There are six Cauldrons in Horizon Forbidden West, including Cauldron CHI, which has a recommended level of 30. Two of the Cauldrons are part of the main story and need to be completed to progress, but Cauldron CHI is optional. Even though it doesn't need to be cleared, overriding the core in Cauldron CHI unlocks 10 machine overrides, so completing it is worthwhile. Players will also earn experience and skill points for finishing Cauldron CHI.

Cauldrons are areas in Horizon Forbidden West that have platforming puzzles, groups of machines to fight, and a boss at the end. Cauldron CHI is a mid-difficulty dungeon compared to level 40 in Cauldron KAPPA and level 15 in Cauldron TAU in Horizon Forbidden West. To complete Cauldron CHI, players will need to have the Igniter unlocked, but this special gear item will be crafted during the "Death's Door" story mission near the start of the game.

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Cauldron CHI is located south of Thornmarsh in Horizon Forbidden West. The entrance to Cauldron CHI is blocked off, so players will need to find a different way in. From the entrance, players can head right to find a cave entrance behind a waterfall. There are a few challenging fights throughout the Cauldron, so players should make sure they're well-equipped before heading inside. Once Aloy enters Cauldron CHI, she won't be able to leave until it's completed.

Finding Cauldron CHI's Core In Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West Cauldron CHI Walkthrough Core

Inside the cave, Aloy will need to reach the end of the path and rappel down to the bottom. In this area, there's a breakable glass wall next to a broken Cauldron door, and it leads to the entrance of Horizon Forbidden West's Cauldron CHI. After breaking the wall, players can continue down the path, pull the mechanism with the Pullcaster, then climb up to reach a locked door. Overriding the door will allow players to enter Horizon Forbidden West's Cauldron CHI and start searching for a way to reach the core.

There are three Scroungers to fight upon entering Cauldron CHI, but they should be easy to defeat. Next, players will need to use the Pullcaster to pull the purple climb points forward. There's one that can't be reached from the ground, so players can pull the other three, then use the nearby crate to reach the middle column of climb points. After jumping to the right, Horizon Forbidden West's Aloy can reach the ledge, then turn around and pull the last climb point. Now players can jump down and climb the three hold points in front of them. Players will need to shimmy to the right to reach the platform leading to the next area.

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The next big area will have a few machines to fight, including a Frostclaw. After defeating them, players can use the Pullcaster to move the large mechanical arm above the center of the room. The arm can be pulled to the nearby platform. Once it's lined up, players can grapple up onto the arm, then head down the path to find a Network Uplink. Overriding the Network Uplink will cause the floor to descend. At Cauldron CHI's core, players will see the main Network Uplink, but overriding it won't work. Interacting with the core will prompt Aloy to scan it and find a biofuel leak that needs to be traced and repaired.

Repairing The Core In Horizon Forbidden West's Cauldron CHI

Horizon Forbidden West Cauldron CHI Walkthrough Repair

Using Focus, Aloy can highlight the trail of biofuel and follow it to the source in Horizon Forbidden West's Cauldron CHI. The trail quickly leads to a room that's blocked by a barrier. To the left, there's a crate that will need to be pushed through the barrier before using it to climb the nearby vent. The hold points on the vent will only stay open for a short time, so players will need to climb quickly, then follow the path until reaching a zipline. At the other end of the zipline, there's a room with a Regulator Component to pick up. Before Aloy can grab it, a Clamberjaw will emerge from the rubble and players will need to defeat it.

Aloy can then pick up the Regulator Component, but she won't be able to climb or jump while carrying it. On the other side of the room, Aloy can drop the Regulator Component and use the Pullcaster to tug at the two purple climb points. Next, players can climb up, then go right and down to reach a pole pointing toward another purple climbing point. After pulling it out with the Pullcaster, players can climb up and override the Network Uplink to create a bridge leading to the Regulator Component. Horizon Forbidden West's Aloy can transport the Regulator Component to another Network Uplink, then drop it to override the node and deactivate the barrier.

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The Regulator Component can be transported to the core using the mechanical arm. Aloy will need to drop down and line the arm up with the platform where the Regulator Component is. Next, the part can be dropped onto the arm, then Aloy will need to jump down and move the arm back to the platform it came from. Before leaving the area with the Regulator Component, there will be a few more Clamberjaws to fight.

After they're defeated, Aloy can pick up the Regulator Component and proceed to the core of Horizon Forbidden West's Cauldron CHI. Just before getting to the core, there will be a group of machines to take out. Once the Redeye Watchers are defeated, players can head to the core and deliver the Regulator Component. Replacing the part will trigger the boss battle with a Slitherfang. This machine will need to be defeated in order to complete Cauldron CHI in Horizon Forbidden West.

Defeating Cauldron CHI's Slitherfang In Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West Slitherfang

The Slitherfang in Horizon Forbidden West is a difficult machine to defeat and it can use a variety of attacks. This boss is weak against plasma, fire, and frost attacks, so players should focus on using weapons that deal that kind of damage to make the fight easier. By targeting specific parts, like the Metalbite Sac or Glowblast Canister, Aloy can disable certain attacks and deal a lot of damage to it. Players can also shoot the Slitherfang's neck and underbelly when they're exposed to deal more damage. Once the Slitherfang is defeated, Aloy will be free to override the core of Cauldron CHI. Overriding the core will trigger the platform so it rises and brings Aloy back to Cauldron CHI's entrance. Players can now use the Igniter to clear the blockage and exit through the main entrance.

Cauldron CHI Overrides & Rewards In Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West Cauldron CHI Walkthrough Rewards

Completing Cauldron CHI unlocks a total of 10 machine overrides, but half of them will be corrupted. Partial overrides need to be completed at The Base before they can be used. There are no Horizon Forbidden West mounts to unlock from Cauldron CHI, but a few powerful machine overrides will become available allowing Aloy to recruit them to her side in a fight. Players will also earn 12,500 XP and three skill points. Although CHI is one of the optional Cauldrons, completing it will give players some valuable rewards and machine overrides in Horizon Forbidden West.

Cauldron CHI Overrides

  • Frostclaw - Full
  • Redeye Watcher - Full
  • Shell-Walker - Full
  • Clamberjaw - Full
  • Behemoth - Full
  • Stalker - Corrupted
  • Shellsnapper - Corrupted
  • Spikesnout - Corrupted
  • Scorcher - Corrupted
  • Fireclaw - Corrupted

Next: Horizon Forbidden West Complete Guide

Horizon Forbidden West is available for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.