How to Beat Thunderjaw: Components and Item Drops

The Thunderjaw is a machine enemy in Horizon Zero Dawn that is very powerful and massive, making it one of the most dangerous machines in the game. Read on to learn info which includes Cauldron Override and map locations, item drops, and weaknesses!

Thunderjaw Basic Info

Thunderjaw
Description	Apex combat machine, equipped with a wide array of heavy artillery and melee attacks.
Cauldron Override	ZETA Overrides

Thunderjaw Components and Item Drops

Thunderjaw Components

Component	Component Description	Strengths and Weaknesses
Body	Hard outer casing to protect synthetic muscle and operational systems.	Strength: Shock Weakness: None
Blaze Canister	Blaze storage canister. Shooting elemental canisters with elemental ammo triggers an explosion that will damage everything nearby. Shoot off this component to collect the resource inside.	Strength: None Weakness: Fire, Tear
Data Nexus	Hitting this component deals greater damage to the machine.	Strength: None Weakness: All
Disc Launcher	This heavy weapon can be picked up and used after it has been detached from the machine.	Strength: None Weakness: Tear
Freeze Canister	Chillwater can be looted from this canister. Shooting this canister with a Freeze arrow will trigger an explosion Freezing anything in the area.	Strength: None Weakness: Freeze, Tear
Heart	Hitting this component deals greater damage to the machine.	Strength: None Weakness: All
Power Cell	Sparker resource can be looted from this component. Shooting this component with Shock arrows will trigger an explosion Electrifying anything in the area.	Strength: None Weakness: Shock, Tear
Radar	Destroying this component disables the scanning ability.	Strength: None Weakness: Tear
Cannon	Destroying these components disables Cannon attacks.	Strength: None Weakness: Tear
Tail	Destroying this component disables the Tail attacks.	Strength: None Weakness: Tear

Thunderjaw Item Drops

How to Beat Thunderjaw and Weaknesses

Remove the Disc Launchers Using Tearblast Arrows

The Thunderjaw has two Disc Launchers that allow it to attack from range. It's important to remove them right away using Tearblast Arrows, since you can pick them up and use them to break the Thunderjaw's armor plates and expose more weakpoints.

Use the Ropecaster

You can tie down the Thunderjaw using a Ropecaster to slow it down and make aiming for weakpoints much easier. This is particularly helpful in combination with using the Disc Launchers as itt gives you more time to aim with the slower heavy weapon.

Remove the Tail

One of the Thunderjaw's most dangerous melee attacks is its tail sweep move. It's easy to be caught off guard by this high-damage attack, but thankfully you can disable the tail sweep by removing the Thunderjaw's tail. To do so, focus your shots at the tip of the Thunderjaw's tail.

Break the Freeze Canisters

Target the the Freeze Canisters on the Thunderjaw's back and near its tail to deal extra damage. Breaking them will trigger a Freeze explosion, and enemies inflicted with Freeze take extra damage. Use this to your advantage to take down the Thunderjaw faster.

Related Guides

Enemy Machine Guides

Enemy Machines Front Page

Horizon Zero Dawn

Frozen Wilds