Any machine, big or small, can pose a hazard to Aloy as she hunts or travels the world. However, it goes without saying that some mechs are far more difficult to fight than others.
As you progress through the story of Horizon Forbidden West, the machines get bigger and harder to beat. And it’s not just stories that pose the greatest danger. You’ll find large mechs like Tremortusks and Slaughterspines on side quests, cauldrons, and even on the go. With that said, let’s try to identify the most difficult mechs in the game to fight.
10 trembling tusks
These elephant and mammoth-like machines are very menacing. Not only are they huge, but they also have a variety of elemental attacks. They will charge, stomp, smack and blast you with electricity, plasma, rocket fire and, worst of all, fireballs. Keep some frost ammo handy.
Machines are in the combat category and heavyweight class. The only way to bypass Tremortusk is to complete the hardest KAPPA Cauldron on the map.
9 thunderjaw
-1.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=740&dpr=1.5)
The Thunderjaw is one of the most powerful and largest machines you will ever face. It’s bad enough if you come across it in the wild, but at least you can get away with it. But sometimes you have to fight these terrifying creatures.
Avoid charges and tail lashes that can do significant damage if you get close. Even at long range, the Thunderjaw is difficult to dodge with its rapid-fire plasma cannon. The same goes for explosive disc launchers and laser beams.
8 wings of fear
While searching for Demeter in a lush and overgrown facility, you first come across this gigantic bat-shaped machine. Heavyweight fighters unleash massive attacks. One might say too many.
Dreadwing’s abilities include pulse stomp, melee sprint, camouflage, bomb shot, ice mine, flash bang, acid spit, plasma bomb, and noxious gas. Flying mechs are already difficult to fight, but Dreadwing’s camouflage abilities make it even more difficult. The machine’s only weakness is fire, and it is resistant to frost, shock, and acid.
7 Ghost
The Specter is unique compared to all other machines in the Forbidden West. Skills and armor plating are different due to the connection with Fazenis. Fortunately, Specters only appear in main or side missions, so you shouldn’t have to worry about encountering them in the open world.
Mechs are always ready for battle with unique attacks and abilities. They can also regenerate any armor you remove, so giving them a chance to recover can quickly pay off your hard work.
6 slaughter thorn
To say Slaughterspine is strong when under plasma attack is an understatement. This gigantic dinosaur can shoot anything: plasma beams, orbs, feathers, homing blasts, and more. Slaughterspine is common in the open world. You can see them walking aimlessly in circles in a wide open space.
Slaughterspine’s main weakness is Purgewater, so you’ll want to build lots of traps before approaching it. However, regardless of the approach, Slaughterspine’s average level is 45, making it a true force to be reckoned with wherever you encounter it.
5 Barbfang
Slitherfang is one of the first large mechs you’ll be forced to fight while playing through the main quest. These gigantic cobra-like machines are just as poisonous as any animal. Slitherfang moves fast and is a difficult target to hit due to its slender frame.
But its shape and speed aren’t the only things that make it difficult to beat. Slitherfang can burrow into the ground to quickly disappear from your sight, then shoot from the ground below you.
4 billeg
You wouldn’t have expected a frog-like machine to be so powerful. However, the Burning Shores DLC will show how powerful the machine can be. Bilegut is a large frog or toad-like machine that uses elemental acid attacks. In addition to acid damage, bileguts have strong hind legs that allow them to launch mechs across the battlefield.
You need to put some distance between yourself and the machine, but even from a distance, the bile field can jump at you and do massive damage.
three Stormbird
Typically found in high altitude areas such as snowy mountain peaks, the Stormbird is a large and formidable machine. Flying machines are fast and tenacious. Once it spots you, it will aggressively pursue you with powerful attacks. You can think of the Stormbird as the Sunwing’s much larger and more aggressive cousin. Absolutely no boarding this bird.
You’ll have a hard time firing them in the air while taking fire, shock, and cold damage. Once a Stormbird is airborne, it is often difficult to attack. But even if she can’t fly, it will still be an uphill battle.
2 tide ripper
Your quest for Poseidon will lead you directly into the realm of giant sea monsters. The Tideripper is so large and comfortable in the space that it should be avoided entirely before clearing the room. You can fight once you get on the ground, but it’s definitely not an easy battle.
Some of Tideripper’s most powerful attacks are water-based attacks such as water blasts and spins. And if that’s not difficult enough, Tideripper can use its antenna to call unwanted visitors.
One rock breaker
Meeting Rockbreaker is not a quick battle. You have to take your time strategically using large mechs like lizards. When digging, you never know when or where they’ll pop out of the ground to attack.
When Rockbreaker is on the ground, large boulders are thrown out, which deal massive damage and are difficult to avoid. This machine is also fire resistant, so prepare to fight with cold and shock ammunition.