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.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary weapons | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your role's key combinations |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary weapons | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Chainscrape
Key resources: First real merchant access, early weapon upgrades, side quests that hand out skill points Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Hunter Bow upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Barren Light
Key resources: Tenakth gear introduction, gateway to the wider Forbidden West map Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Hunter Bow upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Plainsong
Key resources: Herbalist supplies, cooking recipes for permanent health and stamina bonuses, mid-game weapon tiers Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Hunter Bow upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The Memorial Grove
Key resources: Arena medals traded for exclusive weapons and outfits, plus repeatable machine practice Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Sharpshot Bow max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Legacy's Landfall
Key resources: Burning Shores weapons and outfits, new machines including the Bilegut and Waterwing, and the expansion's apex encounters Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Sharpshot Bow max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Chainscrape to Barren Light)
- Upgrade your starting weapons to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Hunter Bow once accessible
Mid Game (Plainsong)
- Push Hunter Bow to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Sharpshot Bow
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (The Memorial Grove to Legacy's Landfall)
- Max out Sharpshot Bow. This is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary weapons for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple weapons: Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials: Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear: Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Plainsong farming: This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early: Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- 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.
- Farm Plainsong during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build. Some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Guides
- Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Overview
- Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Best Builds
- 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 Classes & Characters
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