How to get the best Horizon Forbidden West weapons

Shooting a plasma bow in Horizon Forbidden West against a giant turtle robot — (Image credit: Guerrilla Games)

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Hunter Bows
Warrior Bow
Sharpshot Bow
Boltblaster
Spike Thrower
Blastsling
Shredder Gauntlet
Tripcaster

The best Horizon Forbidden West weapons involves a range of things you can find and unlock as you play. Most are mission rewards, some can be bought, but most importantly they are all legendary weapons and the most powerful options in its class. They also come with three different ammo types you can switch between, which means you get even more ammo types to use in a battle without switching weapons.

All the best weapons are ranged options but it is possible to upgrade Aloy's spear by finding and beating the Enduring in Horizon Forbidden West. You'll know when you find them.

Whatever you're after, let's take a look at all the best weapons in Horizon Forbidden West and where or how to get them:

Horizon Forbidden West Hunter Bows

The Sun Scourge

Death Seeker's Shadow

Type: Hunter Bow

How to get: Arena

A master at armor-piercing and electric damage with a fast draw time. It also has targeting hunter arrows, which are particularly useful for fast-moving targets, or small, agile human foes.

The Sun Scourge hunter bow in Horizon Forbidden West — (Image credit: Guerrilla Games)

Type: Hunter Bow

How to get: Complete the First Forge side quest (unlocked by completing all Rebel Camps)

The Sun Scourge is a fantastic all-rounder hunter bow. Quick to fire, additional overdraw damage, and a really good range of elemental arrows (fire, ice, and poison). One to always have in your rotation.

Horizon Forbidden West Warrior Bow

Carja's Bane

Type: Warrior Bow

How to get: Complete all the Gauntlet Runs

A warrior bow that's great for dealing close-range armor-piercing and fire damage. Really useful for those big robots that you just can't get away from and feel like they're always on top of you.

Horizon Forbidden West Sharpshot Bow

Forgefall

Type: Sharpshot Bow

How to get: Trade in 54 Arena medals

This is the top of the line plasma weapon, perfect for chaining up plasma damage before switching to its third armor-piercing ammo type for maximum damage. It's a little slow to fire, but packs a punch.

Horizon Forbidden West Boltblaster

The Blast Forge

Type: Boltblaster

How to get: Trade in 54 Arena medals

This boltblaster is an absolute godsend because it comes with armor-piercing ammo in three different types - one being explosive. Against the high-level robots it's totally invaluable as nothing is resistant to these ammo types.

Horizon Forbidden West Spike Thrower

The Skykiller

Skykiller in Horizon Forbidden West — (Image credit: Guerrilla Games)

Type: Spike Thrower

How to get: Complete the Side Quest - No Way Home

Like the Blast Forge boltblaster, this is a spike thrower that excels in explosive damage. It comes with both classic and advanced explosive spikes, and balances it with flaming spikes for that added drama. It might take a second to charge your throw but the damage it deals is seriously astonishing.

Horizon Forbidden West Blastsling

Wings of the Ten

Type: Blastsling

How to get: TBC

This one is great if you're into using adhesive ammo, which is useful for slowing down or grounding your enemies. This can then be combined with its two types of explosive ammo for maximum damage.

Horizon Forbidden West Shredder Gauntlet

Ancestor's Return

Type: Shredder Gauntlet

How to get: Find all the Ornaments and return them to Stemmur

If you're a pro at chaining together Shredder Gauntlet ammo, which happens when you catch your returning shredder and then keep attacking with it three times in a row, then this is invaluable. It comes with poison, electric, and armor-piercing shredder types, so is perfect for carving health of various types of robotic foes.

Horizon Forbidden West Tripcaster

Tinker's Pride

The Tinker's Forge in Horizon Forbidden West — (Image credit: Guerrilla Games)

Type: Tripcaster

How to get: TBC

The ultimate tripcaster, this one is great for laying traps with various effects including armor piercing and explosions. Super handy if you've got time to prep your attack in advance.

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With contributions from

Leon HurleyManaging editor for guides