In Horizon Forbidden West, players can build and upgrade Aloy’s gear by collecting Metal Shards. While there are three primary ways to collect Metal Shards in the game: opening crates, completing missions, and looting monsters after defeating them, there are several ways to expedite the process for those looking to gather as many raw materials as possible in a short amount of time.
From specific tools and items worth gathering to unique activities, which monsters to target, and other helpful hacks, find out the various ways that players can amass as many Metal Shards as possible in Horizon Forbidden West.
Obtain Shieldwing Glider
The first thing a player will want to do to expedite the Shard finding process in the highly anticipated PS5 game is to obtain a Shieldwing Glider. Without it, Aloy’s hunting and searching will be limited to the low ground since much of the game is about traversing high peaks, towers, and facing gigantic dinosaurs.
The Shieldwing Glider will make traversing the massive open-world map as quick and efficient as possible, thereby increasing the speed at which Metal Shards can be accrued. This tool was absent in the previous game, so it’s easy to overlook, but it’s a must-have for ultra-fast playthroughs.
Fast Travel
Those looking to race through the game to find Shards quickly would be wise to activate the Fast Travel tool that allows Aloy to cover a huge swath of land at the press of a button. First, a fast-travel pack will need to be crafted with Aloy’s Hunter Pack using 10 Ridge Wood and three pieces of wild meat. Or, players can purchase the packs from a merchant.
Once fast packs are fashioned, fast travel points will appear on the map, usually in the form of campfires that require activation. Without this tool, the process of traversing the map and finding Shards will take far longer.
Opening Every Crate
The easiest method of collecting Shards is to strategically rifle through every crate found in the game. The crates are filled with loot that, in addition to Shards themself, are equipped with valuable resources that can be traded for even more Shards at nearly every trading post.
While traversing the map looking for crates can take time, one way to expedite the process is to clear the paths blocked by Metal Flowers and Firegleam obstacles in the “Death’s Door” and “Seeds of the Past” main quests, which will reveal hidden black boxes and treasure chests filled with even more loot that can be swapped for Shards.
Hunting Monsters
The most exciting way to gather Shards quickly is to take on monster machines directly, defeat them, and strip them of their resources. It will behoove players to first know how to override machines; otherwise, the process will be extended. The more perilous the machine, the more Shards it tends to drop upon defeat.
Hunting monsters is the fastest but also the riskiest way to gain Shards fast, as Aloy stands to lose a lot of resources in the process if the mission fails. However, slaying beasts and taking their loot is the most visceral amount of fun the game has to offer.
Complete Story Missions & Side Quests
Aside from hunting monsters and opening crates, completing missions and side quests is the fastest way to obtain more Metal Shards in the content-rich open-world game. The harder the mission, the more rewards are often bestowed. However, every single mission offers some kind of reward; therefore, it will be helpful for players to complete as many as possible as quickly as they can.
Beyond the main missions and side quests, be sure to complete all of the Gauntlet Runs and Salvage Contracts that appear on the map, as they will grant even more Shards upon completion.
Finish Hunting Lodge Trials
Another fast way to gather Shards in the game includes finishing the Hunting Lodge Trials. The higher the ranking, the more Shards will be rewarded. One of the most valuable of the Hunting Trials is the Raintrace Hunting Grounds, which gives Aloy the chance to sharpen her skills by sparring with Tremortusks, one of the hardest mechanical creatures to fight.
The massive Tremortusks are worth 89 Metal Shards apiece and drop several at times when defeated, which is nothing to sneeze at. Moreover, replaying these challenges will offer even more Shards, though not as many as the first time the trials are completed.
Selling Relic Ruins Items
While selling loot and resources to merchants for Shards is easy enough, players tend to forget that they can also sell items from the Relic Ruins as well. Those willing to part with such items as the Ancient Sculptor and Gold Ingot will be given 65 Metal Shards in exchange.
Relic Ruin items cannot be traded or upgraded, only sold. If the old adage “time is money” is true, then selling these items increases value by saving Aloy the time of crafting and bartering, allowing her to focus on more Shard hunting.
Breathing Underwater
Another tool to help Aloy find as many Shards as quickly as possible is the Diving Mask, which allows her to breathe underwater for sustained periods of exploration. A player will have to craft the mask, but it’s worth it in the long run, especially to unlock all of the hidden underwater loot many players simply skip.
To unlock the Diving Mask, players will need to complete the “Sea of Sands” main quest. It is arguably one of the hardest quests in the game, but doing so will enable Aloy to breathe underwater for an unlimited time, giving her the ability to explore the depths of the ocean and locate Shards as rapidly as possible.
The Pooping Bristleback
Whether it’s a glitch or an intentional loophole, Redditor NotACyclopsHonest found a hilarious way to mine infinite Shards from a Bristleback monster. Apparently, by dismounting the beast, the Bristleback will begin foraging for food, eventually pooping out an endless trove of containers loaded with Shards.
The strangest part about this revelation is that it can seemingly go on forever, providing Aloy with infinite currency in the game. Since Bristlebacks are found fairly early in the game, they expedite the Shard-gathering process dramatically.
Unlock The Shelter Point & Fight Thunderjaw
One of the most fertile mining sites in the game is The Shelter, a key location on the map equipped with all the resources needed to mine Shards fast. Situated near the Thunderjaw sit, The Shelter has a workbench to improve weaponry, a campfire to switch times of day, and it houses Aloy’s entire stash.
The close proximity of the Shelter to the Thunderjaw site makes it extremely convenient to mount a sneak attack on the hulking beast, quickly take its components back to the Shelter, and mine its valuable parts, XP, and Shards. The geographic advantage is hard to beat.
