Use Weapon Techniques

Learn how to use Weapon Techniques in Horizon Forbidden West. Discover how to unlock, switch between, and manage Stamina for powerful combat abilities.

Weapon Techniques in Horizon Forbidden West are powerful abilities that consume Stamina. To use most techniques, hold L2 to aim and R1 to activate. Some, like Triple Notch and Double Notch, load extra arrows that are fired with R2, consuming Stamina as they are notched.

If you have multiple techniques for a weapon, hold R2 and use the D-Pad left or right to switch between them. There's no penalty for switching on the fly, but all techniques share the same Stamina bar.

Stamina is a yellow bar on the bottom right of the screen. Techniques consume varying amounts of Stamina (Small, Medium, Large). Without boosts, you can use 'Small' techniques multiple times, 'Medium' twice, and 'Large' once. The 'Weapon Stamina+' skill and armor can increase maximum Stamina, potentially doubling it. Stamina regenerates over time, and the 'Stamina Regen' skill can increase this rate.

Some techniques also consume ammunition: Triple Notch uses 2-3 arrows, Braced Shot uses three arrows, Spread Shot uses five arrows, Ultra Shot uses ten bolts, and Sustained Burst uses an entire Boltblaster clip. The damage output is usually worth the ammo cost.