliminates the guesswork when searching through the vast expanse of sand.
Locating the First Three Relics
The quest requires gathering four historical items scattered throughout the desert ruins. The first relic, known as the Aged Stick, is located near the central desert area surrounded by ruined housing structures. Players can follow the scanner signals around the ruins to pinpoint the exact digging location quickly.
Next, search near the path leading toward the Desert Housing Complex to uncover the Commandment Slab. Finding this item grants a helpful archive entry alongside standard quest progression. Shortly after, search between two large rock formations nearby to locate the Filthy Mask relic.
Finding the Final Relic and Completing the Quest
After turning in the first three items to the Resistance researcher, the final relic becomes detectable. The last item, the Statue of a Girl, is buried just south of the researcher's location. Navigating directly to this spot triggers the final scanner prompt needed to finish the search.
Unearthing the Statue of a Girl triggers an ambush by hostile machine lifeforms. Defeating these enemies or turning in the item completes the quest and yields generous gold, experience, and the powerful Spear of the Usurper weapon. Finishing this storyline adds rich world-building content to your playthrough while significantly expanding your combat arsenal.
