Hunting Grounds in Horizon Forbidden West serve as specialized training arenas designed to test Aloy's mastery over various combat mechanics and weapons. Completing these trial arenas rewards players with valuable medals that can be exchanged for top-tier weapons and rare gear. Finding every arena and earning the highest ranks requires a combination of strategic planning, fast reflexes, and proper loadout preparation.
Overview of Hunting Ground Locations Across the Map
The first site players encounter is the Daunt Hunting Grounds, located early in the eastern region near Chainscrape. This arena introduces core combat techniques such as tear damage, shock status effects, and targeting specific machine components.
As Aloy ventures further west, she discovers the Plainsong Hunting Grounds nestled in the lush grasslands controlled by the Utaru tribe. Moving toward the desert and mountain regions unveils the Sheerside Mountains and Trace of Abundance arenas, which feature far more aggressive machine encounters and complex objectives.
Essential Preparation Before Starting Trials
Attempting these trials without proper equipment can make obtaining Full Stripes significantly more difficult than necessary. Before initiating a challenge, analyze the targeted machines with your Focus to identify key weaknesses and removable parts.
Upgrading your weapons and armor beforehand ensures that you meet the strict time limits set by ground Grounds Keepers. Equipping valor surges and selecting coil modifications tailored to elemental damage will give you a massive advantage during high-tier trials.
Tactical Tips for Clearing Difficult Challenges
Speed is the most critical factor when aiming for top rewards in any Hunting Ground trial. Avoid engaging in standard open combat unless the specific trial requires full machine destruction within the objective parameters.
Utilize stealth tactics, heavy elemental buildup, and specialized ammunition like Tearblast arrows to detach components instantly. Smoke bombs are exceptionally useful for breaking line of sight, allowing you to reset machine positions and execute quick follow-up attacks.
Maximizing Your Earned Hunting Medals
Earning Full Stripes across all trials grants players access to powerful legendary equipment at the Arena merchant located at The Maw of the Arena. Spending these hard-earned tokens wisely allows you to optimize your end-game combat build quickly.
Revisiting earlier Hunting Grounds with advanced weaponry is a great way to clean up remaining trials if you struggled on your first attempt. Mastering these challenges ultimately sharpens your overall combat efficiency for the tougher battles ahead across the forbidden frontier.
