Horizon: Zero Dawn - How to Unlock a Mount

Knowing how to unlock a mount in Horizon: Zero Dawn will help you speed around the map!

This guide will teach you how to get a mount in Horizon: Zero Dawn, which will help you travel quickly around the gigantic map! Using a mount is the perfect option when you need to reach a location that cannot be reached by fast travelling but is too far away to walk. Thankfully, by using an override mechanic, you can use some creatures like horses. Read on to learn how to get a mount in Horizon: Zero Dawn.

How to Override Machines

The Override Device is taken from the body of the Demon during the mission, Womb of the Mountain.
The Override Device is taken from the body of the Demon during the mission, Womb of the Mountain.

One important mechanic in Horizon: Zero Dawn is overriding machines. When you override a machine, they will turn into an ally for Aloy, which can be used to travel around the map faster than walking or running.

In order to override a machine, you will first need to collect an item called the Override Device. To find this item, complete the mission, The Womb in the Mountain. The specific part of this mission that rewards the Override Device is the section where you must kill the Demon and the Corrupted Machines that invade the village of Mother’s Watch.

Once unlocked, the Override Device is attached to your spear.
Once unlocked, the Override Device is attached to your spear.

After killing the Corrupted Machines, you will collect the Override Device. While this can be used on a lot of creatures to turn them into an ally, it will only work for a short amount of time on machines like the Watchers and Sawtooths. The Override Device is attached to your main spear.

Once you have the Override Device, locate a machine you wish to override, sneak up to it and hold Triangle. Some of the best skills in Horizon: Zero Dawn – like the Silent Drop – will help you sneak up on machines easily. Try to stick to tall grass until you can get close enough to a Strider.

Machines like the Chargers, Striders, and Broadheads, once overridden, can be used to transport Aloy across the map faster than running. However, as mentioned above, machines like the Watchers and Sawtooths only remain under Aloy’s control for a short amount of time. When this time is up, they will revert to being hostile.

Overriding More Machines

To Override a machine, sneak up to it and hold Triangle until the bar fills.
To unlock a mount, you will need to Override a machine by sneaking up to it and hold Triangle until the bar fills.

Initially, you will only be able to override a few of machines when you first claim the Override Device. In order to increase the quantity of machines you can override, you must find Cauldrons. Entering and clearing Cauldrons will lead you to a machine which can be overridden to increase the quantity of machines you can override in the wild.

How to Unlock Mounts

Tapping
Tapping X will speed up your newly unlocked mount will tapping or holding Circle will slow it down and stop it. You can even shoot from he back of your mount!

To claim a machine as a mount, you must find either a Strider, Charger, or Broadhead. Use the Override Device on one of these creatures to override it and make it friendly. Once the machine is friendly, you can call it to you from anywhere in the world.

Keep in mind that dying will cause the mount to disappear, requiring you to override another machine if you want to another mount. However, this can be circumvented by unlocking the Call Mount+ skill, which summons a mount for you, regardless of if you’ve overridden a machine or not.

Travelling around the world of Horizon: Zero Dawn doesn’t have to be slow going, not when you can override a machine and use it as a mount. Remember to obtain the Override Device and use it on machines, just be careful as some are only your friend for a short while. If you read this guide, you should now know how to unlock a mount in Horizon: Zero Dawn.

Sam Chandler is the Australian piece of the AllGamers puzzle. Out of all his gaming-related passions, collecting N64 games, speedrunning, and Souls games rank among the most important. You can reach Sam through Twitter, @SamuelChandler, or through his email, sam.chandler@allgamers.com, at any time of the day or night on either side of the globe.

Nintendo Products

Shop Now

Mice

Shop Now