The Blast Sling is a ranged weapon in Horizon Zero Dawn. It is a slow-firing slingshot that lobs explosive bombs with impact, proximity or time-delayed trigger mechanisms in a parabolic arc. It is best used to deal high impact and area damage, and can be used in both aggressive and stealthy playstyles.
Contents
Use
The Blast Sling is one of the most versatile weapons available and can be used both offensively or defensively for immediate area attacks with Blast Bombs, stealthy ambushes with Sticky Bombs and preemptive strikes with Proximity Bombs. The wide blast radius can clear entire groups of humans and knock multiple components and armor plates off of larger machines, and the arcing trajectory enables launching over or past cover and obstacles to hit enemies outside Aloy's direct line of sight. The explosion generates a loud noise at the point of detonation which carries over a long distance and draws the attention of all machines within earshot, scaring skittish machines into fleeing in the opposite direction and prompting aggressive machines to investigate the source of the sound. However, supplying it with ammo takes a significant amount of Blaze over time if used regularly.
The Sticky Bombs, which have the highest damage per shot, also can serve as a very powerful starting ambush; machines do not become combat-alerted until one detonates at the end of the timer. If you are hidden in tall grass, you can plaster a single enemy with up to four Sticky Bombs from a safe distance and remain undetected, and given the sizeable base damage stat of the bombs plus damage coils, you could dish out a substantial amount of damage to a large machine before it can start fighting back.
Special Variant
The Lodge Blast Sling is available as reward from the quest Weapons of the Lodge, requiring player to earn at least a Half Sun mark on all 15 Hunting Grounds Trials throughout the base game; players cannot get a second unit in the same playthrough. It has identical stats and slot number to the Shadow Variant, albeit with higher base Handling of 70 which could improve its Damage per Second value.
Ammo
Blast Bombs
Blast Bombs explode on impact.
| Ammo | Game Mode | Damage |
|---|---|---|
 Blast Bomb |
Story |  400
|
| Easy | 125
| |
| Normal | 100
| |
| Hard | 90
| |
| Very Hard | 80
| |
| Ultra Hard | 70
|
Sticky Bombs
Sticky Bombs stick to targets and explode after five seconds.
| Ammo Type | Game Mode | Damage |
|---|---|---|
 Sticky Bomb |
Story | 600
|
| Easy | 188
| |
| Normal | 150
| |
| Hard | 135
| |
| Very Hard | 120
| |
| Ultra Hard | 105
|
Proximity Bombs
Proximity Bombs land on surfaces and behave as a landmine, detonating when neared.
| Ammo Type | Game Mode | Damage |
|---|---|---|
 Proximity Bomb |
Story | 300
|
| Easy | 94
| |
| Normal | 75
| |
| Hard | 60
| |
| Very Hard | 60
| |
| Ultra Hard | 53
|
Timed Grenades
Used only by NPCs, the Timed Grenade is a bomb that deals high explosive damage with a short fuse (approximately two and a half seconds) after it impacts a surface before it detonates. It appears similar to Sticky Bombs, but makes a distinct hissing noise as it travels, rapidly flashes orange, and leaves a small orange trail. Used almost exclusively by Shadow Carja, such as Shadow Archers and Cultist Dredgers, though some mercenaries also use it.
Ammo Types and Modification Slots by Variant
As with most weapons, the most basic versions of the Blast Sling cannot carry all types of the available ammunition.
| Blast Bomb | Sticky Bomb | Proximity Bomb | Mod Slots | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic |
|
1 | ||
| Carja |
|
|
2 | |
| Shadow |
|
|
|
3 |
| AdeptNG+ |
|
|
|
4 |
| Lodge |
|
|
|
3 |
| Adept LodgeNG+ |
|
|
|
4 |
Acquisition Details
| Variant | Sources | Regular Cost | Ultra Hard Cost | Sell Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic |  General Merchants
|
 200
|
1,000
|
30
|
| Carja | Tier 2/3/4 Merchants
|
400 10 Metal Vessel 1 Luminous Braiding |
2,000 20 Metal Vessel 2 Luminous Braiding |
50
|
| Shadow | Tier 3 & 4 Merchants
|
1,400 1 Lancehorn Heart |
7,000 2 Lancehorn Heart |
100
|
| AdeptNG+ | Tier 3 & 4 Merchants
|
2,800 1 Lancehorn Heart 1 Charger Heart |
14,000 2 Lancehorn Heart 2 Charger Heart |
100
|
| Lodge | Hunters Lodge | 15 Half Sun marks | 15 Half Sun marks | 100
|
| Adept LodgeNG+ |
Hunters Lodge | 15 Half Sun marks | 15 Half Sun marks | 100
|
Trivia
- The model of the Lodge Blast Sling is that of a recolored Sling instead of being similar to the regular variants.
- Whether by design or a bug, bombs will not explode if they land in water.
Gallery
| Weapons | |
|---|---|
| Ranged Weapons | Blast Sling - ForgefireFW - Hunter Bow - IcerailFW - Rattler - Ropecaster - Sharpshot Bow - Sling - StormslingerFW - Tearblaster - War Bow |
| Melee Weapons | Spear - Sylens' Lance |
| Stealth Weapons | Traps - Tripcaster |
| Heavy Weapons | Deathbringer Gun - Disc Launcher - Firespitter - Firestriker - Mine LauncherFW - Oseram Cannon - Ravager Cannon |
