Ready Your Arrows: Mastering the Bows of Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West
Diving into Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West? Smart choice. In this land of robotic dinosaurs, you need more than a pointy stick. You need the right bow. The best bow. We will unravel the string and share tips for the finest archery gear in Aloy’s hands.
Horizon Zero Dawn’s Arrow Arsenal: Finding the Best Bow for Aloy
Let’s start in Horizon Zero Dawn. You may ask, “What bow can take down a Thunderjaw?” The answer is complex, but soon, you will hit bullseyes.
First, the Lodge War Bow. Obtain it by mastering the Hunting Grounds and earning 15 Blazing Sun marks. This bow is like your trophy for being a great hunter, as it shoots arrows that explode. The metaphorical kind, of course.
If you completed The Frozen Wilds DLC, you’re in luck. The true king of War Bows is the Banuk Champion Bow. This bow isn’t just a weapon; it’s a statement about conquering frozen areas.
For versatility, consider the Sun-Touched Hunter Bow. It behaves like your trusty jeans. This bow is dependable and won’t fail you against Grazers or tougher foes.
Here are common Hunter Bows in Horizon Zero Dawn:
| Weapon Name | Rarity | Stat Value (Example) |
| Shadow Hunter Bow | Very Rare | 80 |
| Banuk Striker Bow | Very Rare | 80 |
| Carja Mighty Bow | Rare | 80 |
| Nora Longshot Bow | Rare | 90 |
These stats reflect their power. Rarity usually suggests better stats. But a well-aimed arrow has power, no matter the bow.
Horizon Forbidden West: Bows Evolved and Amplified
Horizon Forbidden West amps everything up, especially bows. Legendary archery awaits you. Get ready to be amazed by these treasures.
First, let’s discuss legendary options. Forbidden West has three Legendary Hunter Bows:
- Sun Scourge: Sounds fierce, right? It is.
- Death-Seeker’s Shadow: Ideal for the stealthy archer.
- Tears Of The Land God: As powerful as it sounds.
These bows are not mere weapons; they are instruments for destruction. Finding them involves quests, but the rewards are worth it.
Horizon Forbidden West refines bow categories with three choices:
- Hunter Bows: Reliable, cheap ammo, gets the job done. Think of them as bows you can count on.
- Sharpshot Bows: Long-range and high damage. Perfect for taking down enemies from a distance.
- Warrior Bows: Rapid fire, less damage, great for status effects. Ideal for fiery moments.
Looking for a specific legendary? Consider the Emperor’s Reign. This Legendary Hunter Bow resides in the Burning Shores DLC. You can buy it from a trader in the Quen Settlement. It’s the ruler of Hunter Bows with superior stats.
If you prefer faster firing, choose Carja’s Bane, a Legendary Warrior Bow. To get this bow, win all four Gauntlet Runs across the map. Speed matters, both in races and in bowmanship.
Bow Face-Offs: Sun-Touched vs. Pyre and More
Wondering about the difference between the Sun Touched Hunter bow and the Pyre Hunter Bow? Unfortunately, the text doesn’t clarify this. Perhaps this remains a mystery, similar to many gaming questions.
Revisiting bow types in Horizon Forbidden West matters. Here is a quick summary:
- Hunter Bows: Dependable and versatile.
- Sharpshot Bows: Long-range giants.
- Warrior Bows: Efficient status applicators.
Now, let’s compare two legendary Hunter Bows: Death-Seeker’s Shadow versus Tears of the Land-God. Death-Seeker’s Shadow is awesome, but Tears of the Land-God may have the edge in New Game+. It excels at stripping components off machines quickly.
Banuk Bows: The Chill Outcasts’ Arsenal
The Banuk make excellent bows, despite their harsh environment. Their craftsmanship deserves attention.
The Banuk Champion Bow stands out as the top War Bow in Horizon Zero Dawn, especially if you have The Frozen Wilds. Banuk bows favor strength over speed.
The Banuk Striker Bow and Shadow Hunter Bow are both Very Rare and pack strength. Banuk bows reflect their hardy nature.
The Banuk Powershot Bow offers a complex relationship. It needs to charge before shooting, which can be challenging during fast encounters. However, once charged, it deals high damage from afar, perfect for taking out foes stealthily.
Bow Acquisition 101: How to Fill Your Quiver
Let’s cut to the chase: how to acquire these amazing weapons for Aloy?
- Lodge War Bow: Show your skills in the Hunting Grounds and earn 15 Blazing Sun marks.
- Banuk Champion Bow: Complete The Frozen Wilds DLC for your brave effort against the cold.
- Death-Seeker’s Shadow: Become a champion after completing “The Kulrut” quest and “Opening the Arena” side quest.
- Sun Scourge: Defeat Asera in the Rebel Camp: First Forge in Horizon Forbidden West.
- Carja’s Bane: Win all four Gauntlet Runs in Forbidden West for this reward.
Each bow has a unique path to acquisition. Finding your ideal arsenal is part of your adventure.
Beyond Bows: Essential Gear in Horizon Zero Dawn
Bows are crucial for dismantling machines, but there are thrilling tools in Horizon Zero Dawn worth knowing about.
- Tearblaster: Short range but powerful. It strips armor and parts quickly. Get it from the “Hunters’ Blind” quest.
- Bluegleam: Currency in The Frozen Wilds for special merchants. It buys powerful weapons and armor.
- Forgefire: A weapon gained during The Frozen Wilds quests. Upgrade it after defeating Ohlgrud.
- Shield-Weaver Armor: Considered elite gear in the game.
- Crème of armor in Horizon Zero Dawn is found in the “Ancient Armory.” It deflects damage efficiently. Aloy becomes temporarily invincible. This always helps in a fight.
Don’t forget solid armor in Horizon Zero Dawn beyond the Shield-Weaver. It’s good when you want to focus on defenses:
- Nora Valiant: Great damage resistance. Easy to acquire. A solid starting armor, but with upgrades.
- Carja Blazon: Provides fireproofing. Strong defense against fire. Ideal for facing Fire Bellowbacks and other fiery foes.
- Banuk Trailblazer: Another all-rounder for broad protection. Good for staying tanky in battles.
- Stealth Armor: Blend into shadows easily. Necessary for sneaking past machines or surprising bandits.
- Cold Resistance Armor: Protects against frostbite. Useful against Glinthawks and the cold areas of The Frozen Wilds.
- Corruption Resistance Armor: Walk through corrupted zones comfortably. Great for dealing with corrupted environments.
Also, there are essential items:
- Golden Fast Travel Pack: Purchase from merchants. No one enjoys walking across the map all the time.
- Dirty Baskets & Scrap Collector Box: Trade dirty baskets with the Mystery Boxes Merchant for Scrap Collector Boxes. Recycling for profit in a post-apocalypse!
Bows Beyond Horizon: A Quick Detour
While focusing on Horizon’s bows, let’s check out bows from other games for fun and variety.
- Mongolian Recurve Bow: Legendary bow used by Mongol warriors. Known as one of history’s mightiest bows. It appears in many video games.
- Viridescent Hunt (Genshin Impact): A 4-Star bow from the Battle Pass in Genshin Impact. Archery is stylish in Teyvat.
- Hunter’s Path (Genshin Impact): Tighnari’s bow in Genshin Impact. Characters often wield their own signature weapons.
- Recurve Bow (ARK: Survival Evolved): Advanced ranged weapon in ARK’s Primitive+-DLC. Bows still shine in survival games.
- Dragonbone Bow/Daedric Bow (Skyrim): Top-tier bows in Skyrim. Both are great options for damage and versatility.
- Power Enchantment (Minecraft): Increases arrow damage in Minecraft. Power-ups matter even in blocky realms.
- Talon Bow (God of War: Ragnarok): Atreus’s bow in God of War: Ragnarok. Useful for stunning foes and reducing cooldowns.
Here you have it, a quiver-full of knowledge on the best bows in Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West. Now, go hunt machines. May your arrows hit their mark!
