Horizon Zero Dawn - How to Complete Ancient Armory Quest for Shield-Weaver Armor
Unlock the Shield-Weaver Armor by finding Power Cells for the Ancient Armory quest in Horizon Zero Dawn.
One of the best outfits in Horizon Zero Dawn is the Shield-Weaver Armor. This unique set of optional armor is only available through a side quest called Ancient Armory. Given that it is the strongest armor in the game, most players would do well to try and unlock this as fast as possible. To do that, players will need to find a few Power Cells to claim this armor that's tucked away in a bunker.
How to start the Ancient Armory quest
The Ancient Armory sidequest activates as soon as you pick up any Power Cell, or find the Bunker that holds the Shield-Weaver Armor. Power Cells are littered throughout five separate story quests, which means you won't be able to complete the sidequest until you're nearly finished with the game. Finding a Power Cell will set a waypoint that leads you directly to the Bunker, but if you want to find it on your own, look on the western side of the map near Devil's Thirst.
Inside the Bunker, you can see the Shield-Weaver Armor behind glass, protected by a panel with two Power Cells missing. You'll need to find those two cells, and then three more to unlock the armor from its restraints.
Power Cell Locations
As mentioned, the Power Cells are dispersed throughout story missions. You can obtain these anytime after completing those missions, but it's easiest if you keep an eye out for them while on the main quests themselves. That way, you won't have to backtrack, especially since many of these missions require some heavy platforming that's assisted by generous waypoints while in the story proper.
Ruins
The first Power Cell can be found in the ruins that Aloy discovered as a child. Once she's grown, and after having completed Womb of the Mountain story quest, you can go back to the Ruins for the Cell. You'll find a room with some various obvious treasure icons, but it's blocked by rock formations. Break them with your spear and head in to find the first Power Cell.
All-Mother Mountain
The second Power Cell can be found during the Womb of the Mountain quest, while Aloy explores All-Mother Mountain. Look for a locked bunker door and then turn left into a tunnel where the Power Cell sits.
Maker's End
When you reach the top of the Faro Skyscraper during a quest at Maker's End, you'll find a room with some major story revelations. In that room, look upward to find another path, and climb to the top for the next Power Cell. Then use the rappel hook to head back down the skyscraper.
Grave-Hoard
This Power Cell can be found in the main foyer of the Grave-Hoard ruins, on the ground.
Gaia Prime
During The Mountain that Fell quest, you'll come to a room with a hologram with another major story revelation. This one involves a major character speaking with a gathered group of scientists. The zipline leads out of the quest area, but rather than take it, look for a path that leads into a cave. Climb down it and find the final Power Cell.
Unlock the Shield-Weaver Armor
With all five Power Cells in hand, you're ready to unlock your armor. Find the Bunker and insert the missing Power Cells into the red nodes that are empty. Then you'll have to move the nodes into the right positions to unlock the door. You can use your Focus to spot hints about the positions of the nodes, or you can simply refer to the solutions below, as read from left to right.
- The solution to the door lock is: up, right, down, left, up.
- The solution to the clamps lock is: right, left, up, right, left.
Once the clamps are unlocked, you can obtain the Shield-Weaver Treasure Box. Open it through your Inventory menu to obtain the outfit, as long as you have an open Outfit slot available.
The Shield-Weaver Armor is one of the best, if not the very best, outfit in Horizon Zero Dawn. The Ancient Armory quest will take a while to complete, as it is somewhat tied to the main storyline. But after finding all the Power Cells, this unique armor will be yours. Make sure to check out the Horizon Zero Dawn guide for more helpful tips and walkthroughs.
