Learn how to acquire the Vanguard Hunter Bow in Horizon Forbidden West, including its location, cost, and upgrade materials. A powerful Very Rare weapon.
How to Get the Vanguard Hunter Bow:
You can purchase the Vanguard Hunter Bow from Hunters located in Scalding Spear and Thornmarsh. The cost is 1437 Metal Shards, 1x Tideripper Circulator, and 1x Large Machine Core. To access these vendors, you must complete the quest "The Eye of the Earth."
The Tideripper Circulator component is required for the purchase. You can obtain this by defeating Tiderippers, which are found off the southwestern coast, southwest of Thornmarsh. This location also conveniently houses another merchant selling the bow.
How to Use the Vanguard Hunter Bow:
This bow is a mid-range weapon that prioritizes power and range over draw speed. While it takes slightly longer to reach full Overdraw compared to other bows in its class, it is excellent for stripping machine parts. Its Tear damage is notably high, rivaling most weapons except for higher-quality bows or Sharpshot Bows with Tear Precision Arrows. It also maintains respectable Impact damage, making it effective for both disabling and defeating enemies.
The bow's Acid Arrows are considered mediocre, comparable to Rare weapons and significantly outclassed by specialized elemental weapons or those with Advanced Acid Arrows. They serve as a fallback option.
How to Upgrade the Vanguard Hunter Bow:
The Vanguard Hunter Bow can be upgraded through five ranks, with each rank increasing its stats and potentially unlocking coil slots or perk improvements.
- Rank I: Increased Weapon Stats, 1x Perk Improvement. Requires: 127x Metal Shards, 4x Braided Wire, 4x Small Machine Core, 1x Medium Machine Core.
- Rank II: Increased Weapon Stats, Unlocks Coil Slot. Requires: 212x Metal Shards, 6x Braided Wire, 1x Rollerback Hammer Tail, 3x Stalker Stealth Generator.
- Rank III: Increased Weapon Stats. Requires: 300x Metal Shards, 10x Braided Wire, 1x Large Machine Core, 1x Rollerback Circulator, 1x Dreadwing Metal Fang.
- Rank IV: Increased Weapon Stats, 1x Perk Improvement. Requires: 450x Metal Shards, 2x Large Machine Core, 1x Dreadwing Circulator, 2x Stormbird Storm Cannon, 1x Stalker Primary Nerve.
- Rank V: Increased Weapon Stats, 1x Perk Improvement, Unlocks Coil Slot. Requires: 600x Metal Shards, 1x Luminous Brainstem, 1x Stormbird Primary Nerve, 2x Apex Ravager Heart, 1x Apex Thunderjaw Heart.
Upgrade Material Notes:
- Small Machine Core: Uncommon drop from Lightweight machines.
- Medium Machine Core: Rare drop from Midweight machines.
- Large Machine Core: Rare drop from Heavyweight machines.
- Rollerback Hammer Tail: Legendary component from Rollerbacks (found southwest of Saltbite). Must be detached before the machine is destroyed.
- Stalker Stealth Generator: Legendary component from Stalkers (found near Tallneck: The Stand of the Sentinels). .
- Rollerback Circulator: Uncommon drop from Rollerbacks.
- Dreadwing Metal Fang: Very Rare drop from Dreadwings (found near LATOPOLIS after "Seeds of the Past" quest, or in mountains southeast of Cliffwatch). .
- Dreadwing Circulator: Uncommon drop from Dreadwings.
- Stormbird Storm Cannon: Legendary drop from Stormbirds (found on an island west during "Faro’s Tomb" quest, or in mountains southeast of Cliffwatch). .
- Stalker Primary Nerve: Rare drop from Stalkers.
- Luminous Brainstem: Very Rare drop from Heavyweight machines, Scorchers, Apex Frostclaws, and Specters.
- Stormbird Primary Nerve: Rare drop from Stormbirds.
- Apex Ravager Heart: Very Rare drop from Apex Ravagers.
- Apex Thunderjaw Heart: Rare drop from Apex Thunderjaws.
Vanguard Hunter Bow Stats (Advanced Hunter Arrows):
- Impact: Base 45, Rank I 50, Rank II 54, Rank III 60, Rank IV 67, Rank V 76
- Tear: Base 149, Rank I 157, Rank II 166, Rank III 178, Rank IV 19
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