{
"post": {
"title": "What kind of strategy do you employ against large machines?",
"selftext": "I am trying to think of counters to these strategies, so maybe an example of how slaughterspine, tremortusk, thunderjaw, dreadwings and/or stormbirds",
"url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/horizon/comments/wk1pj4/what_kind_of_strategy_do_you_employ_against_large/"
},
"comments": [
{
"body": "I go pew pew pew and hope everything goes well.",
"replies": [
{
"body": "Yeah I feel like I'm not taking advantage of the vast amount of weapons in the new game, I'm just shooting with a hunter bow until they're dead.",
"replies": [
{
"body": "This is one of the reasons why I personally like playing on a higher difficulty when possible (currently on very hard for my first playthrough). When everything is challenging enough, it forces me to make use of whatever is available to make tougher fights more manageable. I've come to appreciate things like the shredder gauntlet which have made fights more fun than mostly plucking away with bows like I used to.",
"replies": [
{
"body": "Boi. Shredders are something else man. I took down a Dreadwing using only one of the basic blue-tier Shredders. Didn't even use any technique or Valor Surge. Just went in for the kill.",
"replies": [
{
"body": "Yea, they're great in general once you get the hang of catching the grinders to power up the next toss. Just toss them at almost any part of a machine and you can tear off a bunch of parts on top of building up shock/corrosion quite nicely too.",
"replies": [
{
"body": "I think the shredders are the best all around weapons when you get the hang of using them. Their range is incredible and so is tear damage. When it returns the only thing that can make you miss it is if your out of position. I like how on the return it can still cause damage to machines and how it will pass through anything to return to you.",
"replies": [
{
"body": "And some stuns the machines put out. \n\nOr just getting on a small incline and the Shredder fly through you.\n\n Or myself messed up, and pressed fire to soon and reloading another shredder.\n\nOr the machine spins violently around.\n\nOr the Shredder just never returns (no, not the last charge).\n\nStill Shredders are awesome!"
},
{
"body": "About the only times I don't use the shredder so far are:\n\n* Human enemies\n\n* Fighting certain machines where I need to leave parts intact (eg. Frostclaw/Fireclaw chest units for sac webbings) since the shredder hitbox is fairly wide, which makes it difficult to avoid damaging specific parts.\n\n* When trying to quickly tear off certain parts since the shredder's travel speed is slower than an arrow, which makes it difficult to hit parts on certain fast moving machines."
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"body": "I clearly don't understand how to use the shredder then. I tried it a couple times and was like \"this sucks\". I'll give it another go the next time I play.",
"replies": [
{
"body": "I highly recommend checking out [Arktix's shredder masterclass video](https://youtu.be/0ysjKJ4jtCU). I wasn't a fan of the shredder at the beginning too, but this video opened my eyes on how it's supposed to be used and it just clicked for me from then on.",
"replies": [
{
"body": "I second this. His videos are really good."
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"body": "I have the same strategy - hide, run out, pew pew pew, hide again. Wash, rinse, repeat. \n\nThen I watch other people on YouTube, and it’s like they’re playing a whole different game (or possibly witchcraft - I don’t know how they do it 😅). \n\nPoint is, the game gives you many options on how to play, and I think that’s neat.",
"replies": [
{
"body": "I have a very similar strategy but there’s more screaming and yelling in terror involved.",
"replies": [
{
"body": "I’m pretty sure the only reason I’m not screaming is because I’m running away in panic and have forgotten how to scream."
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"body": "I play on very hard. I usually start with the Part Breaker Valor Surge if it’s available to get rid of the most annoying / powerful weapons as quick as possible. \n\nOther than that I use the knockdown arrow skill a lot on hunter bows, and the drill spikes on spike throwers when the machines are down to remove more parts. Once I’m done removing most of the parts I start focusing on elemental weaknesses and start hitting weak points with a sharpshot bow using the focused shot skill.\n\nI try to use the terrain to my advantage, like circling around covers and staying on higher ground as much as I can.\n\nIf things get bad I will occasionally pop a smoke bomb to reposition and heal.",
"replies": [
{
"body": "Drill Spikes are actually really good at knockdown too (as long you hit them in the legs of course) - worth experimenting with to save your stamina.",
"replies": [
{
"body": "Yes I’ve noticed that too. And I love how they often interrupt machines as they’re about to attack."
}
]
},
{
"body": "So something that have protected heavy weapons and resistant to knock downs will be difficult. What kind of elemental weaknesses do you usually prefer",
"replies": [
{
"body": "Yeah I just told you how I do it, but there are better approaches for different situations / machines for sure. \n\nI don’t go too deep into buildcrafting and I don’t really adapt to every situation I encounter, I mostly keep the same weapons on all the time, so other people should have better / different advice for you. \n\nRegarding elemental states it depends on the machine’s weaknesses, but I also use a blastling with sticky ammo quite often."
}
]
}
]
},
{
"body": "For anything that's weak against ice...I brittle them and pull out the good old bolt blaster with the ability that let's you just unload your ammo on it. Makes pretty quick work of the Slaughterspine and the Fire Bear. Problem with the Fire Bear is the bolt blaster is really easy to hit its sac webbing...which is mostly only a problem if your upgrading the legendary stuff. I think the storm bird if your not into the rope caster you can pretty much hit with acid until it fills up and it drops out of the sky letting you go with whatever you want for a brief time while it's jumping around on the ground...bolt blaster again was my choice in that scenario as well. Apex stuff is a whole other game though. Most of them were fine but even with high tear bows and disc's it seemed like I could never get rid of enough of the Apex Slaughterspines weapons. Like the guy above me said when in doubt throw down a smoke bomb and hide till they go back to their business. Also as someone who largely ignored the potions there is a cleansing potion that can help you drastically get rid of any elemental status effects.",
"replies": [
{
"body": "Oh yeah they totally need to nerf the boltblaster.\nBut also something that can somehow shield itself after an initial attack may counter this playstyle"
}
]
},
{
"body": "Big machines. Brittle and then split explosive spikes. Makes short work of most enemies",
"replies": [
{
"body": "So something with counter brittle can at least make it more difficult. Maybe something that can stun to prevent easily attaching spikes?",
"replies": [
{
"body": "Brittle resistancea and agile like one ofnthem hopping ones",
"replies": [
{
"body": "Something like a corruptor maybe"
}
]
}
]
},
{
"body": "I used to only do cheap item attacks (low resources strat) until I did this tactic and it was a game changer although it can become expensive"
}
]
},
{
"body": "Elite Ropecaster",
"replies": [
{
"body": "I like ropecasters. The one in HZD was a beast and I used it all the time. The one in HFW is … good enough if I get into trouble."
},
{
"body": ".... that is not very helpful, or counterable",
"replies": [
{
"body": "Exactly! Machines can’t counter if they’re tied up! :D"
},
{
"body": "Get them roped so they can’t move. Then get them to brittle state and shoot in the metal part of their armour do it doesn’t affect the time they’re roped up. Now u got them stuck and brittled up. Then use whatever technique you have that applies most damage. My favorites are the valor that ups your critical rate combined with blast forge. Or use valor that boosts your trap damage with the trap weapon technique of defiance spear. Another good technique if there’s a bunch of machines u gotta deal with is to get them roped up so they can’t move, then use the valor technique that damages all the surrounding machines in the area if you just attack 1. It’ll clear out all of them rather quick"
}
]
}
]
},
{
"body": "Thunderjaw: Target double notch with Tearblast Arrows on radar, disk launchers, and tail. Do this from an altitude advantage; when aforementioned is done -- FIGHT IT 😄😄. Use explosive sling to target the mandibles, and port opening that exposes weak point. THUNDERJAW!!!! If no height advantage is present -- KEEP MOVING!! Use environment, and disk launchers to advantage. Can also target disk launchers if intact to cause damage to Thunderjaw.\n\nDreadwing: Target the radar with Tearblast arrow, triple notch and aim for weak points. Use Acid arrows. Keep moving, and target Bomb Launchers if possible. Gotdamn bats.\n\nStormbird: Differs from ZD. Target Chest Cannon with Tearblast Arrows, use Acid bombs, and arrow combo on Thrusters. When Birdy is dive bombing -- MOVE!\n\nTremortusk: Tearblast Arrows for the following: Tusk, Plasma Cannons near mouth, and Shock Cannons.\nDouble or Triple notch arrows on Salvo Cannons. Use weapons against it if possible. Fire arrows to underbelly until fully engulfed in elemental damage.\n\nSlaughterspine: Fuck these things. Tail won't stop moving, aim for weapons up top, and knob protrusions that charge up the energy on the sides. Acid arrows, or bombs do NOT LET IT GET CLOSE! Two steps, tail swipe, then it's all over you."
},
{
"body": "Passive aggressive, but lay a ton of traps and hide in tall grass, waiting for them to explode.",
"replies": [
{
"body": "I do not have trapper :(",
"replies": [
{
"body": "Tripcaster, you don't have one of these? These are essential to setting up good traps or last minute saves."
}
]
}
]
},
{
"body": "I basically nuke them before they have a chance to attack"
},
{
"body": "If everything fails, there is always Brittle Blasting. Rope em, Freeze em, Blast em...sometimes you do knockdown first and then rope.\n\nKnockdown to apply cheap elemental with Blastslings.\n\nRain of Spark Six ~~Seasons~~ Elemental for Stagger und Valor Gain.\n\nApplying Brittle or Acid and just shoot it with a warrior bow till it dies.\n\nShredders with stun (shock), pure damage (acid), Precision based with Knockback and Danage over Time (Last Chapter). Meaning hitting Legs for Knockdown, and Weakspot with the second to last throw, also applying brittle sometimes.\n\n​\n\nAll those often with low health play style\n\n​\n\nSometimes i play tank, get on a mount and boltblast away."
},
{
"body": "I prefer to use elemental weakness bows along with using your vital sense, picking away at its weak spots with a long range strategy",
"replies": [
{
"body": "So the machine with small enough weakspots (like power cells and small canisters, no weakness to the common elements (like plasma) can counters this",
"replies": [
{
"body": "Yes but if u practice with your bow alot u can really do some damage vs those small parts. A fully upgraded legendary weapon can remove it within 1-3 hits."
}
]
}
]
},
{
"body": "Apply corrosive or brittle. Aim for weak spots do as much damage as fast as possible. Occasionally restrain them using the rope caster if they are being annoying",
"replies": [
{
"body": "So a strength against acid and freezing, smallest possible weakspots"
}
]
},
{
"body": "Sunshot Hunter bow with knockdown power and knockdown shot to stagger and topple enemies. \n\nSeeker hunter bow with component tear and freezing capabilities to increase damage output and remove specific components\n\nThunderbolt Shredder gauntlet for tearing off components in an area and applying a shock stun if I feel like it. \n\nGlowblast Sharpshot for precision damage on weakpoints. \n\nI switch between and combine these based on what I feel is most helpful"
},
{
"body": "I use acid or frost ammo and then bombard them with spike throwers and blast sling you can also use braced shot weapons technique for the sharpshooter bow for good damage and i also activate the second valor surge in the hunter tree to boast spike damage with this im usually able to deal with big machines. Also if you are fighting a thunder jaw or something shoot off the mine launchers that do big damage"
},
{
"body": "I use the fully upgraded Skykiller (I think that's its name) spike thrower and that thing shreds when going up against any of those machines."
},
{
"body": "Thunderjaw for example: I find high ground if possible, if not, cover in bushes. Scan and tag all weapons.\n\nSharpshot Tearblast to remove the disc launchers. Your first two shots are free if you move fast enough, fully drawn. Then you’ll have to reposition for two more. 1-3 shots should take them off, but move fast.\n\nHunter Bow triple notched for the radar and armor covering the heart, should take a little damage while you strip it methodically.\n\nNow, it’s mad and it’s shooting beams at you: knock the cannons on it’s face off so that you limit it’s attacks even more.\n\nNow that it’s a sitting duck, Tearblast to the tail for the part.\n\nThen you can run around and find the perfect angle to send a Precision Arrow through its heart."
},
{
"body": "I throw lots of javelins at them. Medium sized ones too. No valor surges, excessive dodge rolling or stress.\n\nIf im farming a specific part, Ill do all the other stuff mentioned but otherwise why complicate things?\n\nMaybe part break a mounted weapon for some variety and hit them with their own medicine"
},
{
"body": "Shoot the major weak spots, then hit them with acid so I can strip off a lot of armor easily, hit them with freeze to do more damage and then spam arrows to the machine muscle sections."
},
{
"body": "If there’s time to prepare:\n- lay a couple explosive trip-wires in its path, then set up in sniping distance \n- Eat some food (shaved salted haunch is my go-to bc it increases valor) once it gets close to the traps\n- ranged master valor upon impact with trip-wires \n- tear-blast a couple things\n- advanced precision arrow a couple things\n- go from there. \n\nIf there’s no time to prepare:\n- Smoke bomb to get oriented\n- food or potion\n- toss a few sticky bombs to slow it down\n- hunter arrows to knock a few things off\n- elemental arrows if there’s time\n- throw explosive things at it (like spikes or bomb)\n- run around screaming, more smoke bombs \n\nI use a lot of the rope-casters to tie down big machines (or sticky bombs). I’m not very fast or agile in moving Aloy’s body so this helps slow down the machine."
},
{
"body": "for tremortusks I like to hit them with a frost then use advanced arrows on any weak points (the bits near their eyes seem to do very well) - I use the sun scrounge and the forgefire :)"
},
{
"body": "The fastest way is usually to tie the machine down using ropecaster, freeze it (make sure to target an armor plate not to degrade the tied down state — hitting armor prevents damage but doesn’t reduce elemental buildup), and then unload a sustained burst from a boltblaster. Triggering ranged master beforehand also helps."
},
{
"body": "If I'm not hunting for parts, explosives. Lots of explosives. Skykillers advanced explosives are my favorite.\n\nIf I am hunting for parts, (depending on the machine) I shock them and tear the parts off with my hunter bow. THEN I use explosives. If they're strong against shock, I either stealth the parts off or use ropes."
},
{
"body": "I didn’t think I’d enjoy the throwing spears but by god I love them. Stick go boom."
},
{
"body": "If I'm not hunting for parts, explosives. Lots of explosives. Skykillers advanced explosives are my favorite.\n\nIf I am hunting for parts, (depending on the machine) I shock them and tear the parts off with my hunter bow. THEN I use explosives. If they're strong against shock, I either stealth the parts off or use ropes."
},
{
"body": "Hit them with a triple elemental arrow and then Blastforge full clip and watch them fall….."
},
{
"body": "Run up and smack it until it yields"
},
{
"body": "Spike, spike, arrow, valor surge. Repeat. 🤓"
},
{
"body": "I'm patient. I take out the offensive weapons from cover, letting the machine hunt me then give up, one cannon at a time if I can. Then I'll go for anything that's a weak point. If I get forced out of cover I do a lot of zigzagging and shoot for ankles to try to trip them up (if possible) or aim, fire, run, repeat if they're huge (slaughterspine, for example). \n\nMy wife hides and leaves out traps (elite explosives usually), repositions before they step on them, and repeats. A little more straight to the throat with her sneakiness."
},
{
"body": "I use the focus to highlight components, especially weapons, and I try to remove them. Next I will try for some elemental damage that they are weak to. If they aren't dead by this point, they have usually closed on me and I cannot hide anymore, so I cry and melee button mash lol"
},
{
"body": "Knock off things that they can attack with, especially if I can use that weapon against them (a bit of damage that doesn't cost me ammo is always nice). After that, whatever elemental damage is good against them or just spam them with large amounts of damage, and aim for high-damage spots."
},
{
"body": "I run away because I’m at the start of forbidden west"
},
{
"body": "Power shot with splody stick"
},
{
"body": "Pulse arrows are OP as fuck. Quickly dispose of the most annoying weapons. You can take off all those laser beams on the back of that spiny looking fuck with like 4 arrows. \n\nThen hit him with whatever they are vulnerable too until they get the status switch to the legendary sharpshot bow, valor surge for the power shot damage (it's like 5 shots that deal insane damage), and you can take down most things extremely quickly."
},
{
"body": "Tremortusk and Thunderjaws shoot off the big guns and any smaller annoying guns. Then take advantage of weak points and element weaknesses. \n\nStormbird get rid of that damn lightning gun first. Then aim for the wing thrusters, and again element weaknesses. \n\nSlaughterspines and Dreadwings... Shoot and hope 😂 aim for weak points utilize element weaknesses and RUN."
},
{
"body": "Thought I’d try shooting my way out, mix things up a little."
},
{
"body": "My favorite tool across both games is tearblast arrows. I lead with removing one or two of their best assets, unless I'm after a particular component. Then alternate use of my highest impact sharpshot bow, grenades and spikes, rinse, repeat. Once plasma arrows became an asset, it's not whether or not you can take one down but what parts you need preserved."
},
{
"body": "I keep sending them projectiles until they stop moving"
},
{
"body": "Disclaimer: I'm currently playing in Ultra Hard, maxed out my stuff before starting the New Game+ file, so I'm not worried about harvesting parts. \n\nI just lob advanced explosive bombs and advanced explosive spikes until the machine is dead. Sometimes I'll utilize elemental weaknesses if it makes the fight less annoying (like purgewater on Slaughterspines, it helps with the plasma), but usually just hitting in generally weak areas with explosives is my go to."
},
{
"body": "I call it shoot, run, and hide"
},
{
"body": "I freeze them with frost arrows. Then I shoot them with the Blast Forge (boltblaster) with regular bolts and the substained burst ability. I also use impact damage coils on it to make as much damage as possible."
},
{
"body": "I don’t use Valor.. so I may be doing it the “hard way”. But I scan it for any weaknesses, use it’s weakness against it until it’s fully weakened. After, I pick apart it’s weapons or certain components using a tear last arrow. The whole time I’m sliding & rolling around to try to minimize damage to myself. Pretty much rinse & repeat. I love using Slings & Traps that they are weak against. Also, if they have weapons or cannons it’s always fun to use them against the machine (especially Thunder jaws & tremorstusks)."
},
{
"body": "fuck ton of drill spikes"
},
{
"body": "Open by taking out any weapons I'm worried about with my Sharpshot, then plink away until they get closer, swap to frost and unload with my Rattler. (yeah, it's a boltblaster, but in my heart of hearts I'm always a-rattlin' ). \nThe spike thrower attack that turns it into an MIRV is also really nice with the explosive spikes if you're up against a large terrestrial unit, but it's not so good against the flyers. (plan on trying to get that to work, just once, though)"
},
{
"body": "Well you see, I just explode them."
},
{
"body": "Abuse explosive spikes in Arena"
},
{
"body": "I activate Valor surge ranged master (on level 3 deals a TON of damage + every hit gives me life back) and then use the explosive arrow ability on the sharpshot bow."
},
{
"body": "For me its just, Never go near them and stay as far away from them, then, always reposition if the layout of the battlefield seems too small or there are too many obstacles that may corner you and last is to eliminate them as fast as possible. Explosives. Traps. Valor Surge them."
},
{
"body": "I use elite traps, and when the machine is hit I unload elemental bolts on it and use my hunter bow with advanced hunter arrows to finish it off."
},
{
"body": "Run away"
},
{
"body": "1. Shoot\n2. Run away\n3. Go to 1"
}
]
}