Need help with the Heap of Trouble side quest in Horizon Zero Dawn? Follow our guide to clear out bandits, find power cells, and defend Free Heap!
Alright, so you've stumbled upon the 'Heap of Trouble' side quest, huh? No worries, I've got your back. This one kicks off at Free Heap, which is way up north of Daytower. You'll know you're close when you pass a little island with some Snapmaws. Petra's in a bind – bandits have swiped a bunch of power cells she needs. These bandits are holed up just east of Free Heap. As you get close to their camp, keep an eye out for Scrappers. They seem like a distraction now, but they'll be important later!
- 1
Clear the Bandit Camp: Head into the bandit camp. Watch out for the two bandits chilling by the archway – try to draw them out and take them down one by one. Once they're dealt with, find some higher ground. Seriously, getting up high makes this whole section way easier. You'll have a much better vantage point to pick off the rest of the bandits. Don't forget to use your Focus to tag everyone so you don't lose track of them. Clear out the first area, then push into the second part of the camp to finish off any remaining bandits.
- 2
Find the Power Cells: With the camp clear, it's time to find those power cells. Two are easy to grab on the ground level. The third one is a bit trickier – it's on top of a building. Head to the north side of the camp, and look for a small gap between the big building and a smaller one. You should see some handholds there that'll lead you right up to the last power cell.
- 3
Scrapper Den: Your next stop is the Scrapper Den. As you leave the bandit camp, you might get a spooky message from a bandit – don't sweat it too much. The Scrapper Den is conveniently located right next to the bandit camp. Your goal here is to snag some weapon parts. You'll find them in Scrapper piles, and yeah, there are quite a few Scrappers roaming around. But hey, by now you should be a pro with your Shadow Sharpshot Bow. A good shot to a weakpoint with purple damage mods can take a Scrapper down instantly.
- 4
Return to Petra: Once you've looted all the weapon parts, head back to Petra. She'll finish up the Oseram Cannon she's been working on. And good timing, too, because just as she's done, bandits are going to start attacking Free Heap!
- 5
Defend Free Heap: Now it's your turn to defend the village. To use the Oseram Cannon, hold down L2 to aim, then hold down R2 to start loading it. You'll see a meter next to your aiming reticule – when it's loaded to where you want it, let go of R2 to fire. The bandits come from three different paths, attacking in waves at first, then all at once. After a few rounds, you'll get a new objective: destroy the bridge. Aim for the ground right between the two arches of the bridge. Nail it, and the quest will finally be over!
- Use your Focus constantly in the bandit camp to keep track of enemy positions.
- Getting to higher ground is key for taking down bandits more easily.
- A well-modded Shadow Sharpshot Bow is your best friend against Scrappers.
- When using the Oseram Cannon, aim carefully and time your shots for maximum impact.
- 4,250 XP for retrieving the parts for Petra.
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