How to Beat Slitherfang: Boss Fight Guide and Map Locations

The Slitherfang, a type of boss machine, is an enemy in the Reach for the Stars quest in Horizon Forbidden West. Read on to learn Slitherfang's weaknesses and how you can exploit them.

Slitherfang Basic Information

Slitherfang
Description	An enormous, fast combat machine that can lash out from long range. Once it assumes a coiled stance, it has access to its full arsenal as its rotating body parts snaps into place.
Cauldron Override	KAPPA Overrides
Mountable?	No
Type	Combat
Class	Heavyweight
Weak Against	Frost Damage Fire Damage Plasma Damage
Strong Against	Acid Damage Shock Damage Purgewater Damage

Variant Information

Variant	Weak Vs.	Strong Vs.
Apex Slitherfang	Fire Damage Plasma Damage	Acid Damage Frost Damage Shock Damage Purgewater Damage

Slitherfang Components

Main Components

Component	Attributes
Body	None
Sonic Hood	Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear damage. Attack Removal - Disables an attack if detached or destroyed. Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off components to loot valuable resources Destroyed when Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached.
Earthgrinder	Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear damage. Destroyed when Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached. Key Upgrade Resource - Component is valuable for upgrading weapons or outfits.
Glowblast Canister	Chain Reaction - Triggers an elemental explosion if shot with Plasma Damage. Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear damage. Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off component to loot valuable resources Destroyed when Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached.
Metalbite Sac	Explosive - Component explodes when destroyed Attack Removal - Disables an attack if detached or destroyed. Persists When Killed - Component is not destroyed when the machine is killed. Contains Resources if Intact - Leave components on the machine to gain valuable resources.
Sparker	Chain Reaction - Triggers an elemental explosion if shot with Shock Damage. Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear damage. Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off component to loot valuable resources Destroyed when Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached.
Purgewater Canister	Chain Reaction - Triggers an elemental explosion if shot with Purgewater Damage. Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear damage. Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off component to loot valuable resources Destroyed when Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached.
Acid Canister	Chain Reaction - Triggers an elemental explosion if shot with Acid Damage. Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear damage. Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off component to loot valuable resources Destroyed when Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached.
Resource Container	Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear damage. Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off components to loot valuable resources. Destroyed when Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached.
Data Nexus	Indestructible - Component cannot be destroyed. Weak Spot - Component is vulnerable to damage.
Purgewater Sac	Explosive - Component explodes when destroyed Ability Removal - Disables an ability if detached or destroyed. Persists When Killed - Component is not destroyed when the machine is killed. Contains Resources if Intact - Leave components on the machine to gain valuable resources.
Shock Orb	Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear damage. Attack Removal - Disables an attack if detached or destroyed. Persists When Killed - Component is not destroyed when the machine is killed. Useable Weapon - Drops a usable weapon or shield if detached.

Variant Components

Component	Attributes
Acid Canister	Chain Reaction - Triggers an elemental explosion if shot with Acid Damage. Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear damage. Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off component to loot valuable resources Destroyed when Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached.
Purgewater Canister	Chain Reaction - Triggers an elemental explosion if shot with Purgewater Damage. Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear damage. Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off component to loot valuable resources Destroyed when Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached.
Sparker	Chain Reaction - Triggers an elemental explosion if shot with Shock Damage. Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear damage. Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off component to loot valuable resources Destroyed when Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached.
Glowblast Canister	Chain Reaction - Triggers an elemental explosion if shot with Shock Damage. Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear damage. Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off component to loot valuable resources Destroyed when Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached.

Slitherfang Item Drops

Body Loot

Item Drop Chances
Metal Shards (100%)	Metalbite (100%)	Crystal Braiding (100%)
Apex Slitherfang Heart (100% - Apex Variant Only)	Braided Wire (76%)	Slitherfang Circulator (69-70%)
Large Machine Core (69%)	Slitherfang Primary Nerve (63%)	Piercing Spike (50% - Apex Variant Only)
Volatile Sludge (49-50%)	Machine Muscle (45%)	Luminous Brainstem (28% - Normal Variant / 100% - Apex Variant)
Metal Bone (27% - Normal Variant Only)	Sturdy Hardplate (16%)

Sonic Hood Loot

Item Drop Chances
Braided Wire (67-68%)	Sturdy Hardplate (33-34%)	Slitherfang Primary Nerve (10%)

Earthgrinder Loot

Item Drop Chances
Slitherfang Earthgrinder (100%)

Glowblast Canister Loot

Item Drop Chances
Glowblast (100%)

Metalbite Sac Loot

Item Drop Chances
Volatile Sludge (100%)	Metalbite (100%)

Sparker Loot

Item Drop Chances
Sparker (100%)

Purgewater Canister Loot

Item Drop Chances
Purgewater (100%)

Acid Canister Loot

Item Drop Chances
Metalbite (100%)

Resource Container Loot

Item Drop Chances
Braided Wire (89%)	Sturdy Hardplate (56%)	Large Machine Core (50%)
Blastpaste (25-26%)	Slitherfang Primary Nerve (16%)	Luminous Brainstem (10%)

Purgewater Sac Loot

Item Drop Chances
Volatile Sludge (100%)	Purgewater (100%)

Shock Orb Loot

Item Drop Chances
Useable Weapon (100%)

How to Beat Slitherfang

Rupture the Sac on its Chest

You can remove a large portion of Slitherfang's health by causing the Sac on its Chest to explode. Hit it a couple of times with your bow to destroy it. It will help you get to the second phase quickly, helping you save some resources.

Critical Strike

Hitting the Slitherfang on its weak spots several times can ground it, giving you two chances at most to attack it with Critical Strike. The fastest way to do it is to destroy the Sac on its chest.

Use Frost Blastsling

You can cause the Slitherfang to slow down and freeze by barraging it using the Frost Blastsling. Reducing its movement speed will help you hit its weak spots more accurately and defeat it faster.

Pick up the Slitherfang Coil Blaster

There will be two Slitherfang Coil Blasters after reaching the second phase on the ground. Try to distract the Slitherfang away from them to get and use them against it. Take note that they are considered heavy weapons and will reduce your movement speed.

Slitherfang Map Locations

Horizon Forbidden West Guides

List of All Enemy Machines

Machine Types

List of All Machines

List of Enemy Machines
Grazer	Burrower	Scrounger
Leaplasher	Scrapper	Spikesnout
Skydrifter	Plowhorn	Charger
Lancehorn	Longleg	Bristleback
Fanghorn	Redeye Watcher	Widemaw
Clawstrider	Corruptor	Bellowback
Glinthawk	Shell-walker	Stalker
Grimhorn	Ravager	Snapmaw
Sunwing	Clamberjaw	Rollerback
Rockbreaker	Behemoth	Dreadwing
Tideripper	Shellsnapper	Stormbird
Thunderjaw	Frostclaw	Scorcher
Slitherfang	Tremortusk	Fireclaw
Slaughterspine	Tallneck	Specter
Specter Prime