Horizon Forbidden West: The Best Weapons

With how massive Horizon: Forbidden West is, it’s no surprise you have numerous gear to choose from. That’s not to account for the host of skills to pick in the beginning. So, if you’re concerned about having the best weapon or Legendary weapons, we’ll help you find them in Horizon: Forbidden West.

(Updated on August 8, 2024 – Fact-checked and fixed inconsistencies).

The Best Weapons in Horizon: Forbidden West

Whether you’re just starting the game for the first time or jumping back in following the latest update, a common concern is figuring out which weapon is the best. Throughout Horizon: Forbidden West, you’ll experiment with gear to find the best weapon and armor combo to suit your playstyle.

It can take some trial and error, and you’ll soon learn that some shine better than others. However, it never hurts to look at the best Legendary weapons, as Horizon is filled with them. These are indicated by their orange background.

In the beginning, you’ll notice plenty of green ones. These aren’t necessarily bad, but you’ll want to move on to ones with more perks soon enough. You’ll see other colors, such as blue and purple, with these granting bigger and better perks until the orange Legendary ones give the best bonuses and buffs.

We’ll break down what we feel are some of the best weapons in Horizon: Forbidden West by category below.

Best Legendary Bow Weapons

Out of all the bows in the game, players may want to take advantage of the Death-Seeker’s Shadow Hunter bow. This potent bow easily knocks machine parts off. Alongside that, it increases knockdown damage, critical damage, and critical hit chance. It works best when faced with armored targets.

Unlock: Buy it at the Maw of the Arena with Medals.

Another one of the best weapons in Horizon: Forbidden West that can edge out the Death-Seeker’s Shadow is The Sun Scourge. Not only does this fire fast, but it has three elemental arrow types to handle multiple situations. Furthermore, there are five coil slots. This is simply an ideal all-around Hunter bow.

Unlock: Clear out all Rebel Camps and finish the First Forge side quest.

For those of you who seek those long-range, one-shot kill battles, the Sharpshooter bow Forgefall is your best bet. It deals incredible damage while giving a boost to your draw speed along with your concentration. This bow’s a bit slow compared to others, but it more than makes up for it with its strength and perks.

Unlock: Purchase with Medals at the Maw of the Arena.

There’s only one Warrior bow that stands out: Carja’s Bane. Whether you’re stuck in melee range or simply love to get up close and personal with all your fights with your bow, Carja’s Bane is your best friend in the situation. It’s one of the best weapons in Horizon: Forbidden West, thanks to its great mobility. This starts with good perks, too, such as corroding enemy damage.

Unlock: Finish all the Gauntlet Races.

Skykiller – Best Spike Thrower Weapon

The Skykiller not only sounds cool, but it simply is cool. It’s unfortunate, then, that you won’t get it until very late in the game. Still, when you do, you can reap the 15% bonus to aerial enemy damage. Along with that, it has good versatility as it has flaming ammo capabilities in addition to regular and explosive.

Unlock: Following the Gemini Cauldron, finish the “The Way Home” side quest.

Wings of the Ten – Best Blastsling Weapon

It never hurts to have something in your arsenal for stunning, and the Wings of the Ten is the best weapon for the job. Besides its stunning ability, it has sheer power thanks to its perks, such as an increase in crit chance and crit damage. You can even unlock an instant plasma blast chance perk.

Unlock: Gather all 12 Black Box collectibles and go back to Memorial Grove.

Blast Forge – Best Boltblaster Weapon in Horizon: Forbidden West

If you’re in a pinch, the Blast Forge is a great weapon to get you out of it. It can fire off multiple types of ammo, such as explosive and armor-piercing. So, if you feel overwhelmed, this boltblaster can come to your aid.

Unlock: Purchase via the Arena.

Tinker’s Pride – Best Tripcaster Weapon

Having a Legendary tripcaster may not be your first thought, but the weapon is worth it as it’s certainly one of the best in Horizon: Forbidden West. Tinker’s Pride is a great tool once you know how to use it. It doesn’t just keep enemies at bay. It has a knockdown power perk and damage over time bonus. There are even three different explosive types.

Unlock: Finish all Hunting Grounds with Full Stripes.