Horizon Forbidden West: All Main Bosses, Ranked

Summary

• Boss fights in Horizon Forbidden West provide a wide variety of encounters, catering to different fighting styles and preferences.
• Some bosses, like Thunderjaw, might be relatively easy to defeat, while others, like Specter Prime, pose a formidable challenge.
• Each boss battle offers unique elements, such as environment, equipment, and strategy, adding depth and excitement to the gameplay experience.

In Horizon Forbidden West, unlike many other games where you face creatures or human enemies, the adversaries you confront are mostly machines. They are abundant throughout the game, especially the bosses, with the main storyline featuring 14 of them to battle. Boss fights in Forbidden West offer a lot of room for improvement.

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It's not just about the attack patterns and how smoothly the fight flows, but also about the environment, characters, weapons, and anything else that might affect the battle. Horizon Forbidden West excels in providing a wide variety of these encounters. So, no matter your preferred fighting style, you're bound to find aspects to love in each and every one of these epic battles.

Updated on March 24, 2024, by Mohamed El Ouardighi: With Horizon Forbidden West now available on PC, many PC gamers are eager to experience the game. In response, we have revisited and enhanced our guides to provide even more assistance on your journey through the game.

14 Thunderjaw

The Thunderjaw boss is still entertaining to play, but it doesn't quite measure up to the other bosses in the game. The battleground is sandy, and much of the fight can be done while hiding in tall grass. It's relatively easy to keep track of its weak points and aim for them with the right ammo.

Despite its menacing appearance, the Thunderjaw isn't as challenging as some of the other essential bosses. However, since it's not a crucial boss, the quality of the fight doesn't affect the overall gameplay experience too much.

13 Slaughterspine

Similar to the Thunderjaw, the Slaughterspine encounter occurs in a relatively contained area, serving as another obstacle created by HEPHAESTUS to hinder GAIA's restoration. The battle itself is relatively straightforward, as long as you can avoid getting hit too often by the machine's swift attacks. It's advisable to maintain distance and attack from afar to minimize risk.

The design of the Slaughterspine also bears resemblance to a dinosaur, with plasma-storing components on its sides. If these plasma stores are not dealt with swiftly, they can enhance the machine's attack power, adding an extra layer of challenge to the encounter.

12 Grimhorn

At first glance, Grimhorns might appear formidable, but in the grand scheme of machine adversaries, they're relatively low on the worry list. This is one of the reasons why the Grimhorn boss doesn't quite stand out. They can be easily dispatched with purgewater or acid ammo, and their heavy weapon, the Cluster Launcher, can even be detached for Aloy to utilize.

Overall, the encounter isn't overly challenging, despite its placement near the beginning of the game. It feels more like an optional boss encounter rather than a significant milestone. It's akin to stumbling upon a pack of machines while venturing out into the West - not too intimidating once you know their tricks.

11 First Slitherfang

The initial encounter with the first Slitherfang in Forbidden West serves as a captivating introduction to the game's world and atmosphere. However, since you're facing a Slitherfang with reduced health, and its primary purpose is to conclude the tutorial phase, it ranks relatively low on the list of memorable boss battles.

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There's nothing inherently wrong with the battle itself; it just doesn't offer the same level of enjoyment as many of the other encounters in the game. Nevertheless, its aesthetics alone could have potentially elevated its standing if they were more impressive.

10 Dreadwing

Before accessing the Test Station, Aloy faces a formidable foe: the Dreadwing, a massive bat-like creature armored to the teeth. Utilizing a barrage of fire or explosive ammo speeds up the battle, which is handy because the Dreadwing can sometimes feel like it soaks up bullets.

The challenge ramps up when the Dreadwing turns invisible, but keeping tabs on its flight patterns and last seen location helps counter this. Despite its potential, the Dreadwing falls short of the quality seen in other bosses. It's a formidable opponent, but it lacks that special spark that sets it apart from the rest.

9 Specter

Ascending through the facility to confront the Specter can feel quite daunting, especially with uncertainty about Erend's condition upon arrival. Upon emerging, there are various strategies for dealing with the first Specter. You might utilize tall grass and stealth tactics to approach from behind, executing a Critical Strike.

Alternatively, you could opt for your most powerful bow ammo and target its weak spots for a swift victory. One of the notable aspects of battling the Specter is the range of reliable methods available to defeat it. This versatility adds depth to the encounter, allowing you to choose their preferred approach.

8 Erik, Second Appearance

Erik's second appearance isn't lackluster, but it doesn't quite reach the exhilarating heights of battles like Regalla or Tilda's. The most memorable aspect of Erik's return is the tense buildup as Aloy and Erik confront unresolved issues from their previous encounter.

During the fight, it's crucial to stay mobile and focus on evasive maneuvers. Heavy weapons like the Boltblaster can be effective for breaking down Erik's defenses, but they can also hinder agility. Overall, while the battle isn't terrible, it falls on the tamer and less memorable side compared to others in the game.

7 Tremortusk

Even for those who won't play Horizon Forbidden West, the Tremortusk is likely familiar, thanks to its prominent presence in the game's promotional material. This notoriety is well-deserved, as encountering a Tremortusk adds an extra layer of dread to the gameplay experience. Moreover, the Tremortusk's impressive design and realistic movements capture the essence of a heavyweight machine.

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Bringing down a Tremortusk requires careful planning and strategy. You must utilize traps and a variety of weapons, including the Boltblaster, Ropecaster, and Blastsling. This necessitates additional strategizing and adds depth to the challenge of defeating the formidable Tremortusk..

6 Regalla's Champion

As you progress into the final stages of the game, The Embassy may seem distant, but one unforgettable moment from that time is the iconic showdown between Aloy and Regalla's champion. This intense battle unfolds following the rebellion's devastating strike against the Tenakth. Upon defeating the champion, Aloy claims the Shieldwing.

The victory over the champion is not only satisfying but also grants you access to one of the most useful items in the game. The Shieldwing allows for effortless gliding through the world, offering a far smoother and more efficient means of traversing vast landscapes compared to awkwardly navigating down hillsides. It's a rewarding culmination of the journey and a game-changing addition to Aloy's arsenal.

5 Tilda, Specter Prime

Forbidden West could benefit from more characters like Far Zenith's Tilda, whose presence leaves a lasting impression despite her brief screen time. Tilda's boss fight stands out as one of the game's highlights, showcasing the best of what Horizon has to offer. The Specter Prime introduces a futuristic element to the series, elevating the mechanical animal encounters to a new level.

As an advanced version of the Specter, the Specter Prime poses a formidable challenge. You must strategically target its armor to inflict significant damage, emphasizing precision in combat, especially at the onset of the battle. With its sleek design and captivating mechanics, the Specter Prime seamlessly integrates sci-fi elements into Aloy's world, delivering an exhilarating and visually stunning boss encounter.