Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Tier List: Current Rankings

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.

Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition tier list ranking every role and weapon. Updated rankings with detailed reasoning.

EarlyGuides Editorial Team

Researched and editorially reviewed. Updated August 12, 2026.

This Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition tier list ranks every major option by overall effectiveness. Rankings factor in damage output, survivability, versatility, gear requirements, and how well each option scales.

Tier definitions: S = best in class, always a strong pick. A = strong and competitive, minor weaknesses. B = solid but clearly outperformed in most situations. C = viable only for players who enjoy the playstyle.

Characters Rankings

Tier	Role	Rating	Playstyle
A	Hunter Sharpshooter	8.5/10	Balanced approach
A	Warrior Melee Brave	8.5/10	Balanced approach
A	Trapper	8.5/10	Balanced approach
A	Infiltrator	8.5/10	Balanced approach
A	Machine Master	8.5/10	Balanced approach

Detailed Characters Analysis

Hunter Sharpshooter (A-Tier)

Hunter Sharpshooter is a competitive option in the current meta.

Best with: Sharpshot Bow. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats

Warrior Melee Brave (A-Tier)

Warrior Melee Brave is a competitive option in the current meta.

Best with: Hunter Bow. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats

Trapper (A-Tier)

Trapper is a competitive option in the current meta.

Best with: Spike Thrower. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats

Infiltrator (A-Tier)

Infiltrator is a competitive option in the current meta.

Best with: Shredder Gauntlet. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats

Machine Master (A-Tier)

Machine Master is a competitive option in the current meta.

Best with: Boltblaster. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats

Weapons Rankings

Weapon	Best With	Notes
Sharpshot Bow	Stripping cannons, canisters and armor plates from large machines at range	Slow, heavy single-shot bow built for precision damage into weak points and canisters.
Hunter Bow	Applying elemental status and handling medium machines at mid range	The general-purpose bow that carries several ammo types, including the elemental arrows you use to build frost, fire or shock.
Spike Thrower	Punishing stationary or slow machines and finishing a frozen target	Launches heavy explosive spikes that deal large impact damage, benefiting from the Powershots Valor Surge alongside bows, boltcasters and ropecasters.
Shredder Gauntlet	Burst damage on an isolated machine when you have room to time the catches	Throws a returning disc that gains damage each time you catch and rethrow it in rhythm.
Boltblaster	Melting an exposed weak point after a component has already been torn off	Sustained rapid-fire weapon that spins up and then pours bolts into a target, trading precision for volume.

Check our weapons guide for in-depth stats and comparisons.

Weapons Analysis

Sharpshot Bow: Slow, heavy single-shot bow built for precision damage into weak points and canisters. It is the most efficient tool for removing components once Concentration is unlocked in the Hunter tree.

Hunter Bow: The general-purpose bow that carries several ammo types, including the elemental arrows you use to build frost, fire or shock. Faster to draw than the Sharpshot, so it handles machines that close distance.

Spike Thrower: Launches heavy explosive spikes that deal large impact damage, benefiting from the Powershots Valor Surge alongside bows, boltcasters and ropecasters. Slow to aim and unforgiving against fast targets.

Shredder Gauntlet: Throws a returning disc that gains damage each time you catch and rethrow it in rhythm. Mastering the catch timing turns it into one of the highest single-target damage options in the game.

Boltblaster: Sustained rapid-fire weapon that spins up and then pours bolts into a target, trading precision for volume. It drains stamina and ammunition quickly, so it works best in a window you created with something else.

Meta Analysis

The current meta in Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition centers on Focus scanning and weak points and elemental status buildup. Builds that leverage both systems outperform those that focus on only one. Our combat guide explains these interactions in depth.

What's strong right now:

Hunter Sharpshooter with Sharpshot Bow is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
Valor Surges builds are gaining ground as players find new combinations.
Trapper remains essential for learning hard content. See the boss guide.

What's underrated:

Warrior Melee Brave is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
Spike Thrower offers excellent performance for its investment level.

What's overhyped:

Pure Machine Master builds. High ceiling but the consistency isn't there for most players.

Quick Picks by Situation

Situation	Best Role	Best Weapon	Why
Overall best	Hunter Sharpshooter	Sharpshot Bow	Highest consistent performance
New player	Warrior Melee Brave	Hunter Bow	Most forgiving, teaches mechanics
Hard content	Trapper	Spike Thrower	Survivability when you need it
Group play	Infiltrator	Shredder Gauntlet	Utility and team support
Experienced player	Machine Master	Boltblaster	Unique challenge and high ceiling

More Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Guides

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