Weapons

Learn about all the weapons in Horizon Zero Dawn, including the Hunter Bow, Sharpshot Bow, War Bow, Ropecaster, Tripcaster, Sling, and Blast Sling. Get tips on mods and ammo!

Alright, let's talk about the tools you'll be using to take down these machines in Horizon Zero Dawn. Knowing your weapons is key, and thankfully, there's a good variety to choose from, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. We'll go through each one, so you know exactly what you're packing.

Hunter Bow

First up is the Hunter Bow. Think of this as your reliable all-rounder. It's not the most powerful, but it's quick to reload and fire, making it great for those close-to-medium range encounters. Your standard Hunter Arrows are decent, but the real stars here are the Fire Arrows, which can set enemies ablaze for damage over time, and the Hardpoint Arrows, which pack a punch with good impact damage and high 'tear' (that's the damage that rips off machine components).

If you want to get the most out of this bow, consider getting a couple of the Shadow Hunter Bows. You can mod one specifically for fire damage and another for tear or raw damage. Trust me, a well-modded Hunter Bow is super effective, especially against certain machines.

Sharpshot Bow

Next, we have the Sharpshot Bow. This one is all about precision and distance. It's incredibly accurate, perfect for picking off enemies from afar. The trade-off is that it's pretty slow to fire. This bow has some killer arrows: Precision Arrows are your main damage dealers, especially when you stack damage mods. Then there are Tearblast Arrows – these are fantastic for ripping off specific machine parts. Seriously, aim well and you can knock off almost any component with these.

Harvest Arrows are a bit more niche. They help you get extra resources when you knock off a component, like when you take off a Blaze Canister. Honestly, by the time you get these, you'll probably have plenty of resources already, so they're not essential unless you're really going for maximum loot. For mods, you can either go all-in on damage or focus on handling to speed up your draw and firing.

War Bow

The War Bow is your elemental specialist. It's built around its elemental arrows, similar to how the Hunter Bow has Fire Arrows. You start with Shock Arrows, which stun enemies. Then you get Freeze Arrows. These don't just freeze enemies; they apply a 'Freeze' ailment that makes them take significantly more damage from *all* sources. This is a game-changer against larger, tougher machines – you can bring them down way faster when they're frozen.

The last ammo type is Corruption Arrows. These are interesting: they make a machine 'corrupted,' causing it to attack other machines. They won't attack you directly, but they're still dangerous to other machines. For mods, ideally, you'd want multiple Shadow War Bows, one for each element. But if you have to pick, focus on Shock and Freeze, as Corruption Arrows are less critical.

Ropecaster

Now, the Ropecaster isn't about dealing damage; it's all about control. It fires ropes that automatically tie down enemies, immobilizing them. Bigger machines require more ropes, and the strength of the rope depends on the tier of your Ropecaster. It's the only weapon here without different ammo types, but upgrading its tier makes the ropes stronger and faster to deploy. Just a heads-up: attacking a machine that's tied down will significantly reduce how long it stays immobilized.

The best mod for the Ropecaster is handling, as it lets you fire off those ropes much quicker. Being able to tie down a charging Thunderjaw or a pack of Stalkers can be a lifesaver. Plus, while they're tied down, you can get in some free hits or even attempt an override.

Tripcaster

The Tripcaster is your trap-laying expert. You can place tripwires on the ground, which are best used when you're trying to be sneaky. You plant them along an enemy's patrol path, connecting a start and end point. There are three types of tripwires: Shock Wire, which stuns enemies that cross it; Blast Wire, which deals massive explosive damage; and Fire Wire, which sets enemies on fire for damage over time.

While Shock Wire is useful, it doesn't benefit much from mods. Fire Wire can get a boost from fire mods, but fire arrows are generally better for that. Your best bet is to put extra damage mods on the Tripcaster if you're focusing on the Blast Wire, as that's where you'll see the biggest improvement when enemies trigger your traps.

Sling

The Sling is your go-to for lobbing elemental bombs with a decent area of effect. At its base, the Sling's elemental bombs are more potent than the War Bow's, and you can even stack three arrows with the Triple Shot skill. The main advantage over the War Bow is its ability to hit multiple enemies at once. The ammo types are Freeze, Shock, and Fire. If you plan on using the Sling regularly, having a dedicated one for each element, fully modded, is probably the way to go.

Blast Sling

Finally, the Blast Sling. This is similar to the regular Sling but focuses on explosive bombs, each with different detonation methods. The Blast Bomb is your standard explosive that detonates on impact. The Sticky Bomb is a timed explosive that can attach to targets and deals the most damage of the three types – enemies will notice it but won't attack you, so you can stick multiple bombs on them. The Proximity Bomb deals the least damage but is great for setting up traps, detonating when enemies get close.

For mods, damage mods are really the only ones that make a significant difference for the Blast Sling, especially if you're focusing on those powerful Sticky Bombs.