How to Find All Collectibles in Horizon Zero Dawn: A Complete Guide

Horizon Zero Dawn features an extensive array of collectibles that add depth to its rich post-apocalyptic world. These hidden items not only enhance the gaming experience but also reward players with valuable resources, fascinating lore, and special achievements. Finding all collectibles presents an exciting challenge that complements the main story progression.

This comprehensive guide covers every type of collectible in the game, including Metal Flowers, Vantages, Ancient Vessels, Banuk Figures, and Power Cells. We'll explain how to use your Focus device effectively, where to purchase collectible maps, and share proven strategies for locating each item type. You'll also learn about the specific rewards and benefits awaiting those who complete their collections.


The world of Horizon Zero Dawn contains five distinct types of collectibles, each offering unique insights into the game's rich lore and valuable rewards for dedicated explorers.

Metal Flowers

These mysterious mechanical blooms appear throughout the wilderness, surrounded by distinctive triangles of purple flowers. Metal Flowers contain encoded poetry fragments and can be traded in sets of ten to a merchant named Kudiv for valuable reward boxes containing shards and modifications. These collectibles first appeared during the time of the Derangement, suggesting a deeper connection to the game's core narrative.

Vantages

Vantage Points serve as windows into the past, revealing the personal story of Bashar Mati through his "Apocashitstorm Tour." These twelve locations typically occupy elevated positions, offering breathtaking views of the landscape while providing glimpses of how the world appeared before its fall. Each vantage contains audio and visual data that can be accessed through Aloy's Focus device.

Ancient Vessels

These remnants of the Old Ones appear as common items from the past civilization - primarily coffee cups and mugs. Ancient Vessels can be found in groups of four near ancient ruins and debris piles. Trading complete sets to the merchant Studious Palas rewards players with special boxes containing valuable resources.

Banuk Figures

Created by the legendary hunter Arnak, these small figurines crafted from fabric, straw, and sticks tell a poignant story of exile and family. Banuk Figures require significant climbing skill to obtain, as they're placed in elevated locations marked by distinctive geometric paintings. Players can trade these artifacts to the Carja envoy Cantarah for special treasure boxes.

Power Cells

The most crucial collectibles in terms of gameplay advantage are the Power Cells. These five rare items are essential components for unlocking the powerful Shield-Weaver armor. Each Power Cell is strategically hidden within story-critical locations, including:

• The Underground Bunker
• All-Mother Temple
• Maker's End
• The Grave Hoard
• GAIA Prime

Unlike other collectibles, Power Cells require story progression to access certain locations, making them a long-term collection goal that aligns with the main narrative progression.

Using the Focus and Maps to Locate Collectibles

Mastering the art of collectible hunting in Horizon Zero Dawn requires understanding two essential tools: your Focus device and collectible maps. These tools work together to make your treasure hunting both efficient and enjoyable.

Activating Focus Scan

The Focus device serves as your primary tool for detecting nearby collectibles. To use it effectively:

1. Press R3 to activate your Focus
2. Slowly pan your view in a 360-degree circle
3. Look for purple-hazed pillars that indicate potential collectibles
4. Center your Focus on the purple haze to identify the item type
5. Keep the Focus active while approaching the marker

Pro Tip: The Focus has an effective range of approximately 60 paces, so scan frequently while exploring new areas.

Purchasing Collectible Maps

After completing the Proving ceremony, merchants throughout the world begin selling collectible maps. These valuable resources can be found in the Special Items tab of merchant inventories. The maps are surprisingly affordable, requiring basic resources:

• Metal Flowers Map: 5 Metal Shards + 2 Blaze
• Banuk Figures Map: 8 Metal Shards + 1 Rich Meat + 1 Fatty Meat
• Ancient Vessels Map: 10 Metal Shards + 1 Metalburn
• Vantages Map: 12 Metal Shards + 2 Chillwater

While you can find merchants selling these maps in various settlements, the Hunter's Gathering settlement is a reliable location to purchase all four map types.

Reading the Map Markers

Once you've purchased a map, circular search areas appear on your world map indicating general locations of collectibles. These markers require strategic exploration:

When approaching a marked area, head to the center of the search circle first. This provides the best starting point for your Focus scanning. Each collectible type has distinct characteristics that help narrow down the search - Metal Flowers appear in triangular formations, Ancient Vessels are found in debris piles, and Banuk Figures are typically near painted cliff faces.

Important: Map markers only provide approximate locations, creating search zones rather than pinpoint markers. This design maintains the thrill of discovery while preventing aimless wandering. When searching within a marked area, pay attention to environmental clues like climbing paths, ruins, or distinctive landmarks that might indicate collectible locations.

For underground collectibles, particularly in ruins or bunkers, look for nearby entrance markers or pathways leading below ground. Some Metal Flowers and Ancient Vessels are hidden in these subterranean locations, requiring extra attention to vertical exploration.


Each collectible type in Horizon Zero Dawn requires a unique approach to discovery. Let's explore the most effective strategies for finding each category of items across the game world.

Metal Flowers: Look for Flower Symbols

Finding Metal Flowers requires attention to distinctive environmental patterns. Follow these steps for efficient collection:

1. Look for triangular formations of purple flowers on the ground
2. Search both open areas and hidden corners
3. Use elevated positions to spot the distinctive triangle patterns
4. Check areas away from main roads
5. Pay attention to Focus shimmer within 60-pace range

Pro Tip: Metal Flowers often appear in locations with no nearby roads, making cross-country exploration essential.

Vantages: Seek High Ground

Vantages are strategically placed at elevated positions offering panoramic views. When hunting these collectibles, focus on:

• Tall ruins and building remnants
• Mountain peaks with climbing paths
• Areas with rappel points
• Locations with supply crates nearby (these give Focus shimmer)

Important: Look for climbing trails marked by white paint or wooden structures - these often lead to Vantage points.

Ancient Vessels: Search Debris Piles

Ancient Vessels are consistently found among the remnants of the old world. Focus your search on:

• Ruins with visible debris piles
• Areas marked with Old Ones' structures
• Locations near abandoned buildings
• Sites with multiple trash heaps

Key Strategy: When exploring ruins, activate your Focus frequently to detect the characteristic shimmer of debris piles containing vessels.

Banuk Figures: Follow Climbing Paths

Banuk Figures require the most vertical exploration. Look for these telltale signs:

• Geometric paintings on cliff faces
• Rope-marked climbing routes
• Areas with multiple ledges
• Locations near Banuk settlements

Remember: The presence of distinctive Banuk geometric paintings almost always indicates a nearby figure.

Power Cells: Explore Key Story Locations

Power Cells are uniquely tied to story progression. Keep these tips in mind:

• Always thoroughly explore story-critical facilities
• Check side rooms and hidden areas in bunkers
• Look for powered-down technology nodes
• Return to previously visited story locations after gaining new abilities

Critical Note: Unlike other collectibles, Power Cells cannot all be collected early in the game. Some locations only become accessible as you progress through the main storyline.


Completing your collection journey in Horizon Zero Dawn yields substantial rewards that enhance both gameplay experience and understanding of the game's rich narrative. From immediate practical benefits to deeper story insights, here's what awaits dedicated collectors.

XP and Skill Points

Discovering collectibles contributes significantly to your character progression. Each collection set completed awards valuable skill points that can be invested in Aloy's abilities. Five or more skill points are granted upon completing all collectible sets, providing a meaningful boost to character development even at higher levels.

These bonus skill points prove particularly valuable for players aiming to unlock all skills, as they supplement the points earned through standard leveling and quest completion. This additional progression potential makes collectible hunting an integral part of character optimization.

Special Merchant Trades

Three specialized merchants in Meridian offer valuable rewards for completed collectible sets:


These trades provide substantial economic benefits, with the modification rewards often including rare and valuable upgrades for weapons and outfits. The reward boxes frequently contain resources that are otherwise difficult to obtain through normal gameplay.

Lore and Backstory Insights

Beyond tangible rewards, collectibles unlock crucial pieces of the game's narrative mosaic:

• Vantage points reveal Bashar Mati's personal journey through the "Apocashitstorm Tour"
• Metal Flowers contain encoded poetry fragments that hint at artificial intelligence evolution
• Ancient Vessels provide glimpses into pre-apocalyptic corporate culture
• Banuk Figures tell the touching story of exile and family through tribal artifacts

These narrative elements deepen understanding of the game's world, connecting present-day tribal society with the technological civilization that preceded it. The personal stories embedded in these collectibles add emotional depth to the game's broader narrative.

Trophy/Achievement Unlocks

For completionists, finding all collectibles contributes to several trophy and achievement milestones:

Individual Collection Trophies:

• "All Vantages Found" - Locate all Vantage Points
• "All Metal Flowers Found" - Discover every Metal Flower
• "All Banuk Figures Found" - Collect all of Arnak's figures
• "All Ancient Vessels Found" - Recover all Ancient Vessels

These achievements not only provide satisfaction for completionists but also track progress toward the coveted platinum trophy. The systematic collection of these items creates natural progression milestones throughout the game, encouraging thorough exploration of the world while working toward full completion.

The combination of immediate rewards (shards and modifications), character progression (skill points), narrative enrichment (lore and backstory), and achievement progress makes collectible hunting in Horizon Zero Dawn a rewarding endeavor that enhances the overall gaming experience. The carefully balanced reward structure ensures that time invested in finding these items feels worthwhile, whether you're focused on gameplay advantages, story comprehension, or achievement completion.


Mastering collectible hunting in Horizon Zero Dawn demands dedication, strategic planning, and thorough exploration of the game world. Players armed with knowledge about Metal Flowers, Vantages, Ancient Vessels, Banuk Figures, and Power Cells can systematically complete their collections while naturally progressing through the main story. The combination of Focus device scanning and collectible maps creates an engaging treasure hunt that adds depth to every exploration session.

These carefully placed collectibles serve multiple purposes beyond simple achievement hunting. Each discovered item rewards players with valuable resources, deeper story insights, and progress toward complete mastery of the game world. The satisfaction of trading complete sets to specialized merchants, unlocking powerful gear like the Shield-Weaver armor, and piecing together additional narrative threads makes the time invested in collectible hunting a rewarding part of the Horizon Zero Dawn experience.