Something you’ll soon discover after playing Horizon Zero Dawn, or even just watching the trailers and various bits of promotional material that’s been circulating leading up to release, is that you can override the machines and use them to your advantage.
Whether that advantage is gained by riding machines as mounts or using them in combat as allies, overrides are a huge help to you.
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However, being of great help, they are of course controlled by your own progress, in this case through the unlock system known as Cauldrons and a series of nullification levels: Psi, Sigma, Rho, Xi and Zeta nullifications , which allow you to control. More and more powerful machines as you unlock them.
So, it’s time for some answers. Here in this guide we’ll walk you through the answers to questions like where the Cauldron override locations are, as well as how to override more powerful machines and which Psi, Sigma, Rho, Xi and Zeta overrides allow you to control which machines.
Horizon Zero Dawn Overrides Explained
Overriding machines in Horizon Zero Dawn requires you to unlock the corresponding Override level. You’ll unlock the first one, Psi, within the first few hours of the game during the main story; For more information on this, you can check out our Womb of the Mountain mission walkthrough, and this will allow you to defeat some basic machines like the Walkers and Stilts you will find in most of the world.
The practice of overriding is relatively simple, at least in principle: you must approach a machine without being detected, or at least without the small circle changing from yellow to red, in order to access your overriding ability. Once you’re close enough for a melee attack, you just need to hold down the Triangle button until the bar fills up at the bottom of the screen, where you’ll be prompted for Sneak Strikes, Strikes from Above, and of course , Cancellations.
While all machines except Corruptors and Deathbringers can be nullified, that doesn’t mean you can use all of them as mounts. Only Striders, Broadheads, and Chargers can be used as mounts. So yes, you can ride a robo-pony, but no, you can’t ride a giant metal eagle.
Horizon Zero Dawn Psi, Sigma, Rho, Xi and Zeta override and unlock levels to ride machine mounts
As we mentioned above, the ability to override machines is divided into levels, based roughly on the overall power of a machine.
Levels are unlocked by completing special dungeons called Cauldrons, which we explain below, but this is how those levels are made up:
- PHI: high necks, watchers, stilt walkers, broad heads, porters
- SIGMA – Sawtooth, Scraper, Herbivore, Hornthrower
- RHO: Tramplers, Shell-Walkers, Snapmaws, Longlegs, Ravagers
- XI – Glinthawks, Freeze Bellowacks, Stalkers, Behemoths, Fire Bellowbacks
- ZETA – Stormbirds, Thunderjaws, Rockbreakers
Horizon Zero Dawn Cauldron Locations and Solutions
The ability to override Phi level machines does not require you to complete any Cauldrons. You simply need to complete the Womb of the Mountain main quest, which is found fairly early in the game, and then you will be able to nullify all the Phi level machines.
After that, however, you’ll need to start heading to the Cauldrons. The first of these, Sigma, is marked on your map after speaking to a lady named Dral in the Mother’s Crown, and the quest Cauldron Sigma is also started.
Sigma Cauldron
The Sigma Cauldron is located quite close to your starting area, north of Mother’s Heart and located on the side of the mountain. It is guarded primarily by Watchers and requires you to solve a series of minor platforming puzzles before reaching the core, which is guarded by a Fire Bellowback and several other Watchers.
Nullify the core and that will be the Sigma Cauldron unlocked!
Rho Cauldron
Rho is located approximately in the center of the map, a little to the south. It’s practically east of Meridian, again nestled into the side of a mountain.
This one is guarded by more Watchers both inside and out, and features some moderately more complicated puzzles inside. The main one has to do with large spinning wheels with handles – it’s not explained to you anywhere, but shooting these large windmill-shaped wheels with any arrow from your bow will cause it to stop and spin in the other direction, which in a moment is essential for you to progress.
This time, the core is guarded by a Snapmaw, some Watchers, and a couple of Ravagers.
Xi Cauldron
The Xi Cauldron is right at the bottom of the western edge of the map, south of Meridian and deep in the forest.
This is guarded by a large number of Bandits and Vigilantes. There are several areas within that act as sort of mini bandit camps that you can clear out, but there are plenty of Blaze canisters and Deathbringer weapons that you can use to help you on your way.
The core itself is guarded by bandits, but once activated, you will have to defend yourself from the bandits and machines that come to attack. Use your newly acquired primordial abilities to get some machines on your side and have some fun with the silly bandits, if you feel like mixing it up.
As you exit, you’ll find even more bandits attacked by Glinthawks and Bellowbacks. It’s fun to watch, and even more fun to wreak some havoc using your nulls and ranged attacks.
For more Horizon Zero Dawn hints, explainers, and tips, be sure to check out our main Horizon Zero Dawn guide and walkthrough hub, which includes tips on things like Horizon Zero Dawn’s Nullification Cauldrons and what machines they let you control, how to get the Golden Fast Travel. Pack up for unlimited fast travel, find and unlock the very powerful Horizon Zero Dawn Shield Weave Armor and Power Cell locations, and then for DLC players there’s our main Horizon Zero Dawn Frozen Wilds walkthrough and guide, a page on how to earn Bluegleam quickly and finally, a page on the handy A Secret Shared quest and how to upgrade your spear in Horizon Frozen Wilds.
Zeta Cauldron
Finally, Zeta Cauldron is a much shorter dungeon with a simple guard of a few Watchers.
The secret entrance is up and to the left, ahead, on the ridge where a Watcher will try to attack you from afar. A nearby pillar has a clear climbing path for you, which you can use to jump up to that Watcher and go down a slope to the side entrance that works by manual override, as usual.
Inside, it’s only a short path to the central core, which is guarded by none other than a Thunderjaw, along with some smaller machines. It is best to come prepared with Tripcaster ammo for this, although we highly recommend using the Tearblast arrows which are available on the Carja and Shadow Carja Sharpshot bows. They are great for removing bits of armor and weapon attachments, and perfect for removing high-threat attachments like the Thunderjaw’s Disc Launcher.
With or without those arrows, first remove the throw, then use it against Thunderjaw to quickly reduce him to low health and expose his most vulnerable parts. Once it’s down, that will be the last Cauldron unlocked, meaning all machines except the slightly unusual Corruptors and Deathbringers can now be overridden. It’s time to go cause some chaos!
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Source: ptivs2.edu.vn