Exploring the expansive frontier of Horizon Forbidden West requires players to constantly adapt to dangerous environments and powerful machine threats. Beyond acquiring high-tier weapons and armor, players can express their stylistic identity by utilizing various cosmetic features scattered across the vibrant map. Among these cosmetic options, face paint serves as a visual testament to Aloy's deep journey through the territories of different tribes.
Unlocking Tribal Styles Throughout the Frontier
Acquiring new face paint designs is intimately tied to exploring the unique cultural groups residing in the forbidden frontier. Players will naturally earn distinct cosmetics by successfully concluding main narrative missions and assisting various settlements with their local side objectives. For example, helping out specific communities will yield traditional Nora, Carja, Banuk, or Tenakth designs that reflect their distinct heritage.
Additionally, clearing out enemy rebel camps and completing specific hunting grounds challenges will unlock more aggressive war paint options. Dedicated collectors should also seek out hidden ruins and complete specific salvage contracts to obtain rarer cosmetics. Experiencing these side activities naturally expands your visual inventory while enhancing your overall exploration of the game's beautiful open world.
Visiting Painters for Customization
Once you have unlocked a selection of designs, you cannot simply apply them directly from the main inventory screen during normal gameplay. Instead, you must locate dedicated NPC merchants known as Painters who reside within the major hub settlements across the map. These specialized vendors can be found in prominent locations such as Scalding Spear, The Memorial Grove, and Thornmarsh.
Interacting with a Painter opens a dedicated customization menu where you can browse your unlocked library for a small fee of shards. This system adds a layer of roleplaying immersion, forcing players to visit local cultural hubs to alter their appearance before heading back out into the wild. If you want to experiment with these designs without spending resources, the robust photo mode also allows you to preview any unlocked face paint for free.
Strategic Achievements and Difficulty Rewards
For players seeking the ultimate visual bragging rights, certain exclusive cosmetics are locked behind specific gameplay accomplishments. Completing the entire main campaign on higher difficulty settings will reward dedicated players with rare and complex tribal patterns. These high-tier rewards allow veterans to showcase their mastery over the game's toughest combat challenges.
Furthermore, entering New Game Plus mode introduces an entirely fresh set of unlockable cosmetics that cannot be obtained during a standard first playthrough. Balancing your exploration between tactical combat challenges and narrative side quests ensures you will eventually collect every single pattern available. Ultimately, these visual additions provide an excellent incentive to revisit the beautiful landscape and experiment with different aesthetic styles.
