SLITHERFANG Master Machine Hunting Guide | Horizon Forbidden West

[@svoidsofinfinitechaos9367]

I’ve gotten to a point where I look forward to fighting the Slitherfang, because while it is challenging, it’s so satisfying when you land those shots and finally beat them.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Absolutely! Yeah once you've learned their movement and attacks they're a pretty fun challenge to fight!

[@danieldbeavers]

Drill spikes for DoTs and coiling for knockdown is brilliant. I'm finding with the orange quality endgame weapons that most elemental resistance is pretty irrelevant, love that you make these guides for people who need the strategy most because they don't have orange everything to just dump damage and elemental states on everything regardless of resistance.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thanks Dan! It took me a while to figure out the drill spike knockdown tactic, but I think it was worth the experimenting I did. And yes, the Sun Scourge is pretty OP even on Very Hard. As you said, you can basically freeze any machine in few shots. I do try to make these guides as accessible as I can so they're useful to as many people as possible. I figure if I can show a way to do this with lower level gear on the hardest difficulty than anyone player on a easier difficulty and/or using better gear will just find the strategy even more effective.

[@emmyobinna]

Honestly Artik's guides are simply amazing. One quick tip; slitherfangs are weak to plasma and fire so you can interrupt its attacks by inflicting the plasma state

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thanks Emeka! 😄 And yes that’s a good tip! Plasma can definitely interrupt attacks if you time it well!

[@emmyobinna]

@@ArktixOfficial Indeed. Attack cancelling is about the only tactical utility plasma actually has :)

[@ArktixOfficial]

It really is lol

[@spiritual84]

@@emmyobinna it's useful to bring flying machines to the ground as well for easier shooting.. especially since both Apex Dreadwings and Apex Stormbirds are weak to plasma

[@emmyobinna]

@@spiritual84 I find the vindicator drill spike coiled with knockdown power much more effective at bringing flying machines down

[@vici429]

Another Note If you can, try to pick up the Earthgrinders as soon as you can with the Slitherfang whirling all over the place they can easily get Physics'd over the nearest mountain.

[@furiousstyles08]

Agree. The "instant pick-up" in settings helps a lot.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Yes, very good point Furious!

[@ArktixOfficial]

Yes definitely! Those babies can get thrown super far!

[@jaydoe7378]

Been play horizon since the day zero dawn came out, now that forbidden west is out I’m in love with this game and I try to learn everything I can about and I basically know how to kill every machine and know how to get every single component or part in the game but I will still stop to watch your videos cause you give such good in-depth and great content that is enjoyable to watch even if you know how to do what the video is trying to teach you Thank you for the great content!!

[@ArktixOfficial]

@Jaydoe Wow thank you! 😄 I’m glad a very experienced player like yourself can still enjoy my videos!

[@jaydoe7378]

@@ArktixOfficial ofc man there is always something new to learn in this game that’s what brings me back

[@Skoora]

Drill spikes are my favorite weapon in this game. There’s just something very satisfying about hearing the crunch and damage as they continue to work.

[@nzrulez1]

I'm enjoying these in depth videos of forbidden west, makes the game more enjoyable. Great work keep up with the amazing content

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoy these!

[@smengamer123]

you might wanna join the discord then 😄

[@TheFirstCurse1]

They're some of the best Machines in the series. Their design is perfect, and they're awesome to fight. I'll never forget fighting that one in the tutorial area a year and a half ago. I was blown away.

[@AceRazor]

This channel is unparalleled with how you present info and then make it easily applicable for players.👌🏽👏🏽

[@PabloReyesPz]

Great guide as always man! It was always difficult for me not to kill the Slitherfang, in the time they came fairly easy to take down, but to farm those earthgrinders was another tale, once I managed to tore off these from the neck, its movements and and swirling got them scattered all over the desert. Sometimes it took me longer to recover those earthgrinders than to kill the Slitherfang itself, many times I recoverd just 2 out of the 3 components, so if you are wandering the desert and find some, it's maybe one of mine. Thanks again for taking your time to explain so clearly this game mechanics!

[@paristeta5483]

I leave this as an answer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWWyc4irpc6Wjck

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thanks Pablo! Yes, I have spent a lot of time searching for the earthgrinders as well 😂🙄 They can get thrown super far! I'll let you know if I find any of yours in the desert 😉😁

[@erikterwijn7478]

I figured out by accident the following when I was going for the earth grinders. I used the death seeker shadow with adv hunting arrows triple notch. Shot a couple of times on the earth grinders when he was erect (went pretty smooth in slomo). Then they shot off right in front of him. So not far off at all. When I used tear damage arrows they fly like 200 meters away 😅 And another thing, I only needed these grinders so I picked them up and left the battle field. He went underground. I got back because it felt like unfinished business. When he re-appeared he got all grinders again! So within no time I had these grinders again off the same slither fang?! Maybe this was already known and offc I know with the easy looting but this is still an in betweener 😊; somewhat honest and fair fight to get them. Anyway, just my 2 cents. And love your content! It's the best out there, so detailed. Love it! Keep them coming

[@Jess-nx7cc]

I just have to say how much I love your videos and how much of an impact they have had with my experience playing HFW. I used to dread fighting a lot of machines like the slitherfang but after watching your video it’s really improved my play style and has had a really positive impact on my experience with this game, because of your videos I no longer dread certain aspects of this game such as battling slitherfangs and with the help of your videos have actually come to love fighting and even seeking them out for a fight🤣. Thanks for making these great videos and really hope you continue to make more❤️

[@ArktixOfficial]

Hey thanks! So glad to hear you've found these helpful and enjoy the game more because of it 😄 That's always my goal! I do plan to continue the machine hunting series for the rest of the big machines 👍

[@daanduijkers4845]

I personally do not mind the Slytherfang moving around so much. It makes actually hitting targets a challenge for once! I personally always go for the following strategy with Slytherfangs: 1. destroy the purge-water sack on its bag with a braced-shot; 2. shoot off the earth grinders (and immediately try to pick them up before it throws them all over the place with its attacks); 3. destroy the acid sack on its front; 4. expose and hit its shock canisters to stun it (during which I always try to shoot off its electric cannons to nullify that attack); 5. following the above points, its health will then usually have been brought so low all I need to do then is finish it off.

[@furiousstyles08]

I imagine that you're in stealth when firing at the purgewater sacs. If not, how do you hit the sacs if they're behind the slitherfang?

[@daanduijkers4845]

@@furiousstyles08 Yeah, I use stealth...

[@ArktixOfficial]

Nice strategy! Honestly, I play it very similar myself most of the time since it's more fun and a better challenge, as you said. With these guides though, I try to give the most effective methods that most players could do as early as possible in the game, especially to get upgrade resources like the earthgrinders. Thanks for sharing your strategy!

[@briangray5067]

Thank you for all of the videos! The channel is awesome. There are many BS channels that are just click-baiting for obvious topics with zero insight. You have tons of valuable information for even the most advanced players. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thank you Brian! 😄 I’m glad you find my videos useful! As you say, there’s a lot of “fluff” out there, which was one of my motivations for starting this channel. I couldn’t believe there weren’t good Horizon guides out there, so I figured I’d try making them!

[@AlexRGaming]

All I can say is that I should have watched this video before trying to fight a Slitherfang yesterday to get the earthgrinders (after coming back to the game after a break lol). Very well explained, thank you.

[@Fraukie_H]

Thank you SO much for the suggestion to use autosprint for sliding. I never tried that. Autosprints on machine tends to strand me at some wall or in the wrong direction during races and I "feared" the autosprint on foot because I thought it would mean that Aloy always runs if not crouched and I only could see that end badly for me. This tip alone just saved my thumb. A few years ago I managed to rupture the capsular of the thumb joint. I knew this can't heal properly without surgery but I had a choice to make: 1. spend days on the phone and hours to drive to find a surgeon who is not that kneedeep overworked that they even have the time to fix that or 2. staying put on my surrogate moms bed in hospice.. spending the little time that was left with her I made my choice, bought a plaster bandage, build a splint so I could keep the joint as still as possible a just lived with the knowledge that this thumb would not go back to 100%. I don't regret this. The time with her was worth it and the joint healed a lot better than I expected, gives me not much trouble at all. But keeping the stick pressed in during fights in Horizon so I could use the gliding aint a pleasure at all. For months now I thought "Well if THAT is your biggest problem with this thumb, than you need to count yourself lucky." But thx to you now even that problem went away ;)

[@benjaminyoder3463]

Love these machine strategy videos! I went from literally running from slitherfangs to taking them down and getting all of the earthgrinders every time (same with the Tremortusk too)

[@ArktixOfficial]

Awesome! I’m glad to hear you like things and that they’re helpful! 😄

[@The_Story_Of_Us]

Speaking as a fairly experienced player, thank you for the tip on damage over time with the knockdown, I didn’t know each tick of damage has a knockdown chance. I assume the same works with Shredder gauntlets too.

[@ArktixOfficial]

You're very welcome! I'm glad you could find something helpful in here even as an experienced player! And yes, the same applies for shredders, but there's fewer ticks on shredders compared to drill spikes, so less knockdown buildup/chance for knockdown.

[@The_Story_Of_Us]

@@ArktixOfficial true, but remember that if you're inclined to be a cheapskate, Shredder ammo is pretty much free. Throw thrice, swap ammo type, swap back. Infinite ammo.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Absolutely! Honestly! I like to use shredders more than drill spikes because it's more fun and resource efficient. But I think people struggle with shredders, so I didn't want to make that the main strategy in this video.

The long-awaited video has finally arrived

[@ArktixOfficial]

@Kynam Van Yes finally! I hope you find it helpful!

[@luciusgracchus]

Thanks for your guide I managed to take down the Arena Slitherfang. It was a very frustrating fight because of the tight space. Speaking of which you should make a video of the arena fights for different builds. As a sneaker I have a difficult time with the tight space and open fights. Thanks again.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Nice! Congrats on that. I do have an Arena guide on my list of videos to make. Unfortunately, stealth isn’t very viable in the Arena 😕

[@luciusgracchus]

@@ArktixOfficial Thanks. This guide made me a routine SF farmer. Problem with that that everything needs the grinders but there is only one site. Your advices in this video made the fight routine. One little addition: when you shoot tearblast arrows to the grinders shoot next to the grinders not between them. For me it was almost impossible to shoot between them while it was stunned, and most times it was stuck to the grinder many times destroying them instead of remove them. Since I found that right next to them works every time I leave with three all the time. Good work with the videos, keep up, and I wait an Arena series... Those battles are ridiculous...

[@catofnbr6502]

I have hade a such a difficult time taking the slitherfang down with their diffrent attacks but this is gonna help me so much. I'm gonna try this when i get back home.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Great! I hope it helped you Catofnbr!

[@Chandasouk]

No more running away from serpents for me

[@ArktixOfficial]

@Chandasouk Nice! I hope this helps!

[@Rlogsdon100]

I beat forbidden west, and did some end game stuff. Then dove into elden ring. Finding your channel has me diving back in

[@ArktixOfficial]

That’s awesome to hear! I’m glad I was able to inspire you to enjoy more Horizon! 😄

[@sembohle265]

Nice video, as always. I'll try to use some knockdown coils on my spikethrowers next time. Thanks for the tip!

[@paristeta5483]

Don´t know if the knockdown coils effect work on the drill dots but if you referring from the video, the knockdown coil were for the Shredder Gauntlet, and the damage over time Coil for the Drillspike. The DoT Coils on the Drillspike also have the advantage to increase the damage, which also increases with the brittle status effect.

[@sembohle265]

@@paristeta5483 sorry I must have misremembered. I think both options could work though. I wish the game would tell us these things. And apparently if you press L2+R2 at the same time you catch the shredder, the shredder is instantly charged. It was written in the guide apparently

[@paristeta5483]

@@sembohle265 Yes, it hard to test and no combat log. L2+R2 yes, no charge up, put no Shredder DoT ticks either, and the since the first DoT Tick on Lightning is the same as the impact damage, you miss a lot of damage, maybe for the physical shredders and acid or when fishing for knockdowns.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thanks Sem Bohle! Or should I call you Phosphoras here too? Yes, give knockdown power coils a try on drill spikes. Very handy.

[@thatflyguysavi4196]

Honestly already platinumed this on VeryHard, just here boosting exposure/ supporting algorithms. Great video bro!

[@ArktixOfficial]

Hey thanks! Glad you're enjoying my content =D And thanks a lot for the algorithm boost! 🤜🤛

[@HeavenOnHigh]

Remember, if you're just after the parts, you can always blow them off, trow a smoke bomb, pick them up and run around 110 meter away, then he reappears. You don't have to wait on a hideout, or teleport. Smoke bombs cast 60 scarbs if that's to expensive then try blowing off he's tale too for some extra money, or go to the T-Rex for money farming.

[@TheAbandonedAccount7]

what

[@enma9212]

atlast a very good hunting guide been waiting for this in a while Thanks😊👍

[@ArktixOfficial]

You’re very welcome! I hope you find it helpful!

[@derColt]

just found your videos while looking for some more details in skills for forbidden west and binged alot of them. keep it up. awesome work

[@ArktixOfficial]

Hey thanks Dennis! I'm glad you're finding these helpful! 😄

[@fatal_error_3]

Thanks so much for this. I was stuck against the slitherfang in one of the cauldrons for ever. Beat it first try with your tactic.

[@metafishling]

For tough machines that are weak to fire, I have found that a level 5 delta sharpshot bow using advanced precision arrows and with additional +18% burning mods works very well. This is more of a mid- to late-game strategy though.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Nice! That s a pretty unique build. I’ll have to give it a try!

[@MichaelMCDoesntExist69]

Definitely my favorite new Machine in Forbidden West! Thank you again for these awesome guides 👍

[@ArktixOfficial]

You're very welcome! Thanks for watching them and always leaving such kind comments! I agree Slitherfangs are very cool!

[@FlowMega100]

your videos are so sick, doing my new game + playthrough and learning about so many new things.

[@torezgermy2]

Please keep them coming. I normally play on hard but I turn down the difficulty when farming to normal and some times easy. I have killed Slitherfangs on hard but it took so long and all my resources that's why I turn down the difficulty when farming for earth grinders and Apex Slitherfang heart.

[@paristeta5483]

Maybe now give hard/very hard another try? And if your good at evading, maybe a low health variant playstyle?

[@torezgermy2]

@@paristeta5483 I have legendary and purple gear now so it's not as difficulty as before when I only had blue gear.

[@ArktixOfficial]

I'm glad you like these guides! They will certainly keep coming. I hope this helps you with the Slitherfangs!

[@johnnykatsigiorgis8445]

Outstanding guide! It worked flawlessly for me, almost made killing a regular one too easy!

[@ArktixOfficial]

Awesome! Nice work 👍 Glad you found this helpful 😄

[@p1psychoticprankster]

Usually in my experience it takes 2-3 overdrawn drill spikes to the mid section to trigger knockdown for me (I'm using the spinthorn thrower with knockdown coils). After getting the earth grinders I like to freeze and then brace shot to its head to do some serious damage. Also on ultra hard I'd recommend knocking it down with drill spikes, freezing it, then removing the parts on is tail to help deal with it's lightning AoE. This is just me personally as is the hardest attack for me to dodge.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Great tips! Yeah those tail lightning attacks are definitely the worst!

[@jreddie92]

I like the drill spike knockdown technique. I do feel plasma is useful with the endgame Forgefall bow because inflicting plasma and the bursts interrupt the slitherfang during its crucial attacks. Usually, if you inflict plasma and build it up, it usually bursts and interrupts its shock attack and causes it to recoil, setting it up for a loop.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Yes! Plasma can be good for interrupting attacks for sure. I just personally don’t like the delay because it’s hard to predict when exactly it will interrupt an attack. But it can certainly be useful that way!

[@jreddie92]

@@ArktixOfficial True, that's why I use it in conjunction with staggerbeam trip wires to constantly flinch and interrupt its attacks. Some times the fight goes flawlessly, other times it needs to be improvised. Your method seems the best for farming its parts though.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Ah good idea with the staggerbeams!

[@bloodthirst8430]

bro ur extremely underrated i started killing machines unfazed

[@ArktixOfficial]

Haha thanks! And that’s great! Hope you’re finding my other content helpful too 😄

[@ShawnTheDriver]

I get my shit blown in all of the time on NORMAL by this machine, because I never knew a good way of taking it down quickly. Thank you so much for this video, you’re doing the Lords work lol. Seeing you beat it so fast on the hardest setting simultaneously pissed me off and gave me hope 😂

[@ArktixOfficial]

Lol thanks Shawn 😂 Hopefully you've been able to take some Slitherfangs down more easily after watching this!

[@rogercabezas1397]

I find that if you knockdown the Slitherfang and then knock off it's grinders, while it makes the shots easier, the beast rolls around when getting up and you end up losing the grinders more often, either through them being sent flying far away from you, or more often, by them being knocked into the ground and disappearing. Better to wait until it's upright and then hit it with precision tear arrow

[@ArktixOfficial]

True, they do tend to wipe those earthgrinders around! I wish Guerrilla would make it so components could move much once they were torn off. I hate searching for them lol

[@daniel_gr17]

Your guides are awesome, I'm going through the whole playlist. Amazing content, thank you.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Hey thanks! Glad you're enjoying them. Hope you find the tips helpful!

[@footballasylum6239]

Fantastic video Arktix, your absolutely smashing this game and thanks for all the help your giving us 💯👍😁😎🇬🇧

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thanks Football Asylum. As always you are so kind and I always appreciate your support 😄🤜🤛

[@ar1sm70]

I don't know how many FW videos you've made in total, but I'm still binging them even though I've beat the game 3 times lol. Probably gonna go for another playthrough from scratch and try some of your strats!

[@ArktixOfficial]

Hey thanks! Glad you're enjoying my content and the game 😄

[@CharlesBurleigh]

Hey Arktix, I'd love for you to a series of videos on the Arena. If not a whole series, at least the Slitherfang Rematch. That one is tough because you don't get to pick your own weapons.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Hey Charles! A guide for the Arena locked loadout challenges is high on my list actually! I’ll probably do it soon. A lot of people have been asking for it lately.

[@fairyanimal]

if you are near a sand dune you can use it to hide, alternating from side to side. works well at the spot north of scalding spear, on the way to slitherfang site from the nearest campfire

[@forgotmykeys5266]

Love these videos, keep up the good work and thanks to the community as well.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying my content!

[@kamkash]

Much thanks homie... i was struggling with 30 slitherfang cauldron, after watching the video i smoked him...

[@ArktixOfficial]

Awesome! Glad this was helpful 😄 Good work!

[@infinitydrifter]

All of your HFW videos are incredibly helpful and have fundamentally changed the way I play. I return to them over and over. Thank you! One minor observation, though ... it's SPIN-thorn, not SPINE -thorn. Y'know, because as drill spikes they SPIN, right? :)

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thanks! And yeah I realized later I was saying that wrong lol

[@infinitydrifter]

@@ArktixOfficial One thing I've encountered is that the earthgrinders sometimes vanish after I tear them off, and though I'll remove all three (and see them on the ground and get the text confirmation in the HUD) I often lose track of two of them after the fight is over. I don't know if this is because they get knocked around as the snake thrashes about (I saw that happen during the Live Combat portion of your vid), or because they get smashed during the fight, or perhaps knocked through the mesh. Do you harvest them as they drop? Not a lot of time to do that after a knockdown with only 12 seconds on the clock. The new auto-pickup might make that easier, but it's so frustrating to spend all that ammo and time tearing them off and killing the slitherfang just to have them disappear.

[@brandonwalters3030]

Loving your content on this game. Keep up the good work!

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying my content!

[@EmeralBookwise]

Farming earth grinders was such a pain. Not so much the tearing them off part, but rather the retrieving them after the fight part. In my experience the Slitherfang is just so large and thrashes around so much that the grinders could get knocked very far away during the battle, making them hard to find after.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Oh yeah totally. Sometimes they get pushed down through the map too, which is super annoying. I wish they would change the physics on them so they wouldn’t go flying so far. The other components don’t seem to…

[@EmeralBookwise]

@@ArktixOfficial: mostly, although rockbreaker claws also have similar bad habits.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Yeah totally lol. Those things will go flying

[@tashacraven]

Im loving the drill spikes but have no idea what im doing with them, so having a proper strategy with the knockdown coils on them is such awesome advice! Hopefully can get those slitherfang parts now lol

[@ArktixOfficial]

Glad you found the drill spike tips helpful! I talk a lot more about how knockdown works in my damage types video if you want to check it out.

[@tashacraven]

@@ArktixOfficial oh cheers thanks I will check them out!

[@ArktixOfficial]

Awesome! Hope you find it helpful

[@paristeta5483]

Little late fore me :). Excellent guide will help a lot of newer players out there. Seems they did fix the gap? I remember trying that, and the arrows kept sticking to an invisible hitbox. An advice for the sustained burst, normal ammo has more shots then the advanced stuff, so double check which would do more damage, could actually be the normal ones. Drillspikes are fun, if you are mounted, you can even throw them stationary (no step forward). Also you get up to 15 DoT ticks from them (if component is not destroyed before) and you can apply brittle during the DoT duration, the remaining DoT ticks will have increased damage.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thanks Paris! Yes, I think early on it wasn't possible to land an arrow in that gap between the earthgrinders. I'm not sure when they fixed it. That's a good tip on the boltblasters too! And thanks for sharing some of your findings on drill spikes!

[@alexkeltz4447]

Bro thank you so much for these informations 😅 stormbirds were nothing but a pain in the arse when I 1st encountered it

[@will1565]

These on Ultra hard are just ridiculous, I've got the furthest into a fight with this strat though so cheers for that :)

[@sattoriemei3210]

Tip... you will need 44 earthgrinders for all upgrades so use tearblast arrows on the 3 earthgrinders, pick them up, and run a distance away. Come back and the slitherfang will respawn with 3 more earthgrinders intact, repeat until you have enough for all upgrades. No need to waste time killing. Also keeps them at non apex. After that you can kill them for their other required resources.

[@grandiloquentgeek]

The slitherfang is absurdly easy now on normal difficulty. Thank you!

[@skins4thewin]

This can help during the two scripted Slitherfang Boss fights too, as even w Easy Loot on, you can't Loot the Earthgrinders for some reason... You MUST tear them off if you want them from the two scripted Boss fights! It's VERY helpful to do so too as it'll give you a head start on collecting them later on.

[@al3wad]

can't wait for the fireclaw video. those sac webbings are a pain in the ass

[@ArktixOfficial]

Yes they are! 😂 I'll definitely be doing a Fireclaw guide ASAP!

[@Ri_Shin_Marco]

Nice guide! Shredder are good as well since they remove so many parts at ones! It is just difficult to always hit the Snake :D

[@ArktixOfficial]

Yes! I like using the shredder as well. It's a good challenge to try to land shredder throws on its upper body/head 😄

[@skins4thewin]

If you're quick, you can also sometimes get in a Grapple Strike just before it gets up from a Knockdown. Does huge damage if you also hit the Resonator Blast that appears after doing this. Knockdowns followed by Grapple Strikes & then hitting the Resonator Blast is my favorite way to take out the tougher small & mid sized machines quickly! I like to mix in Drill Spikes, the Knockdown Shot ability w Hunter Bows, & simple Power Strikes w my Spear. These all knock down machines very fast! Just 1 of any of those attacks will knock down small machines, 2 for Mid sized ones. Having an armor with Critical Strike & Resonator Blast +2 helps a LOT with the damage numbers. Aka the Carja Blazon & later on the Oseram Striker outfits are great for this. You can get the Resonator Blast +2 weave pretty early on from the Oseram Wayfarer blue outfit.

[@skins4thewin]

You can also freeze the Apex Slitherfang easily by loading up any Warrior Bow with Instant Brittle Chance coils that you can get from the Arena & Maw of the Arena. You can get one 3% and two 2% of those insta chance coils from the Arena merchants. Just rapid fire your regular Warrior Bow shots at it & it should Proc the Brittle state pretty quicky. Works great on any machine but is specially powerful against Apexes that are resistant to Brittle.

[@skins4thewin]

Great guide! Specially for Ultra Hard where Easy Loot isn't available.

[@Minetic]

I’ll say this playing frisbee golf against them is very satisfying, especially if you catch all your disc

[@ArktixOfficial]

Haha yes! I love using shredders on them 😄

[@furiousstyles08]

I think you've inadvertently wrote a hunting guide for other machines as well. This same strategy works well on Stormbirds, too (after ripping off the lightning guns with tear precision arrows).

[@ArktixOfficial]

Don’t reveal the secret to my upcoming guides Furious! 😉 Lol. But yes, drill spikes are very handy for lots of machines.

[@Skoora]

You know what’s really fun. When it runs over the earth grinder you spent time trying to actually hit and it disappears as if it destroyed it or “absorbed it”. This has happened to me a bunch.

[@furiousstyles08]

Hey man, how in the hell did you discover that spike throwers were the answer? Seriously...what is the story? No way in hell would I have arrived at that. And that's why I subscribe to your channel. I imagine that this has huge implications for future machine hunting guides.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Hey Furious! Lol I was determined to figure out a way to stop those snakes from wiggling around so much. Took some experimenting, but I finally figured out knockdown works by building up a hidden knockdown status and a little bit builds up each time you deal damage, so you need something that just keeps dealing damage. Boltblasters would have worked well, but you can't put knockdown power coils on them (probably because it would work TOO well!). Drill spikes are the best thing I could find. And yes, it does indeed have implications for other machine hunting guides. Drill spikes are very useful on Salughterspines 😉

[@furiousstyles08]

@@ArktixOfficial just trashed an apex Behemoth with the drill spikes. It made it easier to get those force-loaders from it. I really hope the devs don't nerf this.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Nice! I haven't used it on Behemoths yet. I'll have to give it a try. I don't think they'll nerf it...at least I hope not lol

[@barkbarkshark3797]

For Hard late game: I use elite canister caster to plant freeze, use the sun scorch with a a single shot to set it off as it glides over it for my opening and I follow with a glowblast echo shot to the top of its head to remove the resource canisters to get primary nerves guaranteed. The rest of the fight is about the same. Learned not to stress the grinders but prioritize any resource canisters you can cause that’s the real goal. Earthgrinders are wayyyyy too finicky and activate a stress status effect on my brain

[@ArktixOfficial]

Nice strategy! Yeah I focus on the earthgrinders only because I know people are trying to get them for weapon and outfit upgrades. If you don't need them for that then you should focus on other parts of the Slitherfang, like you mentioned.

[@AugustoTobias]

One thing I would add is you should pick up the earthgrinders ASAP. With this games physics, the machine will launch those components to friggin Narnia if you don't.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Yes! They can get flung VERY far! lol yes, even to Narnia 😂

[@kaleb_barbour3]

I would love to see updated guides for the machines that carried over from zero dawn. Are the strategies frostclaws fireclaws scorchers and stormbirds the same?

[@ArktixOfficial]

More machine hunting guides to come! I just posted one for Fireclaws!

[@smengamer123]

Bonus tip: You can lure the slitherfang with a rock to then get a shot on those earth grinders before the fight starts

[@ArktixOfficial]

Hi Gabriel! Hope you're doing well. Good tip! I'll have to try that. Thanks for sharing!

[@JosephCheetah]

Yet another great video. I never thought about focusing on the Slitherfang's lower body. The head is such a large target that it tricks you into thinking that it's easier to hit. This is slightly unrelated but I wanted to get your thoughts on something. Have you been able to get any use out of Knockdown Arrows on a Sharpshot Bow? I have at least one that is fully upgraded (I don't remember which one) and I load it with 3 Knockdown coils but I still can't get it to work.

[@paristeta5483]

It could be, that knockdown ammo and Knockdown power increase still only work on leg hits. The game is sadly stingy with info and even hitboxes seems to be inaccurate at best. I suspect that the lower Body of the slitherfang act like an leg, but i´m not sure and don´t know how to proof it. For testing Knockdown Bows, how about you try it on some thunderjaws and then come back and share the results?

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thank you! Yes, it's definitely tempting to focus on the head. As for knockdown arrows, I've found the same as you. They are very weak and don't seem to work as well as you would hope. I'm wondering if/hoping they'll buff them in the future. If they could trigger knockdowns faster they'd be super useful.

[@paristeta5483]

@@ArktixOfficial DOn´t know if you aware of this thread on reddit, especially ecalogia post. After refining some testing, it seems to be most correct (i.e. Knocdown, witth the Knockdown debff works similiar like an element but hit location seems to matter).

[@ArktixOfficial]

I haven't seen that post, but people who have managed to get their hands on the official game guide have told me it's explained in there that knockdown does indeed build up like an elemental status. It's just hidden. I'm planning to do a video discussing tips form the official guide like that whenever I finally get my copy! It's been back-ordered for months 🙄

[@justuskreimeyer]

Super helpful guide!

[@ArktixOfficial]

Great! Glad you found it helpful 😁

[@kekovillarreal1]

Nice video, very helpfull!

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@CoperliteConsumer]

I love treir design. Literally top tier.

[@jsinj]

Thanks so much for all the videos you do! Your tendency to favorite skill over OP weapons is rare. In this video, you say that the Spinthorn does better knock down than most spike throwers. I assume that's just because of the +25% perk. But if there's another reason I'd like to know. I ask because I'm replaying the game on ultra hard with only level 2 blue weapons. So I'm not going to get that plus 25% on the Spinthorn.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thank you! Glad you enjoy my videos. Yes, the primary reason the Spinthorn is good for knockdown is because of its perk. Though, it's also the fact that it has drill spikes. It's not show much the weapon but the ammo that matters. The drill spikes are what deal a lot of knockdown. If you are limiting yourself to level 2 blue weapons, you will probably still want the Spinthorn because it will give you access to drill spikes. Alternatively, you could use knockdown arrows on the Exacting or Knockdown Sharpshot bow.

[@jsinj]

@@ArktixOfficial I'm currently using drill spikes on the Scalding thrower. At level 2, the stats are nearly the same as the Spinthorn. (100&113 vs 86&117) So I assumed the knock down was the same. I only ask because you wrote the book (spreadsheet) on knockdown damage. So I thought, since you spoke highly of it regarding knockdown, you might have some secret knowledge about a difference in knockdown power on the Spinthorn (in addition to the obvious +25% perk). And I assume, though I haven't seen it written anywhere, that knockdown damage increases with upgrade levels on the weapon.

[@ArktixOfficial]

@@jsinj Nice yeah the Scalding is a good option for drill spikes as well. Knockdown power does not change with weapon upgrade level or rarity. So, your choice of the Scaling would actually be better than the Spinthorn if you are limiting yourself to only 2 upgrades. I believe the Scalding gets it's overdraw perk at upgrade level 1, which will boost knockdown power.

[@jsinj]

That is *really*important* info that knockdown power doesn't change with upgrades. Thanks! I looked up the Spinthorn, and found that it gets its overdraw at level 2. So they are equal there. But the Spinthorn gets a damage over time upgrade at level one. Do you think higher DoT increases knockdown? I know from one of your other videos that each tick on the DoT has a chance to trigger knockdown. So I wonder if higher DoT also means higher knockdown?

[@jsinj]

One more question, and an offer. Question is about your knockdown spreadsheet. Does each shredder that connects do 125 knockdown? I.e., If I get all four hits on a shredder throw/catch, I've dealt 500 knockdown? And the offer is that if you need somebody to just throw hundreds of shredders, under specific conditions, and take video ... I'd be happy to help. :)

[@robertjovero9712]

This was informative to watch. But i cant use spike throwers for the simple fact that i cant gauge the distance correctly and always come up short or long 😂

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thanks! And ah yeah, spikes can be tough to aim. I have some tips in my spike thrower master class video though!

[@robertjovero9712]

@@ArktixOfficial ill check that out!

[@skins4thewin]

If you can buy the Utaru Thresher outfit @ Scalding Spear & upgrade it to at least Level 3, it will give you a Potent Medicine weave that is EXTREMELY helpful on any Armor you want to use! This is actually a pretty easy upgrade if you've been exploring a lot since it just requires Greenshine to upgrade. It's absolutely worth the Greenshine just for the Weave. If you want to get crazy, you can even get a 2nd Potent Medicine weave by selling the armor after taking the Weave offits, then rebuking it later in the game once it appears with the Merchant just outside your Base. You can rebuy armors you've sold as long as it's from a different Vendor than the one you originally bought it from. Thus this can be done with any Armor sold by two or more different Merchants to get extra copies of Weaves!

[@JSmith-nu4bl]

One thing I hate is that this machine can “kick” the dropped grinders very far away and after killing it you have to spend a lot of time hunting for the grinders

[@ArktixOfficial]

Oh yes, very annoying! Those babies can go flying super far! I try to grab them as fast as possible.

[@Dermatologyexams]

Awesome 👍 Helpful

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thanks! Glad to hear you found this helpful!

[@zultaskforce1416]

as for pc player i love your guide mostly using blue berry gear its good for me make me more confident go hunt .. mostly i search tips on ther video and i found out they using endgame gear or ng+ i really don't like it feel like scam for me

[@demonhoopa]

I started playing again recently to get ready for the DLC. I noticed fire seemed to be less nerfed. Not as OP as Zero Dawn but not as useless as it was in Forbidden West a year ago. Was their an update that affected this or am I just imagining it? Great tips for getting the earth grinders. I look forward to trying that

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thanks! And nope, the elements have not been adjusted

[@YourboyMusti]

Smoke and reload the boltblaster. Ideally notch 3 frost arrows too

[@Ellerbeetimes100]

Great job

[@ArktixOfficial]

Thanks!

[@rassilon5322]

Hi, Arktix! Thanks for this guide a lot! Do you have any additional tips for the battle with a Slitherfang in Arena with the specified gear? I have no trouble dealing with this snake at usual conditions, but this battle is very hard for me.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Hi Rassilon! You’re very welcome, and good question! The best way I’ve found to do that challenge is to use the piercing shredders on the shredder gauntlet. I have a video all about how to use shredder gauntlets if you haven’t already seen it. Also, I’d recommend searching for some videos of people doing the Rematch challenge on KZbin to see how they do it with the shredder. Hope that helps!

[@codyconnor6981]

Mounted combat is pretty insane if just want straight damage output.

[@WizzyTheDizzy]

I am now curious on the status effects that applies to us, as I normally don't even see what they are and just keep going. Like in the video, there is a mention of crush and I have no idea what it does.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Good question! Maybe I should do a video on status effects Aloy is susceptible to. Anyway, crushed causes you to take damage while moving, jumping, dodging, etc.

[@ariesadajony]

Pro tip: turn on easy loot and bombard the slitherfang with the wings of the ten or the skykiller

[@MethodSkeptic]

This is the most constructive presentation of “git gud” I’ve ever seen. 😎

[@ArktixOfficial]

Lol thanks Grimwalker 😂 I do try to make the methods achievable for most players.

[@j915winterking9]

It is so easy to take down slitheFs with this.... Gosh, it is so trivial now that I have killed 20 of em.

[@roonkolos]

Theres 2 fun moments i had against these pricks ♡ There was going melee build w/ the Carjas Bane Warrior Bow against these things which while I *DO NOT* recommend was intense and fun as hell The other was accidentally hitting its weak spot on the back of its head to instant kill it. Used the Brace Shot & the thunderjaw armor as well as the Ranged Master skill I don't know if it was meant to go down instantly or the combo of things did it in one go but my God it. WAS. Satisfying. Blew out the earth grinders sadly but was still worth it

[@ArktixOfficial]

Haha nice! Sounds like those were some fun fights 😄

[@skins4thewin]

Targeting the Data Nexus on it's back with your strongest Sharpshot Bow after a Knockdown is also a really strong tactic, as shown in this video @ the 12:57 mark!

[@juliashenandoah3965]

Forbidden West is so much better than Zero Dawn, and has epic long fights like these Slitherfangs. Slitherfangs and Snapmaws are the best :)

[@Rizzmon1405]

Waiting for the pc port 😞

[@ArktixOfficial]

Oh me too me too 😁

[@palashgargav4630]

Drilling spikes are very expensive use shock arrows instead..

[@aquaaaaaaaaa4373]

Before watching, i hope this helps bc i hate fighting them

[@ArktixOfficial]

I hope it helped!

[@tumanahwulukau2004]

I’ve been trying to take this Slitherfang down for weeks now

[@ArktixOfficial]

Hope these tips helped!

[@LumenPsycho]

What about immediately picking up the Earthgrinders or any Key Upgrade loot for that matter? They seems to move around in combat & would no be surprised if some fall through the map or get shot into space.

[@tommymorris7329]

I can't like this video again so, here's a comment for a boost. 😉👍🏹

[@ArktixOfficial]

Hey thanks a lot! Glad you liked the video 😄 And thanks for your support!

[@Helifax19]

My only problem with the Slitherfang is that it can destroy the torn out components if you don't pick them up immediately after tearing them. He moves and attacks too much so in the process 3/5 times he destroys the earth-grinders :(

[@ArktixOfficial]

Yeah it’s very annoying. Usually they’re not destroyed but instead just flung really far away into the desert. But they do sometimes get pushed down through the map and get lost forever.

[@FallenOne669]

The most annoying machine to fight when you need materials is the Fireclaw. Getting that Sac webbing is so irritating.

[@ArktixOfficial]

Yes! Fireclaws are pretty annoying! I'll be doing a video for them!

[@defi100nt9]

A question: when a weapon's description says x% more damage, that extra damage applies to impact and tear damage or only impact damage?

[@madeofnapalm]

Just grab the grinders immediately before they phase into another dimension 😁