Horizon Zero Dawn: A Complete Guide to Combat

The plot revolves around Aloy, a hunter and archer living in a world overrun by robots. Having been cloistered her whole life, she sets out to discover the dangers that kept her sheltered. The character makes use of ranged, melee weapons and stealth tactics to combat the mechanised creatures, whose remains can also be looted for resources. A skill tree facilitates gameplay improvements. The game features an open world environment for Aloy to explore, divided into tribes that hold side quests to undertake while the main story guides her throughout the whole world.
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►Horizon Zero Dawn: Guides, Tutorials and Secrets
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►Horizon Zero Dawn: Walkthroughs + Character Profiles
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Video Game Sophistry is an opportunity to celebrate the creators and the artistry found in Video Games. I believe that Games are the most effective medium from experiencing another world, and another way to live. Expect to see a series of videos showcasing the narratives hidden in every game, interviews with game developers, along with our bench mark weekly podcast, Dialogue Wheel.
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Horizon Zero Dawn: A Complete Guide to Combat
• Horizon Zero Dawn: A C...
VGS - Video Game Sophistry
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[@madscientistshusta]

it's worth noting that the fire wire traps insta kill certain, really hard animals like the saw tooth, duh to the fact he has a blaze canister hidden under his chest, if he walks over that blaze wire it ignights it and blows him to kingdom come

[@oceanlawnlove8109]

madscientistshusta xD

[@brakie44820]

I can do the same with fire arrows. In fact all I use is the spear and bows and arrows. I use the Trip caster once and then sell it. For me I get more enjoyment out of the game just using the spear and bows and arrows. The key is to build those bows into strong weapons.

[@samgreen8007]

Thanks for the advice! I never would have though of this if you hadn't said. I just use bomb wire.

[@warriorlink8612]

Good idea!!

[@skins4thewin]

The Tripcaster really is more useful than I thought it was at first.

[@せんせいやまもと]

Who is playing in 2024❤

[@ashkeehuey6916]

Just done with finals, grinding like cray cray everyday

[@thecr4zy141]

​@ashkeehuey6916 haha exactly same as me

[@samidomingo3250]

Just starting on PC❤

[@leopoldomanchego494]

Playing on ROG Ally

[@kratos9174]

Start today, so far i love ❤ it

[@MrAbsolutedance]

Honestly the most important thing in Horizon is to plan out everything. Study the prey and set enough traps to make the Russians in WWII think you´re being excessive and keep calm. Most of the times that I´ve seen "bad" players play Horizon they just don´t take the time to study the prey or just lose all that they´ve learned the moment they get into combat. Also they usually don´t reflect over what they could have done differently after a hard fight. Like "Hmm, that snapmaw nearly killed me with his ice breath. What can I do to counter that next time?"

[@finnethew]

This is honestly how I’ve been approaching it, and it’s been rough going. I’m going to try to be better and hopefully have more fun with the game! :)

[@MichaelMcCann98]

It’s a game relax

[@thangnofuture]

I'm buying this game, I know i am a year late, but 20 dollars for complete edition.

[@mhamadhashem682]

Tusget i buy it today the complete edition for 20 dollars and from the first hour i played i can tell you it's absolutely woth it

[@thangnofuture]

8MOUDII 8 I KNOW, Its such an amazing game! I played the game at my friend's house, but I only got to the proving and I fell in love.

[@SirineSerenade]

I'm late too but OMG this game , I'm obsessed !

[@mhamadhashem682]

Sirine yeah it's great

[@thangnofuture]

MOUDII HASHEM So the complete edition comes with two outfits, but I don’t see it in my inventory or anything, do you have any idea where I can get it?

[@hectormeneses9930]

Combat against machines is fun as hell. Combat against humans is utter crap. Nice video, BTW.

[@taistelusammakko5088]

Yeah, horizon did combat very well, but against humans is meh i just stealth kill everyone

[@billr5443]

When you get down into the various bunkers you need more than stealth on humans. Melee attacks help too.

[@anneyoder1157]

Hector Meneses ikr

[@oceanlawnlove8109]

Hector Meneses I like fighting against humans. I just jump around and one-two headshot everyone, LOL. x3

[@Blue64]

Hector Meneses i honestly like combat with human more than some machines

[@ace99100]

As popular as it got, this game is still underrated

[@nickderd976]

I never played it on ps4 but I literally bought a ps5 for this game it looks insane

[@Hasbulla761]

More like overrated

[@RONEEN]

AGREED 💯

[@nickderd976]

@@Hasbulla761 how so bro ? Not gunna lie the premise of the story was meh but compared to games today that thing is a crown jewel

[@Hasbulla761]

@@nickderd976 sorry I done that comment before I played, Idk why I put that comment before playing but now that I have played I love this game

[@friendlyfire2615]

Tip: if you’re fighting the Rockbreaker in the quarry, sneak around with a Carja tripcaster and place a TON of explosive tripcasts, probably the max, and shoot an arrow in the middle of the wire, the rockbreaker will dig towards the arrow to check it out and will sure face at the tripcast, exploding, and dying instantly, unless you don’t kill it, In which case, repeat the steps listed. Also, If you shoot an arrow at a wall or the floor or something near a machine, they will go towards were the arrow landed rather than towards Aloy.

[@MagicMikeBilliards]

Any tips on how to kill a storm bird the fastest? I just started 3 days ago

[@GlaciusDreams]

Great quality content. Simple, informative, and well presented. Took a break from Horizon to poop and little did I know that poop would be my most valued training as I watched this video. I shall return a lighter and stronger Aloy, despite a burnt butthole (Mexican for lunch) .

[@beenice1555]

888chupacabra You made my day 😂

[@jess5299]

that escalated quickly

[@Gaming_With_Jordy]

😂😂😂

[@brianwright9215]

Excellent comment 🙌🏿😂

[@7crowns_oblivion]

Literally what im doing right now 😂😂

[@joannadelacruz7303]

Thank you for making this video. I have watched some videos which showed their tactics and made the game look so easy when in truth, it is sometimes not. With the jokes and in-game mishaps you added, you made the game so fun.

[@benjaminbaer9712]

Sometimes? This is one of the few games I have played that is not afraid to make you feel weak.

[@skins4thewin]

One thing worth noting about the Whistle is that it will only ever attract a single enemy at a time. Pretty unrealistic but handy nonetheless. Certainly very different from Breath of the Wild where any sound will alert every single enemy in the vicinity.

[@sheek3]

Thanks for including the basics. I didn't even know Aloy could slide.

[@jayblack7495]

The area on the map where the music cuts out (around 8:15) is one of the most beautiful regions in the entire map, particularly at night. I might have to head back into HZD again. Great video . . .

[@SandpiperN121PP]

I cannot Thank You enough for this video! This is one of the first RPG's I am playing with all of these different things to collect / make / do and this video made the game so much easier to understand! Thank you again so very much!!! :)

[@taistelusammakko5088]

Thanks this helped little bit, i SUCK at combat in horizon.

[@taistelusammakko5088]

Grorge Oprisan i havent :( such an awesome game still

[@uriahmartinez2675]

I know once I realized this game was meant to be played more stealthy it got much easier

[@taistelusammakko5088]

Uriah Martinez i play it more stealthy than straight combat. And i realised i was good at silence combat.

[@Letaq_]

I am better in stealth kills than in combat,but point is to now both types right?

[@HKT100]

me too, i suck really bad at it too. had to bump it down to easy just to make it enjoyable.

[@MikeHunt-ih2uu]

Isn't the whistle earned through skill progression?You don't just have it right off the bat.

[@richardrichard4408]

It is a skill yeah

[@nyorm6696]

Mike Hunt How far along do you get it?

[@belalalalal363]

Nyorm it’s legit in the first row

[@cobrazax]

he also forgot to mention call mount as another skill that can be used there

[@arshiarafeeq4374]

It's called lure call

[@grcfalcon]

Just finished the game in 2021. I was impressed by your trick to immobilize the enemy and then make it fight for you. I always tried to ambush them without stunning them first and my way was not working so well as you can imagine. Thank you for the tips.

[@BumpyMunzy]

1:27 explicit content

[@Prokerboss]

You serious dude?

[@viveks2343]

😂

[@SpaceTV504]

Push in and done 🤣

[@BEVNAP]

2:30 Lmfao you pronounce the word "plethora" like it's some kind of dinosaur. PLETHORASOROUS 😂

[@RobertMehalek]

5:55 mealy damage 😂

[@davidmaldonado954]

I bought the game about 3 days ago and its one of the best game i ever play in my life its amazing plus beatifull story and amazing game play, never gonna be bored playng this game

[@anthonytoro3103]

So, what I’m hearing is, equip all the purple weapons

[@jimmycregg6248]

We should have "override arrows."

[@JOHN-kc1pw]

Jimmy Cregg That would be sick!

[@sebastiaomendonca1477]

It would make it a little unfair...

[@haarisiqbal3273]

Jimmy Cregg CORRUPTION ARROWS WAR BOW

[@abdultariq3457]

haaris iqbal doesn't override them... It just makes them berserk for a while

[@dmj0shu4]

Override is done by the device that she got from the corruptor, too big for an arrow to carry on flight.

[@Newuxtreme]

The production quality of this video is amazing! SO many helpful tips for a newbie like me! Keep up the fantastic work!

[@patz456]

When he said "weaaaponss" at 2:27 I just passively said "yey" wat the hell

[@Out_on_a_Limb_Life]

That's the most helpful - and much needed - run through of the weapons in HZD I've seen. Thanks guys!

[@Pipotography]

i really enjoyed the video, keep going ;)

[@kasiakuba]

true :)

[@grantcarragher6385]

It was at this moment Aloy realised she'd... (hilarious)! "Even dumber enemy" I was crying! 🤣

[@christiansantos8053]

dude, I've been struggling to play horizon with big machines , this was very helpful. Thank you so much 😁😁

[@minners71]

Good video with great beginner tips,but I would add getting the double and triple arrow nock skill to be able to inflict serious damage.

[@thomaatoes2874]

my exact tactics here. Triple nock 'er day everday

[@zeearts9484]

The lil jokes here and there are amazing, it's a bit like teaching, when you succeed at the class having fun with the lesson it means they'll probably remember what the professor said.

[@vadimyakus]

Started the game in 2020 (as a Christmas gift PS4 from my lovely wife), and enjoy the game A LOT! Beautiful and very high quality product. A rare type of the game in modern greedy gaming industry reality.

[@PackerManForLife]

Just picked up this game. 17 bucks. What a steal for a quality game

[@asaadbokhari1793]

thank you so much, this really helped me out to remember the play styles. And i had a laugh watching i finished the game long time ago, and now am back to the DLC remembering nothing Great editing

[@ivanwyatt6069]

So helpful...thank you!

[@TebzGo]

This has been an absolutely priceless resource for someone like me, that, while am on my 2nd playthrough after gaining plat when it first released, have again picked up my save from August 2022!

[@iandebestevd]

7:34 had me crying XD

[@mariusazelas6482]

Good guide dude, although it should be oil lust rather then blood lust, right?

[@lifecamerakaran]

George Bush called, he finds this offensive.

[@adityaparashar5154]

The only problem for the rope caster is WIRE since I use my sharp shot bow as my main weapon

[@thelemonfreshexperience1603]

Props to you for coming back and redoing what you werent happy with by putting in that work

[@nostalgiaholic25]

Great video! Short and sweet and covers all the basics, with some good humour thrown in there lol. Just bought this game the other day so I need all the info I can get, need more videos like this 👍

[@ragragrec1]

The really good newbies guide thanks for this. Subbed!

[@katedutchie]

I HIGHLY recommend using your skills to upgrade your bows so that you can shot multiple arrows at once! There are also many other skills that are very useful in combat.

[@withoutname9575]

I prefer tinker for modification and farming skill since that's more important

[@skins4thewin]

I actually used the Light Attack to loot all the Blaze Canisters off all the dead Grazers during the Proving before moving on, since they are all automatically looted once you loot a single one to get your trophy. And no worries, you can't lose the Proving so you can take as much time as you want. I looted every one of their canisters and their horns by knocking them all off as they laid on the ground dead. There is of course no reason to do this normally but during the Proving it's handy since you can't loot them otherwise.

[@itree4]

The more i play this masterpiece, the more i can't believe it DIDN'T get game of the year! There is so many details that players over lookin this game!

[@marclaventure7913]

Zelda is a great game, but I've played both, and definitely think this is a better game

[@GJAkuo]

Just started the game today. Finally Got it, for the first time since it came out. Im 5 years too late. Lol, but I fuckin love it. The game is sooooo goood.

[@UNUNUN11]

just bought the dlc since I played main game in 2017 and forgot how to fight. And came to your video to learn tricks and using weapons, and scanning enemies. Thanks

[@edthiery72]

awesome video :) Curious ... has anyone else notice the similarities referencing a metal world ? "Aloy" = alloy. "Rost" = Rust. Back on topic ... love the video and how does one get the shadow versions of weapons ?

[@harsh.a3541]

You just buy them from merchants

[@Deceneu66]

First 15 sec and I knew I'll like this :)) Thanks Later edit: Yeah! I was right. Really good guide \m/. Editing, jokes, information.. good content all around.

[@joberttolop7155]

Bought Ps4 Pro last month secondhand and my first game i wanna try is Gow and Horizon. Tnx for the guide. Badly needed for starters.

[@adidaskorn12345]

Saw a deal for the complete edition for $5 on PS Plus and realised I had previously bought it for $12. The backlog is a real problem lol

[@rollyg1543]

Just got it for 12€ it was 19.99€

[@captainmacmellon8909]

Thanks man. I always end up panicking and just going Rambo with normal arrows. Doesn’t always work

[@ELcobo95]

7:21 and 10:07 hahahahaha Funny moments! Great video man, I really liked it, you won a new subscriber :)

[@33nihilus]

Holy crap someone made a good video tutorial for this game that doesn't show too many spoilers. Why did it take so long to find this?

[@calhidro8577]

You just made my day, with your description of the game and mistakes you make 👍👍👍👍

[@G.H.Dybeck]

Before this video I always tried to sneak past the machines, now I can finally turn them into spare parts!

[@dmj0shu4]

that'll suck if you just sneak past, you got nothing to trade with the merchants, when i see a group of machines that I know I can takedown (or maybe 1 to 2 machines I've never seen) , I always make sure they'd become spare parts, haha

[@billr5443]

Right, and you never get the real good shadow purple mods unless you kill behemoths, rock breakers, storm birds and thunderjaws. Once in a while, other machines or scrapper piles will give you a shadow purple mod, but not too often.

[@murrwolfe6216]

I love your modesty. gotta have it in the youtube community, but you do it well

[@darkdaddy84]

This was enormously helpful. Thank you.

[@timezones88]

Great video! Fun game so far (I'm only a few hours in), but they did a really poor job of explaining how you modify weapons. A video on that would be insanely appreciated! I can't figure what's better... if something is blue or green... tear coils... damage coils... rare vs uncommon, etc.

[@minners71]

The rarer an item the better it is as a rule I don't put mods on weapons unless they are atleast 40-50%increase. Sell all other mods especially all the 6-9% ones as they are not woth using.

[@timezones88]

Thanks! I've got a few 6%-ish mods. I guess I'll go ahead and sell them if they're not that useful. I read a few places that pretty much say "Just go straight to all the purple (ultra rare?) stuff if you can". Slooooowly wrapping my head around it.

[@LenhaRDT0130]

I always love stealth and snipe combat.. never used some of the weapons,, I use some trip wire only in Cauldron bosses, Powershot for sniping and hunter for fire and close combat... didn't bother getting the lodge versions but did get all the frozen wild weapons...

[@Tanui0]

Combat guide which contains only information directly contained in description of items xD and not for example that when hitting armor parts, damage is very low (best is to break such armor first by tearblaster [witch is even don't included in video at all xDDD] or tearblast arrows), hitting every machine in the game in eye deals more damage and lastly by hitting or removing a nonfunctional week point of machine, such as antennas on the back of sawtooth, stalker or thundejaw, we deal additional damage, which is especially useful when playing on ultra hard difficulty after removing every other functional element of machine (those that are highlighted by focus).

[@omharsuper894]

Love this game i'd finish every category from easy to ultra hard, its amazing!!

[@matiasn.matusjaramillo9181]

Would be nice if you do one showing how to use your strider to attack foes

[@matiasn.matusjaramillo9181]

But your strider alone I mean,

[@joshreubenbezuidenhout7153]

Wow I wasn’t expecting a tutorial video to be this funny 😹

[@ErisMorn]

I know this is late but I’m coming back to the game after two years and this is really helpful because I had no idea what the controls were and that

[@ShayanAsim]

Thank you for explaining the difference between weapons! 👍🏼

[@jcvaluations]

Just finally jumped on this game and this video is a huge help. Thanks!

[@EPadre]

Subscribed because of this guide alone. Keep it up, this was great!

[@anni995]

I don't know why I'm still watching these videos after playing through the game twice already:D I wish it had more open world game play like The Legend of Zelda has on Switch... This is control wise one of my all-time favorite games ever but there isn't enough to do in the game. Of course there's the Frozen Wilds expansion pack but I still wish there were more to do outside the actual story line (which is quite limited and short in itself tbh)

[@MagicMikeBilliards]

Have you done all the side missions? (The green exclamation points) that’s outside the story

[@anni995]

@@MagicMikeBilliards yeah! I've done everything including all the stuff in the dlc🤭

[@MagicMikeBilliards]

@@anni995 Do you eventually gain every skill including the traveler skill tree even though the max level is 60?

[@garyaubrey4096]

Late to the thread, lol, but I had to say well done! Nice job.

[@antoniofirenze]

Haha! Funny and you summarised all that has to be known. Thanks!

[@SickSoundingStuff]

Hello there and great job on the video. It's super helpful for a Noob like me, helping me figure out up from down and left from right in ways of combat and preparation thereof. However, if I may, perhaps, offer up a suggestion that'll help your videos and make them a tad bit more palatable. And that suggestion? Music, my good man. Pure and simple, good ole music. My suggestion would be the inclusion of some easy listening music in the background of your videos. Some thing simple and elegant to compliment the tone and pace of your voice. Hell, even just some ambient noise would do the trick. And just why you may ask? Firstly, why not would be my counter-argument to your argument, but on a deeper level if we were to peel back the paper thin skin on the topic, the inclusion of music would breath life into you work, really a piece of art as it were, and subconsciously I believe it would sink hooks into those in attendance and help them to keep focus as you drone on. Music is the tie that binds us all together. Without it your work feels incomplete and lacking of substance. And not to mention it is proven memories are retained more readily if one were to study with the ad of music. Because your videos are essentially a study into HZD, this on my makes sense. Now perhaps you decided to go the route of adding some noise, you'll only have me to thanks when your ratings increase. Should this end up being so, and I think it will, mayhaps you'll make mention of the one and only 'Klevin Kind,' in a future video down the line. After all, all is fair in love and war (AND creativity). Since you've made it this far into my comment I commend you in your tenacity and willingness to see things through. And as such I now fully expect you to PUT SOME GOD DAMN MUSIC IN YOUR HAD DAMN VIDEO!! In Theory, Klevin Kind

[@darthgumby2406]

I'd like to see a strategy for each type of enemy. I kept getting my ass handed to me on sawtooths, I just keep shooting them with a bunch of fire arrows and running away. Eventually this works on easy mode.

[@Ali23111]

I love your energy. Subscribed.

[@sk0n930]

Very useful vid! 10/10

[@superatech]

Love you Love you Love you. You are very funny and even more important...easy going! My favorite 2 characteristics in a You-Tuber who's trying to help us do a game. Thank you! I just got this game on sale for Christmas.

[@toonarmy.]

Great guide best ive seen 👍

[@bandi642]

8:35 when you said here is music my spotify suddenly played and i thought u had my taste lmao

[@mistrjt9213]

Did you know you can use Harvest Arrows to knock off components after the machine is down but prior to searching its body? Now you know! 🤑 (I’m a noob. Just got this game last week.) 👍

[@alnevanderwalt7035]

Dude, you rock. Thanks for the very informative and surprisingly funny video.

[@InnerSunshine]

Wow, very helpful. I'm 15 hours in and much of this new to me.

[@DetectiveStablerSVU]

Thank you. I wanted to come back and finish my one playthrough before the new one comes out but I forgot the mechanics.

[@oreoex9392]

holy crap i totally forgot about the rock....lol i so needed that thing in so many instances

[@Yuri-fh9zu]

Very good guide, funny, entertaining, and memorable. Keep it up you're great.

[@VideoGameSophistry]

Much appreciated!

[@SevenDaysToNoon]

Brilliant stuff! This guide should be in the game! 👍

[@madhuryalilananda]

good video, but wish there was one for if you play on a PC.

[@Not_Sure-2020]

I was waiting on the shadow weapons as I thought there might be more when I got farther in the game. Good to know.

[@greg_c23]

So helpful. Thank you dude

[@otizzlebabe8715]

Finally got mine for $20 at Walmart awsome luving it

[@philanson9111]

love the elemental bow and sling, if you use mods correctly reduces the ammount of shots you need to inflict to get the elemental effect.

[@Gaming_With_Jordy]

This video is really was helpful tank you 👍🙏

[@edwardvargasperez3545]

This is the best guide by far

[@JokerJay1990]

Fucking love this channel.

[@funtime_error_]

When that sawtooth came running at you you could’ve dodged cuz one sticky bomb was about to explode

[@okeymmeje5118]

people should learn how to grab a viewers attention. 20 seconds in and i already clicked the "like" button

[@kratos9174]

I JUST START PLAYING 2024, getting better so far , good game❤

[@Girundy]

I took a break from this game so needed a refresh on the controls.

[@mainek7947]

I don't know anything about this game, besides that machines taken the world and humans were wiped and had to start from prehistoric ages fighting machines, but this video that played because of autoplay made me want to buy this game.

[@ibrahimsaba1592]

This game might have more combat abilities skills with complex full techniques and had to be more dynamic with attacks from bandits and machines. I wish Guerrilla games will work seriously on this and know what I want and put it in the next game.

[@TheLateral18]

thanks for the guide, needed it. the menu is huge

[@mewtkeys]

I'm having a hard time understand this game. It wants to play like an action but doesn't execute well. I try stealth and end up being discovered and at this point it's not even worth fighting cos I'm just going to get ganked. I don't even have access to any of these weapons/amo types so I'm really confused.

[@fincaboyz9766]

Same i am too dumb to play well and die often 😂😂

[@MrDoctor9th]

First two skill should these: Silent strike and Lure

[@n4mel3ssw0lf8]

and concentration.