Horizon Forbidden West: How to Reach and Override All Tallnecks

How do you reach and override all the Tallnecks in Horizon Forbidden West? Where are all the Tallnecks and how do you get to them? As part of our Horizon Forbidden West guide, we will be going through the game's Tallnecks, telling you where they are and how to reach the top.

Horizon Forbidden West: What Are Tallnecks?

Tallnecks are giant, peaceful machines that roam the open world in Horizon Forbidden West. They act a little like satellites, able to transmit data to and from other machines in the vicinity. What that means for you is that you can climb on top of them, override them, and clear the fog from the game's map screen.

Horizon Forbidden West: How to Reach and Override All Tallnecks

Below, we'll be outlining how to reach the top of every Tallneck in Horizon Forbidden West so you can override them and clear the map. There are 6 Tallnecks in total, spread out across the Forbidden West.

Tallneck: Cinnabar Sands

The first Tallneck you'll find is the easternmost Tallneck, located in Cinnabar Sands. It is found in the middle of No Man's Land, not far southeast from Plainsong.

How to Reach and Override Tallneck: Cinnabar Sands

Once you find this Tallneck, you can't just climb up from the ground level. You'll first have to reach a higher point and then jump over to it. Fortunately, the Tallneck is walking around the ruins of a huge satellite dish. Follow these steps to reach the Tallneck:

Shoot the red lock on the ladder to lower it and start climbing the satellite. You'll see a deactivated console that requires power.

Continue climbing up to the central platform. To the right will be another ladder you can lower — do this and climb down.

At the bottom of the ladder, swing across to a platform where you'll find a power cell. Remove it and bring it down with you to the ground — use the Shieldwing to reach the ground without damage. The cell will drop, but won't be destroyed.

Pick up the power cell and take it to the station underneath the satellite dish. Insert it, and you'll restore power to the satellite.

Climb back up to that console and activate it. This sets the satellite in motion.

The satellite can't get into position because a couple of large cords are entangled. Use your spear or arrows to break the cords, and the dish will complete its alignment.

Clamber up to the top using the handholds around the outside of the dish. Once you're on top of the dish, you will be able to run, jump, and then glide onto the Tallneck, landing on one of the ledges on the back of its neck.

Climb up to the very top of the Tallneck, and press Triangle to override the machine.

Tallneck: The Shining Wastes

The second Tallneck you'll find is located to the west of Arrowhand. When you first find it, you won't be able to climb it, as there is nothing in the area to get you up high enough. It is impossible to override it for now. You will return to this Tallneck and override it much later in the game, during the Main Quest, The Wings of the Ten.

Tallneck: Salt Bite

This Tallneck is unique in that you will find it underground in a Cauldron, half-built. During the course of Cauldron: IOTA, you will need to override Tallneck: Salt Bite in order to escape the Cauldron.

How to Reach and Override Tallneck: Salt Bite

After claiming the machine overrides from the core uplink, you will need to go underneath the Cauldron core and find the Tallneck's missing head. After dislodging some debris on the head, it will begin to move towards the body. You'll need to fight a few machines along the way, but eventually the Tallneck will be complete, and you can climb to its head and override it as normal. The shockwave releases the Tallneck, and you'll rise up and out of the Cauldron, completing both objectives.

Tallneck: The Stillsands

This Tallneck can be found just south of Camp Nowhere.

How to Reach and Override Tallneck: The Stillsands

On approach to the Tallneck, you will discover a small camp, and Aloy will investigate a downed machine. After looking at all the clues, Aloy resolves to bring the Tallneck down so she can make repairs.

There are a few weak spots that are sparking on the Tallneck. What you need to do is shoot these areas using the various ballistas at the camp. Wait for the Tallneck to come into range, then fire at the weak spots. You need to shoot the Tallneck three times with three different ballistas. Machines will start to attack you in the meantime.

Once you have fired three harpoons at the Tallneck, it will topple to the ground. After taking care of any other machines in the area, approach the Tallneck's head and override it. Job done — and don't worry, those harpoons won't weigh it down anymore.

Tallneck: The Stand of the Sentinels

This Tallneck can be found circling an abandoned settlement among the trees, just to the southwest of Cliffwatch.

How to Reach and Override Tallneck: The Stand of the Sentinels

When you get to this Tallneck, Aloy will say that she needs to climb higher to reach it. You need to work your way up the platforms suspended in the trees.

At one point you will be able to jump to the ledges on the Tallneck's neck, but it's missing some of them, so you can't make your way to the top. You'll need to jump across to another platform and continue going higher so you can jump to the Tallneck's head.

Along the way you will need to take down a couple of Fire Clamberjaws. Once done, find the locked ladder and shoot the lock to release it. Use it to continue your ascent.

Use the zip line to reach a far platform and continue upwards. From up here, you will be able to leap to the rim of the Tallneck's head, then climb around to the back and get up to the top. Then you just need to override it as normal.

Tallneck: Landfall

This Tallneck can be found shortly after arriving on Isle of Spires, the westernmost portion of the game's map.

How to Reach and Override Tallneck: Landfall

When you reach this Tallneck's position, you will find that it is mostly submerged in water. You'll need to approach the machine and work out what's wrong.

Scan the Tallneck with Aloy's Focus, and investigate the damage. These parts will be glowing pink. After inspection, Aloy will deduce that some Glinthawks nearby may have the missing parts in their nests.

Head over to the left of the Tallneck to some ruins, where you should see a Glinthawk or two. You will almost certainly need to destroy these machines.

Swim across and get onto the platform where you'll see a crate. Lower the ladder by shooting the lock, and then push the crate into the water.

From the opposite side, pull the crate over using the Pullcaster. Then, get onto the crate and climb the ladder.

Walk across the rope to the next building, and hop over to the right. The first Tallneck part you need is in this pile of scrap.

Next, you'll need to head over to another part of the ruin. Snapmaws are circling it in the water, so be careful on approach.

Once you're past the Snapmaws and are "inside" the ruin, find this spot to Pullcast your way up.

Defeat or override the Glinthawk on the roof. Once dealt with, pick up the second Tallneck part from the nest.

Go back to the Tallneck. Go underwater and install the two parts. This will revive the Tallneck.

It will start walking through the sea in a typical circle. With it half-underwater, you won't need to climb too high in order to reach it and override it. The Tallneck walks around another ruin further out to sea. You need to reach that first.

To get atop the ruin, you will first have to go through a hole in the wall underwater. The hole is located on the southeastern side.

Head up and to the right, and you should find yourself in a room with some stairs leading up. Go up the steps.

Jump across the rooftops and, at the end, you will be able to leap over to the Tallneck and climb its neck.

On its head, override it as normal.

There you have it: that's how to reach and override all the Tallnecks in Horizon Forbidden West. Did you follow this walkthrough for all the Tallnecks yet? Tell us in the comments section below, and check out our Horizon Forbidden West guide for tonnes more info.