Longleg

"The lesson will be taught in due time, Aloy. Until then, we wait." This article contains heavy spoilers, and may reveal plot or quest information.

The Longleg is a machine in Horizon Zero Dawn. It is a Reconnaissance Class machine. It is one of three known avian machines; however, it is incapable of flight. As a recon machine, it patrols on a constant lookout for perceived threats. Unlike its much smaller fellow recon machine the Watcher, it is able to scan and call reinforcements via radar as well as visually.

History

Like all combat-capable machines, Longlegs began appearing after the onset of the Derangement. They were presumably created by HEPHAESTUS upon deciding that it needed a recon machine that was combat-capable and much more dangerous to humans than Watchers. It is unclear whether it is a variation of a pre-Derangement machine or something new altogether.

The Oseram warlord Dervahl created a sonic weapon from a modified Longleg head and concussion sac, mimicking the machine's sonic blasts. He also had a number of them chained at his camp, likely for further experimentation and for security.

The Nora huntress Aloy saw Longlegs mainly at sites scattered throughout the Carja Sundom. She usually saw them guarding Zero Dawn terraformer herds or walking in machine convoys. She encountered them patrolling the approach to the Tallneck deployed at the location in The Jewel known as the Spearshafts. She also sold a Longleg Lens to the Carja trader Ranin.

Outside the Sundom, she encountered two Longlegs in the Cut. The Longlegs in The Cut are augmented by HEPHAESTUS, and are known as Daemonic Longlegs. Aloy encountered them as guards around one of HEPHAESTUS’ Control Towers, as well as inside the ancient Firebreak facility as part of a three-person expedition to HEPHAESTUS’ R&D cauldron, EPSILON.

Appearance

As GAIA states that many machine designs are based off of extinct megafauna, it is possible that a Longleg's chassis is based off a phorusrhacid (terror bird). The head terminates in a vertical pair of sharp, beak-like structures, and is mounted on a long, flexible neck. Six optical sensors are located on each side of the head in the same position as a ratite’s eyes. Three antennae extend from the back of the head, from which the Longleg can emit a signal calling for reinforcements^[1]. Mounted on the chest are a pair of bulbous components called Concussion Sacs. These are part of its scanning array, as well as powering one of its attacks. Each of its two short, flightless wings are equipped with three engines that emit jet-like blasts of flame, which the Longleg uses in attacks. Of its two feet is equipped with a single claw. A power cell composed of a pair of components called Sparkers is mounted on its lower back.

Behavior

Longlegs are mainly deployed in groups of no more than three to patrol around herds of Zero Dawn terraformers, allowing them to work without having to stop and watch for perceived threats. Each Longleg walks in a set circuitous path around the herd, frequently stopping to scan the surroundings. While scanning, unalerted (and even overridden) Longlegs are frequently seen firing their sonic blasts towards the horizon, perhaps to kill or scare off animals encroaching on their territory.

Longlegs guard the sole known Behemoth site. Pairs of Longlegs also escort Behemoths and Shell-Walkers in machine convoys.

An overridden Longleg can destroy another unalerted Longleg with a single strike.

Abilities

Longlegs are fast and agile. They employ a number of Fire-based attacks using the engines on their wings, melee attacks using their beaks and claws, as well as a disorienting sonic attack using their Concussion Sacs. This attack was harnessed by the renegade Oseram warlord and inventor Dervahl to construct a sonic weapon capable of incapacitating human enemies. Aside from combat purposes, the Concussion Sacs can also be used as an echolocation device, emitting less powerful waves to detect hidden enemies.

Weaknesses

A Longleg has two structural weaknesses: its Concussion Sacs and its power cell. Strikes on the Concussion Sacs with high-powered projectile weapons such as Precision Arrows from a Sharpshot Bow cause a concussive explosion that damages the machine, destroys the Concussion Sacs and disables the Longleg’s sonic attack and scanning ability. A strike on the one of the Sparkers in the Longleg’s power cell with a Shock arrow causes a damaging electrical explosion that immediately stuns the Longleg. Additionally, Longlegs are particularly susceptible to attacks from weapons that utilize Shock; repeated strikes from Shock weapons quickly inflict a Shock state, stunning the Longleg.

Attacks

Stun blast does not work on other machines.

Name	Damage Type	Primary Damage	Secondary Damage	Trigger Range	Description
Jet Blast	Fire	190	-	1m - 50m	Wings go back, soon after releases a fire wave
Beak Thrust	Melee	160	-	10.5m - 15.5m	Lunges and attempts to 'peck'
Chicken Scratch	Melee	130	-	5m - 14m	Jumps and scratches with legs
Dashing Claw Jump	Melee	100	80 (7m radius)	5m - 7m	Lunges and scratches with legs
Jumping Wing Blast	Melee	180	-	5m - 13.5m	Jumps up and slams down with an AOE
Stun Blast	Sonic	0	-	1m - 30m	Shrieks at target, incapacitating them for a short time

Components

Component	Image	'Information	Weakness	Strength
Body		Hard outer casing to protect synthetic muscle and operational systems.	Shock	None
Concussion Sac		Destroying this component disables ranged sonic attacks and triggers a compressed air explosion inflicting tear damage. Blowing a Concussion Sac will send a human flying several meters away.	All	None
Alarm Signal		Destroying this component disables the ability to call reinforcements.	Tear	None
Power Cell		Shooting with Shock arrows will trigger a Shock explosion. Sparker resource can be looted from this component.	Shock Tear	None
Wing		Destroying this component disables the charge attack.	All	None

Loot

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Sparker

1

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Echo Shell

15

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Metal Shards

1

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Wire

1

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Machine Core - Medium

50

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Luminous Braiding

30

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Longleg Heart

64

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Longleg Lens

32

Trivia

• The attack "Chicken Scratch" was heavily inspired by videos of chickens attacking with their legs. This choice was a result of animator Richard Oud seeing the Longleg as "just a big chicken".

Gallery

Concept art by Erik van Helvoirt

A dead Longleg strung up in a bandit camp

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References