How to Beat Thunderjaw: Boss Fight Guide and Map Locations

The Thunderjaw is a type of machine enemy in Horizon Forbidden West. Read on to learn more about how to beat them, their item drops, components, Cauldron Override, and map locations!

Thunderjaw Basic Information

Thunderjaw
Description	A hulking, heavily armed and armored combat machine. It moves and strikes with speed and ferocity, while relentlessly deploying its array of powerful weapons.
Cauldron Override	KAPPA Overrides
Mountable?	No
Type	Combat
Class	Heavyweight
Weak Against	Acid Damage Purgewater Damage
Strong Against	Frost Damage Shock Damage

Variant Information

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

Thunderjaw Components

Main Components

Component	Attributes
Body	None
Data Nexus	Indestructible - Component cannot be destroyed. Weak Spot - Component is vulnerable to damage.
Rapidfire Cannon	Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear damage. Attack Removal - Disables an attack if detached or destroyed. Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off component to loot valuable resources. Destroyed when Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached.
Radar	Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear damage. Radar Removal - Disables radar abilities if detached or destroyed. Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off components to loot valuable resources. Destroyed when Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached.
Antenna	Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear damage. Reinforcement Call Removal - Disables machine reinforcements if detached or destroyed. Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off components to loot valuable resources Destroyed when Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached.
Heart	Indestructible - Component cannot be destroyed. Weak Spot - Component is vulnerable to damage.
Chillwater Canister	Chain Reaction - Triggers an elemental explosion if shot with Frost 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.
Disc Launcher	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.
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.
Ammo Drum	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.
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.
Tail	Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear Damage. Attack Removal -Disables an attack if detached or destroyed. Destroyed When Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached. Key Upgrade Resource - Component is valuable for upgrading weapons or outfits.

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.
Blaze Canister	Chain Reaction - Triggers an elemental explosion if shot with Fire 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.

Thunderjaw Item Drops

Body Loot

Item Drop Chances
Glowblast (100%)	Metal Shards (100%)	Crystal Braiding (100%)
Apex Thunderjaw Heart (100% - Apex Variant Only)	Braided Wire (76%)	Thunderjaw Circulator (70%)
Large Machine Core (69-70%)	Thunderjaw Primary Nerve (62-63%)	Volatile Sludge (50-51%)
Piercing Spike (49% - Apex Variant Only)	Machine Muscle (45-46%)	Luminous Brainstem (29% - Normal Variant / 100% - Apex Variant)
Metal Bone (29%)	Sturdy Hardplate (15-16%)

Rapidfire Cannon Loot

Item Drop Chances
Braided Wire (67%)	Crystal Braiding (50%)	Sturdy Hardplate (34%)

Radar Loot

Item Drop Chances
Braided Wire (67%)	Sturdy Hardplate (34%)	Luminous Brainstem (11%)

Antenna Loot

Item Drop Chances
Braided Wire (67%)	Sturdy Hardplate (34%)	Thunderjaw Primary Nerve (10-11%)

Chillwater Canister Loot

Item Drop Chances
Chillwater (100%)

Disc Launcher Loot

Item Drop Chances
Useable Weapon (100%)

Glowblast Canister Loot

Item Drop Chances
Glowblast (100%)

Ammo Drum Loot

Item Drop Chances
Braided Wire (89%)	Machine Muscle (67-68%)	Sturdy Hardplate (56-57%)
Metal Bone (33-34%)	Blastpaste (25%)	Chillwater (9%)
Sparker (9%)	Purgewater (9%)	Glowblast (9%)
Blaze (9%)	Metalbite (8%)

Sparker Loot

Item Drop Chances
Sparker (100%)

Tail Loot

Item Drop Chances
Thunderjaw Tail (100%)

Acid Canister Loot - Apex Thunderjaw Exclusive

Item Drop Chances
Metalbite (100%)

Blaze Canister Loot - Apex Thunderjaw Exclusive

Item Drop Chances
Blaze (100%)

Purgewater Canister Loot - Apex Thunderjaw Exclusive

Item Drop Chances
Purgewater (100%)

How to Beat Thunderjaw

Inflict Acid Damage

Thunderjaw, including its Apex variant, is extremely weak against Acid Damage. You can use Traps and weapons that can inflict Acid to Thunderjaw and wither down its HP faster. Adding modification with Acid Stats can help you build up the elemental effect faster as well.

Destroy Body Components

Thunderjaw has a lot of arsenal at its disposal. Removing them should be your priority to help you get more space to move around, especially if you want to fight it head on. Attacking it using weapons with high Tear Stat will be a good idea.

Get the Disc Launchers

The Disc Launchers are usable weapons that won't get destroyed after detaching it from Thunderjaw. Use them against Thunderjaw and inflict exploding damage, which can chunk off a large portion of its HP with each projectile.

They may also cause to stun Thunderjaw after getting hit, giving you chances to do Critical Strikes on it.

Expose and Attack its Heart

Thunderjaw's Heart has armor plates covering it. You can remove them easily using weapons with high Tear Stat. Target the Heart once it is exposed to deal highly increased damage.

Thunderjaw Map Locations

Horizon Forbidden West Related 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