Horizon Zero Dawn: A Complete Guide to Upgrading Aloy’s Spear
Key Takeaways
- Multiple Upgrade Paths: Discover three key missions to enhance Aloy’s spear, boosting damage and elemental capabilities.
- Essential Quest Rewards: Gain upgrades from “In Her Mother’s Footsteps,” “A Secret Shared,” and “The Mountain That Fell” quests.
- Improved Combat Versatility: Learn to modify your spear to tackle tougher machines and diversify your melee strategy.
Aloy’s spear in Horizon Zero Dawn is her primary melee weapon and, for a time, appeared as one of her few unmodifiable tools. Yet, with the release of The Frozen Wilds expansion, players gained the ability to enhance this essential weapon. Upgrading the spear boosts Aloy’s melee power, allowing players to diversify their approach to taking down even the game’s toughest machines. Here’s a complete guide to mastering Aloy’s spear upgrades and maximizing its impact on the battlefield.
Why Upgrade Aloy’s Spear?
In Horizon Zero Dawn, Aloy’s spear serves as her go-to tool for close-range combat and silent takedowns. With upgrades available in both the base game and The Frozen Wilds expansion, players can improve its damage, add elemental effects, and even modify it further for a customized combat experience. If you’re aiming for the best melee setup, following these upgrade paths is a game-changer.
How to Unlock Spear Upgrades
Upgrading Aloy’s spear requires completing certain story and side quests. Each mission provides unique bonuses that enhance the weapon’s capabilities. Here are the missions that lead to these upgrades:
- In Her Mother’s Footsteps
- A Secret Shared (Frozen Wilds expansion)
- The Mountain That Fell
Quest 1: “In Her Mother’s Footsteps” – First Damage Boost
The earliest spear upgrade you can achieve in the game is from the side quest “In Her Mother’s Footsteps.”
- Location: Near Mother’s Heart, you’ll encounter Thok, an injured NPC in need of Aloy’s help. His daughter, Arana, has pursued a machine that stole her mother’s spear.
- Objective: Speak to Thok, who directs you to find Arana. Use Aloy’s Focus to track Arana across the river, where she faces a group of Watchers. Dispatch these foes and speak to Arana.
- Tracking the Scrapper: Arana informs you that the spear is with a Scrapper, a machine she tried to pursue but lost. Use Focus to track down the Scrapper, and either sneakily take down the machine or face the group outright.
- Return for Reward: After retrieving the spear, return it to Thok to receive a damage boost for Aloy’s spear.
This upgrade increases the spear’s damage output, giving Aloy a stronger base for melee attacks early in the game.
Quest 2: “A Secret Shared” – Adding Modification Capabilities (Frozen Wilds Expansion)
If you have The Frozen Wilds expansion or the Complete Edition, you can unlock the second upgrade by completing the “A Secret Shared” quest.
- Start the Quest: This quest is accessible shortly after arriving in the Banuk settlement of Song’s Edge. Speak with Kamut, a Banuk shaman, who praises Aloy’s spear and offers insight into improving it.
- Acquiring the Rail Part: Kamut directs you to an old aircraft hangar in the far northern reaches of the map. There, follow these steps to obtain a Rail Part:
- Climb the ladder to the right of the aircraft and use yellow climbing spots to reach the console.
- Move the plane by activating the console.
- Jump to a ledge now accessible at the back of the aircraft and proceed through the door.
- Unlock the next door by setting the locks to “right, down, right.”
- Continue through the shaft until you reach another aircraft, then loot it for the part.
- Facing the Demonic Stalker: Be prepared to battle a Demonic Stalker lurking in the hangar. After defeating it, return to Song’s Edge and speak to Kamut.
- Reward: Kamut will equip Aloy’s spear with a modification coil slot, enabling you to add a powerful modification for elemental boosts.
With this upgrade, players can add one modification to the spear, granting Aloy additional versatility to adapt to various machine weaknesses.
Quest 3: “The Mountain That Fell” – Unlocking a Second Modification Slot
The final spear upgrade is unlocked during the main quest “The Mountain That Fell,” which occurs toward the end of the main story. This quest is crucial to fully upgrade Aloy’s melee capabilities.
- Complete the Mission: As you progress through “The Mountain That Fell,” Aloy receives a new melee weapon. This enhanced spear not only boosts her damage output but also includes an additional modification slot.
- Adding the Second Modification: With two modification slots, players can now equip the spear with multiple coils to customize damage, elemental boosts, or other benefits.
Final Spear Build: Optimizing Aloy’s Upgraded Weapon
With all three upgrades complete, Aloy’s spear becomes a formidable weapon in her arsenal. Combining the damage boost, one or two elemental modifications, and other perks creates a versatile weapon perfect for handling Horizon Zero Dawn’s most formidable enemies.
Some effective elemental setups include:
- Shock or Freeze Coils: Useful against machines vulnerable to electricity or freezing effects.
- Fire Coil: Adds a strong offensive edge against machines with a vulnerability to fire.
As each machine has distinct strengths and weaknesses, having an upgraded spear ready with different modifications allows players to strategically switch their loadout and maximize effectiveness.
FAQs
How many upgrades can Aloy’s spear receive in Horizon Zero Dawn?
Aloy’s spear can receive three main upgrades: a damage boost from “In Her Mother’s Footsteps,” a modification slot from “A Secret Shared,” and a second slot from “The Mountain That Fell.”
Is the Frozen Wilds expansion required for spear upgrades?
Yes, one of the three upgrades, specifically the modification slot, is unlocked by completing the “A Secret Shared” quest in the Frozen Wilds expansion.
Can I change the modifications on Aloy’s spear after applying them?
Yes, you can swap out modifications to customize the spear for different encounters, ensuring maximum versatility across various enemy types.
Upgrading Aloy’s spear is essential to building a well-rounded arsenal in Horizon Zero Dawn. Whether sneaking up on a pack of Watchers or taking on a Thunderjaw head-to-head, an enhanced spear transforms Aloy’s combat potential, allowing players to unleash powerful melee and elemental attacks with confidence.
