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

"Sticks and stones against the lightning."
Tilda van der Meer on Specter Prime

Specter Prime is a machine in Horizon Forbidden West, serving as the final boss of the game's main story. It is a Far Zenith exoframe that can morph into multiple forms. Unique to known machines, a human can control a Specter Prime from within a capsule contained inside.

History[]

The only known Specter Prime exoframe was used by Tilda van der Meer in her attempt to force Aloy to join her aboard the Odyssey. Her efforts were unsuccessful, and Tilda was killed when Specter Prime was destroyed.

Abilities[]

As the final machine, Specter Prime is one of the most powerful machines in Horizon Forbidden West. It is very agile and is shown to be quite durable. It possesses a wide selection of moves, it can use its long arms with blades for combat as well as slam its arms into the ground to strike anyone from below. It has rocket thrusts from which it can unleash ground flames at the victims and can even regenerate its parts that have been blown off. In addition to its hand-to-hand based combat, Specter Prime also possesses a wide selection of firepower-based combat. Specter Prime has pulse cannons in its torso that it can use to fire light blue energy bullets like previous Specters. It can also fire red heat beams from the blades at the tip of its hands, and fire off missiles from its back. All of this, makes Specter Prime one of the most formidable machines in Horizon Forbidden West, even more so than the animal machines such as Thunderjaws, Tremortusks and Slaughterspines.

Weakness[]

Specter Prime's Plasma Unit on its head can be destroyed to give it the Plasma Blast Status, and its Siege Mortar can be destroyed to prevent Specter Prime from using its missile attacks. Specter Prime's Pulse Cannons can also be destroyed preventing it from using its rapid-fire pulse blast. The player can also pick up these cannons to use against it. If Specter Prime's Shock Unit is destroyed, it will detonate causing the Shockd state. Its regeneration ability can also be disrupted if Specter Prime's Regeneration Unit is damaged. Specter Prime's Launcher Primes can be destroyed to prevent its missile attack and its Vector Thrusters can also be destroyed, preventing Specter Prime from creating ground fire and jumping attacks.

Attacks[]

Name Windup Time Damage Damage Area Trigger Range Description
Pulse Cannon Burst (Lead Up) Short 70 Ranged - 24m - 54m Shoots stream of bullets directly at target.
Pulse Cannon Burst (Sweep) Short 70 Ranged - 24m - 54m Shoots stream of bullets in a horizontal sweeping motion.
Hellfire Strike Medium 420 Ranged - 24m - 54m Fires 12 missiles from the Siege Mortar, with target designators indicating their landing point. Missile impacts can inflict residual Fire and Shock damage.
Pulsar Strike Medium/Long 150 Ranged

Shock-Icon150
Shock-Icon90 buildup

Shock-Icon25/s

Shock-Icon25/s buildup

24m - 54m Launches 10 javelins from Lancer Prime. Each javelin deploys a shock field that explodes when target moves through it, otherwise it automatically explodes after 10-12 seconds.
Progenitor Wrath Medium Melee/Black Sludge Explosion: Melee icon250

Spike: Melee icon25/s

25/s Black Sludge

30/s Black Sludge buildup

24m - 74m Up to 5 spikes burst from the ground beneath the target. Each spike leaves a puddle of Black Sludge.
Vengeful Fury Long 195 Ranged Fire-Icon25/s

Fire-Icon25/s buildup

24m - 55m Floats and shoots an orange beam from each tendril that sweeps towards target.
Divine Wrath Very Long Ranged/Fire Beam: Fire-Icon50/s, Fire-Icon25/s buildup

Blast: 325 Ranged

Splinter: 274 Ranged

Fire-Icon25/s

Fire-Icon25/s buildup

23m - 54m Nano Plates shift upward to form a circular array over the head. A massive beam slowly tracks target and ends with an orb blast. Leaves pools of fire and blue explosive spikes that detonate after a short time.

Only available when HP is below 50%.

Cross Strike Short Melee icon583

Crushed Crushed 50

25/s Black Sludge

30/s Black Sludge buildup

3m - 24m Briefly floats in air and swings both tendrils at target that cross over each other. Leaves behind a semi-circle smear of Black Sludge where tendrils swipe over.
Divine Thrust Short Melee icon292

Impact Explosion: Melee icon292

Spike Weapon Explosion: Melee icon146

25/s Black Sludge

30/s Black Sludge buildup

3m - 24m Turns tendrils into spikes and stabs forward at target. Leaves behind spots of Black Sludge. Can leave 2 explosive blue spikes on the ground if Nano Plates are attached.
Vengeful Impaler (Triple) Short/Medium Melee icon292

Impact Explosion: Melee icon292

Spike Weapon Explosion: Melee icon146

25/s Black Sludge

30/s Black Sludge buildup

4m - 29m Back-to-back punches with tendrils as it jumps towards target. Leaves up to 6 Black Sludge spots. Can leave an explosive blue spike on the ground if Nano Plates are attached.
Vengeful Impaler (Single) Short/Medium Melee icon292

Impact Explosion: Melee icon292

Spike Weapon Explosion: Melee icon146

25/s Black Sludge

30/s Black Sludge buildup

4m - 29m Floats briefly in air before stabbing a tendril into the ground, leaving Black Sludge spots behind after pulling out. Can leave an explosive blue spike behind if Nano Plates are attached.
Siege Slam Medium Melee icon292

Crushed Crushed 50

Impact Explosion: Melee icon292

25/s Black Sludge

30/s Black Sludge buildup

4m - 29m Lunges at target and overhead slams both tendrils. Leaves 5 spots of Black Sludge in front of impact and creates Tremor state in a wide radius.
Sludge Strike Short Melee icon424

Crushed Crushed 50

25/s Black Sludge

30/s Black Sludge buildup

15m - 33m Quickly swipes the ground in front leaving a Black Sludge smear, then lunges towards target with another swipe, leaving another Black Sludge smear.
Annihilating Ascent Short Body: Melee icon146, Crushed Crushed 50

Vector Thruster Flame: Fire-Icon146
Take-off/Ground Explosion: Melee icon146, Fire-Icon146 (small radius)

Melee icon75 (large radius)

- 0m - 14m

24m - 48m

Two variations:
  • Stationary: Floats into air and lets loose a fiery blast of steam that knocks target over, then follows up with a stomp. Leaves behind fire patches around area of impact.
  • Lunging: Uses thrusters to lunge towards target with a 360o twirl before exhausting them on top of and stomping on target.
Total Recall Long 25 Ranged - 0m - 14m

24m - 48m

Regeneration Unit extends out while glowing. After a moment, it explodes as Nano Plates are reattached and health is restored.

Explosion drains Weapon Stamina.


Components[]

Name Image Description Attributes
Body Hard outer casing to protect synthetic muscle and operational systems. None
Plasma Unit Glowblast storage. Only accessible during attacks or when the Nano Plate covering has been removed.
  • Explosive
  • Persists When Killed
  • Contains Resources if Intact
Siege Mortar A massive heavy weapon that fires a barrage of explosives, devastating a large area.
  • Detachable
  • Ability Removal
  • Contains Valuable Resources
  • Destroyed When Killed
Pulse Cannon A rapid-firing, long-range energy weapon of advanced design. Capable of firing highly accurate projectiles.
  • Detachable
  • Attack Removal
  • Persists When Killed
  • Useable Weapon
Resource Repository Large resource storage. Only accessible during attacks or when the Nano Plate covering has been removed.
  • Detachable
  • Contains Valuable Resources
  • Destroyed when Killed
Nano Plate Gold armor plates that can transform to power various attacks. Especially vulnerable to certain types of elemental damage.
  • Detachable
  • Ability Removal
  • Elemental Weak Spot
Shock Unit Highly charged energy storage. Only accessible during attacks or when the Nano Plate covering has been removed.
  • Explosive
  • Persists When Killed
  • Contains Resources if Intact
Regeneration Unit Used to attract and reattach torn off Nano Plates. Exposed when activated. Damage it to disrupt its ability.
  • Indestructible
  • Ability Removal
Control Nexus Processor of advanced design. Especially vulnerable to damage once exposed.
  • Weak Spot
  • Contains Valuable Resources
Lancer Prime A massive weapon of advanced design that unleashes a bombardment of powerful lance-like explosives.
  • Detachable
  • Ability Removal
  • Contains Valuable Resources
  • Destroyed When Killed
Vector Thruster A powerful propulsion device of advanced design that can enhance its jump attacks with fire.
  • Detachable
  • Ability Removal
  • Contains Valuable Resources
  • Destroyed When Killed

Loot[]

Body

Plasma Unit

  • Glowblast (100%)

Siege Mortar

  • Crystal Braiding (100%)
  • Braided Wire (89%)
  • Sturdy Hardplate (56%)
  • Luminous Brainstem (19%)

Resource Repository

  • Braided Wire (89%)
  • Sturdy Hardplate (56%)
  • Volatile Sludge (51%)
  • Piercing Spike (50%)
  • Luminous Brainstem (15%)

Shock Unit

Control Nexus

  • Braided Wire (90%)
  • Sturdy Hardplate (55%)
  • Piercing Spike (51%)
  • Volatile Sludge (50%)
  • Luminous Brainstem (15%)

Lancer Prime

  • Crystal Braiding (100%)
  • Braided Wire (90%)
  • Sturdy Hardplate (56%)
  • Luminous Brainstem (18%)

Vector Thruster

  • Blastpaste (100%)
  • Braided Wire (89%)
  • Sturdy Hardplate (57%)
  • Crystal Braiding (15%)

Trivia[]

  • Since the Specter Prime is only encountered once in the game, scanning was necessary to complete the compendium in the initial game build.
    • This is later alleviated by Patch 1.07 automatically adding it to the compendium after defeating it.
  • Specter Prime is the only enemy machine in the series to have no known duplicates of itself, activated or otherwise.
  • Specter Prime shares a number of parallel similarities to the Deathbringer from the previous game, Horizon Zero Dawn.
    • They are both machines that appear in limited numbers.
    • They both have energy-themed weapons.
    • They both can fire missiles.
    • They both are used by the main villain (Deathbringer: HADES, Specter Prime: Far Zenith)
    • They both also serve as the final boss of their respective games.
      • Though in contrary, both the Deathbringer and Specter Prime have a number of opposite traits that makes them very different to each other.
        • The Deathbringer is a Machine that has been seen multiple times (five times) though out the game, its design is a bit more monstrous-like resembling a weapon-platform of some kind, it was used by a supernatural entity, has an AI, its finale fight takes place on the ground and is abilities are mostly firepower.
        • The Specter Prime however is a Machine that is only seen once in the game, its design is more humanoid-like resembling a type of mech, it was used by a human, relies on a person to operated it, its final fight takes place up high in a tower and its abilities are a mix of close combat and long-range firepower.

Gallery[]

Machines
Horizon Zero Dawn
Acquisition Class Broadhead - Charger - FireclawFW - FrostclawFW - Glinthawk - Grazer - Lancehorn - Rockbreaker - Scrapper - Snapmaw - Strider - Trampler
Combat Class Corruptor - Deathbringer - Ravager - Sawtooth - ScorcherFW - Stalker - Stormbird - Thunderjaw
Communications Class Tallneck
Recon Class Longleg - Redeye Watcher - Watcher
Transport Class Behemoth - Bellowback - Shell-Walker
Unknown Class Control TowerFW
Variants Corrupted machine - Daemonic machineFW
Horizon Forbidden West
Acquisition Class BilegutBS - Bristleback - Charger - Clamberjaw - Fanghorn - Fireclaw - Frostclaw - Glinthawk - Grazer - Lancehorn - Plowhorn - Rockbreaker - Scrapper - Scrounger - Snapmaw - Spikesnout - StingspawnBS - Sunwing - Tideripper - WaterwingBS - Widemaw
Combat Class Clawstrider - Corruptor - Dreadwing - Grimhorn - HorusBS - Ravager - Scorcher - Shellsnapper - Slaughterspine - Slitherfang - Specter - Specter Prime - Stalker - Stormbird - Thunderjaw - Tremortusk
Recon Class Longleg - Redeye Watcher - Skydrifter - Tallneck
Transport Class Behemoth - Bellowback - Leaplasher - Rollerback - Shell-Walker
Unknown Class Defense DroneBS
Variants Apex machine - Corrupted machineBS
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