How to Upgrade in Horizon Zero Dawn: A Comprehensive Guide
Horizon Zero Dawn is an action role-playing game developed by Guerrilla Games, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, and released in 2017 for the PlayStation 4. The game has received widespread critical acclaim for its engaging storyline, unique blend of post-apocalyptic and sci-fi elements, and improved combat mechanics. One of the key aspects of the game is character progression and upgrading, which allows players to enhance Aloy’s abilities and make her a more formidable warrior. In this article, we will explore the different ways to upgrade in Horizon Zero Dawn.
Earning XP and Leveling Up
To upgrade Aloy, players need to earn Experience Points (XP) by completing quests, defeating enemies, and exploring the open world. XP can be earned from a variety of activities, including:
- Completing Quests: Quests are a primary source of XP in Horizon Zero Dawn. Completing main story quests, side quests, and errands will reward players with significant amounts of XP.
- Defeating Enemies: Defeating enemies, especially tougher ones, will award players with XP.
- Exploring the Open World: Exploring the open world, discovering new locations, and completing world activities will also reward players with XP.
As players earn XP, they will level up, which will unlock new skills, abilities, and upgrades.
Upgrading Skills
Skills are abilities that Aloy can learn and upgrade to improve her combat and survival capabilities. There are three types of skills in Horizon Zero Dawn:
- Combat Skills: These skills improve Aloy’s combat abilities, such as increasing her damage output, accuracy, and agility.
- Survival Skills: These skills improve Aloy’s ability to survive in the wilderness, such as increasing her stamina, health, and the effectiveness of her traps and distractions.
- Bows Skills: These skills improve Aloy’s bow abilities, such as increasing her ranged damage output, accuracy, and the speed of her reload.
To upgrade skills, players need to collect Skill Points, which can be earned by leveling up, completing quests, and defeating enemies. Skill Points can be spent on the following:
- Skill Upgrades: Upgrading skills to increase their effectiveness.
- New Skills: Learning new skills, such as new combat abilities or improved survival techniques.
Upgrading Equipment
Aloy’s equipment, including her bow, weapons, and armor, can be upgraded to improve her combat capabilities. Equipment upgrades can be obtained from:
- Scrap Metal: Scrap metal can be used to craft new weapons and armor, or upgrade existing ones.
- Rare Resources: Rare resources, such as rare materials and components, can be used to craft high-quality weapons and armor.
- Workshops: Workshops are scattered throughout the open world and can be used to upgrade equipment using scrap metal and other resources.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks to help you upgrade in Horizon Zero Dawn:
- Focus on Combat Skills: Combat skills are essential for taking down tough enemies, so make sure to upgrade them regularly.
- Explore the Open World: Exploring the open world will reward you with XP, skill points, and rare resources.
- Use Your Environment: Use your environment to your advantage by taking cover, setting up ambushes, and using your surroundings to take down enemies.
- Experiment with Different Playstyles: Experiment with different playstyles, such as using different weapons or abilities, to find what works best for you.
Conclusion
Upgrading in Horizon Zero Dawn is a crucial aspect of the game, as it allows players to enhance Aloy’s abilities and make her a more formidable warrior. By earning XP, leveling up, and upgrading skills and equipment, players can tailor their playstyle to their preferences and take on even the toughest enemies. Remember to focus on combat skills, explore the open world, use your environment, and experiment with different playstyles to get the most out of the game.