Horizon Forbidden West: All Survey Drones Locations

Where are all the Survey Drones in Horizon Forbidden West? What are Survey Drones, and how do you get them? As part of our Horizon Forbidden West guide, we'll be outlining what Survey Drones are and where to find them.

Note: There may be potential spoilers among the information in this guide. In order to prevent being spoiled, return to this guide after completing the Main Quest, The Dying Lands.

Horizon Forbidden West: What Are Survey Drones?

Survey Drones are a type of collectable in Horizon Forbidden West. They can be found flying in specific locations throughout the map. There are 10 Survey Drones in total.

Horizon Forbidden West: How to Reach Survey Drones

Once you locate a Survey Drone, you might be wondering how to reach it. Survey Drones cannot be shot down with arrows as they have an impenetrable shield protecting them from your weapons. In order to secure a Survey Drone and have it count as collected, you will need to physically grab the Survey Drone.

Each Survey Drone will hover past a high structure of some kind along its flight path. What you have to do is find a way to climb up to that high point, and when the Survey Drone is close enough, jump to it and pull it down to the ground. At this point, Aloy will "collect" the Survey Drone.

Horizon Forbidden West: What to Do with Survey Drones

After completing the Main Quest, The Dying Lands, and the Interlude that follows, you will have established what is known as The Base. Inside The Base, you can converse with GAIA in her chamber. Behind her, you will find a console. On first approach, it is called a PSiClOPS Console, but is referred to on the map as Survey Drone Views.

When you have collected any Survey Drones, you can come back to this terminal and connect their data. This allows you to change the setting of GAIA's chamber, projecting an image of a Survey Drone's surroundings. Think of it like changing the wallpaper on a computer, only way cooler.

Horizon Forbidden West: All Survey Drones Locations

Below, we're going to point out where to find all the Survey Drones in Horizon Forbidden West. They are presented in the order we found them while playing — it doesn't matter in which order you collect them.

Survey Drone: Plainsong

This Survey Drone can be found to the northeast of Plainsong, hovering around a patch affected by the Blight. There are some ruins at the back of this area you can climb and then grab the drone.

Survey Drone: No Man's Land

This Survey Drone is located southwest of Carja Camp. Unfortunately, this drone is flying around an area where a Thunderjaw roams. You need to climb the tall rocks in the centre of the Thunderjaw Site, but if you want to claim the drone in peace, you will have to take down the huge machine first. You might want to ensure you're a high enough level before doing this one.

Survey Drone: The Dry Yearn

This Survey Drone is found flying above a Shellsnapper Site to the east of Scalding Spear. Some southern hills can be climbed, and from the top, you'll be able to jump to the drone.

Survey Drone: The Greenswell

This Survey Drone is located to the east of Salvage Contractor: The Greenswell, hovering in the hills at the edge of the map. At this location you'll find a Campfire and a few rebels. Kill the rebels, and you'll notice a building with some Firegleam on it. Blow that up, then climb up from the inside to a pole. This will crash down, allowing you to reach the cliff face opposite. Climb up to the spot where there's a wooden platform, and you'll be able to reach the drone.

Survey Drone: The Stillsands

This Survey Drone is hovering around the ruins of a large building south of Hidden Ember. You will need to climb to the top of this building and wait for the drone to get close enough to hop to it.

Survey Drone: The Sheerside Mountains

This Survey Drone is located north of The Bulwark, in the snowy mountains. You will need to scale the cliff face and reach a platform in order to jump to the drone.

Survey Drone: The Graypeak

This Survey Drone can be found to the southwest of Sky's Sentry, on the other side of the mountain. The drone is flying above a Slaughterspine, so you'll have to be careful. A highly placed wooden platform can be reached with a bit of climbing, and you can jump to the drone from here.

Survey Drone: Stand of the Sentinels

This Survey Drone is found to the southeast of Tide's Reach and the southwest of Tallneck: The Stand of the Sentinels. There are a few platforms high up in the trees; starting with a fallen tree to reach the first of these, climb all the way to the top (pictured). You can grab the drone at the top.

Survey Drone: Thornmarsh

This Survey Drone can be found just to the northeast of Thornmarsh. Be careful, as it's hovering above the territory of a Fireclaw. Take down this machine so you can claim the drone in peace. Use the Pullcaster to grapple onto the trees and wooden structures nearby and you can jump to the drone.

Survey Drone: Isle of Spires

This Survey Drone is found just to the west of Legacy's Landfall, the settlement located on the Isle of Spires. You'll need to climb the ruin of a skyscraper in order to reach it.

That's our guide on all the Survey Drones in Horizon Forbidden West. Have you collected them all? Tell us in the comments section below, and be sure to check out our Horizon Forbidden West guide for way more info on the game.