Hunting for ancient vessels in Horizon Zero Dawn offers players a fascinating look into the history of the Old World while unlocking valuable trade resources. These unique relics, which are actually stylized corporate coffee mugs from the past, are scattered across the post-apocalyptic landscape, often hidden inside ancient debris piles marked by distinct purple indicators. Gathering the entire collection requires careful exploration of treacherous ruins, forgotten camps, and heavily guarded machine territories.
Understanding the Three Unique Artifact Sets
The twelve collectible mugs in the game are divided evenly into three distinct thematic groups, each reflecting different aspects of the pre-apocalypse culture. Tracking down every ancient vessel horizon zero dawn item gives Aloy a clearer picture of the human civilization that existed before the machines took over the Earth. Recognizing the regional grouping of these items helps players systematically plan their exploration route across the massive open world map.
Set Full and Set Two focus primarily on the industrial ruins found in the eastern and central regions of the territory. Meanwhile, the final set pushes players deep into the western desert expanses and hazardous mountain passes near major settlements. By categorizing your search into these specific phases, you can significantly minimize back-and-tracking through completed zones.
Key Locations Across the Sacred Lands and Carja Territories
Finding the initial batch of relics requires exploring the familiar territories of the Nora tribe, starting near the starting ruins and the Devil's Thirst area. One particularly tricky vessel is located right outside the perimeter of the dangerous Devil's Thirst Bandit Camp, buried underneath centuries of overgrowth. Players should keep their Focus active while exploring these dilapidated structures to pinpoint the exact underground coordinates of the debris.
As Aloy transitions into the vast Carja territories, the search shifts toward sun-drenched canyons and abandoned military installations. A notable relic rests near the dramatic canyon pathways leading up to the fortress city of Meridian, requiring players to perform precise climbing maneuvers along the cliff faces. Another artifact is tucked away safely inside the Maker's End ruins, positioned near the upper levels of the corporate complex structure.
Trading with Specialty Merchants in Meridian
Once you successfully secure a complete group of four relics, the items can no longer be used for standard crafting or upgrade purposes. Instead, players must travel to the bustling marketplace of Meridian to locate a highly specialized merchant named Studious Palas who values Old World history. This merchant turns the old pottery pieces into valuable resource packages containing rare items and modification coils.
Trading these complete sets yields specialized Reward Boxes that hold exceptional modifications for your weapons and armor setups. Additionally, completing the entire hunting checklist is essential for completionist players aiming to unlock the final trophy milestone associated with the game's secret historical lore. Taking the time to unearth these forgotten objects greatly enhances your financial status and combat efficiency in the endgame stages.