Horizon Zero Dawn’s post-apocalyptic world would not be the same without the fearless and admirable protagonist who navigates it, Aloy. The Nora Brave has ventured far from her roots in the All-Mother mountain and has said some unforgettable lines along the way.
Aloy’s best quotes perfectly capture her personality, from her bravery and determination to her more humorous side. As fans eagerly wait to see what she does next in the upcoming sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, it’s the best time to look back at some of her most iconic lines from Zero Dawn.
Aloy's Humor
“Confidence Is Quiet, You’re Not.”
In Horizon Zero Dawn, a small but crucial detail about Aloy’s personality is that she won’t ever back down from a fight, especially if she knows she’s in the right. This is what happens when she’s confronted by Bast the night before the Proving, as the Nora tribesman believes she’s not supposed to be there.
Aloy brushes off his insults and reminds him that his brashness only makes him look weak, unlike actual confident contenders in the room. It’s strange to think how she actually saved him from machines when they were kids, but he’s been telling a different story to others to make himself look better. It’s satisfying to watch Aloy put him in his place.
Aloy Proves Her Worth
“I Fought My Way Past An Army While You Cowered In This Cave, Do You Really Think You Can Stop Me?!”
By the time Aloy returns to the Nora tribe to open the All-Mother’s door within the sacred mountain, she’s a completely different person. The Matriarch Lansra has always worked against her, convincing other leaders to shun her and view her as a dangerous person. Her attempts mean nothing to Aloy this time, though.
The protagonist has fought entire armies like the Shadow Carja to return to her home and uncover details about her birth. She doesn’t hesitate to show others that she’s not the same person they used to be able to push around. In the end, she proves them all wrong by showing that their feared god favors her over them.
Aloy's Acceptance Of Her Own Flaws
“Survival Requires Perfection.”
From a young age, Aloy has been forced to strive for perfection in order to gain even just a bit of acceptance from the only family she’s ever known. Her unrealistic goals partly stem from her challenging training with her father figure, Rost, who taught her that she needs to be strong to be able to get anywhere in the world.
Over the course of the game, Aloy eventually understands that she doesn’t need to be perfect. She just has to know and accept who she is, regardless of what those around her think.
Aloy's Individualism
“Everyone Calls Me ‘Aloy Of The Nora.’ It Should Be ‘Aloy, Despite The Nora.’”
One of Aloy’s best quotes in Zero Dawn highlights the contradiction she feels when everyone lauds her as a savior. Along with her name, the Nora tribe’s status is elevated across the lands.
This doesn’t sit right with Aloy, who was shunned as an outcast along with Rost. She had to fight for her place to be a Nora Brave and then a Seeker for the tribe, despite the High Matriarchs’ protests against her rights. It’s not fair that they can claim her as one of their own when it’s suddenly convenient for them.
Aloy's Motivational Words
“Not Oblivion, Sylens. Hope.”
When Aloy and Sylens learn about the heartbreaking truth behind APOLLO’s disappearance and the fate of the Alphas, they have contrasting views about what that means for their world. For Sylens, their very existence on the post-apocalyptic planet is “a monument to oblivion,” but for Aloy, it’s hope – perhaps the events of Forbidden West will answer which one is true.
Aloy understands that the existence of the forests, humans, machines, and more are a testament to how brilliant people from long ago did their best to ensure life would survive. Instead of letting this new information bring her down, she uses it to motivate herself to keep going and do her part to save the new world from HADES’ evil plot.
Aloy's Rejection Of Sexism
“You Stick The Pointy End Into The Machine.”
Aloy doesn’t put up with sexism and she demonstrates this several times throughout the game. One memorable moment is when she reminds the NPC Fernund that her “eyes are up here,” which causes him to make an excuse about looking at her spear.
He’s smug and annoying, which makes Aloy’s answer to his question about how her spear works even funnier. When he asks her to explain how Overriding works, she brushes him off and says he “wouldn’t understand.” It’s another example of the protagonist’s wittiness and strength.
Aloy Has No Fear
“You're An Idiot, A Dangerous Idiot, But An Idiot.”
Helis is at the center of one of Zero Dawn’s best post-apocalyptic storylines – the rise of the Eclipse. He blindly follows HADES’ commands, believing that the AI is the supernatural Buried Shadow who can help their cult take control of Meridian.
Aloy isn’t scared of Helis, despite his brute strength and his successful murder of her father figure, Rost. She knows that he’s nothing more than a reckless puppet who doesn’t know any better. Even when she’s trapped in a cage, she insults Helis for not being able to act without HADES in his ear. It’s a testament to how much she has learned since leaving the Nora tribe, as she can differentiate real threats from pathetic intimidation.
Aloy Rejects Disposable Pleasures
“Comforts Are Weakness.”
When Aloy finally meets a Nora tribe member who doesn’t hate her, the protagonist obviously still has her guard up. Vala tries to befriend her and asks her what she thinks about the “Nora lodge,” which is a place Aloy has never been allowed to enter.
Aloy sternly tells her that they’re unnecessary comforts, which makes sense considering she’s used to her harsh training sessions and unpleasant living conditions with Rost. She’s set her mind on winning the Proving and she’s not about to let “comforts and distractions” divert her focus.
Aloy's Inspirational Battle Speech
“There’s A Whole World Beyond Your Borders, Whole Tribes Of People Just As Good As You, And It Is All In Danger! It’s A World Worth Fighting For. Not Just Here. Everywhere.”
The Matriarchs, Nora Braves, and the rest of the tribe all fall to their knees after they see what Aloy is capable of when she defends the All-Mother mountain. What’s more, the All-Mother has clearly spoken about her role in defeating what they think is a “metal demon.”
They realize that they’ve been wrong about her all this time – she’s far from being a curse and is actually the best Nora among them. Aloy isn’t happy about their reaction, reminding them that they shunned her and now they want her to “belong” to them as their “anointed.” She knows the Old Ones and their ways are made through science, not magic, and desperately tries to help the Nora understand that there’s a bigger world beyond their borders.
Aloy's Dark Night Of The Soul
“How Could You Sleep, Elisabet, With A Weight Like This Pressing On You? How Did You, Rost, After You Lost Your Family?”
The night before the final battle is an excruciating one for Aloy who carries the weight of knowing exactly what the consequences will be if they lose to HADES’ army. She thinks about how her mother figure, Elisabet, could have handled this much pressure when she was building GAIA Prime as the Faro Plague raged on aboveground. She recalls Rost’s strength after the devastating murder of his entire family and wonders how he was able to handle it.
She even asks Sylens who’s usually listening in but gets no response. She realizes she “shouldn’t ask ghosts for advice” and goes to bed, likely knowing that there’s no real answer to her question. She only has to courageously face the monumental day and win the battle, as Elisabet and Rost did with their own fights so many years ago.