Horizon Forbidden West – Introducing The Mighty Slitherfang

Horizon Forbidden West’s most powerful new machine, the Slitherfang is among them. A new trailer by The Game Awards gave fans their first look at this formidable hybrid of a snake and a cobra. Aloy was able to go head-tohead with this massive serpent.

A new hands-off look at a jaw-dropping boss fight against this mechanical serpent gave us a good idea of everything it can do. The Slitherfang is capable of firing pressurized acids streams from a tank located at its base. Due to the long range of the attack, it’s important that you fire at the acid tank early in the morning so as not to damage the other orange-colored parts. 

Of course, acid isn’t the only weapon at the Slitherfang’s disposal. A rattle at the tail of the Slitherfang produces lightning bolts, which produce an enormous amount of electricity. Its rattle sounds a lot like a rattlesnake’s warning signal. It is quite fragile so skilled archers are able to detach it with just a couple of arrows. The best part is that you can grab the rattle and use it as a weapon against Slitherfangs (though the machine has a resistance from shock damage). 

Acid spit and a lighting tail are problematic for sure, but the Slitherfang’s “hood” might be its most dangerous element. Nodes around its neck emit sonic pulses which temporarily disable Aloy’s movements. This can leave her vulnerable to a follow-up attack if players don’t scramble for cover. Game director Mathijs de Jonge described this attack as “hard to dodge,” so getting out of range when you see the attack being charged is your best bet.

While disabling the weapons can be done by firing off specific parts, it is still a powerful foe due to its size and agility. The Slitherfang can swiftly whip its body, and even coil up structures in order to get a better vantage point from which to launch its ranged attack. The Slitherfang’s attack pattern also changes depending on the state of its health, meaning you’ll need to stay alert and not rely on the same strategy throughout the fight. A smart Slitherfang will knock Aloy off perches that she climbs onto, forcing players need to continue moving. 

De Jonge suggests that, despite all the Slitherfang’s actions in this boss fight, we might still not have seen it at its best. “The snake has a whole heap of attacks,” says de Jonge. It is also resistant to stealth attacks. The Slitherfang, like all other creatures in Horizon Forbidden West can also be fallen in a variety of ways. It’s vulnerable to fire, ice, and plasma-based attacks, so it’s ideal to use weapons sporting those attributes. Seeing Aloy finally bring it down felt triumphant even from just watching, so we can only imagine the adrenaline rush we’ll get from doing it ourselves.

When we tell you that the Slitherfang appears amazing, and that its battle against it should be an unforgettable highlight of the game for all players, then believe us. Keep checking our coverage hub for more information about Horizon Forbidden West. You will find new articles about this game every day.