Redeye Watcher

"The lesson will be taught in due time, Aloy. Until then, we wait." This article contains heavy spoilers. Read ahead with caution.

"There's so much to learn, and less time than I'd hoped." This article or section does not reflect changes introduced by new releases in the series. You can help by updating the contents.

Redeye Watcher
Uses swarm tactics, overwhelming in numbers, but also capable of focused laser blasts.
Size	Small
Weight	Lightweight
Class	Recon
Override	Cauldron PSI (HZD) Cauldron CHI(HFW)
Machine Sites	2 (HFW)
Combat
Challenge Level	10 (HZD) 15 (HFW) 17 (Corrupted and Daemonic) 27 (Apex)
HP	200 (HZD) 400 (Corrupted) 350 (Daemonic) 300 (HFW) 600 (Apex)
Weakness	Shock (HFW)
Strength	Fire (HFW) Plasma (HFW)
Weak Points	Eye

"Crest of armor on its head...must be a Redeye Watcher."

―Aloy

The Redeye Watcher is a Recon Class machine in Horizon Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West, and Horizon Call of the Mountain.

History

The Redeye Watcher appears to be upgraded variant of the Watcher, with a greater propensity to use its ability to fire concussive energy blasts, heavier armor plating on its head, and a differently shaped and angled tail. Much like the regular Watcher, Redeye Watchers act as scouts for other machines.

While it's unknown when Redeye Watchers were first released, they became commonplace in the Sundom, the Cut, the Clan Lands, and the Isle of Spires. While they can't be found in the wilds of the Burning Shores, Redeye Watchers can be found patrolling the inside of Cauldron THETA.

The Derangement

At the advent of the Derangement, almost all machines started becoming increasingly aggressive towards humans, including the Redeye Watches. By the time of Aloy reaching adulthood, Redeye Watches are aggressive to any humans they see.

Horizon Zero Dawn

A Redeye Watcher as seen in the notebook in Horizon Zero Dawn.

Upon gaining access to the PSI overrides by looting a Corruptor for its override module, Aloy became able to override Redeye Watchers.

Corrupted Redeye Watchers were among the machines used by the Eclipse army, keeping them at their base in the Jewel, and using them as guards in their camps.

Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds

The Snowchants Hunting Grounds use Redeye Watchers in their trials.

As part of the challenge to take Aratak's chieftaincy, Aloy had to destroy a herd of Redeye Watchers, Lancehorns and Longlegs.

Daemonic Redeye Watchers were among the machines Aloy, Aratak and Ourea destroyed during their expedition into Cauldron EPSILON.

Horizon Call of the Mountain

Ryas encountered a Redeye Watcher in an abandoned camp at Brightdawn. After dispatching the machine, he took its lens as a trophy. He subsequently encountered more Redeye Watchers at Mother's Tears, Elder's Calling, and Day's End.

Sometime between Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West

While the circumstances of how are unknown, Aloy somehow lost the ability to override Redeye Watches, as well as most other machines.

Horizon Forbidden West

Ikkotah invited Aloy on a machine hunt in the Stand of the Sentinels, with Redeye Watchers being one of the machines they hunted.

Redeye Watchers were among the machines that were lured into the Valley of the Fallen by a Zenith lure to keep tribal humans away from the coast where they could see the Zenith base. These Redeye Watchers were destroyed by Aloy.

While searching for Warend, Aloy found his body, alongside that of a Thunderjaw, guarded by Redeye Watchers. In order to examine Warend's body, Aloy destroyed the Redeye Watchers.

Aloy encountered Redeye Watchers while infiltrating Cauldron CHI. When she overrode its core, she gained access to the information needed to override Redeye Watchers.

Redeye Watchers were among the machines HEPHAESTUS sent after Aloy while trying to escape her in Cauldron GEMINI, but she was able to destroy them all.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores

Aloy encountered Redeye Watchers while infiltrating Cauldron THETA.

Appearance

Redeye Watchers look identical to Watchers except for the following differences. Firstly, their heads are more heavily armored, possibly as housing for the the energy weapon mounted therein. Secondly, their tails are more slender and point upward. Thirdly, rather than one ocular sensor, Redeye Watchers have three: alongside the large main eye standard of Watchers, two smaller ocular sensors are built into its head, likely to grant it a wider range of vision.

Behavior

Redeye Watchers have the same behavior as Watchers: they patrol their area of deployment, frequently around and among herds of GAIA terraformers, and utter loud alarm calls on identifying a threat. However while Watchers aggressively close the distance and engage in melee attacks, Redeye Watchers always try to distance themselves from the threat, such that they may fire energy projectiles at it.

Within the Forbidden West, Redeye Watchers are typically found in the Lowland jungles, the western coast, or the Isle of Spires.

Abilities

A Redeye Watcher’s primary attack is to fire energy projectiles at perceived enemies. Watchers only tend to use this attack if they cannot get close to the enemy. However, as previously mentioned, Redeye Watchers default to this attack, distancing themselves from the enemy to do so. Additionally, they have a somewhat higher damage resistance than Watchers. At close range, they employ the same melee attacks as Watchers. 

Weaknesses

Redeye Watchers, notwithstanding their increased damage resistance, are still among the weakest of all machines. They can be ambushed and killed with a single Silent Strike, or damaged and then killed by a single subsequent Critical Hit, just like Watchers. Also like Watchers, Burn states inflict enough damage to kill them before dissipating. Their only substantial tactical superiority over Watchers lies in their preference for ranged combat and their somewhat higher damage resistance.

Attacks

Horizon Zero Dawn

Name	Damage Type	Primary Damage	Trigger Range	Description
Blinding Stun Flash	Blinding	0	6m - 11m	Temporarily blinds and disorients human enemy with bright flash of light; ineffective against enemy machines
Energy Blast	Explosion	40	0m - 55m	Fires concussive energy projectile at enemy
Head Strike	Melee	90	4m - 9m	Jumps at enemy using head as bludgeon; opportunity for immediate counter-attack from enemy should it miss
Jumping Smash	Melee	90	6m - 11m	Jumps at enemy using body as bludgeon; opportunity for immediate counter-attack from enemy should it miss
Tail Strike	Melee	100	2.5m - 6m	Short-range spinning bludgeon attack with tail

Horizon Forbidden West

Name	Windup Time	Damage Type	Damage	Trigger Range	Description
Blinding Flash	Short	Blinding	0	6m - 17m	Temporarily blinds and disorients human enemy with bright flash of light; ineffective against enemy machines
Plasma Blast	Short	Plasma	151, 37 buildup	0m - 55m	Fires plasma projectile at enemy. Attack disabled when Drenched
Spinning Tail Strike	Short	Melee	137	2.5m - 8.5m (front) 0-2.3m	Short-range spinning bludgeon attack with tail
Rising Head Bash	Short	Melee	137	4m - 13m	Jumps at enemy using head as bludgeon; opportunity for immediate counter-attack from enemy should it miss
Jumping Smash	Short	Melee	137	6m - 17m	Jumps at enemy using body as bludgeon; opportunity for immediate counter-attack from enemy should it miss Attack disabled when Slowed

Components

Horizon Zero Dawn

Component:	Image:	Information:	Weakness:	Strength:
Body		Hard outer casing to protect synthetic muscle and operational systems.	None	None
Eye		Hitting this component deals greater damage to the machine.	All	None

Horizon Forbidden West

Name	Image	Description	Attributes
Body		Hard outer casing to protect synthetic muscle and operational systems.	None
Eye		Ocular component that is especially vulnerable to damage.	Indestructible Weak Spot

Loot

Horizon Zero Dawn

Metal Shards

1

Sparker

1

Wire

1

Machine Core - Small

20

Watcher Lens

10

Watcher Heart

20

Horizon Forbidden West

• Redeye Watcher
• Apex Redeye Watcher

Body

• Metal Shards (100%)
• Machine Muscle (30%)
• Redeye Watcher Circulator (28%)
• Braided Wire (20%)
• Redeye Watcher Primary Nerve (19%)
• Small Machine Core (17%)
• Metal Bone (10%)
• Sturdy Hardplate (10%)

Eye

• None

Body

• Metal Shards (100%)
• Apex Redeye Watcher Heart (56%)
• Volatile Sludge (51%)
• Machine Muscle (30%)
• Redeye Watcher Circulator (28%)
• Braided Wire (20%)
• Redeye Watcher Primary Nerve (18%)
• Small Machine Core (17%)
• Metal Bone (10%)
• Sturdy Hardplate (10%)

Eye

• None

Variants

Variant	Weak Vs.	Strong Vs.
Redeye Watcher	Shock	Fire Plasma
Apex Redeye Watcher	Frost	Fire

Trivia

• The added crest on the Redeye Watcher makes it visually similar and a possible base for the Longleg, another recon class machine.
• Redeye Watchers are only machine whose Daemonic version has less HP than its Corrupted version.