Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition is the PC version of Guerrilla's 2022 sequel, ported by Nixxes and released on Steam and the Epic Games Store on 21 March 2024 with the Burning Shores expansion included. This is a different game from Horizon Zero Dawn: Aloy travels west into drowned and buried stretches of old America where Tenakth clans, Utaru farmers, Oseram forge towns and the newly arrived Quen all hold ground, and machines such as the Tremortusk, Slitherfang and Slaughterspine set the ceiling for what a fight can throw at you. The PC build adds DLSS 3, FSR, XeSS and DLAA support, an unlocked framerate, DirectStorage, ultrawide up to 48:9, and graphics presets from very low to very high.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Role | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Sharpshooter | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Warrior Melee Brave | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Trapper | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Infiltrator | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Machine Master | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition tier list.
A-Tier: Hunter Sharpshooter
Hunter Sharpshooter is a top-performing option in Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Sharpshot Bow | Slow, heavy single-shot bow built for precision damage into weak points and canisters. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Focus scanning and weak points | Holding the Focus highlights a machine's components, elemental canisters and armor plates, and marks the parts worth shooting off. |
How to Play Hunter Sharpshooter
Hunter Sharpshooter focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Sharpshot Bow does the damage and Focus scanning and weak points keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Warrior Melee Brave
Warrior Melee Brave is a strong option in Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Hunter Bow | The general-purpose bow that carries several ammo types, including the elemental arrows you use to build frost, fire or shock. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | elemental status buildup | Frost, fire, shock, acid, plasma and purgewater each build a meter on a target before triggering. |
How to Play Warrior Melee Brave
Warrior Melee Brave focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Pair Hunter Bow with elemental status buildup and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Trapper
Trapper is a strong option in Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Spike Thrower | Launches heavy explosive spikes that deal large impact damage, benefiting from the Powershots Valor Surge alongside bows, boltcasters and ropecasters. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Valor Surges | Each of the six skill trees hosts Valor Surges, one-off ultimate abilities charged by fighting well. |
How to Play Trapper
Trapper focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Valor Surges covers the gap Spike Thrower leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Infiltrator
Infiltrator is a specialized option in Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Shredder Gauntlet | Throws a returning disc that gains damage each time you catch and rethrow it in rhythm. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | weapon coils and armor weaves | Weapons take coils and outfits take weaves, both of which add percentage bonuses to damage types, elemental buildup, stealth or health. |
How to Play Infiltrator
Infiltrator focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: This one leans on weapon coils and armor weaves rather than raw numbers, and Shredder Gauntlet is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Machine Master
Machine Master is a specialized option in Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Boltblaster | Sustained rapid-fire weapon that spins up and then pours bolts into a target, trading precision for volume. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Cauldron overrides | Cauldrons are machine factories running underground, and finishing one unlocks override codes for additional machine types. |
How to Play Machine Master
Machine Master focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Boltblaster and Cauldron overrides pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Warrior Melee Brave: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Hunter Sharpshooter once you understand core mechanics and have access to Sharpshot Bow
- Keep a Trapper setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Machine Master for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary weapon first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Scan before you shoot, every single time. The Focus lists a machine's components, elemental weakness and canister positions, and a Slaughterspine encounter you enter blind will cost you far more resources than the 10 seconds a scan takes.
- Freeze first, then hit hard. Frost buildup raises the damage a machine takes for a window, so the standard high-level pattern is elemental arrows from the Hunter Bow to trigger frost, followed by Sharpshot Bow or Spike Thrower shots into a weak point.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Guides
- Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Overview
- Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Tier List
- Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Walkthrough
- Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Beginner's Guide
- Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Tips & Tricks
- Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Weapons Guide
- Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Combat Guide
- Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Boss Guide
- Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Maps & Locations
- Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Crafting Guide
- Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Classes & Characters
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