Horizon Zero Dawn Guide: How to Override Machines & Ride Mounts

Horizon: Zero Dawn is a big open-world and if you want to get around without having to trek across countless mountains, high places and machine infested areas, one choice is to fast travel but that is only limited to campfires you have previously found. One of your main ways to get around quickly is overriding a machine and using it as a mount.

Horizon: Zero Dawn has three different machine types which you can override and mount but require you to unlock them. Here’s how you can unlock additional mounts and use them for your travel leisure.

How to Mount a Machine

In the early game after a certain part of the main story, Aloy will gain the ability to control machines and make them friendly. To do this, you need to sneak up on a machine undetected and hit Triangle when prompted to start the override process. Overriding does take a few seconds, so keep your eye out for hostiles and once you have started or completed an Override there is a cooldown of about 5 seconds before you can use it again.

Not all machines can be use as mounts but if you turn them to your side, they will fight for you until the Override wears of, or they die.

Where to Unlock Mounts

Overriding machines is done in sets, there are four areas in the world called Cauldrons, underground bunkers where machines are made. If you are able to gain access to the Cauldron, fight your way to the end and hack into the machine network you will gain a new roster of machines you can overwrite in the field.

Horizon Zero Dawn Cauldron Machine Overrides

PSI Cauldron

Charger: Mountable
Strider: Mountable
Tallneck: Not Mountable
Watcher: Not Mountable
Redeye Watcher: Not Mountable
Broadhead: Mountable

Sigma Cauldron

Grazer: Not Mountable
Scrapper: Not Mountable
Lancehorn: Not Mountable
Sawtooth: Not Mountable

XI Cauldron

Glinthawk: Not Mountable
Fire Bellowback: Not Mountable
Freeze Bellowback: Not Mountable

RHO Cauldron

Longleg: Not Mountable
Trampler: Not Mountable
Shell-Walker: Not Mountable
Snapmaw: Not Mountable

Zeta Cauldron

Rockbreaker: Not Mountable
Thunderjaw: Not Mountable
Stormbird: Not Mountable

If you are still getting started in the world of Horizon: Zero Dawn, then check out our essential 8 tips and tricks that should be able to improve your adventure.