Horizon Forbidden West (HFW)

How to Beat Specter Prime: Boss Fight Guide

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Horizon Forbidden West - How to beat Specter Prime.png

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
Horizon Forbidden West 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
Strong Against

Specter Prime Components

Component Attributes
Body None
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Regeneration Unit Indestructible - Component cannot be destroyed.
Ability Removal - Disables an ability if detached or destroyed.
Control Nexus Weak Spot - Component is vulnerable to damage.
Contains Valuable Resources - Tear off component to loot valuable resources.
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.
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
SparkerSparker
(100%)
Crystal BraidingCrystal Braiding
(100%)
BlastpasteBlastpaste
(100%)
Metal ShardsMetal Shards
(100%)
GlowblastGlowblast
(100%)
Piercing SpikePiercing Spike
(50%)
Machine MuscleMachine Muscle
(31%)
Braided WireBraided Wire
(21%)
Sturdy HardplateSturdy Hardplate
(10%)
Metal BoneMetal Bone
(10%)

Plasma Unit Loot

Item Drop Chances
GlowblastGlowblast
(100%)

Siege Mortar Loot

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

Pulse Cannon Loot

Item Drop Chances
Currently UnavailableUseable Weapon
(100%)

Resource Repository Loot

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

Shock Unit Loot

Item Drop Chances
SparkerSparker
(100%)

Control Nexus Loot

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

Lancer Prime Loot

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

Vector Thruster Loot

Item Drop Chances
BlastpasteBlastpaste
(100%)
Braided WireBraided Wire
(89%)
Sturdy HardplateSturdy Hardplate
(57%)
Crystal BraidingCrystal Braiding
(15%)

How to Beat Specter Prime

Inflict Acid and Plasma Damage

Horizon Forbidden West - Singularity - Defeat Tilda From a Distance.jpg
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

Horizon Forbidden West - Singularity - Defeat Tilda.jpg
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

Horizon Forbidden West - Singularity - Pulse Cannon.jpg
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

Specter Prime only appears in the final Main Quest of the game and does not appear regularly in the overworld.

Horizon Forbidden West Related Guides

Enemy Machines Partial Banner

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SlaughterspineSlaughterspine TallneckTallneck SpecterSpecter
Specter PrimeSpecter Prime

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