Horizon Forbidden West: Slitherfang - boss, how to beat? Horizon Forbidden West guide, walkthrough

This page of the Horizon Forbidden West guide contains a description of the duel with the Slitherfang boss - it is a giant snake from the main quest Reach for the Stars.

Last update: 28 June 2022

This page of the Horizon 2 Forbidden West game guide contains a walkthrough of the Slitherfang boss fights, the first of which takes place in the Reach for the Stars main quest and the second during The Kulrut main quest. You will learn what attacks the giant mechanical snake has, how to avoid them, and how to defeat the Slitherfang.

• Location of the first Slitherfang fight
• The first stage of the fight
• The second stage of the fight
• Location of the second Slitherfang fight
• Walkthrough of the second fight

Location of the first Slitherfang fight

The Slitherfangis a giant mechanical snake and the first boss. You face this mechanical beast in the final part of the first main quest - Reach for the Stars.

During this quest, Aloy will topple down a large space ship. It will crush several machines, but one of the Slitherfangs will survive - this will start the boss fight.

Before you start attacking it, you should scan the snake and open its entry in the Machine Catalogue.

You can also change the tabs in the top list to learn about different parts of the boss's body that can be destroyed or detached. Try to destroy them with ranged weapons.

The first stage of the fight

In the first phase, the Slitherfang will use two types of attacks. The first type is spitting venom. Hide behind rocks for the duration of this attack to avoid it. Aloy will be safe there.

The second of the boss's attacks is very dangerous - it is a powerful charge. This attack is signaled, so you will have some time to dodge to the side to avoid damage.

When attacking the boss, try to target the yellow parts of its armor - its weak points. The Slitherfang's section below its maw highlighted in the image is especially vulnerable.

Once weakened, the boss can fall to the ground. This is the perfect opportunity to run up to it and attack with the spear. First of all, check if you can perform a Critical Strike with the spear. If not, use your normal attacks until the boss stands up again.

The second stage of the fight

The second phase of the fight is signaled by a short cut-scene. The boss will become more mobile. You will also lose some of the cover that Aloy was able to use in the first phase. Fortunately, this doesn't mean that you have to fight in the open - there are still a few large boulders to hide behind. Use them primarily to avoid the boss's electrified tail attacks.

The boss can hide underground and then attack you from somewhere else. You must stay on the move to avoid being attacked suddenly. Unfortunately, some of these types of attacks can destroy boulders meaning you will gradually lose more cover.

You can find useful loot in the arena - mainly berries for healing and resources for arrows. Keep replenishing your ammo by using the weapons radial menu.

You can also find a blaster in the area. You can use this firearm to shoot the giant snake.

You must fight until the Slitherfang loses its entire health bar. Watch a cut-scene during which the boss will be defeated. Don't forget to search the remains of the machine to collect valuable loot. You may also spend the first skill point you got.

Location of the second Slitherfang fight

You will have to face the Slitherfang again later in the campaign, namely during The Kulrut main quest. The fight against the new mechanical snake takes place in the large arena and occurs after completing the quest objective of destroying the smaller machines taking part in the Regalla attack.

Walkthrough of the second fight

Right after the start of the arena battle, scan the boss to remember the basic information about the Slitherfang. Consider checking out its page in the machine catalogue. It's important, since Aloy has gained some new weapons that she didn't have access to during the previous fight in the prologue.

The Slitherfang is weak to the elements of fire, frost, and plasma. Try to choose ranged weapons with ammo that uses these elements (there won't be time to deploy traps). Attack the boss and try to target its weak spots (in case you need a reminder, these are listed in the machine catalogue, as well).

As with the battle from the prologue, damaging the boss may cause the Slitherfang to crash to the ground. Be sure to run up to the boss to land one or more critical strikes.

Unfortunately, you need to deal with the fact that there isn't much cover to be found in the arena, but make full use of what's available before it gets destroyed. Try to avoid the boss's ranged attacks (especially its poison spit), but also be careful not to let it slither up too close to your character. Dodge and sprint to safely reach other spots in the arena.

After winning the battle, don't forget to loot the remains of the Slitherfang to collect tons of valuable spoils.