How to Beat Specter Prime: Boss Fight Guide

The Specter Prime 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!

Specter Prime Basic Information

Specter Prime
Description	The ultimate Far Zenith exoframe. It can morph into multiple forms, while gold armor-like plates can become devastating weapons and gravitationally reattach when torn off.
Cauldron Override	N/A
Type	Combat
Class	Heavyweight
Weak Against	Acid Damage Plasma Damage
Strong Against	Shock Damage Fire Damage Purgewater Damage

Specter Prime Components

Component	Attributes
Enlarge Body	None
Enlarge Plasma Unit	Explosive - Component explodes when 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.
Enlarge Siege Mortar	Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear Damage. Ability Removal -Disables an ability if detached or destroyed. Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off component to loot valuable resources. Destroyed When Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached.
Enlarge Pulse Cannon	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.
Enlarge Resource Repository	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.
Enlarge Nano Plate	Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear damage. Ability Removal - Disables an ability if detached or destroyed. Elemental Weak Spot - Component is vulnerable to elemental damage.
Enlarge Shock Unit	Explosive - Component explodes when 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.
Enlarge Regeneration Unit	Indestructible - Component cannot be destroyed. Ability Removal - Disables an ability if detached or destroyed.
Enlarge Control Nexus	Weak Spot - Component is vulnerable to damage. Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off component to loot valuable resources.
Enlarge Lancer Prime	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.
Enlarge Vector Thruster	Detachable - Component can be detached with Tear Damage. Ability Removal -Disables an ability if detached or destroyed. Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off component to loot valuable resources. Destroyed When Killed - Component is destroyed if not detached.

Specter Prime Item Drops

Body Loot

Item Drop Chances
Sparker (100%)	Crystal Braiding (100%)	Blastpaste (100%)
Metal Shards (100%)	Glowblast (100%)	Piercing Spike (50%)
Machine Muscle (31%)	Braided Wire (21%)	Sturdy Hardplate (10%)
Metal Bone (10%)

Plasma Unit Loot

Item Drop Chances
Glowblast (100%)

Siege Mortar Loot

Item Drop Chances
Crystal Braiding (100%)	Braided Wire (89%)	Sturdy Hardplate (56%)
Luminous Brainstem (19%)

Pulse Cannon Loot

Item Drop Chances
Useable Weapon (100%)

Resource Repository Loot

Item Drop Chances
Braided Wire (89%)	Sturdy Hardplate (56%)	Volatile Sludge (51%)
Piercing Spike (50%)	Luminous Brainstem (15%)

Shock Unit Loot

Item Drop Chances
Sparker (100%)

Control Nexus Loot

Item Drop Chances
Braided Wire (90%)	Sturdy Hardplate (55%)	Piercing Spike (51%)
Volatile Sludge (50%)	Luminous Brainstem (15%)

Lancer Prime Loot

Item Drop Chances
Crystal Braiding (100%)	Braided Wire (90%)	Sturdy Hardplate (56%)
Luminous Brainstem (18%)

Vector Thruster Loot

Item Drop Chances
Blastpaste (100%)	Braided Wire (89%)	Sturdy Hardplate (57%)
Crystal Braiding (15%)

How to Beat Specter Prime

Inflict Acid and Plasma Damage

Specter Prime is vulnerable to Acid and Plasma Damage. Continuously build-up elemental debuff on it to wear its health down in the fastest way possible. Equip your weapons with modifiers that increase Acid and Plasma Damage to deal more damage and inflict the elemental debuff fast.

Keep your Distance

Although Specter Prime is a big machine, it moves fast and relentlessly attacks you at close range. Try to run as much as you can and wait for it to engage you at long range before you hit it. Its range attacks have a large area-of-effect, but you can dodge them easily.

Use the Pulse Cannons

You can detach the Pulse Cannons on Specter Prime's collar and use them against it. They would be a good way to remove a large chunk of Specter Prime's health without spending too many resources.

Just remember that your movement will become slow while carrying them, so be sure to pick one up while Specter Prime is currently attacking from a distance to have more time to dodge if needed.

Specter Prime 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