Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds: Defeat Machines

In our DLC machine guide to Horizon Zero Dawn you will learn:

  • What new machines are available
  • What demonic machines are
  • How to defeat the machines

If you're heading into the freezing cold of The Cut area in The Frozen Wilds DLC, you'll have to be prepared for new types of machines that challenge Aloy to hunt them down. In this guide, we'll explain how to best defeat Frost Claw, Control Towers, or Scorchers.

If you want to learn more about the weaknesses of the robots in the main game, we recommend our Horizon Zero Dawn machine guide. If you need help starting the DLC, we also have the right article for you.

What should I watch out for with the new machines in the DLC?

Don't underestimate enemies: The Frozen Wilds story expansion is designed for advanced players, and the new machines will confront you with different behavior patterns and attacks. Even if situations seem to give you an advantage, you should still be careful.

You'll have to imaginedemonic machines similar to the corrupted robots from the main game Horizon Zero Dawn. In The Frozen Wilds, they appear in this form, for example, as pirates, ravagers, or scavengers, which are significantly stronger than their regular counterparts. By the way, demonic machines in the DLC have shock and corruption resistances.

How to defeat the new machines in The Frozen Wilds

Four new machines await you in the DLC expansion, which require different approaches to defeat.

Control towers

Vulnerability

Cooling element (any attacks)

Behavior

Control towers create environments in The Frozen Wilds that are comparable to the corrupted zones from Horizon Zero Dawn. Robots controlled by them - called demonic machines - are much stronger than usual and have resistances to shock and corruption.

Furthermore, control towers disable riding machines, disrupt the Shieldweaver armor's force field, and repair demonic machines when Aloy attacks them.

Strategy

Since control towers in the story expansion seize many different enemy types, you'll have to readjust to each of them. Try to eliminate as many demonic machines as quickly as possible to fight your way out and bypass or destroy the cooling tower.

Another approach is to sneak as close as possible to the control tower with Aloy to attack its cooling element. After all, if it's broken, demonic machines can't be repaired by it.

Override

Find Hatchery PSI in the main Horizon Zero Dawn game and bypass its core. You can find all the useful info in our Hatchery Guide.

Versenger

Vulnerabilities

Whole Body (ice), Lohe Tank (fire & demolition), Mine Launcher & Power Generator (any attacks)

Beware of the Versenger's fire attacks!

Behavior

The Versenger attacks Aloy with large-scale fire attacks and also shoots booby traps with its mine launcher. In general, he is extremely agile, therefore has the possibility to attack often and is quickly deadly, especially in larger numbers.

Strategy

Keep moving and take advantage of the short moments when the Versenger stands still after attacks. Try to pin him down by using the Rope Thrower or bring him down with a cleverly placed Shatter Arrow. In addition, ice attacks in general - regardless of the weapon - are the best way to take down the Versenger.

Bridge

Visit EPSILON Hatchery and bridge the core there.

Frost Claw

Weaknesses

Whole body (fire), ice bag, icing unit (any attacks), energy cell (shock & demolition)

Fights Frost Claw from a safe distance.

Behavior

Frostclaws appear like ponderous bears in terms of their movement patterns, and sometimes straighten up onto two hind legs for attacks. They use ice attacks and move slowly - especially compared to the Versenger - but are equally serious opponents. Also, if Aloy gets too close to them, Frost Claws will grab them for particularly devastating attacks.

Strategy

Therefore, be sure to keep your distance in The Frozen Wilds DLC. If something like this happens, your heroine is completely defenseless and takes a lot of damage. Whenever you can, use trip traps, rope throwers or forge fire. Inflicting fire damage is your main task.

By the way, when the Frost Claw lines up for an attack, you'll get a free shot at the Ice Bag, which you should definitely use. If you destroy it, this machine freezes and is especially vulnerable to Aloy's attacks.

Bridge

Go to EPSILON Hatchery and bridge the core there.

Fire Claw

These machines are similar to the Frost Cla w in terms of their behavior pattern. However, Fire Claws use fire attacks and challenge Aloy with a larger life bar as well as better defense. Strategize accordingly, similar to Frost Claws, but use ice attacks to hit the Fire Claw at its weak points.

Fire claws are best fought with ice attacks.

The Banuk ice spike is particularly good for this. If you want to learn more about the new weapons, check out our weapons guide for The Frozen Wilds.

If this DLC enemy type freezes, either let Aloy deal high melee damage with the modified spear or go for the weapon in your inventory that generally deals the most damage.

More DLC guides for Horizon Zero Dawn on GameZ:

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