Horizon Forbidden West (HFW) Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

Horizon Forbidden West (HFW)

Difficulty Modes and Custom Settings

4

┣ 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!

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This is a guide that details the different Difficulty Modes in Horizon Forbidden West. Read on to learn more about all the available difficulty modes in the game, their differences, as well as all the handicaps of the Ultra Hard difficulty setting.

List of Contents

Is Ultra Hard Mode in Forbidden West?

Ultra Hard Mode Is Now Available

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As of Patch 1.14, Ultra Hard Mode has been made available in Horizon Forbidden West, allowing players to experience the most challenging mode of the game!

Is There A Trophy For Ultra Hard Mode?

New Game+ Trophies Horizon Forbidden West
Along with the introduction of Ultra Hard Mode, new trophies were added to the list. This includes a trophy for completing a new game or New Game+ Save on Ultra Hard Mode!

This is definitely a trophy many fans are looking forward to conquering!

Trophy List and How to Unlock All Achievements

Horizon Forbidden West Difficulty Modes

Five Set Difficulty Modes

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There are a total of 6 set Difficulty Modes in Horizon Forbidden West that players can choose from. Difficulty can be lowered or raised at any time during a regular playthrough, except for Ultra Hard Mode which will be locked until the game is completed. Additionally you can select the Custom Difficulty to adjust the finer details of your playthrough.

Difficulty Modes Description
Story Story difficulty setting eases the combat experience, allowing you to focus on exploration and narrative.
Options:
•Concentration Duration
•Auto Concentration
•Auto Heal
•Quest Pathfinding
•Waypoint Pathfinding
Easy Easy difficulty offers a light combat experience while exploring the world and story.
Options:
•Quest Pathfinding
•Waypoint Pathfinding
Normal Normal difficulty provides a balanced experience of exploration, storry, and combat.
Options:
•Quest Pathfinding
•Waypoint Pathfinding
Hard Hard difficulty allows for a challenging combat experience throughout the journey.
Options:
•Quest Pathfinding
•Waypoint Pathfinding
Very Hard Very Hard difficulty offers a tough and demanding combat experience for those looking to test their skills.
Options:
•Quest Pathfinding
•Waypoint Pathfinding
Ultra Hard Ultra Hard difficulty offers the toughest combat experience for those seeking the ultimate challenge.
Options:
•Quest Pathfinding
•Waypoint Pathfinding
Custom Customize your experience by selecting how much damage Aloy receives and deals to enemies separately.
Options:
•Damage to Aloy
•Concentration Duration
•Auto Concentration
•Auto Heal
•Quest Pathfinding
•Waypoint Pathfinding

Custom Settings Settings Explained

Setting Description
Damage to Aloy Adjust the level of damage Aloy receives from enemies. Story offers lower damage, while Very Hard is much higher damage.
Enemy Health Adjusted enemy health, Tear values, and resistances. Story offers lower enemy health, while Very Hard offers higher enemy health.
Easy Loot When a machine is killed, choose whether any external resource components that are still attached are added to its loot inventory.
Concentration Duration Adjust how long Concentration mode lasts. Concentration mode temporarily slows down time to allow more time to aim. Only available on Story, Easy, and Custom difficulty.
Auto Concentration Choose whether Concentration automatically activates to slow down time while aiming, if available. Only available on Story, Easy, and Custom difficulty.
Auto Heal Choose whether you automatically consume Medicinal Berries from your Medicine Pouch when below 50% Health. This option will also fully heal you a short time after combat. Only available on Story, Easy, and Custom difficulty.
Quest Pathfinding Choose how you navigate through the world.
Explorer - Explore the world with minimal guidance.
Guided - Receive markers on screen to help you reach your quest destination.
Waypoint Pathfinding Waypoints are markers that are placed via the map interface to help you navigate the world.
Explorer - Navigate with minimal guidance.
Guided Receive markers on screen to help you reach your waypoint marker.

Change Difficulty Settings at Any Time

Customize Difficulty Settings Freely

By pressing the Options button, selecting Settings, and going to the General tab, you can adjust your difficulty settings at any time. By selecting the Custom Difficulty, you can tailor your experience to what suits you best.

This is not true though for Ultra Hard Mode which locks the difficulty settings until the game is finished.

Horizon Forbidden West Related Guides

Tips and Tricks

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

Tips and Tricks Guides
Trophy List Difficulty Modes Best Settings
Language Settings List of Controls How to Fast Travel
Explorer Mode vs. Guided Mode How to Override Machines Photo Mode
Forbidden West Setting and Location How to Set Up Jobs Best Skills
Can You Skip Cutscenes? How to Get Boar Hides Flashpoint Choices
How to Save How to Get Wild Meat How to Get Greenshine
Best Weapons Guide Beginner's Guide How to Climb Up the Launch Tower
How to Get Flying Mounts Best Outfits and Armor List of All Mounts and How to Call Them
How to Change Face Paints How to Use the Pullcaster Valor Surge Tier List: What is the Best Valor Surge?
Easy Loot Setting: What Does Easy Loot Do? Can You Lure Call? Can You Respec Skill Points?
How to Change Weapon Techniques List of Bugs and Glitches Weapon Stamina and Weapon Technique Explanation
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? How to Level Up Fast
Fast Money Farming How to Get the Diving Mask How to Use the Shieldwing
How to Use The Tripcaster How to Unlock the Chest in Hidden Embers 100% Completion Guide
Restoring GAIA: Which Subprogram Should you Get First? What To Do in Scalding Spear Best Builds Guide
List of All Machine Strike Player Locations List of Machine Strike Pieces All Shop and Merchant Locations
Missables and Unrepeatable Events How to Clear Blocked Paths: Firegleam and Metal Flower Guide How to Get Luminous Brainstem
All Datapoint Locations - -

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