Summary

• Sunwing is the fastest flying mount in Forbidden West, perfect for exploration but vulnerable in combat.
• Chargers, Bristlebacks, and Clawstriders offer different strengths in speed, durability, and combat prowess.
• Waterwings, added in Burning Shores DLC, allow players to seamlessly transition from flying to underwater exploration.

Horizon Forbidden West has mountable machines that weren't available in Horizon Zero Dawn, a selection also expanded by its Burning Shores DLC. Machines offer one of the most novel elements of the Horizon series, blending nature and technology into animal-like creations. All machines encountered in the wild will attack Aloy if given the chance, but many can be overridden and made to fight on her side. Even better are the ones that Aloy can ride after overriding, allowing her to better traverse the map with advancements in speed or even flight.

There are four mounts in the Horizon Forbidden West base game, with one more being added in the PS5-exclusive Burning Shores DLC. The Charger carries over from the game's predecessor, Horizon Zero Dawn, but the other mountable machines available in Forbidden West make their first appearance in the title. Aside from the Charger, each will require players to hack a separate Cauldron in order to be able to override them. Each rideable machine in Forbidden West has its own pros and cons, and a certain beast may appeal more to some players than others.

Of all the mountable machines in the Forbidden West base game, only the Clawstrider's override is found outside the game's main quest chain.

5 Charger

Reliability & Speed Are Its Main Traits

Chargers are the first mount that Aloy will be able to use. Unlocking every mount in Horizon Forbidden West takes some time, but this one is fairly simple. Aloy already has the override code for them when the game starts, so it's just a matter of isolating a Charger and overriding it.

It's a fast-moving land mount that players will likely rely on a lot over the course of the game in order to easily traverse the map. It's based on a ram and uses its powerful horns to make charging attacks, hence the name.

Early on, these attacks can deal a lot of damage, so they shouldn't be underestimated.

Regardless of the early-game threat they may pose – though hardly ever since taming them is much like a tutorial into more advanced forms of mounts – Chargers are some of the most consistent and reliable allies that Aloy can have when exploring the various terrains presented in the world of Horizon Forbidden West.

These creatures are present across the vast majority of the maps and can be used to get from point A to point B without much of a thought, instead of making Aloy run. Granted, there are better options, but the simplicity involved in overriding Chargers, how easily they are found on the map, and how quickly they can be used make them a solid mount.

4 Bristleback

Sturdiness & Raw Attack Power Compose The Warthog-Like Machine

The Bristleback is the second mount Forbidden West players will likely unlock. The Cauldron that contains its override is known as the TAU Cauldron, or Repair Bay, just west of Plainsong. The TAU Cauldron is a part of the main quest "The Dying Lands," so players shouldn’t worry about missing this area.

The Bristleback is based on warthogs, and are heavy-hitter machines that will put up a big fight should players decide to utilize them. Their size makes them a bit awkward, but they're a much more durable mountable machine in Forbidden West than the flimsy Chargers.

Bristlebacks are also more versatile when using them in combat. While the Charger excels at its versatility as an easily obtained mount, the Bristleback stands out due to its sturdiness and aggressive potential. For players who are looking to use a mount for combat while saving some ammo and playing it safe, the hog-like machine is an excellent choice.

Bristlebacks are great for ramming into other machines and can easily dispose of humans from enemy factions. After all, given its sheer size, it should be like getting trampled by an elephant that is built out of metal and wires. They are a little bit more bulky and hard to maneuver, but it may be worth it depending on how the player is planning to approach a challenge in Horizon Forbidden West.

3 Clawstrider

Raptors Were Brought Back To Life

The Clawstrider is the strongest combat mount in Horizon Forbidden West. It's slower than both the Charger and the Bristleback, but it's also much stronger and more suited for combat than exploration. Getting close enough to override one is difficult. Players hoping to override one will need to employ their tactics carefully, separating one from the pack and taking a stealthy approach. They're based on the raptor family of dinosaurs and showcase a similar level of aggression, leaping to attack Aloy given half a chance.

To unlock them, players will need to venture through Forbidden West's IOTA Cauldron, located north of Scalding Spear. It's not part of the main quest, so a bit of a sidetrack is necessary. IOTA differs from other Cauldrons in that its entrance isn't easily accessed, and finding it is the first part of clearing this Cauldron's quest. The Clawstrider is an easier Forbidden West mount to maneuver than the bulky Bristlebacks and is much tougher and stronger. They're best used when fighting other machines, and ill-suited for traversing the game's map.

When it comes to ground-based mounts, the Clawstrider may be the best one for Aloy to use. It can be a little bit difficult to use it for traversal, especially in comparison to the ever-reliable Charger, for instance, but its combat potential blended with its high mobility gives it the upper hand in nearly all situations.

The world of the game is dangerous and players are bound to encounter foes while they travel, so having a mount like the Clawstrider is being ready to deal with any sort of problem. In comparison, the Bristleback may be a powerhouse, but its bulky form may make it hard to steer to the point that players miss their initial target – a problem that the Clawstrider in Horizon Forbidden West does not face.

2 Sunwing

Unlock Flying Mounts

Sunwings were the first mount in Horizon Forbidden West that allows players to fly, and they're also the fastest of the base game's machines. They're only unlocked late in the story, in the GEMINI Cauldron as a part of the main quest "Gemini." Unlocking all of Horizon Forbidden West's Cauldrons isn't necessary to get Sunwings, but the GEMINI Cauldron their override code is found in cannot be accessed until the start of the quest. Once they are unlocked, however, an entirely new world is made available.

Players will be able to soar through the skies with ease, making exploration far easier than before.

In direct contrast to the Clawstrider, Sunwings are a fast and agile Forbidden West mount that is very poorly suited for combat, and can only take a few hits before being destroyed. They're based on pteranodons, and unlike most machines in Horizon Forbidden West, utilize solar energy in order to keep themselves active instead of Blaze. The fact that it's unlocked late in the game is both a blessing and a curse.

Players won't have as much time to enjoy Sunwings, but they'll also already be familiar with areas where they'll need to fly in order to unlock or reach things that they couldn't before. Nevertheless, flying is one of the sleekest new gameplay mechanics added to the franchise with the second installment.

The novelty surrounding it along with the practicality of moving around with even fewer threats may make players more encouraged to use the Sunwing. Flying around can give them quicker access to side objectives, which can then seem more attractive to complete since getting to them on foot or with grounded mounts was somewhat difficult.

1 Waterwing

Explore The Skies & The Seas

Waterwings mark the newest mountable addition to Horizon Forbidden West, joining the game in the Burning Shores DLC. The Waterwing takes everything that was exciting about the Sunwing in the game and adds another layer, allowing players to not only fly through the skies but also dive underwater while atop its back.

This makes for a particularly seamless way to explore the world of Burning Shores, as well as providing an exhilarating rush when breaking the surface of the waves. Exploring the full size of the Burning Shores map is much easier on the back of a Waterwing. Like Sunwings, Waterwings are tough fights that should not be underestimated. Their elemental attacks can devastate Aloy if players aren't careful, and their movement makes it difficult to get close enough to override one.

Still, if players can manage it, the Waterwing is well worth the effort it takes to mount, if for nothing else than the view that greets players when rise from the seas and take to the skies. The Waterwing is the ultimate mount in the game. Surely, it is not the best choice for combat, but it goes from air to sea seamlessly and makes underwater exploration much easier than having Aloy swim around.

There are plenty of secrets underwater, and the Waterwing can help find them without spending too much time down there. In addition, it is a fantastic tool to get away from some of the more dangerous underwater creatures in the DLC. Horizon Forbidden West and its Burning Shores DLC offer great graphics and striking visuals, and this beauty is best appreciated on the back of any mount, especially a Waterwing.