How To Quickly Beat A Stormbird

There’s nothing more terrifying than hearing a giant mechanized vulture zeroing in on your location from the skies while all you can do is dodge out of its way. Stormbirds in Horizon Zero Dawn are terrifying machines that have a high health pool and erratic flight patterns, which make them very hard to take down.

Sneaking past them is also near-impossible, as they can detect Aloy very easily. So, if push comes to shove, and you have to take a Stormbird down, here’s a quick guide on the complete strategy for it.

Horizon Zero Dawn: How To Quickly Beat A Thunderjaw

Thunderjaws are one of the toughest machine types in Horizon Zero Dawn. Knowing how to target weakpoints and salvage valuable parts is key.

How to Beat a Stormbird in Horizon Zero Dawn Quickly

Players can encounter the Stormbirds by fast traveling to their sites after progressing into the Sundom region of Horizon Zero Dawn. Players will find them flying around in a circular pattern when idle until they detect Aloy. Stormbirds use a combination of lightning and melee attacks that can become hard to dodge. However, once you know exactly what to do, taking down Stormbirds can become easier to take down

There are multiple Stormbird sites in Horizon Zero Dawn. You
can override the Tallnecks
to remove the fog of war from the map and reveal them.

Best Weapons to Use Against Stormbirds

Best Weapons Against Stormbirds in Horizon Zero Dawn

The Stormbird is a highly mobile machine and damaging it is no easy feat. The best weapons to use against it are the Carja Sling, Shadow Sharpshot Bow, and the Lodge Ropecaster.

The Carja Sling is great as it can launch Freeze Bombs at the Stormbird. Putting the machine under the freeze status effect will increase the damage players deal to the machine.
The Ropecaster will help players ground the Stormbird as it’s difficult to damage while airborne.

Once players get Stormbird’s movements under control, they can damage its weak points by shooting precision arrows with the Shadow Sharpshot Bow.

Using Focus to Identify Stormbird’s Weak Points

Stormbirds Weak Points in Horizon Zero Dawn

The first thing you should do before engaging a Stormbird is use the Focus to identify its weak points. This will let you devise a plan before the machine starts hailing down spheres of lightning at you. You’ll spot several glowing weak points under the Stormbird’s wing, which are its jet propulsion vents. Another major weak spot you’ll notice is the chest area of the machine. This is the best area to target first.

Aim at the Center of Stormbird’s Chest

One of Stormbird’s primary attacks is charging up balls of lightning and launching them at Aloy. It charges this attack in the center of its chest, which is the first weak point you should focus on.

Use your Hunter Reflex or Concentration skills to slow down time and hit Stormbird chest weak point. The chest has two parts: the breastplate and the base. You can either directly hit the circular area on the chest with precision arrows, or take the breastplate off first with Tear arrows. Either way, it’s the easiest weak point to target on a Stormbird, and enough damage should knock it out of the sky.

Ignite the Blaze Canisters on Its Sides

Ignite Stormbirds Blaze Cannisters in Horizon Zero Dawn

Once the Stormbird is knocked out, run to its back and use Fire arrows to shoot the two Blaze (green fluid) Containers on its hind. Shooting a fire arrow in their general direction won’t, work as you need to hear a “clink” sound of the glass getting hit with an arrow. If you can’t make it in time and the Stormbird recovers from its daze and is about to fly away, use the Lodge Ropecaster to pin it to the ground. After launching 3–4 ropes at the machine, it should be bound to the ground, giving players ample time to target those canisters.

After successfully shooting the Blaze Canisters on its back, it’ll cause two big fiery explosions that you need to stay away from. This will damage the Stormbird severely.

Keep Targeting Weak Points Until the Stormbird is Down

Take Down the Stormbird in Horizon Zero Dawn

After destroying the Blaze Canisters and damaging Stormbird’s health pool to 50%, all you need to do is target its weak spots until the machine is destroyed. Make sure to launch 3-4 freeze bombs with the Carja Sling at the mechanical creature to inflict a freeze status effect to deal additional damage. Here are some of the best weak points to target in this phase:

Destroy the shielding on its side to reveal a Blue Canister that you can destroy.
Jet propulsion flaps under each of its wings.
The red-glowing eyes of the Stormbird.
The exposed chest piece.

After dealing enough damage, the Stormbird will be destroyed, allowing players to salvage the loot.

Rewards for Taking Down a Stormbird

Players will be able to loot epic weapon mods, Stormbird parts, and other important resources from the machine. The specific loot that players will get is randomized based on their RNG. However, general loot items you’ll salvage from the Stormbird in Horizon Zero Dawn include: