Taming the Thunderjaw: A Veteran’s Guide to Defeating the Sawtooth in Horizon Zero Dawn

So, you’re facing your first real mechanical beast in Horizon Zero Dawn, the Sawtooth, and wondering how to take it down? Don’t sweat it, even seasoned hunters like myself remember that initial shiver of apprehension. The key to beating the Sawtooth boils down to these core strategies: exploitation of its elemental weaknesses, strategic use of your environment, and precise aiming for its vulnerable components. Specifically, target its Freeze Canisters with Tearblast Arrows or standard arrows to detach them and then detonate them with Fire Arrows. Exploit the frozen state that’s caused by using Frost Arrows to inflict increased damage by following with your hardest hitting weapon; use your tripcaster to setup elemental booby traps for the Sawtooth to charge through, and finally don’t forget to dodge. Let’s dive into a deeper dive into some details about these tactics so you can take this mechanical beast down and gain that valuable experience, resources, and bragging rights.

Understanding the Sawtooth: Your First Big Challenge

The Sawtooth is more than just a tough machine; it’s a learning experience. Consider it your “final exam” on the game’s core mechanics. You’ll encounter it fairly early in the game, likely in the Nora hunting grounds. This encounter serves as an important milestone, teaching you how to approach much larger and more dangerous machines down the road.

Identifying Key Weaknesses

The Sawtooth has several weaknesses you can exploit, all marked clearly in your Focus scanner view. But here’s the breakdown:

• Freeze Canisters (Belly): These are prime targets. Detaching them with Tearblast Arrows will create an explosion, dealing significant damage and potentially staggering the machine. Hitting them directly with Fire Arrows after detaching will cause an even larger explosion.
• Heart (Belly): Once you’ve weakened the Sawtooth, the heart becomes exposed. This is a highly vulnerable spot, dealing massive damage when hit with any weapon.
• Blaze Canisters (Back): While these are an option, targeting the Freeze Canisters is generally more effective. However, if you’re feeling confident and have the right ammo, detaching these with Tearblast Arrows can also create a helpful explosion.

Preparing for the Fight

Before heading into the arena, make sure you’re adequately prepared. This includes:

• Crafting Ammunition: Stock up on Fire Arrows, Tearblast Arrows, and Shock Arrows. These will be your best friends in this fight. Also bring some crafting supplies to replenish your ammunition on the fly.
• Setting Traps: If you have the Tripcaster, craft some shock or fire wires. Lay these down in strategic locations to inflict elemental damage as the Sawtooth charges.
• Upgrading Equipment: Even minor upgrades to your bow and armor can make a noticeable difference. It may be worth spending some time upgrading your hunter bow with handling, damage and tear mods.

The Battle Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide

Here’s a strategy breakdown that combines all the tactics for a swift and clean victory.

1. Scan and Plan: Before engaging, use your Focus to scan the Sawtooth and identify its weak points. Also, survey the environment for cover and vantage points.
2. Tear It Down: Immediately target the Freeze Canisters on its belly with Tearblast Arrows. Detaching these will create an explosion, dealing damage and potentially staggering the Sawtooth.
3. Elemental Assault: Once the Freeze Canisters are detached, switch to Fire Arrows and target the exposed area where the Freeze Canisters were connected to cause an even bigger explosion. If you don’t want to use your precious Tearblast Arrows then start right away with Frost Arrows to inflict the frozen state to the Sawtooth.
4. Lay Traps: As the Sawtooth recovers, use the Tripcaster to lay down shock or fire wires in its path. Try to predict its movements and place the traps strategically. This will buy you time and inflict additional damage.
5. Exploit the Weakness: When the Sawtooth gets shocked, freeze, or fire, use a hard-hitting arrow at its heart. This is usually enough to cripple or outright kill it.
6. Dodge and Weave: The Sawtooth’s attacks are powerful. Utilize your dodge roll to avoid its charges and claw attacks. Remember, a dead hunter can’t loot the machine.
7. Repeat: Rinse and repeat the above steps until the Sawtooth is scrap metal. Adjust your strategy based on the situation and available resources.
8. Loot: Once defeated, the Sawtooth will have valuable materials on it to loot. Grab everything and head to the nearest campfire to save your progress and craft some much-needed supplies.

FAQs: Mastering the Sawtooth Fight

Here are some frequently asked questions to help you further conquer the Sawtooth:

1. What’s the best weapon to use against the Sawtooth?

The Hunter Bow with a mix of Tearblast Arrows, Fire Arrows, and Frost Arrows is the ideal choice. The Tripcaster is also extremely useful for setting traps. Having these options will allow you to exploit all the Sawtooth weaknesses and elemental effects.

2. How do I use Tearblast Arrows effectively?

Aim for the connecting points of the Freeze or Blaze Canisters on the Sawtooth’s body. Multiple hits might be needed to fully detach them, depending on your bow modifications.

3. Is it better to use Fire or Freeze Arrows first?

Detaching the Freeze Canisters with Tearblast Arrows then detonating the exposed area with Fire Arrows or inflicting a frozen state with Frost Arrows is typically more effective than trying to set it on fire directly, since detaching the component causes a small explosion that already damages the mechanical beast.

4. Can I use the environment to my advantage?

Absolutely! Use rocks and trees for cover to avoid the Sawtooth’s charges. You can also climb to higher vantage points to get a better angle for your shots.

5. What should I do if I run out of resources?

If you run low on arrows or wire, prioritize looting nearby containers. If that’s not enough, focus on dodging and conserving ammo until you can gather more resources. You can also change your tactics to focus on melee attacks if you are extremely desperate, but this is not recommended.

6. How important is dodging in this fight?

Dodging is crucial for survival. The Sawtooth’s attacks are powerful and can quickly deplete your health. Time your dodges carefully to avoid getting hit.

7. What’s the significance of the Sawtooth’s “Heart”?

The “Heart” is the Sawtooth’s most vulnerable point. Once exposed, dealing damage to it will inflict massive damage. This will help end the fight quickly.

8. Should I focus on upgrading my armor before this fight?

While not mandatory, upgrading your armor can provide additional protection against the Sawtooth’s attacks. Look for armor with good resistance to melee damage and consider adding modifications.

9. Can I use traps other than Tripcaster wires?

Yes, you can also use Blast Traps, but Tripcaster wires are generally more effective due to their ease of deployment and elemental damage options.

10. What level should I be before fighting the Sawtooth?

Ideally, you should be around level 8-10 before attempting this fight. This will ensure you have sufficient health, skills, and equipment.

11. Is stealth an option against the Sawtooth?

While you can use stealth to get the initial advantage, the Sawtooth is likely to detect you quickly once the fight begins. Stealth is more useful for setting up traps and getting a free shot before the main engagement.

12. How do I know if I’m doing enough damage?

Pay attention to the Sawtooth’s health bar. If it’s depleting slowly, consider adjusting your strategy to focus on exploiting its weaknesses more effectively. Also use your Focus to check which parts are still connected to the Sawtooth.

13. What rewards do I get for defeating the Sawtooth?

Defeating the Sawtooth will reward you with valuable experience points, machine parts, and resources that can be used for crafting and upgrading your equipment. The rewards help you progress and make you more ready for tougher challenges ahead.

14. Are there any skills that are particularly useful for this fight?

Skills like Concentration, which slows down time while aiming, and Hunter Reflexes, which speeds up weapon reloading, can be extremely helpful. Also consider skills that increase your damage output and arrow crafting capacity.

15. How does the difficulty level affect the Sawtooth fight?

On higher difficulty levels, the Sawtooth will have more health, deal more damage, and be more aggressive. You’ll need to be even more strategic and precise with your attacks to succeed.

Beyond the Sawtooth: Embracing the Hunt

The Sawtooth is just the beginning. Horizon Zero Dawn offers a vast and challenging world filled with incredible machines. Take what you’ve learned from this encounter and apply it to future battles. Experiment with different weapons, tactics, and skills to find what works best for you. The more you hunt, the more you learn, and the more formidable you become.

Remember, gaming isn’t just about entertainment, it’s a powerful tool for learning and problem-solving. Organizations like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org are dedicated to exploring the educational potential of games and using them to foster creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. The skills you hone in Horizon Zero Dawn, from strategic planning to resource management, are valuable in all aspects of life.

Happy hunting, and may your arrows always fly true!