Side-Missions in Horizon Zero Dawn are marked on the mini-map with green exclamation points. These Horizon Zero Dawn Side Quests often require multiple steps but some are fairly simple. With this guide, we will help you complete all the side quests available in Horizon Zero Dawn.
For more help on Horizon Zero Dawn, read out our Cauldron Locations Guide, Combat Guide, and Machines Guide.
Horizon Zero Dawn Side Quests and Errands
In Her Mother’s Footsteps
Location: Head to the north east side of Mother’s Watch and look for the river bank, where you will find an injured man, interaction with him will get the quest
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 3 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 1000 XP and +1 boost to spear damage.
After speaking with Thok, head to the river and cross it to get to the other side. You should be able to see multiple Watchers in the area. Since the Watchers can alert all nearby machines, quickly eliminate them and speak with Arana.
Tip: Shooting the Watchers in the eye works wonders.
After Arana leaves, use your Focus to analyze the area. You basically need to follow Scrapper’s tracks. After the tracks disappear, cross the river and continue the trail. At this point, you should be at the Southern Embrace Gate.
The Scrapper is on a ledge past the campfire. Try to stay hidden and lure it out. With appropriate skills, you should be able to one-shot it and retrieve the desired item. If you fail to do so, the Scrapper will alert all nearby machines.
In this case, you’ll have to clear the entire area. Once you’re done, return to Thok and complete the side quest.
The Forgotten
Location: Talk to the women on the tall rock, on the north of Mother’s watch
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 7 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 1000 XP and one Remarkable Reward Box.
After speaking with Olara, head over to the camp and eliminate all the Watchers in the area. Once done, use your Focus to analyze the area and reveal a trail of blood.
Continue to follow the trail and you should come across a knife, bloody bucket, and another trail to follow. This trail should lead you to another Watcher-infested territory. Once again, you can either sneak past the area or engage.
Following the trail should lead you to a slaughtered pig outside a shrine. In this area, you should be able to spot another trail that leads to a group of Scrappers. After dealing with them, follow another trail to come to another Watchers-infested area.
Continue along the trail and you should finally be able to see Brom on top of a cliff. After you see him, choose whatever you want to do and complete the side quest.
Ancient Armory
Location: Explore the bunkers ruins located on the east of Mother’s Rise
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 25 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive the Shield-Weaver Outfit.
This side quest basically requires you to find Power Cells in order to get the Shield Weaver armor. There are five Power Cells in total which can be acquired in any order.
In order to find the first one, you need to return to the area where you found your Focus device and head down the stairs to come to a door. Proceed through the area and head up the stairs to find the Power Cell behind a rocky formation.
The second one is found inside the All-Mother Temple which can be accessed during the Womb of the Mountain quest. If you miss it during the Womb of the Mountain, you’ll have to wait until you complete The Heart of Nora.
The third one is found in the Maker’s End during the Maker’s End quest. To find it, scale the F. A. S. Building to Faro’s Office. The fourth one can be collected during Grave Hoard. Complete the puzzle at the starting of the mission to collect it.
The fifth Power Cell can be found in G.A.I.A. Prime which you can be accessed during the Mountain that Fell quest. Speak with Sylens in his workshop, climb down the elevator, and then rappel down to the ruins.
From here, take a left and walk towards the north. Climb up the rubble and enter the blue-lit cave ahead to find the Power Cell on a shelf.
Insult to Injury
Location: Go east from the Mother Rise and interact with Fia for the quest
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 7 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 1000 XP and one Remarkable Reward Box.
You can start this side quest after you become a Brave. After speaking with the woman, continue to follow the markers and climb up the supply caches. You also need to make sure to speak with Fia to learn where to look for Dreamwillow.
Fia will direct you to Jun who is inside his shack. Therefore, follow the marker to Jun’s shack and speak with him. You’ll eventually come to learn that the Dreamwillow got stolen and you must retrieve it in order to complete the side quest.
In order to do so, head over to the marker which will lead you to the Outcasts and a Sawtooth. Clear the area in any way you see and return to Jun in order to complete the side quest.
A Daughter’s Vengeance
Location: Find Zaid in Mother’s Rise and he will tell you to go over Lonesome Rock for the girl
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 15 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 5000 XP.
After learning about the Daytower from the woman, head over to the area and speak with Zaid. The guy will ask you to head over to Lonesome Rock to look for the girl you seek.
After heading to Lonesome Rock, clear the area as quickly as possible and use your Focus to find the tracks that you need to follow. Continue to follow the tracks in order to enter the compound and eliminate all the guards inside.
You need to search the bodies in order to find a key which opens the cellar. In order to get there, follow the tracks leading to the cellar and free the captives in order to complete the side quest.
Underequipped
Location: Look for the trader in Hunter’s Gathering
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 10 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 2500 XP and one Remarkable Reward Box.
Speak with the Caravan Guard in order to start the side quest. Your first objective is to defend the Caravan by eliminating a couple of enemy waves. Once you’re done with the first objective, find Dirid and be prepared to take on the Stalker.
For this battle, the Ropecaster works really well. Anyway, after you’re done with the battle, speak with Dirid and head all the way back to the Caravan in order to complete the side quest.
A Moment’s Peace
Location: Interact with Tikuk in Banuk Encampment for the quest in Meridian
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 12 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 3000 XP and one Extraordinary Reward Box.
Speak with people in the area and you’ll be asked to search for a signal. Use your Focus and head over towards the mountain. You need to head all the way up to the mountain and speak with some more people there.
Once you’re up there, examine the machine and then head back to the town. After you head down, eliminate the machines and then speak with the leader in order to complete the side quest.
Robbing the Rich
Location: Look for the noble near the main market area in Meridian
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 12 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 2500 XP and one Remarkable Reward Box.
After speaking with the man, you need to use your Focus in order to unveil some tracks. You need to follow this trail and speak to a woman located on the bridge. Once done, speak with the man nearby and head over to the Water Wheel.
Once there, speak with the man in there in order to uncover and follow another trail. Your next step is to search the area near the bonfire for some clues and head over to the bandit camp. The next potion isn’t a walk in the park.
For the next section, make sure to be prepared for about 20-30 bandits before you could speak with the man nearby to end the quest.
Hunter’s Blind
Location: Look for Talanah in the Hunters Lodge
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 12 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 3000 XP and one Tearblast Weapon Box.
Weapons for the Lodge
Location: Meridian
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 15 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive Lodge Sling Weapon Box, Lodge War Weapon Box, and Lodge Ropecaster Weapon Box.
Fatal Inheritance
Location: In Meridian village look for Ranaman outside the city on the south east side
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 15 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 2500 XP.
You need to talk to the man speaking with the guard to start the quest. Once done, head over to the estate and eliminate the machines on your way. From there, free the girl inside the house and analyze the entirety of the estate.
You should be able to find a key on a corpse. After grabbing the key, you need to head over to the other building and eliminate some more machines in the area. Once done, simply return to the girl you freed earlier to complete the quest.
Honor the Fallen
Location: Look for Mournfall Namma in the upper side of city in Meridian
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 16 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 5000 XP and one Remarkable Reward Box.
This is one of the easiest quests in the game. In this quest, you’re basically asked to roam around the Meridian for a while in search of some shrines. You’ll also encounter a few enemies along the way but you should be more than fine at this point in the game.
Your final objective is to get a priest to leave. Do that and you should be able to conclude the quest without any problems.
Heap of Trouble
Location: Free Heap and talk to Petra
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 17 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 4250 XP.
Redmaw
Location: Meridian After the Completion of Deadliest Game
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 19 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive one Skill Point, 6330 XP, and one Extraordinary Reward Box.
Sun and Shadow
Location: In Brightmarket look for Lahavis and interact with him
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 20 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 5000 XP.
After speaking with the man on the bridge, head over to the garden and analyze the spy glass and the shovel in there. Once done, use your Focus in order to follow the tracks leading you to an island nearby.
Kill the Snapmaw on the island in any way you prefer to speak with the girl. Once again, use your Focus in the area to find some tracks leading you to another island. Do the same when you arrive at the next island to uncover some more tracks.
At this point, be prepared to face about a dozens of enemies at the same time before speaking with the man and with the girl back at the village. After an easy choice, simply speak to the man on the bridge and complete the quest.
Sunstone Rock
Location: Look for a Sunstone Rock settlement for the quest
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 20 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 6600 XP and one Extraordinary Reward Box.
Cause for Concern – Farewell
Location: Clear all the Bandit Camps
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 20 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 5000 XP.
Traitor’s Bounty
Location: In Main Quest Deep Secrets of the Earth
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 21 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 7000 XP.
Death from the Skies
Location: Look for an injured man on the Northwest from Free Heap
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 25 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 6200 XP and one Extraordinary Reward Box.
Your first objective is to deal with a group of Glinthawks followed by speaking to the leader nearby. Once done, use your Focus to head over to the chief’s house and inquire more about the object he found.
Inquiring about the lure should lead you to another camp in the mountains. The next portion of the quest is all about getting to the top of the area which isn’t incredibly difficult. Continue to do so and you should be face to face with a Thunderbird.
It’s important to note that you don’t really need to engage the Thunderbird in order to complete your objectives. However, if you’re confident enough and have faith in your abilities, you can definitely give it a go.
Either way, after you’re done with disabling the lures, use your Focus to find some key items and head back to the village in order to complete the quest and collect your rewards which are mentioned above.
Queen’s Gambit
Location: Found During Traitor’s Bounty
For this side quest, it’s recommended that you have a Level 28 character. Upon completion, you’ll receive 9330 XP and one Skill Point.
Errands
Horizon Zero Dawn Errands can essentially be considered similar to side quests but these are relatively smaller and usually require a single task to complete.
Odd Grata
During the Prologue, speak with Rost to start this. Alternatively, you can also speak with her at her camp in the mountains.
The Sacred Lands
You need to trigger it before leaving the Nora Hunting Grounds and getting to Daytower.
Hunting for the Lodge
In order to start this errand, you need to speak with a Keeper at any Hunting Ground in the game.
Sanctuary
In order to start this errand, you need to speak with Den in Mother’s Rise.
Shortage of Supplies
In order to start this errand, you need to speak with Sona in Mother’s Crown. It also requires the completion of The War-Chief’s Trail and Revenge of the Nora.
Luck of the Hunt
In order to start this errand, you need to speak with Taim in Mother’s Crown.
To Old Acquaintance
In order to start this errand, you need to speak with Gera at Hunter’s Gathering.
Queen’s Gambit
You need to start and complete Traitor’s Bounty in order to start this errand.
Demand and Supply
In order to start this errand, you need to find a couple of merchants located near the Meridian Village.
In Foreign Lands
In order to start this errand, you need to speak with Balahn at Daytower.
Collateral
In order to start this errand, you need to speak with Olin during The City of the Sun.
Sun’s Judgement
In order to start this errand, you need to speak with the grumbling stall owner in the Brightmarket.
A Curious Proposal
In order to start this errand, you need to speak with Fernund in Brightmarket.
Healer’s Oath
In order to start this errand, you need to speak with Abas located outside Sunfall.
