For the Werak - Horizon: Zero Dawn Guide - IGN (2024)

With a plan hatched for Aloy to take over the werak from Aratak, she has to go prove herself worthy of the the challenge. The plan is to complete two of four objectives to gain enough recognition. These task are similar side quests you would complete in the main game from climbing a Tallneck or clearing out a bandit camp. Each section will be broken down below. Tackle which ever tasks you'd like and get noticed!

• Recommended Level: 35
• Rewards: Banuk Icerail Weapon, 13,330 XP, Extraordinary Reward Box, Chieftain Outfit, 8 Bluegleam

Hunting Grounds

The hunting grounds here in The Cut may not be officially licensed by the Hunter's Lodge™, but the challenge of proving yourself remains the same. There are three challenges available, but one is reserved for chieftains only.

The Onslaught Trial involves you wiping out waves of machines in under a certain time. The Control Trial requires the use of the Stormslinger to kill machines in a certain time limit. Getting in any of the top three spots will give you enough reputation to move onto a second objective. No pressure here to get first right off the bat.

Clear the Bandit Camp

The lone bandit camp on this portion of the game map has two portions to it. A lower level of the camp is packed with your usual grunts and an alarm system. The upper level as a boss that drops a flamethrower. You read that right—a flamethrower.

Tag the baddies on the lower part of the camp then pick 'em off. It's a good idea to disable the alarm first in case you are spotted and face the enemies head on. When the grunts are wiped out, walk up the path to the upper area. When you arrive, a short cutscene will play out. Apparently the camp smells like peace and not the buckets of blood you just spilt.

Use you whistle to pick off his handy men before going after the head honcho himself. Use flame arrows to blow up his blaze tanks or freeze him to slow him down and deal extra damage. When the leader has been defeated, search his corpse to collect the Forgefire.

Reactivate the Tallneck

Unlike the regular Tallnecks of Horizon, this one is frozen in ice and needs a few repairs. Near the Tallneck is a group of Scrappers. You'll need to wipe them out and two other small packs to collect two parts from the Tallneck. A third piece is guarded by Glinthawks. Simply follow the markers and wipeout the machines.

Near one of the parts is a Scorcher with the Scrappers. When these machines are down, enter the nearby cave with blue lights to find a piece of Bluegleam.

When all three parts have been collected and reinstalled onto the Tallneck, the machine will break free of its icy cage and begin to roam again. Instead of staying on its head, Aloy jumps off of it as it wakes up. This means you have to chase it down and use a nearby hill to hop on its back. Climb to the top to actually scan the area of The Cut and complete this objective.

Help of Sekuli

Ourea's friend Sekuli is a painter in the werak. If you collect pigments for her around The Cut, she'll be able to help you get noticed by the werak and Aratak. There are nine pigments scattered throughout The Cut. You can use our guide to find them all!

Challenge Aratak

After completing at least two of the objectives above, you will have enough rep to challenge Aratak to become chieftain of his werak. Throw down your spear in front of him get the challenge rolling.

The challenge is laid out in four parts. The first is a race up the mountain and the remaining three are fights with machines. It is all set to a timer, but the time increases with the completion of each task. There is ample time here and shouldn't be an issue.

The race up the mountain consists of the climbing mechanics of the game. All paths lead to the top, so go which ever way you'd like as long as it leads up.

The first encounter with machines requires you to kill them all and then light your balloon like Ourea explained. Hard point arrows and the Stormsligner are good weapons to use for quickly clearing out the robots. With the last machine killed, climb up to the marker to ignite your balloon and then head to the next encounter.

This battle with the machines only requires you to kill the two Bellowbacks. The problem is that there are other machines in the area and they don't just let you kill the Bellowbacks in peace. If any give you a rough time, handle them. You should be okay on time to kill a few extra machines if need be. As for the Bellowbacks, if you collected the flamethrower from the bandit camp, now would be an ideal time to use it. The flames melt through the frozen Bellowbacks. When they both fall, ignite your balloon.

The final encounter goes wrong for the Banuk and you actually team up with Aratak to defeat three Frostclaws. The slingshot with flame ammo is great for blowing up the storage tank on their chest. Aim for their shoulders with arrows as well to deal more frozen damage to them. There's no need to worry about Aratak himself, so just focus on the Frostclaws one at a time.

When the final bear is destroyed, Aratak names you the new chieftain. With your new status, Ourea and yourself can now visit Thunder's Drum and find out what exactly is going on. For becoming the chieftain, you also are given the chieftain armor set and the Banuk Icerail weapon, which is an ice-thrower. Head off to meet Ourea and begin the journey to solve the mystery of Thunder's Drum.