Machine Strike is the main mini-game within Horizon Forbidden West for players to explore thoroughly. Chainscrape is the first settlement within the game with a station for it. There Salma, the gamekeeper, can teach players the basics of the game. Machine Strike has a lot of different factors for players to keep in mind as a sort of higher form chess.
The Basics of Machine Strike
Machine Strike is a mix of Risk and Chess. Different boards will contain different terrains that can be a boon or a detriment to the player, depending on the piece they use to traverse it. On top of this, different pieces within the game have a different amount of movement, combat power, health, victory points, weak points, and attack type. Because of this, it is an ultimate strategy game that may require some practice.
Types of terrain & what they affect
- Chasm Terrain: Lowest terrain that is only accessible to flying machines. -2 Combat PowerMarsh Terrain: Second lowest terrain that impedes movement after landing on it. -1 Combat Power Grassland Terrain: Level terrain with no impact.Forest Terrain: Up one level from Grassland, grants +1 Combat Power.Hill Terrain: Up one level from Forest, grants +2 Combat Power.Mountain Terrain: Highest level, grants +3 Combat Power.
All possible Machine Strike pieces & functions
Within Aloy’s first game with Salma, players will be introduced to a few of the more common Machine Strike pieces available. Salma will gift Aloy a couple of Burrowers, Fanghorns, Grazers, Scrappers, and a single Grazer. If players beat her on all levels of her game, she will also gift them a Bristleback. With this small tutorial, players might think that there aren’t that many piece types, but they would be mistaken.
Behemoth
Rare
- Type: Large Gunner Movement: Short Attack Power: Average Attack Range: Average Health: High Skill: Shield - Gains +1 Combat Power when defending against an attack.
Bellowback
Uncommon
- Type: Medium Gunner Movement: Short Attack Power: Average Attack Range: Average Health: Average Skill: Spray - At the start of their turn, every piece within Attack Range will lose -1 hit point
Bristleback
- Type: Small Ram Movement: Moderate Attack Power: Weak Attack Range: Short Health: Low Skill: Spray - At the start of their turn, every piece within their Attack Range will lose -1 hit point.
Burrower
Common
- Type: Small Melee Movement: Short Attack Power: Weak Attack Range: Short Health: Low Skill: None
Charger
- Type: Small Dash Movement: Moderate Attack Power: Weak Attack Range: Average Health: Low Skill: Gallop - When attacking from Grassland terrain, gain +1 Combat Power.
Clamberjaw
Rare
- Type: Medium MeleeMovement: ModerateAttack Power: AverageAttack Range: ShortHealth: AverageSkill: Stalk - When attacking from Forest terrain, gain +1 Combat Power.
Clawstrider
Uncommon
- Type: Medium MeleeMovement: ShortAttack Power: AverageAttack Range: AverageHealth: AverageSkill: None
Dreadwing
- Type: Medium Swoop Movement: ShortAttack Power: AverageAttack Range: LongHealth: HighSkill: Whiplash - At the start of each turn, all pieces within Attack Range rotate 180 degrees.
Elemental Clawstrider
- Type: Medium Gunner Movement: ShortAttack Power: AverageAttack Range: AverageHealth: AverageSkill: Burn - Attacking a machine on Forest terrain will turn that terrain into Grassland.
Fanghorn
- Type: Small RamMovement: ShortAttack Power: WeakAttack Range: AverageHealth: AverageSkill: High Ground - When attacking from Mountain terrain, gain +1 Combat Power.
Fireclaw
Legendary
- Type: Large MeleeMovement: ModerateAttack Power: StrongAttack Range: AverageHealth: HighSkill: Burn - Attacking a machine on Forest terrain will turn that terrain into Grassland.
Frostclaw
- Type: Medium Melee Movement: ShortAttack Power: StrongAttack Range: AverageHealth: HighSkill: Freeze - Attacking a machine on Marsh terrain will turn that terrain into Grassland.
Glinthawk
- Type: Small SwoopMovement: ModerateAttack Power: WeakAttack Range: LongHealth: AverageSkill: None
Grazer
- Type: Small Ram Movement: Short Attack Power: Weak Attack Range: Short Health: Low Skill: Gallop - When attacking from Grassland terrain, gain +1 Combat Power.
Lancehorn
- Type: Small RamMovement: ShortAttack Power: WeakAttack Range: AverageHealth: AverageSkill: Climb - When attacking from Hill terrain, gain +1 Combat Power.
Leaplasher
- Type: Small Melee Movement: Long Attack Power: Weak Attack Range: Short Health: Low Skill: Empower - At the start of each turn, all friendly machines within attack range gain +1 Combat Power.
Longleg
- Type: Medium GunnerMovement: LongAttack Power: WeakAttack Range: AverageHealth: AverageSkill: Empower - At the start of each turn, all friendly machines within Attack Range gain +1 Attack Power. Effects can stack.
Plowhorn
- Type: Medium RamMovement: ShortAttack Power: WeakAttack Range: AverageHealth: AverageSkill: Growth - Attacking a machine on Grassland terrain will turn that terrain into Forest.
Ravager
- Type: Medium GunnerMovement: ShortAttack Power: WeakAttack Range: AverageHealth: HighSkill: Sweep - Attacking hits the target and any machines perpendicular to it.
Redeye Watcher
- Type: Small GunnerMovement: ShortAttack Power: WeakAttack Range: AverageHealth: AverageSkill: Blind - Enemy machines within Attack Range lose -1 Attack Power for the rest of the turn. Effects can stack.
Rockbreaker
- Type: Large GunnerMovement: ModerateAttack Power: AverageAttack Range: AverageHealth: HighSkill: Alter Terrain - After inflicting damage, the terrain below your machine will lower and the terrain below the opposing machine will raise.
Rollerback
- Type: Medium MeleeMovement: ModerateAttack Power: AverageAttack Range: AverageHealth: AverageSkill: Retaliate - Rotates towards its Attacker and inflicts one damage if it is in Range.
Scrapper
- Type: Small Gunner Movement: Short Attack Power: Average Attack Range: Average Health: Average Skill: None
Scorcher
- Type: Medium DashMovement: ShortAttack Power: StrongAttack Range: AverageHealth: HighSkill: Burn - Attacking a machine on Forest terrain will turn that terrain into Grassland.
Scrounger
- Type: Small Melee Movement: Moderate Attack Power: Weak Attack Range: Short Health: Average Skill: None
Shellsnapper
- Type: Large Pull Movement: ShortAttack Power: AverageAttack Range: LongHealth: HighSkill: None
Shell-Walker
- Type: Medium MeleeMovement: ShortAttack Power: WeakAttack Range: ShortHealth: AverageSkill: Shield - Gains +1 Combat Power when defending from an attack.
Skydrifter
- Type: Small SwoopMovement: ShortAttack Power: WeakAttack Range: LongHealth: AverageSkill: None
Slaughterspine
- Type: Large MeleeMovement: ShortAttack Power: StrongAttack Range: ShortHealth: HighSkill: Spray - At the start of each turn, all pieces within Attack Range lose -1 Health.
Slitherfang
- Type: Large Dash Movement: ShortAttack Power: StrongAttack Range: LongHealth: HighSkill: Alter Terrain - After inflicting damage, the terrain below this machine will lower and the terrain below the target will raise.
Snapmaw
- Type: Medium PullMovement: ShortAttack Power: AverageAttack Range: LongHealth: AverageSkill: None
Spikesnout
Common
- Type: Small Melee Movement: Short Attack Power: Weak Attack Range: Short Health: Average Skill: None
Stalker
- Type: Small MeleeMovement: ModerateAttack Power: StrongAttack Range: AverageHealth: AverageSkill: Stalk - When attacking from Forest terrain, gain +1 Combat Power.
Stormbird
- Type: Large SwoopMovement: ModerateAttack Power: AverageAttack Range: LongHealth: HighSkill: Sweep - Attacking hits the target and any machines perpendicular to it.
Sunwing
- Type: Medium SwoopMovement: ModerateAttack Power: AverageAttack Range: AverageHealth: AverageSkill: None
Thunderjaw
- Type: Large DashMovement: ModerateAttack Power: AverageAttack Range: AverageHealth: HighSkill: Sweep - Attacking hits the target and any machines perpendicular to it.
Tideripper
- Type: Large PullMovement: ShortAttack Power: StrongAttack Range: LongHealth: HighSkill: None
Tracker Burrower
- Type: Small Melee Movement: Short Attack Power: Weak Attack Range: Short Health: Low Skill: Alter Terrain - After inflicting damage, the terrain below the machine will lower and the terrain below the target will raise.
Tremortusk
- Type: Large DashMovement: ShortAttack Power: AverageAttack Range: AverageHealth: HighSkill: Sweep - Attacking hits the target and any machines perpendicular to it.
Widemaw
- Type: Medium PullMovement: ShortAttack Power: AverageAttack Range: AverageHealth: AverageSkill: None
For more Horizon Forbidden West content, be sure to check out How to defeat Tideripper in Horizon Forbidden West? on Pro Game Guides.
