Valor Surge

Valor Surges are special abilities that can be unlocked and used in Horizon Forbidden West. Valor Surges can assist Aloy in combat by temporarily boosting her damage, restoring her health, or providing unique abilities.

Acquisition

There are 18 Valor Surges in total, three per skill tree. Although Valor Surges do not require skill points to acquire, there are usually a number of prerequisite skills that must be learned to unlock a Valor Surge. Only one Valor Surge can be equipped at a time.

The abilities of each Valor Surge correspond to the skill tree in which it is located. For example, Surges in the Warrior Skill Tree are usually related to melee combat and the spear, whereas Surges in the Infiltrator tree focus on stealth and evasion.

In order to use an unlocked Valor Surge, Valor points are required. Valor accumulates in combat by performing various actions such as defeating enemies or triggering status effects. The rate of gain is affected by several skills, including Low Health Valor and Valor Surge Master. By default, Aloy does not gain Valor by taking damage from enemies unless Valor on Impact is unlocked.

The base rate of Valor points earned is listed in the table below:

Action	Lightweight Machine/Human	Midweight Machine	Heavyweight Machine
Enemy damaged	1	1	1
Hit weakspot	5	5	5
Perform a Critical Strike	6	8	10
Perform a Silent Strike	6	8	10
Remove/destroy component	6	8	10
Remove/destroy weapon	10	14	18
Knockdown enemy	5	10	15
Trigger a Resonator Blast	8	12	18
Trigger elemental limit	6	12	18
Trigger status limit	6	12	18
Light Attack	1	1	1
Heavy Attack	1	1	1
Power Attack	3	3	3
Nora Warrior	5	5	5
Block Breaker	4	4	4
The Destroyer	5	5	5
Spinning Scythe	5	5	5
Energy Surge	5	5	5
Aerial Slash/Jump-Off	1	1	1
Halfmoon Slash	1	1	1
Enemy kill	10	15	25
Low health kill	4	8	12
Melee kill	4	8	12
Stealth kill	4	8	12
Canister kill	4	8	12
Environment kill	4	8	12
Headshot kill	4	8	12
Heavy weapon kill	6	8	12
Frozen kill	4	8	12
Burning kill	4	8	12
Shocked kill	4	8	12
Corroded kill	4	8	12
Drenched kill	4	8	12
Blasted kill	4	8	12
Valor on Impact (level 1-4)	2/5/7/12

Upgrading

All Valor Surges can be upgraded to Level 2 and subsequently Level 3. Upgrading a Valor Surge requires skill points and increases the amount of Valor required to use that Surge to its full extent but will greatly improve its performance. When a Valor Surge is upgraded it will boost the existing stats as well as add a new effect to the surge e.g. the third upgrade for overshield unlocks an ability so that when the shield is depleted it explodes.

Upgrading a Valor Surge to Level 2 requires three skill points and upgrading to Level 3 require five.

Valor Surges

Warrior Surges

The Warrior tree, which focuses on the acquisition of spear combos and attacks, contains the following Surges.

	Critical Boost	Melee Might	Warrior's VigorBS
Description	"Powered by a special mode in your Focus, gain a greater chance to land Critical Hits and increase Critical Damage."	"Attach a power module to your spear to deal more damage with melee attacks for a limited time."	"Bolster your resolve and deal more damage with your spear and Warrior Bows. Gain health from damage dealt with either type."
Prerequisite Skills	Critical Strike+ Energized Duration Resonator Blast	The Destroyer Halfmoon Slash Spinning Scythe	Elemental Spear Energy Surge Warrior's Instinct
Level 1	Critical Hit Chance: +35% Critical Hit Damage: +10% Critical Strike Damage: +75% Duration: 22 seconds	Melee Damage: +100% Duration: 25 seconds	Spear and Warrior Bow Damage: +30% Health Gained per Spear or Warrior Bow Hit: +3%
Level 2	Critical Hit Chance: +45% Critical Hit Damage: +25% Critical Strike Damage: +100% Weapon Technique Extra Critical Chance: +5% Duration: 30 seconds	Melee Damage: +200% Spear Energy Buildup: 50% Duration: 35 seconds	Spear and Warrior Bow Damage: +60% Health Gained per Spear or Warrior Bow Hit: +6%
Level 3	Critical Hit Chance: +55% Critical Hit Damage: +50% Critical Strike Damage: +150% Weapon Technique Extra Critical Chance: +15% Duration: 38 seconds	Melee Damage: +300% Unlimited Spear Energy Power Attacks knock down targets. Duration: 50 seconds	Spear and Warrior Bow Damage: +100% Health Gained per Spear or Warrior Bow Hit: +10% Heal 50% of maximum health when triggering a Resonator Blast with a Warrior Bow.

Trapper Surges

The Trapper tree, which focuses on the refinement of using traps and tripwires, contains the following Surges.

	Elemental Fury	Trap Specialist	Trap MinesBS
Description	"Bolster your resolve and increase the buildup and effects of elemental attacks while gaining a greater resistance to elemental damage."	"Powered by a special mode in your Focus, increase the effects of traps and tripwires while this Valor Surge is active."	"Powered by a special mode on your Focus, equip a throwable mine that splits into multiple explosive traps on impact with the environment."
Prerequisite Skills	Quick Trapper Resilient Trapper Trap Limit	Food Duration Nimble Crafter Skilled Salvager	Ropecaster Expert Smoke Bomb Heal Trap Limit
Level 1	Elemental Buildup: +100% Elemental State Duration: +50% Elemental Damage Resistance: +20% Duration: 15 seconds	Trap and Tripwire Damage: +50% Trap and Tripwire Elemental Buildup: +25% Trap and Tripwire Knockdown Power: +25% Duration: 40 seconds	Number of Traps Deployed: 4 Explosive Damage per Trap: 350
Level 2	Elemental Buildup: +150% Elemental State Duration: +75% Elemental Damage Resistance: +30% Duration: 20 seconds	Trap and Tripwire Damage: +75% Trap and Tripwire Elemental Buildup: +50% Trap and Tripwire Knockdown Power: +50% Trap Effect Radius: +60% Duration: 60 seconds	Number of Traps Deployed: 4 Explosive Damage per Trap: 400
Level 3	Elemental Buildup: +200% Elemental State Duration: +100% Elemental Damage Resistance: +40% Triggering an elemental state with a direct hit causes an elemental blast, which deals 150 elemental damage and 225 elemental buildup in a 5 meter radius Duration: 25 seconds	Trap and Tripwire Damage: +100% Trap and Tripwire Elemental Buildup: +75% Trap and Tripwire Knockdown Power: +75% Trap Effect Radius: +100% Instantly launches a set of 6 hovering mines around you. These mines deal 300 Explosive damage in a 2 meter radius. Duration: 120 seconds	Number of Traps Deployed: 10 Explosive Damage per Trap: 450

Hunter Surges

The Hunter tree, which focuses on developing Aloy's proficiency with ranged weapons, contains the following Surges.

	Ranged Master	Powershots	Hunter's MarkBS
Description	"Bolster your resolve and deal more damage with ranged weapons for a limited time."	"Bolster your resolve and deal more damage for a certain number of shots with Bows, Boltblasters, Ropecasters, and Spike Throwers."	"Powered by a special mode on your Focus, your next several shots with any Hunter Bow will mark your targets. Marked targets have increased chance of receiving Critical Hit damage. Destroy a target's components to cause an explosion that deals extra damage."
Prerequisite Skills	Concentration+ Valor Surge Master Weapon Stamina+	Ammo Expert Concentration Regen Stamina Regen	Concentration+ Glide Targeting Machine Grapple Strike
First Level	Ranged Weapon Damage: 30% Health Recovered per Hit: 5% Duration: 22 seconds	Number of Powershots: 3 Ranged Weapon Damage: 150%	Critical Hit Chance: +10% Component Destruction Damage: +100
Second Level	Ranged Weapon Damage: 45% Health Recovered per Hit: 7% Weapon Technique Damage: 20% Weapon Stamina Regen: 100% Duration: 50 seconds	Number of Powershots: 4 Ranged Weapon Damage: 170% Concentration Return per Hit: 15%	Critical Hit Chance: +20% Component Destruction Damage: +200
Third Level	Ranged Weapon Damage: 60% Health Recovered per Hit: 10% Weapon Technique Damage: 40% Weapon Stamina Regen: 200% Machines killed by a ranged attack trigger a Shock explosion. Explosion deals 150 Shock damage and 225 Shock buildup in a 5 meter radius Duration: 90 seconds	Number of Powershots: 5 Ranged Weapon Damage: 200% Concentration Return per Hit: 25% Powershots do not use up ammo.	Critical Hit Chance: +30% Component Destruction Damage: +300 Killing a marked target deals 600 Shock damage to all other marked targets.

Survivor Surges

The Survivor tree, which focuses on improving Aloy's health and resistance to damage, contains the following Surges.

	Toughened	Overshield	Defy DeathBS
Description	"Consume a special potion to restore health and gain resistance to status effects."	"Activate a special armguard based on ancient technology to gain a rechargeable, damage-absorbing energy shield."	"Consume a special potion to deal more damage and gain a Second Chance while reducing your maximum Health to critical health levels. When the Valor Surge ends, regain health up to the critical health threshold."
Requisite Skills	Medicine Capacity Potent Medicine Potion Proficiency	Low Health Melee Low Health Ranged Low Health Regen	Low Health Defense Low Health Stamina Shield Drop
First Level	Health Regained Every 2 Seconds: 30 Melee Damage Resistance: +15% Duration: 60 seconds	Shield Health: 125 Duration: 30 seconds	Damage Increase: +15%
Second Level	Health Regained Every 2 Seconds: 50 Melee Damage Resistance: +25% Crushed Resistance: 30% Duration: 120 seconds	Shield Health: 250 Deflects 10% of melee damage against the attacker. Duration: 45 seconds	Damage Increase: +30%
Third Level	Health Regained Every 2 Seconds: 80 Melee Damage Resistance: +55% Crushed Resistance: 50% Blinded Resistance: 100% Deafened Resistance: 100% Duration: 180 seconds	Shield Health: 400 Deflects 20% of melee damage against the attacker. Shield explodes when depleted, dealing 300 Shock damage and 150 Shock buildup in a 8 meter radius. Duration: 60 seconds	Damage Increase: +50% When the Valor Surge ends, Status effects are cleansed and you gain 30% damage resistance for 5 seconds.

Infiltrator Surges

The Infiltrator tree, which focuses on Aloy's stealth abilities, contains the following Surges.

	Stealth Stalker	Radial Blast	Berserk BlastBS
Description	"Activate a cloaking device based on Stalker technology to decrease visibility to enemies."	"Attach an overcharged module to your spear and immediately trigger a powerful shockwave, damaging all enemies in the vicinity."	"Attach a special module to your spear and immediately trigger a powerful blast that causes all nearby enemies to enter the Berserk state."
Prerequisite Skills	Low Profile Quiet Movement Silent Strike+	Quiet Movement Quiet Spear Smoke Bomb Capacity	Low Profile Sharpshot Expert Stealth Resonator
First Level	Bonus damage against unaware targets: 20% Bonus Silent Strike damage: +50% Duration: 20 seconds	Blast damage: 300 Blast radius: 10m Shock buildup: 150	Blast Radius: 20m Effect Duration: 30s
Second Level	Bonus damage against unaware targets: 35% Bonus Silent Strike damage: +100% Duration: 35 seconds	Blast damage: 600 Blast radius: 13m Shock buildup: 300	Blast Radius: 30m Effect Duration: 42s
Third Level	Bonus damage against unaware targets: 50% Bonus Silent Strike damage: +200% Stealth kills restore 30 Valor while active, prolonging use Duration: 50 seconds	Blast damage: 1200 Blast radius: 16m Shock buildup: 600 +100% damage bonus against enemies in the Shocked state for 15 seconds	Blast Radius: 40m Effect Duration: 60s Affected targets take 10 damage per second and are confused when the effect wears off.

Machine Master Surges

The Machine Master tree, which focuses on enhancing Aloy's expertise with overriding machines, contains these Valor Surges.

	Chain Burst	Part Breaker	Override OverdriveBS
Description	"Bolster your resolve against multiple enemies. Damage chains from one enemy to another within 15m and boosts knockdown power."	"Powered by a special mode in your Focus, deal more damage to machine components and weak spots."	"Powered by a special mode in your Focus, all overridden machines emit arcs of electricity to nearby machines, deal more damage, take damage over time, and explode upon death."
Prerequisite Skills	Efficient Repair Mounted Archer Mounted Defense	Heavy Lifter Machine Health Mounted Defense	Flying Grapple Launch Lasting Override Resonator Refill
First Level	Chain damage: +50% Duration: 30 seconds	Tear vs. Components: +25% Damage vs. Components: +25% Damage vs. Weak Spots: +25% Duration: 15 seconds	Arc Damage Every 2 Seconds: 50 Damage Increase: +50% Explosion Radius: 8m
Second Level	Chain damage: 75% Knockdown Power: 50% Duration: 45 seconds	Tear vs. Components: +50% Damage vs. Components: +50% Damage vs. Weak Spots: +50% 30% chance per hit for valuable scrap to drop Duration: 18 seconds	Arc Damage Every 2 Seconds: 50 Damage Increase: +100% Explosion Radius: 8m
Third Level	Chain damage: 100% Knockdown Power: 100% 50% of damage chains a second time to enemies within 5m. Duration: 60 seconds	Tear vs. Components: +85% Damage vs. Components: +85% Damage vs. Weak Spots: +85% 50% chance per hit for valuable scrap to drop Removing a component knocks down target Duration: 25 seconds	Arc Damage Every 2 Seconds: 50 Damage Increase: +150% Explosion Radius: 16m

Trivia

• Activating a Valor Surge grants Aloy a brief period of invincibility, meaning that Valor Surges can be used to entirely evade attacks.
• The technology of Overshield Surge appears to be based off of the Shield-Weaver armor.
• The Radial Blast Surge appears to be the only Surge unrelated to the skill tree in which it is found.