Follow this detailed walkthrough for Horizon Forbidden West's 'The Dying Lands' quest. Learn how to reach Plainsong, navigate the Cordon, and solve the Repair Bay TAU puzzles.
Walkthrough
- 1After regaining control in Stone’s Echo, head north-northwest to find Varl and Zo in Plainsong. If you've discovered the Cinnabar Sands Campfire, it will significantly shorten the journey. Otherwise, override a Charger for faster travel.
- 2Be cautious of rebel ambushes in the forests surrounding Plainsong.
- 3Upon arriving in Plainsong, you can visit the Hunter for new weapons like the Frost Hunter Bow and Slicing Shredder Gauntlet, and the Stitcher for outfits such as the Oseram Wayfarer and Utaru Harvester. Upgrading your gear is recommended.
- 4Meet Varl and Zo, exhaust their dialogue, then track them to the upper levels of Plainsong for a second conversation. Prepare yourself before agreeing to meet the Chorus.
- 5Follow Zo, ignoring machines unless she engages them.
- 6Continue following Varl and Zo northwest through the barren fields. You may encounter Apex Burrowers, Scroungers, Scrappers, and Clawstriders. You can scan these Apex variants for your notebook but are generally not required to fight them.
- 7When heading south into the mountains, you will need to defeat two Apex Scrappers and two Clawstriders. Remember Clawstriders are weak to Acid and Shock, targeting their Razor Tails. Apex Scrappers are weak to Shock.
- 8After the fight, continue following Varl and Zo. You can bypass any further machine encounters.
- 9At the cave entrance, search to the left (east) to find and pry open a cache containing the Utaru Whisperer armor. Loot the area before entering the cave.
- 10Inside Repair Bay TAU, proceed south then east. You'll be blocked by an Energy Shield. Turn south, climb ledges, follow a circular passage, and leap a gap east.
- 11Head downhill to a fork, turn left (east), then southeast into a chamber to find a Cauldron Door. Override it to proceed.
- 12Inside the Cauldron, at a fork, note an Energy Shield to the southwest leading to three Leapslashers. Use Silent Strikes to defeat them.
- 13Head up a ramp to the southeast and override another Cauldron door.
- 14Stand on a Pressure Plate. Shoot a protrusion on the rotating pylon to the west when it aligns.
- 15Jump onto the first pylon, climb to the top, and loot north to find the second pylon. Aloy will have Zo stand on the Pressure Plate; shoot the protrusion on the second pylon when aligned.
- 16Repeat the process with a third pylon to the northwest.
- 17Climb the third pylon and make your way west onto a walkway. Ignore the Pressure Plate on the southwestern end for now.
- 18Climb the wall northwest of the Pressure Plate, smash a glass pane, and find a hexagonal crate. Push it through the passage and Energy Shield.
- 19Exit via the broken glass and push the crate onto the Pressure Plate.
- 20Head northeast up the walkway and shoot two more pylons. Drop onto a lower ledge southeast and cross to a walkway along the southeastern end.
- 21Drop north to find another Pressure Plate. The pylons it controls are ahead.
Tips
- Override a Charger to speed up the initial trek to Plainsong.
- Scan Apex machine variants for your notebook, but prioritize avoiding combat if not necessary.
- Clawstriders are weak to Acid and Shock damage; target their Razor Tails.
- Apex Scrappers are weak to Shock damage and have exposed Radars.
- Use Silent Strikes against groups of Leapslashers.
- When solving the pylon puzzles, wait for the protrusion to glow before shooting.
- Utaru Whisperer armor (found in a cache near the cave entrance).
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