Horizon Forbidden West Complete Guide: Machine Hunting and Exploration

Game Introduction

Horizon Forbidden West is an open-world action role-playing game developed by Guerrilla Games, featuring Aloy’s journey to save the world from a deadly blight. This guide will help you master the game’s mechanics and explore its vast world.

Exploration

Map

• Regions: The Daunt, Plainsong, The Cut, The Lowlands, The Memorial Grove, The Shining Wastes, The Forbidden West, The Isle of Spires
• Landmarks: Tallnecks, Cauldrons, Rebel Camps, Relic Ruins, settlements
• Secrets: Hidden caches, collectibles, side quests

Movement

• Running: Basic movement
• Climbing: Scale cliffs and structures
• Gliding: Use Shieldwing to glide from high places
• Swimming: Dive underwater, explore ocean depths
• Mounting: Ride machines for faster travel
• Fast Travel: Use Campfires and settlements to fast travel

Environmental Hazards

• Quicksand: Can pull Aloy under
• Acid: Causes damage
• Lava: Causes damage
• Cold: Slows movement, requires warm clothing
• Heat: Causes damage, requires cooling clothing

Machine Hunting

Machine Types

Small Machines

• Watcher: Basic scout, alerts other machines
• Burrower: Burrows underground, ambushes
• Stalker: Stealthy, cloaks
• Grazer: Herbivore, docile unless provoked
• Broadhead: Herbivore, larger than Grazer
• Shockjaw: Herbivore, electric attacks

Medium Machines

• Scrapper: Salvage machine, uses claws
• Leaplasher: Agile, uses energy attacks
• Scorcher: Fire-based, uses flamethrower
• Freezer: Ice-based, freezes targets
• Shellsnapper: Amphibious, uses water attacks
• Clamberjaw: Climbs structures, uses throwing rocks

Large Machines

• Thunderjaw: Large, uses cannons and missiles
• Stormbird: Flying, uses lightning attacks
• Behemoth: Large, uses boulders
• Tremortusk: Large, uses trunk and cannons
• Tideripper: Amphibious, uses water attacks
• Slitherfang: Snake-like, uses acid attacks
• Sunwing: Flying, solar-powered
• Stormclaw: Bear-like, uses lightning attacks

Apex Machines

• Apex Thunderjaw: More powerful Thunderjaw
• Apex Stormbird: More powerful Stormbird
• Apex Tremortusk: More powerful Tremortusk

Machine Components

• Weapons: Can be harvested and used
• Resources: Used for crafting and upgrading
• Fuel Cells: Used for energy
• Hearts: Used for upgrades
• Brains: Used for overriding machines

Overriding Machines

• Override Device: Unlocks as part of the story
• Machine Camps: Can override machines at camps
• Mounts: Can ride certain machines
• Combat Allies: Can have machines fight alongside Aloy

Cauldrons

• Function: Unlock machine overrides
• Types: IOTA, SIGMA, RHO, XI, ZETA
• Challenges: Puzzles and combat
• Rewards: New machine overrides

Combat

Weapons

Ranged Weapons

• Hunter Bow: Versatile, good for general use
• War Bow: Elemental arrows
• Sharpshot Bow: Precision, long-range
• Boltblaster: Rapid-fire, high capacity
• Shredder Gauntlet: Throws discs that return
• Icerail: Ice-based, slows enemies
• Blast Sling: Throws explosive bombs
• Tripcaster: Lays tripwires
• Ropecaster: Tethers enemies
• Plasma Cannon: Heavy plasma weapon

Melee Weapons

• Spear: Basic melee weapon
  • Melee Attacks: Light and heavy attacks
  • Power Attacks: Charged attacks
  • Combat Arts: Special melee moves

Skills

Warrior

• Melee: Improve melee combat
• Ranged: Improve ranged combat
• Survival: Improve survival skills

Hunter

• Bow: Improve bow combat
• Trap: Improve trap usage
• Forge: Improve crafting

Trapper

• Trap: Improve trap usage
• Machine: Improve machine handling
• Gathering: Improve resource gathering

Survivor

• Survival: Improve survival skills
• Forge: Improve crafting
• Machine: Improve machine handling

Infiltrator

• Stealth: Improve stealth
• Trap: Improve trap usage
• Ranged: Improve ranged combat

Machine Master

• Machine: Improve machine handling
• Forge: Improve crafting
• Survival: Improve survival skills

Combat Strategies

• Target Weak Points: Aim for glowing areas
• Use Elements: Exploit machine weaknesses
• Set Traps: Lay traps before combat
• Use Environment: Use terrain to your advantage
• Override Machines: Turn machines against each other
• Dodge and Roll: Avoid attacks
• Use Valor Surge: Temporary power boost

Crafting and Upgrades

Resources

• Machine Parts: From defeated machines
• Natural Resources: From plants and animals
• Metal Shards: Currency, used for buying items
• Purple Blight: Special resource, used for certain upgrades

Crafting

• Ammo: Arrows, bombs, traps
• Potions: Health, stamina, elemental resistance
• Tools: Lockpicks, fire starters

Upgrades

Weapon Upgrades

• Damage: Increase weapon damage
• Capacity: Increase ammo capacity
• Handling: Improve reload speed and aim stability
• Elemental Effects: Increase elemental damage

Outfit Upgrades

• Defense: Increase damage resistance
• Stealth: Improve stealth
• Elemental Resistance: Increase resistance to elements
• Utility: Add special effects

Pouch Upgrades

• Capacity: Increase carrying capacity
• Utility: Add special effects

Quests

Main Quests

• The Wound in the Earth: Investigate the blight
• The Eye of the Earth: Find the source of the blight
• The Sea of Sands: Explore the desert
• The Sky Clan: Help the Sky Clan
• The Enduring: Defeat the Enduring
• The Forbidden Legacy: Uncover the truth about the past

Side Quests

• Errands: Small tasks for NPCs
• Side Missions: Longer quests with story
• Contracts: Bounty hunts, machine hunting
• Relic Ruins: Explore ancient ruins
• Rebel Camps: Clear rebel camps

Collectibles

• Datapoints: Audio and text logs from the old world
• Blackboxes: Flight recorders from old world aircraft
• Metal Flowers: Ancient artifacts
• Bristlebacks: Collectibles for the Utaru
• Carvings: Ancient carvings

Tips for Success

Exploration Tips

• Activate Tallnecks: Reveals more of the map
• Complete Cauldrons: Unlock machine overrides
• Explore Relic Ruins: Find valuable loot
• Clear Rebel Camps: Reduce enemy presence

Combat Tips

• Study Machine Weaknesses: Use appropriate elements
• Target Components: Destroy weapons and armor
• Use Traps: Lay traps before engaging
• Override Machines: Turn enemies into allies
• Upgrade Weapons: Keep weapons upgraded

Crafting Tips

• Gather Resources: Collect resources whenever possible
• Craft Ammo: Always have plenty of ammo
• Make Potions: Carry health and stamina potions
• Upgrade Outfits: Improve defense and stealth

Conclusion

Horizon Forbidden West is a stunning open-world game with deep combat and exploration. With the guidance of this guide, you’ll be able to master the game’s mechanics and fully appreciate its rich world and story. Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination!