Thanks for this work! I'm a single mom who's playing to relax. I don't have time (or brainpower left over) for experimentation. These videos really help me improve my skills more quickly and enjoy the game. I know this is silly, but these videos have real impact on my mental health as I'm working through divorce and covid. I'm finding HFW to be harder and more complicated than HZD. At first, I was overwhelmed and frustrated, but I'm realizing that the wider variety of weapons, skills, coils, elementals, machines, potions, foods, and valor surges don't all have to be mastered, but instead provide options for many different ways of approaching the game. These videos help do the very real, time-intensive labor of simplifying to a manageable subset of options. Thank you. No seriously, thank you.

Hey man! I just wanted to say, I stumbled on to your channel recently so I just started watching all your videos and I gotta say they’re THE most quality Horizon content on KZfaq without a doubt. I can’t believe you’re super underrated, I hope you succeed with wherever you plan to take this channel. I can’t wait for more machine guides from you as I myself have spent hours coming up with cool strategies to take them out easily without abusing the RPG mechanics in the game and would love to dwell deeper into this stuff! Thanks again for the top tier content!

Small channel, big impact That's what I think everytime you say "small channels like mine" This is an amazing guide I am watching all your videos.

Stumbled onto the channel cause it was in my recommended and gotta say these videos are truly invaluable for people to learn about how to take down machines and just learn about the overall game in itself. Like with the skills for example cause i never used to use them and now i do since i know how they work now. That sort of thing. Luckily the first video I saw was how to take down the shellsnappers cause I was struggling with those and that video made it almost laughable to fight them now. So you've definitely got a sub from me

Found your channel a few days ago and have been watching most of your horizon vids. Your explanations are so clear and your videos are so professionally done. Defo the number one channel for horizon tips and tricks. Just want to say thanks so much for the videos and you deserve so many more subs

Keep pumping out the content man. KZfaq has recommended me your channel so you're doing something right and I appreciate your in-depth no nonsense videos!

This channel is so good!. Definitively the best HFW channel out there. It could be the official Guerilla channel. I really hope you will continue completely to the end of the game.

You can use regular hunter arrows to distract it by shoot to a location away from you WHILE you are remaining undetected. The rockbreaker will investigate it. This tactic worked great in Zero Dawn with Tearblast arrows (way cheaper to craft). Don't use tearblast arrows for distraction in Forbidden West (expensive to craft)

The time Arktix spends on the quality of his videos is amazing, but he also takes the time to reply back to almost every single comment left on his videos. That's impressive in itself as well. Class act, Arktix! Keep up the great work! Between this channel and discord, I'm sure you're putting in a TON of work (and typing). Thank you and keep on rockin' it (no pun intended)! 🤟

Hey, just so you know, i just started to support your chanel by subscribing. You have a really nice way of explaining things simply. You don't go around, you go straight to your point while still explaining. Good luck with your chanel bro 😎

I know that in HZD that the rockbreaker can sense you moving while it is underground, but I'm not sure if that is the case in HFW. Just stating this because this can be helpful if people want to sneak around and/or up on them. On a different note, these guides are really fucking good. Others just spend 200 hours and not even get to the info, while you are just wasting no time and get to the point. Amen to you brother.

Keep making these vids on the best way to kill each machine. These are gold. This reminds me of the excellent guide for HZD from Jambomus, it’s that good. Would love to see you do this for a range of the more difficult machines! Also would love to see your load out for post end game - with the gold weapons and armour. I am finding the drawback being the advanced ammo tends to use rate materials like “sludge” which you can only carry 7 of - replenishing them depletes available resources very quickly!

Thank you very much mate, those tipps will really come in handy when I start my very hard playthrough 🤩

Appreciate this video. Just started playing this game last week because PC release and this really helped me. Took em down fast and easy even the Apex variants are no big deal.

ROCKBREAKER will be endangered by extinction after I watched this video. Thanks for the guide Dude.

Once again, great content bro 👍 Another trip for taking on rock breakers for everyone out there, and I know this was sorta/briefly talked about in the video: this machine tracks you as you move when it's underground, however if you stand on a rock (and there are tons in the desert where you fight them, I mean hence the name...) they have no clue where your are. Perch up on a rock nearby, then toss a rock lure it out. This can allow you to position yourself for easier shots at the classes with tear blast arrows and such. Sorry for all the rock-iness, but you all can understand what I'm talking about. Cheers.

Dude, I just came accross your videos and fell in love with it. Always have been playing HZD and HFW in highest difficulties and I already got my own strategies for each enemies, but just seeing the game and combat system being analyzed such in depth is amazing. Those videos are pure bliss. Keep up the great work !

Hey man checking in to say this is such a helpful and great instruction! Rockbreakers nearly broke me and those claws are so hard to remove, but I will definitely implement your tips in my game play!

Your master classes are deserving of their title and you've earned my follow, sire.

Awesome video Arktix! So many great strategies + expert gameplay. Thanks for another comprehensive guide, looking forward to seeing what machine you decide to rip apart next. 🤙

Hello Arktix, I'm Brand New to the game. I have found your channel to be the Absolute BEST! Excellent Videos with Super-Smooth Delivery. You are Def my Go-To Channel for Anything & Everything Forbidden West. Thank You SO MUCH for the Time & Effort You put in to Help Everyone out. Appreciated!

Thank you for this! From your late game gear video I picked up the seeker bow and need claws to upgrade it! The fight went waaaay better than last time I fought a rock breaker (still tough though - I’ve got practicing to do)

I seriously can’t thank you enough! Your content is top tier! I feel like I play the game on a better level now, meaning I enjoy it way more.

It's funny when coming from HZD to HFW how easy Rockbreaker are. I don't know what it is but it just dies really quick with the brace shot to the Fuel Sac or the Exhaust Port or trible notch those components. Is it just me or did they nerf his dmg output and his health points? Because it just seems way easier than in HZD. On the other hand I have more difficulties killing a Thunderjaw, it does more dmg and is way faster than in HZD and I never get to his heart outside of Shock/Knockdown state or using adhesives (and I hate using it :D ) But yeah if you play without easy loot on then you should start by destroying it's claws

This is great! I remember testing on an apex rock breaker and forgetting to read its weaknesses and resistances, and just wondered while launching off frost arrows “huh… this is taking a little while…” I think because of that is how I filled up my part breaker again, and then I just used that to hit the exhaust a bunch of times to get it down. If your smart enough to read the resistances of an apex machine, you won’t go through as much ammo as I do XD

You deserve like 50 mil subs or something like that, absolutely amazing if not trillion.

Thank you so much for saying that purgewater clears the resistance to frost and shock, I didn't know that!

Another great video! So glad I found this channel!

This was fun to watch. I will be hitting the rear claws first from now on. Thanks!

Your guides are the best. Thanks!

I’m not sure if I was just a moron when I played the first game, but I never really used to tear off components and now I see that I made my life much harder than it needed to be. Removing the Miner Claws makes the Rockbreaker much easier to tackle even on a harder difficulty (I’m playing on Hard). I love these machines and cleaning that corruption zone with two of them must be one of the best memories I have from HZD 🤣

Your videos are a big help... Keep it up

Do Slaughterspines next! Seriously, the Apex variants of those things can one-shot you on higher difficulties!

For the main storyline fight, I just flew in from the mountain and landed on one of the broken freeway platforms. Either shoot an arrow or throw rocks at a random location. Set up a braced shot and fire once the rock breaker surfaces.

Great video, tnx for the tips arktix

Yo! Just checked back in, you blew up, man!

I would suck at this game without your videos! Many thanks for the NaStY skills brew!

Big thanks for this information

Heyy!! Have you ever thought about making a pure melee build video? i know it's not the most powerful playstyle in the game but honestly it sounds really fun

Another tip that can be helpful to players in the early game is to keep high ground while you focus on the mining claws, and whenever it goes under u can simply throw a rock and the rockbreaker will often breach to check it out ^^

good thing to note is that crushed doesn't do damage over time it does damage when you run jump or dodge.

It's worth detaching canisters on top, they can give you big machine core

Groovy!

Another strategy is that their like moles their actually blind. If you use your bow and hit another location and don’t move. Thats where they will surface

Ya definitely great work on these videos

Please do a guide on Slaughterspines next! They’re so annoying. My only strategy is just to circle around a big object as cover. Btw why don’t you prioritise the attacking Rockbreaker’s blaze sacs?

Hey...can we get an updated Thunderjaw guide? It looks like they nerfed other major returning machines...and buffed Thunderjaw. I'd love to hear your take.

Rockbreakers are the reason I started using W Bows consistently. I just shock it and go around tearing and rippin the claws 😂

Can we see the next be about stormbirds, tremor tusks, slaughter spines or thunderjaws?

More "How To Kill" videos, these are super helpfull.

I had the green ropecaster and he would just laugh at it. I got the purple one and filled all sockets with tear and held him in place. With the freeze bomb and triple arrow shots, he died before he could break free. (Zero Dawn)

Thanks for this! Is there any value in trying to break the blaze sac under the machine? Would this take out a huge portion of health?

When I am at work and I am having a very crappy day, I like to imagine that I forgot that I had my life set on "hard difficulty".

I am less scared of regular Rockbreakers than I am of an Apex Tideripper alerted with an unfavorable environment (such as in the Cauldron). That one quest with Boomer where you have to use the Shredder on a Shellsnapper (but can apparently kill it normally) RIGHT NEXT TO a Rockbreaker spot + Rebel Camp/Outpost. I about crapped my pants repeatedly. Slitherfangs are next up on "scary", tied with Shellsnappers. edit: didn't know about the slide+dodge

Nice weapons

When you’re crushed, you only take damage when sprinting sliding and dodging, if you keep that to a minimum, you could wait it out, I guess if you don’t have cleanse potions

You should do a best load out for each legendary weapon. Which coils are the best for each weapon

i think i did it easier: there is a rock near that location, where i was standing, also i use some stones, so, start shouting his paws from the rock. if he runs away - use stones to attract his attention and hit him again... Was pretty easy. After no paws left - the same tactic: froze and kill

I don’t know if you are reading from a script that you have written or not but it doesn’t sound like it. What a great concise and informative video . Everyone of your videos is a masterpiece and more KZfaqrs should strive to be as well polished as you are. It is obvious that you put in the time and effort to make every video . I hope you become an Uber rich you tuber

Can you not negate the rock breakers underground attacks by standing still/crouched? Haven’t faced many in FW but in ZD that was my go to, just sit still while they’re tunneling until they pop up then shoot off the claws, rinse repeat to get them above ground then go to town. Another great vid tho 👏, can’t wait for burning shores to see what you come up with then 🙂

Bro where have u been all my life?!

Funny enough given the desert area, Rockbreakers weren't used that much in the main story and only for that one side quest...

i keep finding all these videos after i have completed the game and not upgrading anything ( as i wasnt sure what anything did really ) and found most monsters have a circle they cover so picked the rockbreaker off while standing outside its reach circle and did it that way. Annoyingly any monster got wise and stayed far away from arow reach until i went into its domain where it pounced and killed me but thats the AI kicking in i guess.

I was doing the tunnel mission where the rockbeeaker showed up and I was level 14… It was pain. It was so terrible, I don’t want to continue this game for a week or two. He just randomly hits you from below, he is trolling around half the match, just pain

What I hate if you slide dodge the game doesn't place you in upright position at the end, which I really hate

Oddly enough, I never have trouble dodging the subterranean attacks, but after the claws are all broken I just can't ever seem to maintain enough distance to avoid the lunge, as the Rockbreaker just always seems to chain multiple lunges together. Comparing this video to my own experience, it feels like maybe the Rockbreaker's turn radius and aggression got buffed... that or I'm just way worse at this game than I think.

With style

Goddamn it they're back

quick question dose the sun touched hunter bow crits for you? I had it fully upgraded with crit coils and i got 0 crits in more than 100shoots , i reported this as a bug

what if youre so early in the game that you dont have any tear bows?? id also recommend you use the most basic weapons on your 'How to kill' vids assuming that most viewers will be encountering the machine for the 1st time and dont have much weapon selection

Fun fact this is my EXACT strategy from ZD Detach claws freeze it kill it and then call it a day 😇

Still the coolest Machine in the series

But on VH i don't get the alert sign though. Did the parts disappear for you

Man, clawstriders annoy the hell out of me. Midgame especially. How to beat them?

I was trying to kill this thing in very hard in the starting of game so much pain

Just wondering if anyone's experienced this. But if a tearblast arrow breaks off a mining claw while the Rockbreaker is underground, I think it's impossible to retrieve.

damn i dont have any of this shit, i was doing side quests for better gear but i guess this game isnt like most

Tear coils don't work with tear arrows.

Are you aware of actual damage numbers? Maybe can point to a thread to it? Google Fu is somehow weak in me. I don´t think triple Notch does triple damage, more like 2,5 times or something like that, which also counts for elemental build up. How the damage of skills and surges are arrived would be interesting to know either, but i hardly find anything useful. Mechanics are so badly explained you can´t really put value to different tactics. For your video itself, i can only criticize he choice of mob, so this is of course a very personal view, but rockbreakers had absolutely no significance in my game so i can understand the appeal as creator to start with something familiar and add some new stuff to it. Suggestion for the next guide, Slitherfangs (wild versions, not arena), they are so annoying and of course, everything which was great in your previous videos, is still great here so i just repeat the "i like you show what works without engame gear". Cheers!

Thank you! I hate these guys so much.

Forbidden west suckes the new weapons are weak zero dawn weapons are way better and more powerful than Forbidden west the Valor stuff is dumb and the new Design of the warriors bow is dump they should've keep it like it was in zero dawn and the coils in zero dawn are way better the banuk bow are way better than Forbidden west and the ice rail gun and the stromslinger and forgefire are way better than Forbidden west they should've put the frozen wilds in the game to so you can go back and get those weapons they are way better