Black Boxes in Horizon Forbidden West are one of the new collectibles that you can get in the game.
If you’ve already finished the story, you can just fly up with your Sunwing flying mount to the location, since most of the Black Boxes are located on higher altitudes. But during the early stages of the game, you will have to climb up by yourself.
You must recover at least one of these Black Boxes in order to receive the trophy “Recovered 5 Different Collectibles”. Some of the Black Boxes will only be accessible with special gears that you can unlock by progressing the main story.
None of these Black Boxes are missable and they can be found in no particular order. After the main story has concluded, you may still find all of them in explorer mode.
Warning: possible spoilers ahead!
What are Black Boxes in Horizon Forbidden West?
Black boxes are flight data recorders that were left over from the Old World.
You may discover them all throughout the map, in the form of black boxes from crashed airplanes. Black Boxes are found inside the wreckage of these crashed planes. You can find them as you explore the map, and they contain records of humanity’s final moments.
Horizon Forbidden West Black Boxes List
A total of 12 Black Boxes are available in Horizon Forbidden West:
- Black Box: The Promontory
- Black Box: No Man’s Land
- Black Box: The Whitewatch Peaks
- Black Box: Jagged Deep
- Black Box: Bleeding Mark
- Black Box: The Stillsands
- Black Box: Salt Bite
- Black Box: The Memorial Grove
- Black Box: Bonewhite Tear
- Black Box: Stand of the Sentinels
- Black Box: The Raintrace
- Black Box: Isle of Spires
All 12 Black Boxes Locations in Horizon Forbidden West
Here’s the list of all 12 Black Boxes in Horizon Forbidden West, where to find, and how to get them:
Black Box: The Promontory
The Promontory Black Box Location
The Promontory Black Box’s location can be found East of Plainsong, on the cliffs above. To get to this, you’ll have to do some climbing, and there may be some machines lurking around.
Reminder:
You’ll need the Vine Cutter to get past the Metal Flowers to get this Black Box. You can unlock the Vine Cutter special gear during main story quest: Seeds of the Past, so you might have to get back on this one later on.
How to get the Promontory Black Box
To get the Promontory Black Box, a nearby power cell is needed to unlock the door to the crashed plane where it can be found. The power cell can be located next to a scrap heap, just a few steps east of the plane. Scan with R3 to be able to easily locate it. You can then open the door and enter the plane after inserting it at the door.
The Vine Cutter is needed to remove a metal flower from inside. Then, you must clear the vines inside the plane. The Black Box for The Promontory can be found behind the vines.
Black Box: No Man’s Land
No Man’s Land Black Box Location
The No Man’s Land Black Box is located southwest of Barren Light and is likely to come up as you make your way to the Forbidden West’s first story objective. One of the rock formations has an airplane wreck sitting above it, which may be reached by climbing to the top.
How to get the No Man’s Land Black Box
Find the distressed signal, which Aloy may point out as she gets closer, and make your way to the wreckage. Walk up the south side of the hill and force open the airplane door in order to collect the No Man’s Land Black Box.
Black Box: The Whitewatch Peaks
The Whitewatch Peaks Black Box Location
The Whitewatch Peaks Black Box is located southwest of Plainsong and involves some further climbing to get there. The location of your destination can be seen on the map, there’s a small patch of green, a path amidst the snow. Around this area, you can see the ruins of an aircraft hanging down the northern cliff face. You’ll be able to find The Whitewatch Peaks’ Black Box there.
How to get The Whitewatch Peaks Black Box
Climb the mountain wall to the east of the distress signal on the map to get access to the top. You can scan for climbable ledges, which will highlight them in yellow. The Black Box can be found beneath some rubble on the mountainside. Just pull the rubble away with the Pullcaster.
Black Box: Jagged Deep
Jagged Deep Black Box Location
The Jagged Deep Black Box may be located south of Cauldron MU and even further south of Plainsong – the position of which is depicted on the map above. This wreckage is located at the bottom of the lake, and you can detect the signal by scanning the area when you are in the vicinity.
How to get the Jagged Deep Black Box
To get the Jagged Deep Black Box, it is necessary to plunge down, pry open the door, and swim into the plane wreckage. The ability to hold your breath indefinitely is unlocked in the main story quest: The Sea of Sands if you are unable to hold your breath for an extended period of time.
Black Box: Bleeding Mark
Bleeding Mark Black Box Location
The Bleeding Mark Black Box location can be found in the mountains towards the edge of the map, northeast of Bleeding Mark and farther northeast of Scalding Spear – the exact position may be found on the map above. Once you arrive, you will be able to see the wreckage in the snow and will be able to scan for a nearby signal.
How to get the Bleeding Mark Black Box
To get the Bleeding Mark Black Box is fairly straightforward — simply climb up to the plane wreck and pry open the door. Alternatively, you can either climb the mountain wall or press X on the grappling point at the edge of the plane wreck to go up there. Between the two, climbing the mountain wall is the more difficult option.
Black Box: The Stillsands
The Stillsands Black Box Location
The Stillsands Black Box can be found in the desert to the northwest of Hidden Ember, just west of Relic Ruins: The Stillsands, on the other side of the river. It will be located near to the camp of a Salvage Contractor, which means you will be able to come across it while on one of those quests.
Reminder:
You’ll need the Vine Cutter to get past the Metal Flowers to get this Black Box. You can unlock the Vine Cutter special gear during main story quest: Seeds of the Past, so you might have to get back on this one later on.
How to get The Stillsands Black Box
Use the vine cutter to cut through the Metal Flower at the entrance. Remove the Metal Flower from the way, and the vines will be dislodged, allowing you access to the plane wreckage. The Black Box will appear behind a door and a crate.
Black Box: Salt Bite
Salt Bite Black Box Location
This Black Box can be found in the Salt Bite settlement. You’ll need to walk into town and look for the signal, which will lead you to the weapon merchant’s location.
How to get the Salt Bite Black Box
Find the Hunter merchant. Behind his store, there is a building that has a vent on the side of the structure. Using a Pullcaster, tear off the air vent covering and climb through to get to the plane wreckage. Crawl through until you reach the Salt Bite Black Box at the end of the path.
Black Box: The Memorial Grove
The Memorial Grove Black Box Location
At the fork in the road near the entrance to the Memorial Grove, turn south and cross the river. You will notice a plane wreckage lodged on a tiny cliff. Head inside the wreckage and scan the area to determine the exact location of the Memorial Grove Black Box.
How to get The Memorial Grove Black Box
Climb up the slope the plane is on. Make your way to the back of the plane and do an air-jump to reach the grappling point. Now simply pry open the door to find The Memorial Grove Black Box box inside.
Black Box: Bonewhite Tear
Bonewhite Tear Black Box Location
The Bonewhite Tear Black Box is on a plane wreckage located in the mountains to the northwest of The Bulwark. Scan the region for the signal to locate the Black Box. Follow the patch of grass and trees uphill until you reach the top of the hill. There’s a short walk along the cliffs to the campfire. Alternatively, you can utilize the flying mount to climb to the top of the hill.
How to get Bonewhite Tear Black Box
First, head to the Shelter and look for a power cell next to the campfire. To get into the wreckage, walk over to the door and put in the power cell. The Bonewhite Tear Black Box is located behind the door.
Black Box: Stand of the Sentinels
Stand of the Sentinels Black Box Location
For the Sentinels Black Box location, head to the Raintrace Rise settlement, northeast of Thornmarsh, north of Relic Ruins: The Long Coast. From there, head north to a nearby campfire. This is in a plane wreck on a mountaintop. Scan for the signal, and you can get there from the road to the east of the Black Box icon on the map. Follow the slope around the mountain and jump over to the plane wreck.
How to get Stand of the Sentinels Black Box
Continue in the direction of the signal by ziplining across the chasm and climbing up to the other side. You should be able to view the plane’s wreckage, and you will need to leap and grapple onto it. Move the container out of the path, push it away and you’ll be able to get your hands on the Sentinels Black Box collectible hidden behind it.
Black Box: The Raintrace
The Raintrace Black Box Location
The Raintrace Black Box is just north of Salvage Contractor: The Raintrace, and southeast of Hunting Grounds: The Raintrace. The Raintrace Black Box location is very near the Salvage Contractor camp in the area. Head to the location on the map above to find the plane wreck in the marshes.
Reminder:
You’ll need the Vine Cutter to get past the Metal Flowers to get this Black Box. You can unlock the Vine Cutter special gear during main story quest: Seeds of the Past, so you might have to get back on this one later on.
How to get The Raintrace Black Box
Remove the vines by striking the metal blossom in the middle of the two plane crashes. A battery can be found in the plane section with the vines; use:r3: to highlight it in purple. The black box is in another plane disaster, so pick it up and place it on that one. Finally, open the door and retrieve it.
Black Box: Black Isle of Spires
Black Isle of Spires Black Box Location
The Black Isle of Spires Black Box can be found in the ruins of San Francisco. Near a Charger Mount Site on the northern part of the island, you’ll find this Black Box hiding in plain sight, just adjacent to the cockpit of a downed aircraft.
How to get Black Isle of Spires Black Box
To get the Black Isle of Spires Black Box, there is no actual climbing needed, you can just walk over the cliffs to where the item is located.
Reward for Collecting All 12 Black Boxes in Horizon Forbidden West
The reward for completing all 12 Black Boxes in Horizon Forbidden West is a legendary weapon, The Legendary Blastslings “Wings of the Ten”. As one of the finest weapons in the game, it does an incredible amount of explosive damage to the enemy team.
How to Get Legendary Wings of Ten Weapon
How to Claim Reward
You can get The Legendary Blastslings “Wings of the Ten” weapon by claiming your rewards from Untalla, the Black Box Collector, who lives in The Memorial Grove and can be found on the map. The Legendary Blastslings “Wings of the Ten” weapon can only be unlocked if you have found all 12 Black Boxes and spoken with Untalla. You can check your progress on the Notebook menu. She’s looking for the Black Boxes and is also willing to trade you rare materials for them.
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Also check out this awesome video by Arekkz Gaming on Horizon Forbidden West | How to Get Legendary Wings of Ten Weapon & All Black Box Locations: