Horizon Forbidden West: trophy and platinum guide

PS5 / PS4

Horizon Forbidden West trophy guide for PS5 / PS4, with Guerranera's video, a step-by-step roadmap and a trophy checklist. PS4 and PS5 base-game platinum. Excludes New Game+, Ultra Hard and Burning Shores.

PS4 and PS5 base-game platinum. Excludes New Game+, Ultra Hard and Burning Shores.

Watch the Guerranera video

Video chapters

Advance the story and reach level 50

Track Aloy's level separately while progressing: level 20, 30 and 50 trophies differ from mission milestones. The checklist follows the story through the end of the Zenith threat. Keep Reached Level 50 as a separate goal even after the ending.

Reached Level 20 · Reached player level 20.
Reached Level 30 · Reached player level 30.
Reached Level 50 · Reached player level 50.
Reached the Daunt · Arrived at the Daunt seeking passage into the Forbidden West.
Secured Passage to the Embassy · Cleared the way to the Embassy and reopened the Daunt.
Attended the Embassy · Survived the ambush at the Embassy and gained passage into the Forbidden West.
Established the Base · Secured a base of operations and rebooted GAIA.
Recovered AETHER · Defended the Kulrut and recovered AETHER.
Recovered POSEIDON · Drained Las Vegas and recovered POSEIDON.
Recovered DEMETER · Encountered the Quen and recovered DEMETER.
Recovered Beta · Followed Beta's distress signal and brought her back to base.
Discovered Faro's Fate · Survived Thebes and befriended the Quen.
Flew on the Wings of the Ten · Flew into battle and vanquished Regalla.
Discovered Nemesis · Put an end to the Zenith threat and discovered Nemesis.

Complete companion stories

Set aside a stage for Kotallo, Zo and Alva's quests and the Daunt's problems. Chose a Desert Commander requires helping Drakka and Yarra before making the stated choice. Separating these entries prevents confusing the main ending with side-story completion.

Chose a Desert Commander · Aided both Drakka and Yarra and chose the better candidate.
Saved the Daunt · Resolved all of the problems troubling the Daunt.
Aided Kotallo · Helped Kotallo build and test a mechanized arm.
Healed the Land-gods · Helped Zo reboot the land-gods to save Plainsong.
Recovered Alva's Data · Helped Alva retrieve data to help the Quen.

Tallnecks, Cauldrons and rebel camps

Distinguish first completions from complete sets: your first override does not finish all Tallnecks or Cauldron cores. Hunting Grounds require at least a Quarter Stripe in all three trials at every ground. Follow the rebel-camp investigation through helping Erend defeat Asera.

First Tallneck Overridden · Reached the top of a Tallneck and accessed its information.
All Tallnecks Overridden · Reached the top of every Tallneck and accessed their information.
First Rebel Camp Completed · Completed key objectives in 1 Rebel Camp.
Defeated Asera · Investigated all Rebel Camps and helped Erend defeat Asera.
First Core Overridden · Reached the Core of a Cauldron and accessed its information.
All Cores Overridden · Reached the Core of every Cauldron and accessed their information.
Obtained 3 Stripes at a Hunting Ground · Earned at least a Quarter Stripe mark in all three trials at one Hunting Ground.
Obtained 3 Stripes at All Hunting Grounds · Earned at least a Quarter Stripe mark in all three trials at all Hunting Grounds.

Check scans, kills and mounts

Keep separate lists for machine types scanned, types killed and overrides. All Machine Types Scanned requires using the Focus on every type; category trophies require killing at least one of each type in that category. Check Charger, Bristleback and Clawstrider mounts and ten different overridden machine types.

All Acquisition Machines Killed · Killed at least one of every type of Acquisition machine.
All Recon Machines Killed · Killed at least one of every type of Reconnaissance machine.
All Combat Machines Killed · Killed at least one of every type of Combat machine.
All Transport Machines Killed · Killed at least one of every type of Transport machine.
Rode All Regular Mounts · Rode a Charger, Bristleback, and Clawstrider.
All Machine Types Scanned · Encountered and Focus scanned every type of machine.
10 Types of Machine Overridden · Unlocked and used the overrides for 10 different types of machine.

Complete activity milestones

Use each trophy's threshold rather than clearing every map activity indiscriminately. Check two Gauntlet Run wins, four rebel outposts, three Relic Ruins, one Arena set and two different Machine Strike opponents. Add a continuous 60-second glide, two flying-mount quests and every contract for one salvage contractor.

Completed a Long Glide · Glided uninterrupted for 60 seconds.
Completed 2 Flying Mount Quests · Completed 2 quests that required a flying mount.
Won 2 Gauntlet Runs · Won first place in two different Gauntlet Runs.
Completed a Set of Salvage Contracts · Completed all contracts at a Salvage Contractor.
Completed 4 Rebel Outposts · Defeated the outpost leader and recovered the tags from 4 Rebel Outposts.
Completed 3 Relic Ruins · Discovered and completed 3 Relic Ruins.
Completed Arena Challenge Set · Completed 1 Arena challenge set.
Defeated Machine Strike Challengers · Won a match against 2 different Machine Strike challengers.

Vary combat tools

Use each required weapon class and elemental state. Track ten stealth kills, one hundred detached components and five different heavy weapons. The three unlockable melee combos must be different. Defeated the Enduring is a separate objective involving the Tenakth melee master.

Obtained All Weapon Classes · Obtained 1 weapon from every weapon class.
Used all Elemental States · Inflicted every elemental state on an enemy at least once.
Performed 3 Melee Combos · Successfully performed 3 different unlockable melee combos.
Stealth Killed 10 Machines · Performed a stealth kill on 10 machines.
Tore off 100 Components · Detached 100 components from machines.
Picked up 5 Heavy Weapons · Picked up 5 different heavy weapons.
Defeated the Enduring · Defeated the Tenakth melee master known as the Enduring.

Finish upgrades and targeted collections

Fully upgrade three weapons and three outfits, upgrade each stated pouch type at least once and maximise a Valor Surge. The five-collectible requirement means one of each specified category, not five of one kind. Finally check two coils, three weapon techniques, a full skill tree and a dye application.

Fully Upgraded a Valor Surge · Upgraded a Valor Surge to its maximum level.
Upgraded 3 Weapons · Fully upgraded 3 weapons.
Upgraded 3 Outfits · Fully upgraded 3 different outfits.
Upgraded Every Pouch Type · Upgraded the Food Pouch, Potion Pouch, Resource Pouch, Trap Pouch, and any ammo pouch at least once.
Enhanced Weapon with Coils · Equipped a weapon of any tier with 2 coils.
Unlocked 3 Weapon Techniques · Unlocked a Weapon Technique for 3 different weapon classes.
Skill Tree Learned · Learned all available skills on one tree.
Recovered 5 Different Collectables · Completed 1 Survey Drone, 1 Black Box, 1 Relic Ruin, 1 Vista Point, and 1 Signal Tower.
Used Dye Flowers · Used dye flowers to unlock and apply a new dye.
All Trophies Obtained · Obtained all Horizon Forbidden West trophies.

Source and scope

Editorial roadmap accompanying Guerranera's video, based on the author's published description and references and checked against the trophy archive. It is not a full transcript of the narration.

The PS5 archive includes additional trophies. Use the base-game requirements listed in these sections for this route.
The video's single trophy-list chapter starts at 01:58. Section buttons point to this overview, not to separate trophy-specific timestamps.
Contains mission, character and story-objective names.

Extended trophy roadmap

Horizon Forbidden West does not simply ask you to empty every corner of the map. Platinum connects the story, specific side activities and the machine catalogue; much content can wait for later tools. The key audit concerns quest machines, especially Specters. Patches matter too: Specter Prime should not be described solely using launch warnings. This roadmap separates the base game from New Game+ and Burning Shores and helps target required cleanup without automatically turning it into full completion.

Base-game trophy and platinum roadmap for PS4 and PS5. Additional trophy groups are separate from the platinum.

Required difficulty: High difficulty is not required for base platinum.
Missable trophies: Check quest Specters; patches corrected Specter Prime registration.
Online: The base game can be completed offline.

Unlock story tools

Advance quests and mark what is not yet reachable. Later tools and mobility make several activities easier. Do not make every first-visit question mark a compulsory detour: focus on identifiable requirements and return to other places using an organised route once you have access.

Revisit blocked locations after story unlocks.

Register machines in the Notebook

Scanning and killing are different actions: inspect the catalogue icon. Scan quest Specters immediately rather than waiting until combat ends. Patch 1.08 corrected Specter Prime registration; still check the Notebook after encounters and pay attention to normal Specters instead of relying on remembering an enemy.

Check Specters while the relevant quests remain accessible.

Group Cauldrons, Tallnecks and camps

After the story, use map categories and work region by region. Cauldrons, Tallnecks and rebel camps are not interchangeable: many activities of one type do not finish another collection. Check quests linking chain stages too; reaching an icon does not mean its milestone is complete.

Compare every category with its trophy condition.

Read the required Hunting Grounds award

Do not assume every trial requires the maximum award: the trophy specifies its threshold. Prepare weapons and ammunition matching the rule. After failure, identify whether time, the correct component or a technical condition was missing; simply increasing damage does not solve every trial type.

Meet the required threshold in every listed trial.

Learn melee-pit sequences

Invest in moves needed by melee pits and read the challenge inputs. Practise sequences slowly before seeking speed: pauses, links and button releases may be part of the solution. Finish pits and their associated chain while distinguishing owning a move from completing a trial using it.

Unlock the needed moves and finish trials, not just the skill tree.

Separate the base game from additions

Burning Shores and New Game+ add groups separate from platinum. During final cleanup, inspect the base group and notice partial collection requirements; some objectives do not need every existing item. A map category below 100% can therefore already satisfy the particular trophy you are pursuing.

Read the base group before adding expansion objectives.

Trophies to watch

All Machine Types Scanned

Encountered and Focus scanned every type of machine.

Scan with the Focus and inspect the Notebook; quest Specters need attention even after patches.

Obtained 3 Stripes at All Hunting Grounds

Earned at least a Quarter Stripe mark in all three trials at all Hunting Grounds.

Target the required threshold rather than assuming every trial needs its maximum award.

All Cores Overridden

Reached the Core of every Cauldron and accessed their information.

Track Cauldrons separately from camps and outposts.

Skill Tree Learned

Learned all available skills on one tree.

Complete a coherent tree while checking abilities needed by unfinished trials.

Frequently asked questions

Is Burning Shores required for platinum?

No. Its trophies belong to an additional group.

Is Specter Prime missable as at launch?

Patches corrected its registration. Still check the Notebook and quest Specters.

Must every item be collected?

Not in every category: some trophies need only part of a collection.

Sources

Trophy lists

Buying the game

These are Guerranera’s affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Open the interactive guide