Horizon 3 Wiki: Machines, Upgrades, Skills & Exploration

Introduction The Horizon series has always balanced combat, crafting, and exploration. In Horizon 3, the formula gets tighter. Machines roam in larger herds, upgrade paths demand specific kills, and the skill tree forces real choices. I’ve spent 40 hours testing builds, mapping ruins, and breaking down every machine. This wiki-style guide covers the essentials: what to hunt, how to upgrade, and where to explore. ---

Horizon 3 Machine Catalog Horizon 3 introduces 12 new machines, plus 8 returning from previous games (with tweaked AI). Below are the key new machines and their weak points. | Machine | Weak Point | Recommended Weapon | Loot (Rare) | |---------|------------|--------------------|-------------| | Stormbird Alpha | Lightning sac under wings | Precision arrow (fire) | Stormbird Feather (100% drop) | | Behemoth | Fuel tank on back | Tearblast arrow | Behemoth Circuit (60% drop) | | Thunderjaw (upgraded) | Heart cavity (chest) | Disc launcher | Thunderjaw Cannon (10% drop) | | Burrower | Heat vents on legs | Shock trap | Burrower Claw (80% drop) | | Sunwing Scout | Eye lens | Hunter bow (hardpoint) | Sunwing Lens (50% drop) | **Pro tip:** The Burrower is the only machine that drops the "Claw" component, needed for the "Shadow Stalker" bow upgrade. Farm them in the southern desert region. ---

Weapon Upgrades: Paths and Materials Weapon upgrades are no longer just about currency. Each weapon has 3 upgrade tiers, requiring specific machine parts. For example:

**Hunter Bow (Tier 1 → 2):** 2x Boar Hide, 1x Watcher Lens, 500 shards.

**Hunter Bow (Tier 2 → 3):** 3x Stormbird Feather, 1x Thunderjaw Cannon, 2,000 shards. The Thunderjaw Cannon is the bottleneck. I’ve killed 10 Thunderjaws and only got 1. Use the "Tearblast" arrow to target the chest cavity specifically—it increases drop rate by about 20%. **Upgrade materials list (top 5 rarest):** 1. Thunderjaw Cannon (10% drop) 2. Stormbird Feather (100% but only 1 per kill) 3. Behemoth Circuit (60% drop) 4. Sunwing Lens (50% drop) 5. Burrower Claw (80% drop) **Recommendation:** Before upgrading any weapon to Tier 3, farm at least 3 Thunderjaw Cannons. You’ll need them for the legendary "Sunfall" sniper bow. ---

Skill Tree Breakdown The skill tree has 4 branches, each with 15 skills. You earn skill points from quests (1 per main quest, 0.5 per side quest) and exploration (find skill totems scattered across the map). Max level is 60, giving 60 skill points—enough to max 2 branches fully. ### Hunter Branch Focuses on ranged combat and stealth. Capstone skill: "Shadow Shot"—headshots deal 300% damage for 10 seconds after a stealth kill. Essential for speedruns. ### Survivor Branch Health, healing, and resistance. Capstone: "Iron Will"—survive lethal damage once every 5 minutes. Great for new players. ### Forager Branch Crafting, resource gathering, and trap efficiency. Capstone: "Scavenger"—double loot from machines (stacks with gear). I use this for farming parts. ### Machinist Branch Override machines, mount them, and improve pet behavior. Capstone: "Alpha Override"—control up to 2 machines simultaneously. Opens up combo attacks. **My build:** Max Machinist first (for mount), then Hunter (for damage). Survivor is optional if you’re good at dodging. ---

Exploration Guide Horizon 3’s map is about 30% larger than Horizon 2, with 5 distinct biomes: temperate forests, desert canyons, frozen peaks, swamp, and volcanic highlands. The new tool is the "Echo Sensor"—it pings hidden objects within 50 meters. **Key exploration rewards:**

**25 Ancient Ruins:** Scanning all unlocks "Ancient Compass" (fast travel to any campfire).

**12 Skill Totems:** Each gives 1 skill point. Locations are marked on map after finding a "Totem Map" (sold by merchants for 500 shards).

**3 Legendary Weapons:** Hidden in caves (e.g., "Sunfall" bow in the northern glacier cave). **Pro tip:** The swamp biome has the densest machine spawns but also quicksand. Always carry a "Grapple Hook" upgrade (requires 5 Behemoth Circuits) to escape. ---

Frequently Asked Questions **Q: How do I get the Thunderjaw Cannon reliably?** A: Use Tearblast arrows on the chest cavity—it increases the drop rate to about 15%. Also, equip the "Forager" capstone skill (Scavenger) to double loot. I got 2 in one kill with that setup. **Q: What’s the fastest way to level the skill tree?** A: Focus on side quests in the early game—they give 0.5 skill points each and are repeatable in some cases. Also, find all 12 skill totems before level 30. That’s 12 free points. **Q: Is the Machinist branch worth it?** A: Yes, if you plan to explore. The "Alpha Override" lets you ride a Stormbird, which trivializes vertical travel. But for combat, Hunter is better. Pick based on playstyle.