Tracking down every Ancient Vessel in Horizon Zero Dawn offers players an intriguing look into the past while providing valuable in-game resources. These relics, which are actually everyday coffee mugs from the Old World, are scattered throughout the vast post-apocalyptic landscape. By gathering all twelve items, Aloy can trade them with specialized merchants for substantial rewards.
Understanding Ancient Vessels and Their Purpose
Ancient Vessels are key collectibles that showcase the remnants of human civilization prior to the apocalypse. Each mug features a unique logo or design representing corporate entities or locations from the old world. While they hold historical intrigue, their main gameplay value lies in the reward boxes obtained by trading complete sets.
To locate these relics efficiently, players can purchase a collectible map from merchants across the Sundom or Sacred Lands. This map highlights general search areas on the world map, directing Aloy toward buried debris piles. Careful exploration of these marked zones reveals the exact spots where the relics rest.
Key Locations Across the Regions
The twelve vessels are divided into three distinct sets, each associated with specific geographical areas. Set 1 features vessels buried primarily near early-game ruins, including areas around the Sacred Lands and Mother's Heart. Players can unearth relics like the Archi, Miriam, and DroneHop mugs by digging through dirt mounds near old structures.
Set 2 and Set 3 require Aloy to venture further into dangerous territories such as Meridian and the Carja lands. Vessels like Wayfarers, Jilex, and Thunderhead are hidden near overgrown urban ruins and bandit-controlled zones. Navigating these locations often involves clearing out hostile machines or stealthily maneuvering around corruption zones.
Trading Sets for Valuable Collection Rewards
Once Aloy collects a full set of four Ancient Vessels, she can bring them to Studious Palas in the bustling city of Meridian. This specialty merchant values Old World antiquities and exchanges complete sets for valuable Palas reward boxes. These reward boxes contain modification coils, metal shards, and high-tier crafting materials.
Opening these boxes provides a significant boost to Aloy's inventory, helping players upgrade gear and purchase advanced weaponry. Completing the entire collection also counts toward full trophy completion for dedicated achievement hunters. Collecting every relic provides both lore enrichment and practical tactical advantages for upcoming challenges.
Tips for Efficient Exploration and Harvesting
Using Aloy's Focus is essential for pinpointing the exact coordinates of buried debris piles within search zones. The Focus highlights glowing purple markers, distinguishing ancient debris from standard environment terrain. Scanning the terrain prevents unnecessary wandering and saves valuable exploration time.
Combining vessel hunting with regional questing allows players to clear map objectives seamlessly without excessive backtracking. Preparing for combat is also recommended, as many relics sit near machine habitats or bandit camps. Equipping appropriate stealth armor helps avoid unnecessary fights while gathering relics across the frontier.
