#and the fireclaws

[hzdtrees]

No Thorns, All Marsh, pt. 1

[to-skit-or-not-to-skit]

he's one of us

[fogsblue]

Zo is beautiful and doesn't get enough love, Fireclaws are still the worst (I died a lot for that shot) and the world is absolutely stunning.

June July July July

VP 2024

[robo-dino-puppy]

horizontober 2023 | 5: "Oh dear..."

[sinestrosmind]

attack for @countlessgifts

[oleanderpigeon]

The fire that destroyed the clans...

More of the evil firestar au!

[horizon-series-details]

This is a Fireclaw (the one pictured is an Apex Fireclaw specifically). They are a large, heavyweight machine that was introduced in the Frozen Wilds DLC for Horizon Zero Dawn.

At first glance, I would not have pinned as an Acquisition class machine. I honestly would’ve pinned it as a combat class machine, such as the Slitherfang or the Tremortusk. It doesn’t help that it was also designed as a Hunter-Killer machine. This assumption is because of not just how it fights, but also how it looks. While almost identical to the Frostclaw in terms of appearance, it’s bigger, standing much taller when on its hind legs, making it more intimidating at first.

Its main attack is using the Blaze stored on its sides to light its claws on fire, and to attack the player. The second photo shows right after it did this, where it was still on its hind legs after the fact. Another one I saw quite commonly was it tackling me, which actually resulted in the first 3 deaths I have had this playthrough. (To be fair I tend to charge into machine sites unprepared specifically to get screenshots, so this was bound to happen)

One thing I noticed though is that the arms have rotating saw blades, not unlike the ones Scrappers use to tear up metal for parts. While these do look intimidating, especially on such a big machine, they’re actually used to dig up soil, as well as tear up scrap metal. This is precisely why they’re classified as an acquisition class machine instead of a combat class machine.

[defaultjane-official]

[crusty-weevil]

one of the best things (imo) about horizon is that they didn't cheap out and make all the big, clunky machines super slow and have slow attack speed.

at first, you might think something like a thunderjaw, dreadwing or fireclaw has no chance of really catching up to you at a distance - but nope. guerrilla gave fuckers like those multiple ways to close the gap, and they aren't even slow at attacking either.

the only machines I can think of that are heavyweight and are also slow, is the tremortusk and rockbreaker. but, the rockbreaker isn't super slow until you detach all of its mining claws, and even then it has two attacks that'll close the gap. and while the tremortusk only has one way to close the gap, it is super heavily armoured. so even if it can't immediately close the gap, you'll be facing a shit ton of projectiles.

even the midweight machines are alarmingly fast; like scorchers or waterwings.

every machine in this game series wants you dead.

[one-of-many-journeys]

Day 27

Meridian

Leaving Meridian just after dawn to check out Marad’s rumour of Eclipse activity in the Spurflints. 

Stocked up on medicinal herbs along the way, and picked myself up a new mount. 

Came across a herd of corrupted machines: two Tramplers and three Longlegs. I took out the Tramplers' undercarriages to set them aflame until they ran themselves aground. Tried to keep the Longlegs at a distance as I overcharged their power cells with shock arrows, keeping them down and waiting for my spear. 

Quick rest at Day's Height, a Carja watchtower.

A dust storm kicked up as I rode into the Spurflints. I can see why the locals cleared out long ago. Machines are numerous too. It’s not just the machines that have grown deranged over the past fifteen years or so, but the weather too. There are places where it’s not so bad, but I’ve heard stories. Even in the Embrace, the rains come on in a flash of grey and move on swiftly. Rost said it wasn’t that way when he was young. 

I found the estate up against the drifts. No machines, just a few Eclipse cultists. I took them out with sharpshot arrows and strikes from cover. No one saw me. 

Locked inside the lodge was Olin’s wife, Enasha, and their son. I was surprised to find them alive, and in relatively good shape given the circumstances. Keeping them secure and fed after Olin’s absence, whether the Eclipse found his body to confirm his death or not, seems unlike them. With all the disruptions Sylens has been making to their Focuses, and the fact that few seem to wear them, maybe news travels on foot more often than not. Is it possible the cultists here still think Olin is working for them?

I didn’t tell Enasha that I was the one to kill Olin. It wouldn’t have helped things. She must know that he was working for the Eclipse given their need for leverage, and seeing as I’d just gone around and killed a bunch of them…maybe she put two and two together, I don’t know. I can’t say I regret what I did, but his wife and son’s life will be hard without him in more ways than emotional. I’ve heard how women are treated in the Claim. Felt bad for the kid too. He was just…quiet.

Storm cleared after that. Nice views of the Jewel, and always, the Spire. I still haven't gone to take a look at it. I should when I'm back out this way.

Riding east toward Daytower, I came across some interesting ruins. A long metal capsule torn into strips and sliced in two; a structure, a vehicle? I found a datapoint there.

Then my Focus picked up the signal of a Cauldron a little further south. Getting late but, if I'm lucky, the core will be ready and waiting like it was in Zeta.

A huge crevasse ran across the Cauldron entrance, but from the torches, supplies and climbing gear strewn along the trail down through the cave-in, I wasn't the first person to try getting inside. There were corpses laying along the trail, and at the end of all their excavating and exploration, all they found was another sealed door. Fortunately, I had my override module.

Inside, it was similar to the other two Cauldrons, except for these rotating mechanisms transporting fluids around, keeping everything in motion. Good for climbing, too.

A Ravager and Watchers inside. Free kills once I tore off its cannon.

Another Ravager, two Longlegs, and a herd of Watchers. Stealth as far as it would take me and Ravager cannon once it wouldn't. There was a huge machine inside churning Blaze in its belly, ventricles oozing green spreading outward through the Cauldron. They recycle the stuff, and seem to syphon its source from deep underground. How do they make it, and why?

Deeper into the Cauldron, making for the core. Each one is similar, but not identical. Maybe each serves a different purpose? It also seems that some produce more dangerous machines than others. Maybe some were built more recently, as the Derangement worsened. But how could they have been built inside mountains, so deep underground, without disturbing the surface?

When I activated the core, a Ravager joined the Snapmaw in its centre. Hardpoints to the chill sack on the Snapmaw, and the frost explosion took the Ravager too. Targeted their weak points and they were downed in no time. The Snapmaw took a nasty swipe at me though, knocking me down with its tail.

The core of Cauldron Rho. Heaps of new machines added to my roster now, including Ravagers. Hello Sun Furrows Blazing Sun. I was exhausted by the time the core began to rise and I let myself feel it. Took longer to navigate the Cauldron than I was hoping, and it was mid-morning by the time I saw light again. Need to find somewhere to rest before moving on to the border.

[hzdtrees]

Vigilant

[drolta]

finally got my icerail back. yay 🩷

[singingkestrel]

Horizon Forbidden West machine headshots compilation 4/5.

It's getting increasingly difficult to name these teams, but I've started so I'll finish.

Corruptor - Horus (team Faro)

Charger - Stormbird (team Kes' personal fave mount/combat machines)

Specter - Shell walker (team scuttle)

Fireclaw - Frostclaw (team GRRRR)

Tremortusk - Stingspawn (team little and large)

[loumauve]

back on the Stormbird Storm Cannon grind..

[gonkaccino]

Finally, at level 58, having done every single available thing on the map, Aloy has heard the name "Elisabet Sobeck" for the very first time. And I've still got 4 whole days left! I might actually have some time left over to play more Pacific Drive after getting every steam cheevo before the HFW port comes out!