Horizon Forbidden West’s Burning Shores DLCfeatures plenty of new content for even the most hardcore fans to sink their teeth into. In addition to new machines, there are interesting environmental features that make traversal more interesting, including thermal updrafts and flowing magma. To deal with all the new machine and environmental threats,Aloy’s skill trees in Burning Shoreshave expanded to include more skills to unlock and valor surges to experiment with.
It is worthwhile for players to invest time into unlocking these new skills inHorizon Forbidden West, as some of them prove exceptionally useful, with stand-outs include Machine Grapple Strike, Shield Drop, and Elemental Spear. As for valor surges, fans will want to keep an eye out for Warrior’s Vigor and Defy Death. Hopefully, this is just a sneak preview of some of the expanded features that can be expected in the nextHorizongame.
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The New Skills of Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores
Each skill tree receives two new skills in Burning Shores, meaning there are 12 total for Aloy to acquire across her six specialization trees. Some of these helpAloy with overriding the new machines, whereas others improve her stealth skills. The available new skills are as follows:
Warrior
One of the most useful new skills of the bunch is Elemental Spear, which allows Aloy to attach elemental capsules to her spear. When she strikes an opponent with her spear, she will also deal elemental damage. Meanwhile, Warrior’s Instinct increases Aloy’s awareness of weakened machines, and it extends how long they are knocked down.
Hunter
Many players will beeline for the Hunter skill tree, as it features the Machine Grapple Strike skill that lets Aloy perform a flashy new technique on machines that deals a ton of damage. The Glide Targeting skill lets players slow down time and quickly draw weapons while aiming during a Shieldwing glide.
Trapper
The Trapper skill tree is great for players who prefer sneaky strategy to direct combat. With the Smoke Bomb Heal skill, Aloy can recover health while under the cover of a smoke cloud. With the Ropecaster Expert skill, players can tie down a machine with a single Ropecaster shot after a machine rises from being previously tied.
Machine Master
The Machine Master skill tree offers two new skills for players who like incorporating their own machine companions into their battle strategies. The Resonator Refill skill charges Aloy’s spear for a Resonator Blast after sheoverrides one ofHorizon Forbidden West’s unique machine enemies. With the Flying Grapple Launch, she can grapple launch from flying mounts to gain greater height for a glide.
Infiltrator
The Infiltrator tree synergizes well with Trapper for players who prefer a stealthy approach. With the Stealth Resonator skill, players build up Resonator energy through silent strikes, which also deal more damage when the spear is fully charged. When the Sharpshot Expert skill is unlocked, Sharpshot Bows are more accurate while Aloy is walking or crouching.
Survivor
Burning Shores adds the useful Shield Drop skill, letting players placeDrop Shields that Aloy can hide behind. With the Low Health Stamina skill, weapons regain stamina faster when Aloy’s health is below 25 percent.
The Valor Surges of Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores
There are six newvalor surges inHorizon Forbidden West, which can save Aloy from the brink of death or charge up her attacks to take down a mighty machine. The following new valor surges are available for players who purchased Burning Shores and unlocked the aforementioned skills:
Warrior’s Vigor
From the Warrior skill tree comes the Warrior’s Vigor valor surge. When it is activated, Aloy deals more damage with her spear and Warrior Bows, and it even regenerates her health with every strike.
Hunter’s Mark
With the Hunter’s Mark valor surge, Aloy marks machines using her Hunter’s Bow, and these targets are more likely to receive critical hits. Destroying components also deals extra damage to marked targets.
Trap Mines
Traps inHorizon Forbidden Westare useful for weakening foes before getting into direct combat, though some of them can take out an opponent entirely. The Trap Mines valor surge lets Aloy deploy special trap mines that split into multiple explosive traps, each of which detonate upon impact with the environment.
Override Overdrive
This is a must-have valor surge for players who likeoverriding machines inHorizon Forbidden West. The Override Overdrive valor surge causes overridden machines to emit electric arcs, deal more damage, take damage over time, and explode upon death.
Berserk Blast
When the Berserk Blast valor surge is activated, Aloy attaches a module to her spear that emits a blast to make all machines nearby go berserk.Machines that are affected by the berserk status inHorizon Forbidden Westwill attack anything nearby, even their own allies.
Defy Death
The Defy Death valor surge is one of the best in the game. When it is activated, Aloy drinks a potion that helps her deal more damage and even survive a lethal hit. This is the perfect valor surge for players who want to give Aloy a fighting chance when the odds seem like they are against her.
The skills trees ofHorizon Forbidden Westfelt like they could be filled out a little more during the base game, and Burning Shoresdoes a good job of plugging some gaps. The changes also come at the right time, as there are new weapons to test them out with. The new valor surges and skills let players employ unique strategies against the new machines introduced, including the leapingBilegut and Stingspawnsit produces, as well as the amphibious Waterwing. Though challenges are great, Aloy is lucky enough to have Seyka at her side to help through most of the main quests.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available on PS4 and PS5.
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