Horizon Forbidden West: Relic Ruins – The Daunt Guide Master the first Relic Ruins puzzle in Horizon Forbidden West with our comprehensive step-by-step guide

TL;DR

Relic Ruins offer XP and ornaments through environmental puzzle solving
The Daunt requires strategic crate movement and pullcaster mastery
Door access demands both code (1705) and physical key retrieval
Blue metal bars indicate destructible surfaces for creating new paths
Complete Night of Lights quest to understand ornament significance

Horizon Forbidden West introduces players to intricate environmental challenges through Relic Ruins, which serve as sophisticated platforming puzzles scattered throughout the game world. These carefully designed locations provide valuable experience points and unique collectibles known as ornaments, which remain secured behind complex locking mechanisms. Successfully navigating these ruins demands creative problem-solving and thorough environmental observation.

The initial Relic Ruin located in The Daunt, the game’s introductory region, establishes the fundamental principles you’ll encounter in subsequent challenges. Mastering this first puzzle provides essential skills for tackling more difficult ruins later in your journey. Understanding the recurring puzzle elements early will significantly enhance your efficiency when encountering similar challenges.

The Relic Ruins get trickier, but they all follow similar logic to the first one in The Daunt.

Begin your exploration by entering the time-worn structure and immediately scanning for metal containers marked with distinctive yellow indicators. These specially marked crates represent crucial interactive elements that appear frequently throughout Horizon Forbidden West’s environmental puzzles, particularly within Relic Ruins.

Strategically position the initial crate directly beneath the central area where yellow climbing grips dangle overhead. These handholds typically remain inaccessible through standard jumping, but become reachable when using the crate as an elevated platform. This crate manipulation technique forms the foundation of many puzzle solutions you’ll encounter.

Pro Tip: Always examine your surroundings for additional yellow-marked crates before proceeding, as some puzzles require multiple crate interactions. Many players overlook secondary crates initially, requiring backtracking that adds unnecessary time to completion.

After ascending to the upper level, you’ll discover the secured entrance demands both a physical key and numerical combination for access. Temporarily bypass this obstacle and exit through the balcony positioned left of the doorframe. Traverse the gap between structures and access the adjacent chamber.

Descend to the lower area and locate the purple data collectible clearly visible in the environment. Activate Aloy’s focus ability to scan this object, and upon examination you’ll acquire the essential door access code: 1705. This scanning mechanic becomes increasingly important for uncovering hidden information throughout your adventure.

Rotate your perspective and deploy the pullcaster tool (target with R2, then toggle to pullcaster using triangle) to retrieve an additional crate suspended from above. Then identify the ventilation shaft at the room’s extremity and utilize your pullcaster once more to remove the obstructing cover. Employing the recently acquired crate, ascend to the damaged ledge left of the vent opening (where the resource container resides), then leap and secure your grip on the newly exposed ventilation passage.

Proceed through the ventilation system and descend to locate a compromised wall section distinguished by blue metallic reinforcement bars. These visual indicators consistently signal destructible surfaces throughout the game world, making them essential recognition elements for efficient puzzle solving.

This represents another recurring environmental cue indicating pullcaster application, so execute this action to generate a substantial opening in the wall structure. Navigate through the pre-existing floor aperture nearby and advance through the dim corridor, applying the pullcaster tool again on an overhead panel displaying identical blue metal reinforcement. This strategic action creates an opening in the chamber above you, specifically the same room where you previously created an opening, and the original space containing your initial crate placement.

Expert Insight: The interconnected room design in Relic Ruins often requires considering how modifications in one area affect accessibility in others. This spatial awareness separates novice players from experienced puzzle solvers.

Ascend back to the prior level and transport that original crate through the floor opening. Convey it across the shadowy passageway and employ it to access climbing grips (consistently marked by yellow coloring). Ascend completely to the uppermost level and descend to the balcony platform to secure the essential key item.

Now possessing both the physical key and numerical combination, you can successfully unlock the secured entrance to the game’s inaugural Relic Ruin. Your efforts will be rewarded with experience points and an unusual shamrock-shaped ornament. To fully comprehend the purpose behind these ornamental items, pursue the side mission titled Night of Lights located in The Stillsands territory approximately midway through the narrative.

Completion Time: Most players require 15-25 minutes for their initial attempt, though experienced players can complete it in under 10 minutes with proper crate management. For additional Horizon Forbidden West guidance, explore our Class Guide for optimal character development strategies.