Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Classes & Characters: Complete Guide

Q: What is included in the Complete Edition?

The base Horizon Forbidden West game plus the Burning Shores expansion, released together on PC on 21 March 2024. There is no separate Burning Shores purchase needed on PC.

Q: Should I play Horizon Zero Dawn first?

Yes if you care about the story. Forbidden West picks up after the first game and assumes you know its cast and setup. The systems carry over too, so the first game doubles as a tutorial for scanning, tearing and elemental play.

Q: How does the PC port run?

Nixxes handled the conversion and the feature list is thorough: DLSS 3, FSR, XeSS, DLAA, unlocked framerate, DirectStorage, ultrawide up to 48:9, full mouse and keyboard rebinding and Steam Input controller support. Presets run from very low to very high to cover older hardware.

Q: What is new compared to the first game's combat?

Underwater traversal and combat, the Shieldwing glider, Valor Surges as chargeable ultimates, six skill trees instead of three, and a wider weapon list including the Shredder Gauntlet, Spike Thrower and Boltblaster. Machines are larger and more varied, headed by the Tremortusk, Slitherfang and Slaughterspine.

Q: Is Burning Shores worth playing right away?

You cannot. It unlocks only after the main campaign, and it raises the level cap from 50 to 60 while introducing apex machines tuned for a finished build. Treat it as the endgame rather than a side trip.

Every Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition role and character explained. Strengths, weaknesses, best gear, and which to pick for your playstyle.

EarlyGuides Editorial Team

Researched and editorially reviewed. Updated August 12, 2026.

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.

Choosing the right role shapes your entire experience. This guide breaks down every option: what they're good at, what they struggle with, and which one matches your playstyle. For optimized builds with full gear sets, see our builds guide.

Quick Comparison

Role	Tier	Playstyle	Best Weapons	Beginner Friendly?
Hunter Sharpshooter	A	Balanced	Sharpshot Bow	Yes
Warrior Melee Brave	A	Balanced	Hunter Bow	Yes
Trapper	A	Balanced	Spike Thrower	Yes
Infiltrator	A	Balanced	Shredder Gauntlet	Yes
Machine Master	A	Balanced	Boltblaster	Yes

New player? Start with Warrior Melee Brave. See our beginner's guide for why.

Hunter Sharpshooter

Hunter Sharpshooter is a strong option in Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Weapons	Sharpshot Bow
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	Focus scanning and weak points

Strengths

Highest overall performance across all content types
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Sharpshot Bow

Weaknesses

Popular choice, competition for resources
Needs specific gear to reach full potential

Recommended Progression

Start in Chainscrape to learn Hunter Sharpshooter-specific mechanics
Focus on Focus scanning and weak points. It's this role's primary system
Prioritize Sharpshot Bow as your first major upgrade
See our full Hunter Sharpshooter build guide for the optimal gear progression

Warrior Melee Brave

Warrior Melee Brave is a strong option in Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Weapons	Hunter Bow
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	elemental status buildup

Strengths

Most versatile, adapts to any situation
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Hunter Bow

Weaknesses

Lower peak damage than S-tier options
Needs specific gear to reach full potential

Recommended Progression

Start in Chainscrape to learn Warrior Melee Brave-specific mechanics
Focus on elemental status buildup. It's this role's primary system
Prioritize Hunter Bow as your first major upgrade
See our full Warrior Melee Brave build guide for the optimal gear progression

Trapper

Trapper is a strong option in Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Weapons	Spike Thrower
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	Valor Surges

Strengths

Best survivability for learning hard content
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Spike Thrower

Weaknesses

Slower progression speed
Needs specific gear to reach full potential

Recommended Progression

Start in Chainscrape to learn Trapper-specific mechanics
Focus on Valor Surges. It's this role's primary system
Prioritize Spike Thrower as your first major upgrade
See our full Trapper build guide for the optimal gear progression

Infiltrator

Infiltrator is a strong option in Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Weapons	Shredder Gauntlet
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	weapon coils and armor weaves

Strengths

Excellent in group and cooperative content
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Shredder Gauntlet

Weaknesses

Less effective solo
Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively

Recommended Progression

Start in Chainscrape to learn Infiltrator-specific mechanics
Focus on weapon coils and armor weaves. It's this role's primary system
Prioritize Shredder Gauntlet as your first major upgrade
See our full Infiltrator build guide for the optimal gear progression

Machine Master

Machine Master is a strong option in Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Weapons	Boltblaster
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	Cauldron overrides

Strengths

Highest skill ceiling with unique mechanics
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Boltblaster

Weaknesses

Steep learning curve, punishing mistakes
Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively

Recommended Progression

Start in Chainscrape to learn Machine Master-specific mechanics
Focus on Cauldron overrides. It's this role's primary system
Prioritize Boltblaster as your first major upgrade
See our full Machine Master build guide for the optimal gear progression

Which Role Should You Pick?

For Beginners

Warrior Melee Brave is the clear winner. It's forgiving, teaches core mechanics, and remains competitive into endgame. Follow our beginner's guide for the best first-session experience.

For Maximum Performance

Hunter Sharpshooter is the top pick once you understand the game's mechanics. Pair it with Sharpshot Bow for the strongest overall setup.

For a Challenge

Machine Master offers the highest skill ceiling. It's punishing when misplayed but incredibly rewarding when mastered. Only recommended after you've completed the game with another role.

For Group Play

Infiltrator shines in cooperative content with utility and team support capabilities.

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