Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: The Point of the Spear Walkthrough
Key Takeaways:
- Early Skills & Abilities: Focus on the Forager and Prowler skill trees to boost Aloy’s stealth and resource-gathering capabilities, especially when beginning her journey.
- Efficient Questing: Complete side quests like “In Her Mother’s Footsteps” for XP boosts and weapon enhancements.
- Sawtooth Strategy: Fire Arrows and Tripcaster traps make the Sawtooth battle easier, marking the game’s progression into challenging combat.
In Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, players experience the captivating story of Aloy, who, raised in exile, ventures into a mysterious world filled with robotic beasts and ancient secrets. The Point of the Spear quest is not only one of the game’s foundational storylines but also serves as an introduction to essential gameplay mechanics that shape the rest of Aloy’s journey.
Let’s dive into this walkthrough of the Point of the Spear, covering each phase in detail, including tips, resources, and strategies for overcoming the challenges along the way.
Introduction to Aloy’s Journey
The Point of the Spear follows Aloy’s transition from youth to adulthood, guided by her mentor and father figure, Rost. Years after discovering the mysterious Focus device, Aloy faces the daunting Proving trial, a rite that could earn her acceptance into the tribe that ostracized her.
Through this quest, players are introduced to the core gameplay elements of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, including open-world exploration, stealth, crafting, and combat all essential to navigating the robot-infested landscapes.
Before You Start: Skill Allocation
As the quest begins, take a moment to assign Aloy’s skill points wisely. The game’s four main skill trees Prowler, Brave, Forager, and Traveller each serve distinct purposes. Early on, prioritizing skills from the Forager and Prowler trees provides immediate benefits.
- Forager Skills: Start with Gatherer to increase Aloy’s resource collection rate, vital for crafting and survival.
- Prowler Skills: Opt for Silent Drop to move more quietly, and Silent Strike if you prefer a stealth approach. Lure Call is another helpful skill, drawing enemies into position for stealth attacks.
Objective 1: Find Rost
After assigning skill points, head down the path and look for the campfire nearby. Campfires are critical as they serve as both save points and fast-travel nodes. Make it a habit to save your progress at each campfire you encounter.
Proceed through the gate, cross the bridge, and scale the ledge to meet Rost. During the ensuing cutscene, Aloy is given two key tasks:
- Gather materials to craft Fire Arrows
- Acquire a Tripcaster from Karst
These objectives can be completed in any order. Completing side quests and errands along the way will enhance Aloy’s XP and resources, speeding up her level progression.
Objective 2: Gather Materials for Fire Arrows
To craft Fire Arrows, Aloy must collect specific resources from machines:
- Three Blaze: Typically found on Striders.
- Five Metal Shards: Commonly found on various machine enemies.
Travel to the Strider site marked on the map, south of Rost’s location. Hide in tall grass and observe the Striders’ movements. Striders can be lured with calls or approached stealthily; a well-placed arrow to the canister will yield Blaze upon defeating them.
While gathering Blaze and Metal Shards, activate any campfires encountered to expand your fast-travel options. Once you’ve collected the materials, use the weapon wheel to craft Fire Arrows, preparing Aloy for the upcoming challenges.
Objective 3: Acquire a Tripcaster from Karst
Karst, a merchant located just outside Mother’s Cradle, provides the Tripcaster a versatile weapon essential for setting traps. To obtain it, Aloy needs a Scrapper Lens. If you haven’t collected one already, head to a Scrapper site near Karst’s location to find it.
Once you have the Tripcaster, equip it and complete its tutorial to learn effective trap placement. With the Tripcaster equipped, you’re ready for the next stage of the mission.
Objective 4: Meet with Rost at the North Gate
After gathering resources and acquiring the Tripcaster, head toward the North Gate to meet Rost. Save your game at the nearby campfire, as a critical encounter awaits. Proceed along the path lined with destroyed machines and buildings, collecting any resources you find from fallen Sawtooths and other machines.
As you move forward, keep an eye out for a patrolling Watcher. Either sneak past it using the tall grass or eliminate it. Climb the ridge to initiate another cutscene, after which the primary challenge of this quest will commence defeating a Sawtooth.
Objective 5: How to Kill a Sawtooth
The Sawtooth battle serves as a milestone in Aloy’s journey, testing your combat skills and strategic thinking. Here’s a step-by-step strategy for taking down the Sawtooth efficiently:
- Scan the Sawtooth’s Patrol Path: Using the Focus, identify the Sawtooth’s route and plan your ambush accordingly. Placing Tripcaster traps along its path can slow and weaken it, giving you an advantage.
- Equip Fire Arrows: Sawtooths are highly susceptible to fire, so switch to Fire Arrows. Wait for the Sawtooth to trigger your traps, then aim at the canister on its belly to inflict maximum damage.
- Use Stealth to Your Advantage: If the Sawtooth detects you, it will attack with aggression. Keep your distance, setting new traps if needed, and continue to target its weak spots with Fire Arrows to wear it down.
Once the Sawtooth is defeated, loot its remains for valuable resources, triggering a cutscene that leads directly into the next main quest: Mother’s Heart.
Pro Tips and Additional Questing
Throughout the Point of the Spear, there are optional activities and side quests that enhance Aloy’s growth and resource collection.
- Side Quests: For additional XP and rewards, complete side quests like “In Her Mother’s Footsteps,” which permanently increases spear damage, making future encounters easier.
- Errands: Minor tasks like Odd Grata’s errands may seem trivial but provide valuable experience points. Errands are a quick way to earn extra XP, ideal for early-game level boosts.
Navigating Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
The Point of the Spear serves as a foundational experience in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, immersing players in Aloy’s journey while offering a comprehensive tutorial for the game’s mechanics. By following this guide, players can efficiently complete each objective, maximize skill utilization, and familiarize themselves with the nuances of combat and resource gathering.
Each encounter, from gathering materials to facing the Sawtooth, prepares you for the challenges that lie ahead in this captivating world. Through strategic play, thoughtful resource management, and careful exploration, Aloy’s journey from outcast to hero unfolds, setting the stage for a legendary adventure.
FAQs
Q1: What is the best skill to unlock early in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered?
A: Focus on Gatherer in the Forager tree for extra resources and Silent Strike from the Prowler tree for stealthy takedowns.
Q2: How do I use the Tripcaster effectively against machines?
A: Lay Tripcaster traps along a machine’s patrol path, especially in narrow areas. Traps inflict damage or status effects that give you an advantage, especially against larger machines like the Sawtooth.
Q3: Can I skip side quests and errands?
A: Yes, but completing side quests and errands offers valuable XP and unique rewards, making them beneficial for leveling up and strengthening Aloy’s skills and abilities.
