At a glance
Horizon Zero Dawn Trophy Guide Quick Info
Browse the full PlayStation trophy guide hub for more roadmaps, full lists, and cleanup plans.
Plan the cleanup
Trophies at a Glance
The complete trophy list, grouped into scan-friendly routes before the full walkthrough.
Efficient route
Horizon Zero Dawn Trophy Guide and Platinum Roadmap
Follow these phases in order to protect the missable work and keep cleanup efficient for Horizon Zero Dawn.
Phase 1: Story and Tallnecks
Play the story on any difficulty, since no trophy is difficulty-gated. Override Tallnecks early, as they reveal large sections of the map.
Be deliberate with skill points from the start. If you only want the base platinum, do not touch the Traveler tree until the other three trees are finished.
Phase 2: Collectibles and activities
Free roam opens after the story. Work the checklist, Vantages, Metal Flowers, Banuk Figures, Ancient Vessels, then the activity sets, Cauldrons, Corrupted Zones, Bandit Camps and Hunting Grounds.
Aim for the Blazing Sun ratings at Hunting Grounds, which is the fiddliest activity set.
Phase 3: Skills, level and miscellaneous
Finish the skill trees and mop up the remaining miscellaneous trophies. The platinum needs only the non-DLC trophies.
Phase 4: Frozen Wilds (optional, separate lists)
If you want full completion, play The Frozen Wilds on a regular save at Easy or Story difficulty for its 21 trophies across two lists, including reaching level 60.
Guide notes
Which Version and List
The original PS4 release has a base platinum plus two separate Frozen Wilds DLC lists. The 2024 PS5 Remastered release bundles the DLC content but uses its own trophy list.
- Save transfer from PS4 to PS5 works, but nothing autopops, so the whole list must be earned again in a new game.
Guide notes
The Skill Point Trap
The 36 base skills cost 81 points and the base route yields 84. If you only want the base platinum, finish the three original trees before spending points in the Traveler tree, or the final skill may require DLC or New Game Plus.
- The real risk is skill points, not a missable trophy. The 36 base skills cost 81 points and base play only yields 84, so avoid the Traveler tree until the other three trees are done if you only want the base platinum.
Guide notes
Does Difficulty Affect Trophies
No. There are no difficulty trophies, so play on Easy or Story if you only want the platinum. Ultra Hard exists but is entirely optional.
- No trophy requires a specific difficulty, so Easy or Story is fine. Ultra Hard is optional.
- Frozen Wilds trophies sit on two separate lists and are not needed for the platinum. Play the DLC on a normal save at low difficulty, not on an Ultra Hard New Game Plus run.
Efficient route
The Collectible Checklist
Activate the Tallnecks first to reveal the map, then clear world activities alongside Banuk Figures, Metal Flowers, Ancient Vessels and Vantage Datapoints in each region.
- No missable trophies in the base game. Free roam opens after the story so every collectible and activity can be cleaned up.
Reveal the map first
Activate Tallnecks before the regional sweep. Their map reveal makes later collectible and activity routes easier to combine.
Pure collectibles
Track Banuk Figures, Metal Flowers, Ancient Vessels, and Vantage Datapoints by region. Confirm each regional total before travelling to the next part of the map.
World activities
Clear Hunting Grounds, Cauldrons, corrupted zones, and other world objectives while gathering nearby collectibles. Combining categories prevents repeated cross-map travel.
Guide notes
Frozen Wilds DLC
The Frozen Wilds adds 21 trophies across two separate lists. Enter after A Seeker at the Gates at level 30 or higher, although level 50 is more comfortable. A normal Easy or Story save keeps the Hunting Ground times manageable.
- Frozen Wilds trophies sit on two separate lists and are not needed for the platinum. Play the DLC on a normal save at low difficulty, not on an Ultra Hard New Game Plus run.
Guide notes
Save Transfer and New Game Plus
PS4 saves can be transferred to PS5, but trophies do not autopop and the list must be completed again. Importing a fully completed save can also interfere with some New Game Plus requirements, so keep an earlier backup.
- Frozen Wilds trophies sit on two separate lists and are not needed for the platinum. Play the DLC on a normal save at low difficulty, not on an Ultra Hard New Game Plus run.
- Save transfer from PS4 to PS5 works, but nothing autopops, so the whole list must be earned again in a new game.
- Importing a completed platinum save can prevent certain trophies from unlocking in New Game Plus.
Guide notes
Series Note
Horizon Forbidden West is a separate game with its own trophy list and roadmap. Progress in Zero Dawn does not complete or transfer trophies into that sequel.
Efficient route
Horizon Zero Dawn Platinum Strategy
Use these checkpoints alongside the roadmap to keep the Horizon Zero Dawn trophy route on schedule and protect the high-risk requirements.
If you want hands-on completion help, see the Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Platinum Trophy service.
Confirm the version and trophy list first
The original PS4 release has a base platinum and two separate Frozen Wilds DLC lists. The 2024 PS5 Remastered release includes the DLC content but uses its own trophy list. Decide which list the profile is completing before following collectible totals or importing a save, because advice written for one release can describe trophies that sit outside the other version's base platinum.
A PS4 save can transfer to PS5, but trophies do not autopop and the Remastered list still needs to be earned in a new game. Keep an earlier backup before importing a fully completed save. A finished profile can interfere with some New Game Plus conditions, while an earlier story save preserves more options for the new list.
Protect the base-game skill points
The 36 base skills cost 81 points and a normal base-game route yields 84. If the goal is only the platinum, complete the three original trees before spending in the Traveler tree. Using too many points there can leave the all-skills trophy dependent on Frozen Wilds or New Game Plus even when every base activity is finished.
Check the skill total before the final purchases and keep enough points for the original requirements. This is not a permanently missable trophy, but it can add several hours of optional content. Players completing the DLC anyway can spend more freely because Frozen Wilds supplies additional progression.
Clear the map in an efficient collectible order
Activate Tallnecks first so their map reveal supports every later sweep. Then combine world activities with Banuk Figures, Metal Flowers, Ancient Vessels, and Vantage Datapoints in the same region. Clearing one zone completely before crossing the map again saves more time than following each collectible category from beginning to end.
No base-game trophy requires a specific difficulty, so Easy or Story is valid for the platinum. Frozen Wilds adds 21 trophies across two lists and becomes available after A Seeker at the Gates. Enter at level 30 or higher, with level 50 being more comfortable, and use a normal low-difficulty save if the Hunting Ground times become the last obstacle.
Separate base platinum and DLC cleanup
Complete the base skills, story, activities, and collectible totals before treating Frozen Wilds as required work. The two DLC lists do not block the original platinum. If the profile is targeting 100 percent, enter the Cut with the correct version, a suitable level, and a normal difficulty save. Keep the Remastered list separate from the PS4 checklist because transfer support does not turn completed PS4 trophies into automatic PS5 unlocks.
Every requirement
Full Horizon Zero Dawn Trophy List
The base list contains 56 trophies. Use the groups below to scan the route, then return to the roadmap for the efficient order.
Platinum Trophy
Obtained all Horizon Zero Dawn trophies.
Collectibles and Completion
Discovered a strange metal flower.
Discovered the truth of Zero Dawn.
Miscellaneous Trophies
Performed a stealth kill on 10 machines.
Killed 3 enemies using the Strike from Above skill.
Detached 10 components from machines during combat.
Killed 10 machines weak to Fire while burning, or weak to Freeze while frozen.
Detached 5 heavy weapons from machines during combat.
Unlocked and used the overrides for 7 different types of machine.
Killed 30 human enemies by landing headshots on them.
Found and knocked over all of the Grazer training dummies in the Nora region.
Used a Weapon Coil or Outfit Weave on a modifiable weapon or outfit.
Killed at least one of every type of Acquisition machine.
Killed at least one of every type of Reconnaissance machine.
Killed at least one of every type of Combat machine.
Killed at least one of every type of Transport machine.
Reached player level 10.
Reached player level 25.
Reached player level 40.
Reached player level 50.
Learned all available skills.
Scaled a Tallneck and accessed its information.
Took back a settlement from a bandit clan.
Reached the Core of a Cauldron and accessed its information.
Earned at least a Half Sun mark in all three trials at one Hunting Ground.
Earned a Blazing Sun mark in all three trials at one Hunting Ground.
Killed all the corrupted machines in a Corrupted Zone.
Scaled all of the Tallnecks and accessed their information.
Took back all settlements from the bandit clans.
Reached the Core of every Cauldron and accessed the information within.
Earned at least a Half Sun mark in all trials at all of the Hunting Grounds.
Earned a Blazing Sun mark in all trials at all of the Hunting Grounds.
Killed all the corrupted machines in every Corrupted Zone.
Encountered and Focus scanned every type of machine.
Found and accessed a Vantage datapoint.
Found a wooden effigy left by a Banuk traveler.
Found an ancient vessel once used by the Old Ones.
Found and accessed all of the Vantage datapoints.
Found all of the Metal Flowers.
Found all of Arnak’s figures.
Found all the Ancient Vessels.
Recovered an ancient technology and put it to use.
Learned to hunt and fight alongside Rost.
Defeated the Sawtooth that threatened the Nora.
Overcame adversity and placed first in the Proving.
Destroyed the corruption inside the Nora valley.
Learned of the ancient past at Maker’s End.
Infiltrated the Eclipse battle camp and crashed their network.
Defeated the invaders and went inside the sacred mountain.
Explored the Mountain That Fell and recovered a powerful weapon.
Given Aloy’s actions, all possible optional allies joined the defense.
Ended the threat of the ancient war machines.
Found the Nora War-Chief and defeated the killers in the Ring of Metal.
Helped Erend investigate Ersa’s fate, and foiled a plot against Meridian.
Aided the escapes of Uthid and the child king Itamen from the Shadow Carja.
Rose through the ranks of the Hunters Lodge and helped Talanah defeat Redmaw.
Guide notes
Horizon Zero Dawn Missable, Glitched, and Difficulty Notes
- No missable trophies in the base game. Free roam opens after the story so every collectible and activity can be cleaned up.
- The real risk is skill points, not a missable trophy. The 36 base skills cost 81 points and base play only yields 84, so avoid the Traveler tree until the other three trees are done if you only want the base platinum.
- No trophy requires a specific difficulty, so Easy or Story is fine. Ultra Hard is optional.
- Frozen Wilds trophies sit on two separate lists and are not needed for the platinum. Play the DLC on a normal save at low difficulty, not on an Ultra Hard New Game Plus run.
- Save transfer from PS4 to PS5 works, but nothing autopops, so the whole list must be earned again in a new game.
- Importing a completed platinum save can prevent certain trophies from unlocking in New Game Plus.
Quick answers
Frequently Asked Questions
How many trophies are in Horizon Zero Dawn?
The base game has its own list plus 21 Frozen Wilds DLC trophies across two separate lists. Only the base trophies are needed for the platinum.
Is the Horizon Zero Dawn platinum hard?
Around 4 out of 10. It is straightforward, with most of the time going into collectibles and world activities.
Do you need Ultra Hard difficulty for the platinum?
No. There are no difficulty trophies at all, so you can play the entire game on Easy or Story.
What is the skill point problem?
The 36 base skills cost 81 points while base play only yields 84. Spending early on the Traveler tree can leave you unable to finish the all-skills trophy without the DLC or New Game Plus.
Are there missable trophies?
No. Free roam opens after the story, so collectibles and activities can all be completed afterward.
Do trophies transfer from PS4 to PS5?
Save transfer works, but nothing autopops. You have to earn the list again, and importing a platinum save can block some New Game Plus trophies.
DamnModz supports PlayStation games with Platinum trophies. Choose the game and tell us what remains on your list.