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"The lesson will be taught in due time, Aloy. Until then, we wait." This article contains heavy spoilers. Read ahead with caution.
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- "Those machines - you can see the Corruption coming off them like smoke."
- ―Aloy
Corrupted machines are those affected by the corrupting properties of metalburn and the network hijacking capabilities of the Corruptor. They are identified by red-black tendrils growing from their chassis, typical focused on their necks and upper body, presumably generated through some form of nanotechnology.
History[]
New World[]
Without access to the terraforming system, HADES was forced to find an alternative method of bringing about a second global extinction. Its solution was to create an army in order to access the Spire, one of MINERVA's broadcasting towers. It revived Corruptors with the help of the Eclipse, who used the ancient machines to enslave GAIA's machines into their ranks.[1] The corrupted machines were then used as guards within the Eclipse's main base,[2] and served as sentries at Eclipse dig sites.[3]
Horizon Zero Dawn[]
The corrupted machines were kept secret until the War Party Massacre, when the Eclipse used a stampede of corrupted machines to wipe out over half of the Nora Braves.[4] Upon hearing of the corruption, the Carja closed off the Sundom's eastern border at Daytower in a vain attempt to keep the corruption from spreading into their territory. Daytower's gates were not reopened until the corruption had been cleared from the nearby valley by Aloy.[5]
The Eclipse used the corrupted machines again during their assault on the Sacred Lands, nearly bringing the Nora to extinction,[6] and later during the their assault on Meridian.[7]
Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores[]
When Walter Londra reactivated a Horus and printed a small army of Corruptors, two Apex Clamberjaws were corrupted by them, but they were quickly destroyed by Aloy and Seyka.[8]
Gameplay[]
The most distinctive feature of a corrupted machine is the invading circuitry present all over the machine's body, which emits both a red glow and a dark smoke-like effect. They appear with red outlines when scanned with a Focus, as opposed to the standard blue.
Corrupted machines are aggressive towards any non-Eclipse humans and non-corrupted machines. They also ooze an acidic substance as they walk; if Aloy walks through this substance, it will damage her for a short period of time. Melee attacks will also inflict corruption damage. Both these sources will fill a severity meter by Aloy's health bar, and if it is filled, the status effect applied damages her over time and prevents her from running. Antidotes and the Banuk Sickness Eater outfit can be used to reduce the effects of this damage and cure this status effect.
When a corrupted machine is killed, its acidic secretions will persist on the ground for several seconds before disappearing altogether.
Corrupted machines are given a higher challenge level than their other counterparts and have 50% greater health and damage output, barring a couple exceptions. However, they have two major weaknesses. Most noticeably, corrupted machines are more vulnerable to fire attacks (the sole exception being Corrupted Apex Clamberjaws). A second, less obvious weakness is the removal of armor plating near the cranial region, a result of the corruption process. Corrupted machines cannot be overridden and are immune to Corruption Arrows.
Non-corrupted machines will attack corrupted machines on sight. Aloy's Corruption arrows can induce a minor version of Corruption for a short period of time, causing targets to become "enraged" and attack allies.[9]
Trivia[]
- Corrupted machines will not disappear entirely after clearing all Corrupted Zones. A small portion will continue to exist in Devil's Grief and the surrounding lake, making it the only location in the game to have a permanent population of Corrupted Machines.
- Corrupted Redeye Watchers have double the health of their standard version, while Corrupted Stormbirds only have a 10% damage boost.
- The Corrupted Apex Clamberjaws lack the tendrils, the smoke effect, acidic secretions, and the vulnerability to fire that corrupted machines in Horizon Zero Dawn possess.
- Whether this is because they were corrupted by new Corruptors rather than old ones recovered from the Old World or another reason is unknown.
References[]
- ↑ Dialogue with Sylens during The Mountain That Fell.
- ↑ To Curse the Darkness
- ↑ The City of the Sun
- ↑ Dialogue with Dran during The War-Chief's Trail.
- ↑ A Seeker at the Gates
- ↑ The Heart of the Nora
- ↑ The Face of Extinction
- ↑ His Final Act
- ↑ Shadow War Bow tutorial