Horizon Zero Dawn is a balm in today's gaming age of endless remakes, sequels, and shady business practices. It's original, it tells a unique story, and it offers some intriguing gameplay mechanics that other games don't offer. Also, you get to kill robot dinosaurs, and that's awesome.

Killing said dinosaurs can be pitifully easy or hair-pulling, depending on the specific enemy type. After all, it would get pretty tiring having to knock off a T-Rex every time you wanted to collect some flowers. Like all games, some enemies are far harder than others, so we'll look at a few of the different types of machines in Horizon Zero Dawn.

Related: 10 Horizon Zero Dawn Plot Holes That Were Never Explained

Updated on March 2, 2021 by Scoot Allan: Fans were definitely excited to hear the news that the highly-anticipated sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn called Horizon Forbidden West will release on the PS4 and PS5 in 2021. While Forbidden West promises to introduce a number of new deadly machines in the new post-apocalyptic environments, fans are still discussing some of the difficult machines already faced down in the original game. To help prepare for the new deadly machines set to face off with Aloy in the sequel, we're going to take a further look at a few more dangerous metal monsters that are the most difficult to beat before Forbidden West adds to the roster.

15 The Glinthawks Get Increasingly More Dangerous And Annoying

HORIZON ZERO DAWN MACHINES - Glinthawk

While it goes without saying that the enemy machines are more dangerous the higher the difficulty level, but in the case of the Glinthawks, they are surprisingly more difficult in Ultra Hard as the entire pack swoops down to attack frequently and annoyingly.

The robotic bird scavengers are thankfully very weak to fire and easily tied down by the ropecaster if needed. However, the glinthawks remain a deadly annoyance at all difficulty levels of the game as they are pretty much everywhere on the map.

14 Freeze And Fire Bellowbacks Have Range And Are Never Alone

A Bellowback in Horizon Zero Dawn

The large, lumbering Bellowbacks that come in two dangerous variations of fire and freeze may be much easier to handle at Aloy's later levels, they can be incredibly difficult to take out early in the game without strong enough weaponry.

The transport machines are very rarely alone and are accompanied by a squad of Watchers and the opposite variation of Bellowback to increase the difficulty in taking out the dangerous machines. The Bellowback's are also capable of deadly ranged attacks that further increase their threat level.

13 Snapmaws Have Massive Range And Like To Work In Pairs

HORIZON ZERO DAWN MACHINES - Snapmaw

The alligator-like Snapmaws are as dangerous as their animal archetypes, though they have the added threat of a long-distance attack that can target you before you even know you've been spotted by a machine.

The frozen bursts from the Snapmaw's mouth aren't the only danger from the quick aquatic machines, as they frequently work in pairs to double on the danger. Snapmaw also seems to have a unique sense of nearby danger, as they often find a way to butt into other battles that don't concern them with powerful long-range lunges and tail strikes.

12 The Longleg Has A Powerful Sonic Scream And Jumping Attack

HORIZON ZERO DAWN MACHINES - Longleg

The Longleg is an aviation machine but it doesn't actually know how to fly, so it's relentlessly bullied by its aviation buddies who actually do know how to fly. It's primarily used for recon, but it also uses fire attacks, its beak and claws, and a sonic attack to disorient its enemies.

RELATED: 10 Action RPGs To Play If You Like Horizon Zero Dawn

But, like the Stalker, you can handle these pitiful attacks in your sleep. All you have to do is strike its concussion sac with a projectile arrow. Not only will this cause incredible damage, but it will take away the machine's sonic attack, rendering it pretty much useless. Easy peasy.

11 Stalkers Have Stealth Capabilities And Are Even More Dangerous In Packs

HORIZON ZERO DAWN MACHINES - Stalker

The Stalker is essentially the Horizon equivalent of a fly if you encounter them individually - you can kill them without a problem, or you can just swat them away like the pointless little things that they are. The Stalker primarily focuses on stealth, and it can ambush you should you find yourself acting carelessly.

It also has a dart gun, which can kill all unsuspecting humans in one shot. But you don't really have to worry about that. Simply equip a shock weapon and go to town on this little robot reptile, and it'll go down in just a few short seconds. They're nothing you can't handle, as long as they are alone.

10 The Shell-Walker Has Ranged Defense And Travels In Herds

HORIZON ZERO DAWN MACHINES - Shell-Walker

The Shell-Walker is pretty unique in that it is strong against ranged attacks. That's because this machine employs a shield generator that surrounds the body and protects it from all ranged attacks, and it simply laughs at you while you waste away your arrows.

It's a very defensive creature, and as such, dealing with it can be a pain if you don't know exactly what you should be doing. Luckily, the creature itself is relatively weak, and all you need to do is destroy the shield generator with the Tearblaster or Blast Bombs. After that, you'll be the one that's laughing.

9 The Corruptor Can Influence Other Machines To Fight Its Battles

HORIZON ZERO DAWN MACHINES - Corruptor

The Corruptor certainly puts up more of a fight than some other machines, but it's still on the lower end of the hard spectrum. The difficulty stems mostly from its ability to corrupt surrounding machines to fight alongside it, plunging you into a literal life or death fight as you slowly get swarmed by a wave of deadly machines.

So, maybe it's not the Corruptor itself that's tough, but it's stupid cheap ability. Maybe not cheap, but it can be very frustrating at times. However, attack with a good fire weapon and it should go down easy enough. Just do it before it gets its buddies involved.

8 The Giant Behemoths Pack A Devastating Anti-Gravity Punch

HORIZON ZERO DAWN MACHINES - Behemoths

As the name suggests, the Behemoth is a behemoth. And as you'd expect with something called The Behemoth, these things are pretty darned tough. The primary purpose of a Behemoth is to collect and transport resources, so of course, it needs enough square footage to accommodate the extra load.

RELATED: Horizon Zero Dawn: 10 Confusing Things About The Story, Explained

It also uses its size to its advantage in fights, sending giant rocks hurling at your face with its anti-gravity mechanic and using its weight to generate damaging shockwaves. These things are like 400-pound boxers - one punch is enough to send your head twisting like The Exorcist.

7 The Stormbird Is Powerful Death From Above

HORIZON ZERO DAWN MACHINES - Stormbird

Stormbirds can be really annoying. They're pretty darn OP, as they are enormous, they have a really wide field of vision and can likely spot an ant in an anthill, and they have a bunch of very powerful attacks that can leave you crying in the corner as you cuddle your bow and arrow.

Oh, and they can also carpet bomb you from the air with their electric attacks, so really, you're never safe when it comes to Stormbirds. Luckily, it has a few weak spots, including the lightning gun and jet engines, and it's extremely susceptible to freeze damage, allowing you to get in a few good hits. A little tough, but you're tougher.

6 Thunderjaw Is A Robotic T-Rex You Don't Want To Mess With

HORIZON ZERO DAWN MACHINES - Thunderjaw

Alright, now we're playing with the big boys. The Thunderjaw is without a doubt one of the hardest machines in the game to take down, thanks primarily to its massive size. Now just imagine how our ancestors felt trying to take down a T-Rex with wooden spears! That was a joke, please no comments.

Not only are they formidable, but they have a radar scanner, allowing them to ping you while you're hiding in the grass like a little baby. Luckily, ranged weapons can cause some severe damage if you manage to hit either its heart or data nexus, so just aim for those and pray to the machine God that you make it out alive.

5 The Deathbringer More Than Lives Up To Its Name

HORIZON ZERO DAWN MACHINES - Deathbringer

With a name like Deathbringer, you know you're not exactly in for a good time in the woods. Chances are, you're going to at least break a nail. The Deathbringer is very slow and lumbering, but it more than makes up for that flaw with its incredibly dangerous ranged attacks, many of which can swat you out of the air like a pitiful little fly.

Its armor plating prevents the use of the Ropecaster, and it gives the machine an enormous amount of resilience and damage absorption. Fighting this thing is like watching Rocky beat Apollo Creed. Yeah, he wins, but he can barely stand and his face is left a mangled disaster.

4 Scorchers Are One Of The Most Dangerous Machines

HORIZON ZERO DAWN MACHINES - Scorcher

One of the first new machines encountered by Aloy in The Frozen Wilds DLC was the surprisingly dangerous Scorchers. The new machines were fire-based wolf-like machines that had a number of dangerous capabilities and crucial resistances that increased their difficulty.

RELATED: 15 Games Like Horizon Zero Dawn You Need To Play

Not only are Scorchers incredibly quick and powerful, but they can quickly close the distance with a jet-assisted boost. They are also resistant to fire and blast damage and are largely considered to be one of the most dangerous machines in the game when infected with the aggressive Daemonic virus, though they do come with a detachable mine launcher that can be very helpful.

3 The Frostclaw Is A Winterized Monster From The Frozen Wilds

HORIZON ZERO DAWN MACHINES - Frostclaw

While The Frozen Wilds Frostclaw is often considered a twin machine to the equally difficult Fireclaw (more on it soon), there are a few differences between the machines that make one more difficult than the other.

The Frostclaw's are actually a little smaller than the Fireclaw, though that doesn't account for much when facing off against more than one of the deadly machines. The bear-like machine is freeze-powered and quicker than its powerful frame suggests, making it one of the most dangerous machines in the Cut.

2 Fireclaws Are Incredibly Powerful And Next To Impossible To Beat

HORIZON ZERO DAWN MACHINES - Fireclaw

The Fireclaw was included in The Frozen Wilds, and it deserves a mention because it's next to impossible to defeat. Remember fighting Lawrence in Bloodborne? The Fireclaw is a lot like that. It's incredibly fast and agile, making combat hard enough, but it's also extremely resilient to most forms of damage, making this fight an exercise in tedium and frustration.

It also punches like a freight train, and just a few hits are enough to send you packing. Fighting a Fireclaw in Horizon Zero Dawn is what we imagine fighting a grizzly bear is like in real life if they were covered in fire and metal.

1 The Rockbreaker Attacks From Underground And Senses Your Vibrations

HORIZON ZERO DAWN MACHINES - Rockbreaker

The main purpose of the Rockbreaker is underground mining, and just as that suggests, that means it can burrow underground. And that makes fighting this thing like fighting a tiger. You just don't do it. The Rockbreakers are sensitive to sound, they move like a snake through the ground, and they often employ a very frustrating "emerge, attack, bury" fighting style.

Not only that, they can hurl boulders at you with their mouths, and they're both insensitive to elemental damage and the Ropecaster. The best you can do is remove their digging arms and hope for the best. But you'll probably just die.

NEXT: Horizon Zero Dawn: 5 Fan Theories About The Game That Make No Sense (& 5 That Do)