Horizon Forbidden West is an adventure game that follows Aloy as she makes her way into a new region of the world to try and save the world once more. Along the way, Aloy will encounter a litany of new and deadly machines that inhabit the Forbidden West. And if she wants to grow strong enough to complete her quest, she'll need to face every single one.
There are dozens of machines that call the majestic Forbidden West home, and each one has the capacity to end Aloy's journey early. However, while all of these machines are dangerous and should be taken seriously in a fight, there are a select few that stand out from the pack as the most fearsome and challenging mechanical opponents Aloy has ever faced.
10 Clawstrider
The Clawstrider is a new machine to Aloy and one she'll often encounter during her travels throughout the Forbidden West. It's a pretty standard machine type and one that isn't so big that it can dwarf the screen with its size, but players shouldn't take these ferocious creatures lightly.
The Clawstrider is incredibly fast and can close large distances with a single leap. It'll initiate a physical attack with its talons, but watch out for the bladed tail as it spins around for a second strike. Elemental variants even come with tail-mounted weapons that can launch ranged attacks. Hit the tip of the tail with high-tear weapons to strip the part and rob the Clawstrider of its most powerful attack.
9 Leaplasher
The Leaplasher might not seem like one of the most challenging machines in Horizon Forbidden West, but its sweet, kangaroo-like appearance is just a facade. These things are dastardly, employing extreme acrobatics and impossibly long jumps to close with Aloy quickly and deliver punishing physical blows.
Most Leaplashers also have shock elemental attacks that can leave Aloy stunned on the ground, ripe for a follow-up attack. They can imbue their physical attacks with shock damage or launch a barrage of bombs from a distance. Their name comes from the lash-like weapon stored within their body that they can use to either strike Aloy or grab and reel her in for massive damage.
8 Widemaw
The Widemaw can be a challenging machine to take down, especially early in the game when weapon options are limited. While they aren't usually very fast-moving, they do have a charge attack that can bowl Aloy over and dish out a healthy chunk of damage.
The Widemaw is especially tricky to fight because it's very heavily armored and doesn't have many weak points. And while it might not have the same level of agility as some other machines, it can open its mouth and activate a vacuum effect that will pull Aloy directly to it if she's too close. The best way to approach a Widemaw is to keep it at a distance and aim for its elemental canisters or tusks whenever possible.
7 Ravager
The Ravager is a Horizon series classic that returns in Horizon Forbidden West with all the same strengths it had in the previous title. The Ravager is a very nimble, mechanical tiger that can leap incredible distances and send shock waves along the ground to stun hunters at range.
The real danger of the Ravager comes from its back-mounted laser gun, which will shred Aloy's health quickly if she doesn't dodge at just the right time. Fortunately, this cannon can be detached with a few well-placed arrows, and Aloy can then pick the weapon up and turn its power against its former owner.
6 Frostclaw
The Frostclaw is a machine that was first introduced in the Horizon Zero Dawn DLC, The Frozen Wilds. It makes its triumphant return in Horizon Forbidden West to knock Aloy down a few pegs in the northern regions of the game's map. The Frostclaw is a frighteningly powerful machine with devastating claw attacks that require Aloy to stay vigilant when fighting up close.
As its name suggests, the Frostclaw also employs strong, frost-based attacks that can bowl Aloy over and inflict the Frost status effect. While heavily armored, the Frostclaw does have weak points at the Chillwater Sacs on its shoulders and the Unit on its chest. Disabling all of these removes the Frostclaw's ability to use frost attacks.
5 Slitherfang
The Slitherfang is one of Horizon Forbidden West's new, marquee machines, and it features as the first boss players encounter during the first story mission. The Slitherfang is a behemoth of a machine, towering over Aloy and raining down a variety of elemental attacks to both dish out damage and leave players scrambling.
The Slitherfang can shoot shock-based attacks from its tail and a range of elemental sprays from its mouth. The acid spray in particular is a tricky attack to dodge and can be utterly devastating to Aloy's health meter. Fortunately, the Slitherfang is riddled with weak points, and detaching many of its components will rob the machine of its most powerful attacks.
4 Tremortusk
The Tremortusk is another of Horizon Forbidden West's most recognizable new machines, and rightly so as this enemy is a force to be reckoned with. The Tremortusk is a walking fortress that can shoot fire from its tusks, launch missile salvos from a launcher on its back, and fire at Aloy with homing shock blasts.
Two of its mounted guns can be removed to be used as heavy weapons against it, but that won't leave the Tremortusk without any opportunities to dish out pain. Not only can the Tremortusk summon reinforcement machines with its antenna, but it can also amplify its attacks with a sac on its chest. Destroy both of these components to isolate the Tremortusk for an easier takedown.
3 Rockbreaker
The Rockbreaker is one of Horizon Forbidden West's trickiest machines to take down not because of its incredible power, but because it spends the majority of the battle burrowing underground. While the Rockbreaker does have potent attacks, the fact that it can strike from directly below Aloy's feet gives it an edge other machines just don't have.
It can burrow underground with the use of its claws, a vulnerable spot that players should focus on if they want to strand the Rockbreaker above ground. The claws themselves are a rare upgrade resource as well, so it's worth the effort to line up a precise shot. The Rockbreaker is also susceptible to frost and shock effects, making these elements vital in dealing more damage and slowing the machine down.
2 Thunderjaw
The mighty Thunderjaw returns in Horizon Forbidden West, and this beast is every bit as lethal and unpredictable as it was back in Horizon Zero Dawn. This machine comes fully loaded with forward-mounted laser guns near its face and an artillery-style disc launcher mounted on its back.
Shooting the disc launcher off will give Aloy the upper hand when she turns that weapon against its former master, but the Thunderjaw still has use of its powerful, bladed tail to dish out some mean physical attacks. Hit the tip of the tail with enough tear damage to end its reign of terror and claim a rare upgrade resource once the battle is over.
1 Shellsnapper
The Shellsnapper is another new addition to the franchise with Horizon Forbidden West, and it's staggering how challenging this machine can be to bring down. Without another machine or a group of hunters to distract a Shellsnapper, Aloy will have to use every environmental trick she has to take down this tank.
The Shellsnapper has a variety of attacks, including frost blasts from its mouth and a ring of powerful Frost Blasters that move around the perimeter of its shell. The shell is its most powerful asset, as any damage inflicted on it gets absorbed and funneled back into the Shellsnapper's own attacks. Precision and environmental awareness are key to bringing this machine down.