Horizon Forbidden West Exploration Guide: Best Time to Start Your Adventure

Horizon Forbidden West Exploration Guide: Best Time to Start Your Adventure

Horizon Forbidden West marks a significant evolution from its predecessor, Horizon Zero Dawn, particularly in its open-world design. The game presents a sprawling landscape filled with diverse environments, inviting players to delve into its beauty. However, exploration can sometimes come to an abrupt stop if players encounter obstacles due to a lack of necessary equipment. This guide addresses what to do when faced with these challenges.

Reasons to Explore Later in Horizon Forbidden West

Aloy and friends kneeling in the snow
Aloy and Seyka near the Hollywood sign
Collage of Horizon Forbidden West

As you traverse the mesmerizing landscapes of Horizon Forbidden West, you will inevitably run into barriers that restrict your access to certain areas or items. Notable obstacles include Metal Flowers, Firegleam spots, and underwater challenges.

Players often encounter these limitations even in the initial region, The Daunt, particularly if they aim to tackle all side missions early. Such barriers can be disheartening for those who prefer to engage with the game’s content as thoroughly as possible from the outset.

To maximize your exploration experience, it’s often wise to postpone certain explorations until later in the game. Nevertheless, some side quests can still be tackled early on and are definitely worth the effort.

Essential Gear for Seamless Exploration in Horizon Forbidden West

Special equipment in Horizon Forbidden West

To effectively navigate the varied landscapes and surmount the challenges present in Horizon Forbidden West, players must acquire four key tools:

  • Pullcaster
  • Igniter
  • Diving Mask
  • Vine Cutter

Each of these tools plays a critical role in allowing players to access previously unreachable locations and engage with various gameplay elements.

Optimal Times for Exploring in Horizon Forbidden West

Aloy in the desert
Aloy in a jungle setting
Aloy near the Hollywood sign

Fortunately, these essential tools are unlocked as players progress through the main storyline, eliminating the need for tedious side quests or hidden cave explorations. The Pullcaster and Igniter become available early in the game, while the Diving Mask and Vine Cutter may take longer to acquire. Here’s how you can obtain them:

After completing the “Eye of the Earth”quest, players can take on three additional main missions, which include:

Mission Name Recommended Level
The Broken Sky 17
The Sea of Sands 22
Seeds of the Past 24

Thankfully, you do not need to complete all three quests to get the Vine Cutter and Diving Mask. Here’s the breakdown:

  • Vine Cutter: Complete the “Seeds of the Past”mission, which is the most challenging but necessary to find areas concealed by Metal Flowers.
  • Diving Mask: Finish the first part of the “Sea of Sands”mission. You can stop once you secure the Diving Mask; completing the entire quest is not required.

After gathering all the tools needed, you’ll be fully equipped to explore the stunning world of Horizon Forbidden West without limitation, ready to face any challenge that comes your way.

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