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Horizon Forbidden West (HFW)

How to Level Up Fast: XP Farming Guide

3
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┣ Complete Quests → Quest Walkthroughs
┣ Learn the Best Skills → Best Skills
┣ Collect Gear → List of Weapons / Outfits
┣ Collect All Legendaries → All Legendary Weapons/Outfits
┗ Take Down Machines → List of Enemy Machines
★The Ver. 1.08 Patch is now Available!

This is a guide to leveling up quickly in Horizon Forbidden West. Read on to find out which game activities to play, farming areas to explore, and skill points to unlock to help with gaining more XP and leveling up fast.

List of Contents

How to Level Up Fast

Complete Gauntlet Runs Repeatedly

Horizon Forbidden West Gauntlet Run Reward.jpg

Every time you complete a Gauntlet Run, you'll receive a reward of XP, Metal Shards, and Silver Ingot (sells for 23 Metal Shards). The Metal Shards and Silver Ingots are fairly sparse, but the XP reward is large considering how short the course is to complete.

The Stillsands Gauntlet Run is both the shortest course and ties with Bonewhite Tear for the highest XP reward. This is also the hardest of the four races, but compared to Bonewhite Tear which has narrow paths and sharp turns, it is also arguably the most fun.

If you are able to truly master the minigame and win every time you run the race, the Stillsands Gauntlet Run is the way to go. Otherwise, consider going for Dry Yearn if you're looking for consistent farming, since you should have no problem winning every time and you'll still be able to get healthy XP from that course.

Hourly Rates for Gauntlet Run Farming

The table below shows how much XP can be yielded if the player runs a single Gauntlet Run repeatedly, and wins every single race for an hour. Note that there might be some load time between to start up a new race each time.

Gauntlet Run Course Length XP Reward Hourly XP Farm
Dry Yearn 3:00 2,750 XP 55,000 XP
Cliffs of the Cry 5:00 4,771 XP 57,252 XP
Bonewhite Tear 4:00 6,071 XP 91,065 XP
The Stillsands 2:30 6,071 XP 145,704 XP

Gauntlet Run Rewards, Locations and Guides

Tremortusk Farming - Raintrance Hunting Grounds

Horizon Forbidden West - Tremortusk XP Farm.jpg
You should consider farming the Tremortusk in Raintrance Hunting Grounds as you head through the mid to late-game stages of the game to give some easy nourishment for your level and obtain those skill points.

You can start by putting the game's difficulty on Story Mode to have an easier time dealing with the Tremortusk and its friends, the Clawstriders. Select any trial from the Grounds Master and begin the hunt and return when you're done with the Tremortusk to reset. It is difficult on the first runs, but if you learn how to fight the Tremortusk, it will be an efficient way to get XP and level up.

This XP farming method gives off large XP in such a short time, but you will need a few extra resources for your ammo to take out a Tremortusk. Consider getting them first before heading on the hunting grounds to make the most out of your time there. You can also get tons of Metal Shards on this method if you loot the Tremortusk after defeating it. You can even sell its Legendary Tusk for 85 shards apiece.

Hourly Rates for Tremortusk Farming

The table below will show you how much XP you can earn in a single run using different builds in an hour. The time needed for each run includes looting the Tremortusk and going back to the Grounds Master to go for another round.

Builds Minimum Time Tremortusk XP Hourly XP Farm
Mid-Game 3:00 5,625 XP 112,500 XP
Late-Game 2:00 5,625 XP 168,750 XP

What is the Level Cap?

Max Level is 50

The highest level in Horizon Forbidden West is level 50. Reaching the level cap affords you enough skill points to complete at least 1 skill tree, however, after this point you can only gain skill points by clearing the game's side content.

How to Get More Skill Points at Max Level

Reaching level 50 does not offer enough skill points to max out all skill trees. In our experience reaching, the level cap along with clearing main and side quests awarded enough points to max out 2-3 skill trees. This means completing all of the side content, including Errands, Hunting Grounds, Cauldrons, Rebel Camps and Outposts, Tallnecks, and Relic Ruins is needed to max out further skill trees.

Horizon Forbidden West Related Guides

Tips and Tricks

Horizon Forbidden West - Tips and Tricks Partial.png
Tips and Tricks

Game Info and Settings

Game Info and Settings
Forbidden West Setting and Location Difficulty Modes Best Settings
Language Settings List of Controls Explorer Mode vs. Guided Mode
Easy Loot Setting: What Does Easy Loot Do? List of Bugs and Glitches -

Gameplay Features

Gameplay Features
Beginner's Guide Weapon Stamina and Weapon Technique Explanation Flashpoint Choices
Can You Lure Call? Photo Mode Can You Respec Skill Points?
What Does Acid Damage Do? What Does Purgewater Damage Do? What Does Plasma Damage Do?
What Does Explosive Damage Do? What Does Adhesive Damage Do? What Does Fire Damage Do?
What Does Shock Damage Do? What Does Frost Damage Do? Restoring GAIA: Which Subprogram Should you Get First?
What To Do in Scalding Spear All Shop and Merchant Locations -

How-To Guides

How-To Guides
How to Fast Travel How to Override Machines How to Set Up Jobs
Can You Skip Cutscenes? How to Change Face Paints How to Use the Pullcaster
How to Get Boar Hides How to Save How to Get Wild Meat
How to Climb Up the Launch Tower How to Get Flying Mounts List of All Mounts and How to Call Them
How to Change Weapon Techniques Fast Money Farming How to Level Up Fast
How to Get the Diving Mask How to Use the Shieldwing How to Use The Tripcaster
How to Unlock the Chest in Hidden Embers How to Clear Blocked Paths: Firegleam and Metal Flower Guide How to Get Luminous Brainstem

Recommended Builds Guides

Recommended Builds
Best Builds Guide Best Weapons Best Skills
Best Outfits and Armor Valor Surge Tier List: What is the Best Valor Surge? -

Collectibles and Completion Guides

Collectibles and Completion
Greenshine Interactive Map Trophy List 100% Completion Guide
List of All Machine Strike Player Locations List of Machine Strike Pieces Missables and Unrepeatable Events
All Datapoint Locations - -

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Horizon Forbidden West (HFW) Walkthrough Team
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    Horizon Forbidden West (HFW) Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

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    Quests

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