Horizon Zero Dawn is not a typical third-person action shooter. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where modern civilization is no more and humans live a tribe-like lifestyle. The world is also ruled by technological beasts that resemble living and extinct animals that roamed the Earth.
Thanks to its unique gameplay, world and story, Horizon Zero Dawn stands out from the crowd by doing things differently from other games, primarily third-person shooters. One of the ways it does is through its implementation of weapon stats and upgrades, including handling.
But what exactly is handling? Here is the ultimate guide to handling in Horizon Zero Dawn.
10 What Is Handling In Horizon Zero Dawn?
In simple terms, handling is primarily best described as the rate of fire and reload time. This is because the game does not completely have conventional guns and heavy weapons; its arsenal consists largely of bows and arrows. This is thanks to the game’s setting in a very post-apocalyptic world.
The handling level differs from weapon to weapon but the higher the handling rate is the faster the fire and reload rate will be. When looking through the inventory, handling will be represented by a hand symbol.
9 Handling Applies To All Weapons
Handling is not limited to just the bows and arrows, it applies to all the weapons that are collected over the course of the game. The game presents opportunities to collect weapons that help to diversify the combat.
The handling rates between all the combined weapons vary. For example, the Sling has a handling rate of 40 while the Ropecaster has a handling rate of 50.
Handling will help to determine which weapon is best suited for a particular situation. Certain outfits will also be useful in certain scenarios when used with the right weaponry.
8 Handling Can Be Altered For Weapons With Modifications
Horizon Zero Dawn contains coils, the game’s version of weapon modifications, that help to improve handling for weapons. Certain weapons work better when given the proper coils needed to help them upgrade their stats.
All almost weapons in the game can have their handling rates modified, except for the Spear. Some weapons, like the Sling, have low handling rates by default and benefit greatly from coils that boost their handling level.
It is also recommended to have the Tinkerer skill at the earliest possible chance. This way when there’s no need to destroy coils and can place them in another weapon instead.
7 Weapons That Benefit From Improved Handling - Sling
There are many weapons in the game that should have their handling modified to better combat. The Sling is one of many weapons that should be equipped with a handling coil when given the chance.
The Sling is a slow-firing weapon that fires elemental lobs at enemies to hinder them. There are different versions of the Sling, but one thing most of them share is a handling rate of 40, so they should have their handling upgraded when the opportunity presents itself.
The Lodge Blast Sling, however, has a handling level of 70. This makes it the best Sling to utilize in-game.
6 Weapons That Benefit From Improved Handling - Tripcaster
The Tripcaster is another in-game weapon in need of better handling. It serves as a stealth weapon that launches Tripwire traps for enemies to walk through and deals them damage.
The standard handling rate of all Tripcaster weapons is 30. Adding handling coils will allow for more time to shoot as many traps as possible for unsuspecting foes.
5 Weapons That Benefit From Improved Handling - Sharpshot Bow
The Sharpshot Bow is a weapon that prioritizes accuracy over firing speed. It is a long-range weapon that is highly accurate and deals significant damage to an enemy. This makes it one of Horizon Zero Dawn’s most prized weapons.
The Sharpshot Bow’s handling rate is 20 and it also applies to all its variations. Getting this weapon a handling coil can help to improve its handling while still retaining its high level of target accuracy.
4 Weapons That Already Possess Good Handling Rates - War Bow
Despite certain weapons having low handling rates in Horizon Zero Dawn, there are weapons that already possess good handling levels. The game’s War Bow is one of those items. The War Bow is a ranged weapon that specializes in getting enemies into vulnerable states by launching elemental payloads at them.
While it does not deal significant damage to enemies, it does possess an impressive handling rate of 50. It is recommended that this particular bow be used in conjunction with another weapon to first disable enemies before doing serious damage.
3 Weapons That Already Possess Good Handling Rates - Ropecaster
The Ropecaster is another weapon that provides good handling without causing damage. It fires ropes that pin enemy machines in place, leaving them open to be taken out or to get hacked whenever possible.
The Ropecaster, like the War Bow, has a default handling rate of 50. Unlike the War Bow, however, it has a Tear of 150. So it can be useful not only for its fast firing rate but also to take components from enemy machines.
2 Weapons That Already Possess Good Handling Rates - Hunter Bow
The Hunter Bow is the weapon Aloy starts out with during the opening of Horizon Zero Dawn. Its damage and tear rates vary depending on the version selected but it does have a handling rate of 80.
While it may not be useful for doing large amounts of damage, it does have a better chance of causing a significant tear to enemy machines encountered. Some variants do have very good damage rates but the weapon is best suited for relieving enemy machines of useful parts.
Some versions of the Hunter Bow have no tear stats at all. The type of Hunter Bow utilized depends on the situation but any version selected will never falter given the weapon’s high handling level.
1 Weapons That Already Possess Good Handling Rates - Rattler
The Rattler is Horizon Zero Dawn’s most powerful handling weapon. It is a short-ranged bolt gun that fires five projectiles per shot in a large spread that can hit multiple enemies.
While it may not have high damage and tear rates, the Rattler possesses a handling rate 0f 100, making the fastest firing weapon in the game. But given its modus operandi when it gives to firing projectiles, it is better utilized in a scenario when there are multiple enemies to deal with.
NEXT: 10 Action RPGs To Play If You Like Horizon Zero Dawn
