Main Quest Walkthrough – The Mountain that Fell [Horizon Zero Dawn]

This is Samurai Gamers‘ walkthrough for the mission The Mountain that Fell in Horizon Zero Dawn.

The Mountain that Fell picks up from the events in The Heart of the Nora.

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Main Quest Walkthrough – The Mountain that Fell

Objective 1: Get to the Ruins of GAIA Prime.

The mission begins with Aloy climbing a steep slope going up a mountain. About halfway up, you will find a campfire and a small supply crate. Loot the contents of the crate and save at the campfire (Very important).

There is a high rock face to the left of the supply crate and campfire. Climb the rock face using the handholds embedded in it until you get to the ledge on top. Climb up two more rock faces until you reach the top; you will see some ruins and Sylens will speak over your Focus.

Move along the walkway in the ruins, then get on the narrow ledge sticking out at the end. Rotate your camera to find another ledge right above your head, then climb up on it.

Move your camera to find a handhold sticking out of the rock face beside you. Creep to the very end of the ledge and jump across, catching the handhold. Shimmy up to the next handhold above you.

From this second handhold, you can see that there are no more handholds above you. Instead, the next one is on the rock face across you. It will be a long jump, and you might take some tries to get it right. Once you grab hold of it, shimmy up to the flat area on top.

You will arrive at a wide, grassy area with glowing red lights going off into the distance. Take some time to stock up, especially with healing items. There’s also a dead Watcher off to the right; loot the carcass for Metal Shards.

It turns out that the red lights are beacons for a pack of Stalkers prowling the area. The Stalkers might go into stealth mode in preparation for their attack; use your Focus to reveal their location if you can’t see them yet, and plant some traps to slow them down. It will be a tough fight, because the Stalkers will drop mines aside from their regular attacks. Rest up once you have taken out all of the Machines, looting the carcasses to get precious resources.

Once the Stalkers are down, follow the waypoint to the path going off to the right of the red beacons. Pass by the metal wreckage, onto the big area beyond. There’s a river a little way off, but that’s not where you’re headed. Instead, find the handholds on the rock face beside the river and climb up. Go along the narrow trail along the rock face until you reach the waterfalls. Face the rock wall behind you and climb using the handholds, hopping to the rock face behind you when you are about halfway up.

You will arrive at another wide area with the upper part of the river/waterfall running through it. Go down to the water, then hop on the poles sticking out in order to get to the other side and save at the campfire here. You may get items from the crate beside it as well.

This particular section of the way to the GAIA ruins is quite challenging, as you need to survive attacks from Watchers, Ravagers and Glinthawks. You can slip past the Machines unnoticed, however, if you don’t engage them and kept in hiding instead. If you do choose to fight them, you’re in for a hard battle, so make use of the hiding spots around the campfire to defend yourself. Scavenge the materials from the dead Machines when the fight is over.

Return to the other side of the river and move forward, following the direction indicated by the waypoint. You will end up at a rock face with a waterfall on your right. Climb the rock face to the top.

Once you reach the top, a cutscene will play, and a Stormbird will appear. This will prove to be another test of your skills, as the Stormbird is more or less equal to the Thunderjaws in strength and durability, aside from being able to fly and delivering strong ranged attacks. The Stormbird will land from time to time; hit it with a Ropecaster to keep it grounded, then hit its weak points.

Once the Stormbird goes down, follow the waypoint once more.  Another cutscene will play, and Sylens will talk to you over Focus.

Climb up the Outcrop: Follow the planks to the rock wall ahead of you, and start climbing up. Once you get midway up (where the banner attaches) shimmy up the short walkway, then continue on climbing. A ladder awaits at the top; climb it to find the GAIA Prime Bunker. Talk to Sylens once you are inside.