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"The lesson will be taught in due time, Aloy. Until then, we wait."
This article contains heavy spoilers. Read ahead with caution.

"It crawls like a spider, and carries a container on its back. I wonder what's inside?"
Aloy, upon sighting a Shell-Walker

The Shell-Walker is a machine in Horizon Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West, and Horizon Call of the Mountain. It is a medium-sized Transport Class machine, primarily functioning in the transport of resources gathered and processed by other machines to cauldrons. However, it was weaponized at the onset of the Derangement, and now poses a significant threat to any human who encounters one.

History[]

Shell-Walkers were presumably one of the machines originally designed by the Zero Dawn terraforming system’s governing artificial intelligence (AI) GAIA, to be used in the detoxification of the Earth after it was ravaged and left lifeless by the Faro Plague. Originally Shell-Walkers were docile towards humans, fleeing at the sight of humans, as did all terraforming machines. However, after GAIA self-destructed, the AI HEPHAESTUS altered the behavior of Shell-Walkers and all other terraforming machines, making them hostile to humans to the point of attacking them on sight. This phenomenon is what the tribes refer to as the Derangement. Furthermore, HEPHAESTUS weaponized Shell-Walkers, equipping them with electric attacks and a protective energy shield.

Appearance[]

A Shell-Walker’s chassis is a hermit crab-like in appearance. It has six stout crab-like legs connected radially to a body primarily composed of a platform upon which it carries a hexagonal cargo container. On the underside of the platform is a power generator. The container is presumably fastened to the platform electromagnetically, and further held in place via structures known as Crate Holders. The head is laterally wide, with a triangular optical sensor array located at each end. Additionally, a Shell-Walker has a pair of limbs that are akin to the chelipeds of a crab. An energy shield generator is on the end on the left limb, and a weapon that fires projectiles of electrical energy, dubbed a Lighting Gun, is at the end of the right limb. A projection carrying a pair of long antennae protrudes vertically from the left side of the head.

Behavior[]

Shell-Walkers may be found in groups of a few units at various sites in tribal lands. They mill about, communicating via electronic warbles. They also walk in machine convoys accompanied by Watchers or Longlegs, carrying their cargo to cauldrons. A Shell-Walker’s highest priority is the defense of its cargo. Indeed, the Spurflints Hunting Grounds Keeper advised the Nora huntress Aloy that “Shell-Walkers will defend their cargo with their lives”. If its Crate Holders are destroyed, a Shell-Walker will used its Lightning Gun (if intact) to hold its cargo container in place.

Shell-Walkers attack humans on sight. Upon identifying a human, a Shell-Walker will emit a loud, angry metallic warble, alerting other nearby Shell-Walkers or other machines, raise its energy shield and let fly at the human with shots from its lightning gun. If the human is at close range, it will resort to melee attacks. Shell-Walkers usually walk in a slow, precise manner. However when attacking, they ambulate with surprising speed. When engaging a perceived threat, a Shell-Walker ambulates in a manner that always keeps it facing the threat, allowing its energy shield to be most effective.

Horizon Zero Dawn Convoys[]

While Shell-Walkers are found in multiple regions, 4 Shell-Walker convoys are in the Carja Sundom, while 1 is in Valleymeet:

Abilities[]

A Shell-Walker’s shield generator produces a visible forward-facing energy shield that is impenetrable to projectiles, such as arrows. A Shell-Walker also employs a number of offensive ranged electric attacks, a defensive radial electric attack, and melee smashing attacks. utilizing its shield, lightning gun and shield generator as bludgeons.

Weaknesses[]

A Shell-walker may be deprived of its energy shield by destroying the generator. Strikes with explosive ammunition such as Blast Bombs or high-damage arrows such as Precision Arrows will destroy the generator. A single strike with a Tearblast Arrow or the Tearblaster will tear the generator off the limb that carries it. If a Tearblast Arrow explodes directly beneath the Shell-Walker’s power generator, it causes a Shock explosion that stuns the machine.

Attacks[]

Horizon Zero Dawn[]

Name Damage Type Primary Damage Secondary Damage Trigger Range Description
Claw Combo Melee 200 - 2m - 8m (1st)

3.5m - 12m (2nd)

Lunges at target with gun, then with shield, then with gun
Multi-Claw Strike Melee 200 - 2m - 8m Lunges at target and repeatedly strikes with gun
Shield Claw Strike Melee 200 - 2m - 8m Bashes target with shield, knocking them over
360 Shock Shock-Icon Shock 300 - 0m - 12m Charges up, then releases a radial shock blast around it
Charging Shock Blast Shock-Icon Shock 80 - 10m - 30m Charges gun, then fires a shock blast that leaves behind lingering shock
Homing Shock Blast Shock-Icon Shock 140 30 per second for 5 seconds 30m - 60m Charges gun, then fires a shock blast that slowly homes towards target
Shock Volley Shock-Icon Shock 80 - 30m - 60m Charges gun, then burst-fires three small shock blasts

Horizon Forbidden West[]

Name Windup Time Damage Damage Area Trigger Range Description
Shield Claw Swipe Medium 220 Melee - 2m - 10m Hops forward and swipes with its Shield Claw.
Multi Clap Snap Medium 110 Melee/hit - 2m - 10m Jumps 3 times in quick succession while snapping with its Lightning Gun claw.
Claw Combo Medium 190 Melee/hit - 2m - 10m Three-hit lunging combo with both claws. Stops combo if it lands a hit.
Advancing Electric Shot Medium Shock-Icon105

Shock-Icon40 buildup

Shock-Icon 15/s

Shock-Icon 15/s buildup

10m - 40m Fires a single shock orb from Lightning Gun as it advances towards target. Orb generates a residual shock damage area on impact.

Attack disabled when Drenched,

Electric Shot Homing Medium Shock-Icon200

Shock-Icon75 buildup

Shock-Icon 15/s

Shock-Icon 15/s buildup

30m - 90m Charges Lightning Gun and fires a shock orb that tracks target as it travels. Explodes on impact and generates a residual shock damage area.

Attack disabled when Drenched.

Electric Shot Volley Medium Shock-Icon105/shot

Shock-Icon40 buildup/shot

Shock-Icon 15/s

Shock-Icon 15/s buildup

30m - 90m Uses Lightning Gun to fire 3 shock orbs in an arcing trajectory and explodes on impact, creating a residual shock damage area.

Attack disabled when Drenched.

360 Electric Discharge Medium Shock-Icon 320

Shock-Icon 90 buildup

- 0m - 12m Unleashes a 360o shock blast in a large area surrounding its body.

Attack disabled when Drenched.

Components[]

Horizon Zero Dawn[]

Image: Component: Information: Weakness: Strength:
ShellWalker-Body Body Hard outer casing to protect synthetic muscle and operational systems. None Shock-Icon Shock
ShellWalker-CrateHolders Crate Holders Destroying this component will detach the cargo container. All None
ShellWalker-LightningGun Lightning Gun Destroying this component disables the ranged Shock attacks. Tear-Icon Tear None
ShellWalker-PowerGenerator Power Generator Destroying this component disables the ranged Shock attacks. All None
ShellWalker-ShieldClaw Shield Claw Destroying this component disables the energy shield. Tear-Icon Tear None

Horizon Forbidden West[]

Name Image Description Attributes
Body Hard outer casing to protect synthetic muscle and operational systems. None
Lightning Gun Detach or destroy this powerful weapon to disable ranged Shock attacks.
  • Detachable
  • Attack Removal
  • Destroyed When Killed
  • Key Upgrade Resource
Antenna Signal transmitter used to call in machine reinforcements.
  • Detachable
  • Reinforcement Call Removal
  • Contains Valuable Resources
  • Destroyed When Killed
Power Generator Reinforced power source. Destroy to disable Shock attacks and the shield or leave intact to add loot to the carcass.
  • Explosive
  • Persists When Killed
  • Contains Resources If Intact
Shield Claw Generates a large, defensive energy barrier. Break the shield temporarily by damaging it or detach the Claw to permanently disable.
  • Detachable
  • Ability Removal
  • Contains Valuable Resources
  • Destroyed When Killed
Cargo Holders Sturdy cargo clamps. Detach or destroy to collect resources from the cargo container.
  • Detachable
  • Ability Removal
  • Contains Valuable Resources
  • Destroyed When Killed

Loot[]

Horizon Zero Dawn[]


Horizon Forbidden West[]

Variants[]

Variant Weak Vs. Strong Vs.
Shell-Walker Corruption-Icon Acid Fire-Icon Fire

Shock-Icon Shock

Apex Shell-Walker Corruption-Icon Acid Fire-Icon Fire

Shock-Icon Shock

Trivia[]

  • During development, Shell-Walkers were originally named Scuttlers. The original name can still be seen in the description for the Carja Ropecaster Tutorial.
  • The Shell-Walker is the only HEPHAESTUS machine in both games to be based on invertebrate life form, appearing to resemble a crustacean. This feature is more pronounced in FARO Chariot Peacekeepers, which are built to have insectoid appendages or cephalopodic features.
  • If a Shell-Walker's crate holders are destroyed, it will attempt to hold the crate with its claw, unless that too is destroyed. The way it grabs the crate implies that the claw can also manipulate gravity to some extent, or the crate and the claw have a specific magnetism. The gravity manipulation theory is reinforced by the fact that when a Shell-Walker uses its 360 attack, nearby objects are lifted upwards.
  • If the crate is destroyed, nothing can be recovered from it. Meleeing the machine with the crate on top will almost certainly yield no additional rewards.
  • Shell-Walkers are currently the only machine with a hyphenated name.

Gallery[]

Concept Art[]

Horizon Zero Dawn Convoys[]

References[]

Machines
Horizon Zero Dawn
Acquisition Class Broadhead - Charger - Fireclaw - Frostclaw - Glinthawk - Grazer - Lancehorn - Rockbreaker - Scrapper - Snapmaw - Strider - Trampler
Chariot Class Corruptor - Deathbringer - Metal Devil
Combat Class Ravager - Sawtooth - Scorcher - Stalker - Stormbird - Thunderjaw
Communication Class Tallneck
Recon Class Longleg - Watcher (Redeye Watcher)
Transport Class Behemoth - Bellowback - Shell-Walker
Unknown Class Control Tower
Horizon Forbidden West
Acquisition Class Bilegut - Bristleback - Clamberjaw - Fanghorn - Plowhorn - Scrounger - Spikesnout - Stingspawn - Sunwing - Tideripper - Waterwing - Widemaw
Combat Class Clawstrider - Dreadwing - Grimhorn - Shellsnapper - Slaughterspine - Slitherfang - Specter - Specter Prime - Tremortusk
Recon Class Burrower - Skydrifter
Transport Class Leaplasher - Rollerback
Unknown Class Defense Drone
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