Heavy weapons are weapons can be picked up from dead human enemies, or shot off of machines. They cannot be purchased from merchants, gained from quests, added to the inventory, or upgraded, and their ammo cannot be crafted. Along with often having large amounts of ammo, these weapons tend to deal massive amounts of damage, in some cases the highest single instance of damage in the game. Once all ammo is used, the weapon becomes completely useless, and will directly hinder Aloy's ability to fight.
In Zero Dawn, whether intended or not, heavy weapon stats are affected by coils slotted into the current weapon Aloy wields before picking one up.
While carrying any heavy weapon, Aloy moves significantly slower, jumps significantly shorter and takes more time to recover on landing. It takes longer to start a roll, and rolling, taking significant knockback, or falling far enough will cause Aloy to drop the weapon. The weapon can also be dropped at any time by pressing the interact button or choosing a weapon from the weapon wheel.
Horizon Zero Dawn[]
Horizon Zero Dawn has seven Heavy Weapons, three exclusively from machines, two being used by heavy or elite human enemies, one being from both a machine and wielded by cultist heavy gunners, and one only available in a few select missions.
- Deathbringer Gun - Deathbringer, Human
- Disc Launcher - Thunderjaw
- Firespitter - Human
- Firestriker - Human
- Mine Launcher - Scorcher
- Oseram Cannon - Quest events
- Ravager Cannon - Ravager
Horizon Forbidden West[]
Horizon Forbidden West has 21 Heavy Weapons, four of which are returning from the previous game. Fifteen of the weapons come from machines, five come from human enemies or on racks in enemy camps, and one is only available during a specific quest. Even though there are no active Deathbringers in the Forbidden West, Deathbringer Guns can still be found being used by human enemies and on racks in rebel camps.
- Acid Bomb Launcher - Acid Clawstrider
- Acidspitter - Human
- Blaze Bomb Launcher - Fire Clawstrider
- Bomb Launcher - Dreadwing
- Cluster Launcher - Grimhorn
- Coil Blaster - Slitherfang
- Dart Gun - Stalker
- Deathbringer Gun - Human
- Disc Launcher - Thunderjaw
- Fire Repeater - Quest event
- Firespitter - Human
- Frost Blaster - Shellsnapper
- Inferno Bomb Launcher - Human
- Mine Launcher - Scorcher
- Plasma Bomb Launcher - Human
- Plasma Cannon - Tremortusk
- Plasma Spine Launcher - Slaughterspine
- Pulse Cannon - Specter & Specter Prime
- Ravager Cannon - Ravager
- Shock Cannon - Tremortusk
- Spinetail Lancer - Slaughterspine