Stormbird (Boss) | Horizon Zero Dawn Wiki

Stormbird Boss Guide:

The first thing you’ll need to do is prepare Aloy for the fight. Purchase a Shadow Hunters Bow, one of the strongest bows in the Horizon Zero Dawn. Next, go ahead and purchase a Carja Ropecaster or Shadow Ropecaster.

Make sure you are fully stocked on ammo, along with the resources required to instantly craft more ammo. Lastly, stock up on a few Health Potions, Medicinal Herbs and Resist Shock Potions in order to heal during the fight and resist as much shock damage as possible. Save at the closest campfire once you’ve done the above.

Once the battle started, The Stormbird will shoot you with lighting strike while airborne, use your dodge roll to avoid these attacks. You can scan and tag the Stormbird during this moment. After you deal some damage to the Stormbird, it will lower its altitude and appear near the ground. At this point, take out your Ropecaster and tie down the Stormbird with 5 o 6 charges. If ropes break loose, craft additional ammo during the battle to continuously tie down the Stormbird. Once the Stormbird is tie down, equip your Shadow Hunters Bow and deal damage to the lightning gun with Hardpoint Arrows to disable Stormbird's lighting attack.

At some point during your fight, use Fire Arrows and aim for the Blaze Canister component. Dealing enough fire damage to it will cause a nearby explosion and the Stormbird will intake a great amount of damage. Once the Stormbird is low on health, it will start fighting on the ground without the need for a Ropecaster to tie it down.

While the Stormbird is fighting you on the ground, try to keep as far as you can to avoid melee attacks. Then use Freeze Arrows to freeze the Stormbird and aim for its components. After destroying its components,  keep shooting the Stormbird until it dies on the ground.

Attacks & Counters

Attack	Counter
Ground Attacks
Jumping Claw Smash: Jumps at enemy and slashes with talons. Deals 180 damage.	Roll over and keep your distance.
Beak Smash: Pecks at enemy repeatedly. Deals 180 damage and after the first hit, each subsequent hit deals 50 damage	Roll over and keep your distance.
Take Off: Melee Ground-to-air transition; accompanying wind gust causes damage. Deals 150 damage.	Roll over and run away. Aim and shoot.
Tail Lash: Melee Electrically charged swipe with tail. Does 300shock damage.	Roll backwards, Stormbird will end facing to the opposite side from you. Then start shooting at it. Using Resist Shock Potion before the attack will reduce damage received.
Thunder Rush Shock: Charges at enemy, surrounded by damaging electrical field. The most devastating ground attack of the Stormbird, does 360shock damage	Keep your distance, roll over backwards, then run away. Using Resist Shock Potion before the attack will reduce damage received.
Screech Blast: Screech generates sonic blast that temporarily incapacitates enemy; ineffective against enemy machines. Doesn't deal damage, only stuns Aloy for brief time.	Once the stun effect ends, roll over and keep your distance.
Hurricane Blast: Flap of wings generates damaging wind gust. Deals 150 damage	Roll over and keep your distance.
Aerial Attacks
Thunder Clash: Soars then plummets with high speed at enemy; radiates an electric charge when it hits. It's the most powerful attack of the Stormbird. If Lightning Gun is still active it deals 450Shock damage. If it's not active, then Thunder Clash inflicts 250Shock damage	Wait for the Stormbird to initiate its attack, then roll over and keep your distance. Using Resist Shock Potion before the attack will reduce damage received.
Quick Land: Crushes enemy directly beneath it with sudden vertical landing. Deals 220Shock damage.	Roll over, then keep your distance. Using Resist Shock Potion before the attack will reduce damage received.
Shock Blast: Charges lightning gun then fires Shock blast at enemy's anticipated position. Deals 250 Shock damage	Using Resist Shock Potion before the attack will reduce damage received.
Shock Burst: Charges Lightning Gun then fires 3 small shock blasts at enemy's anticipated position; blasts leave residual shock effect on  the ground. Deals 175 Shock damage	Roll over or slide to quickly get out far away from the affected area. Using Resist Shock Potion before the attack will reduce damage received.
Thunder Bomb Run: Carpet bombs enemy with shock blasts. Deals 250Shock damage.	Roll over or slide to quickly get out far away from the affected area. Using Resist Shock Potion before the attack will reduce damage received.