Horizon Forbidden West: All 10 Survey Drones Locations

In Horizon Forbidden West’s open world, survey drones fly all over the map. From one location to the other, there are ten survey drones that players can interact with and collect their modules. In simple terms, they are small collectibles that the player physically needs to interact with to gain the collectible. This Horizon Forbidden West survey drone’s location guide lists all locations and how to reach and collect the drones. 

Horizon Forbidden West Survey Drone Locations

Since Ten survey drones are roaming around on the map, you cannot destroy them to receive the modules if you can locate them.

What you need to do instead is to take note of the “flying path” of each Survey Drone, as, throughout the map, they will fly in a specific pattern. Survey drones will fly in the surrounding area of a high structure which you can climb and grab onto the drone itself, bringing it down with Aloy’s weight and accessing the modules. 

No Man’s Land Survey Drone 

The first drone in Horizon Forbidden West is found in “No Man’s Land,” This area is located east of the “Jagged Deep Rebel Outpost.”

To locate the drone, head towards the large rock formation on the left side of the map. Use your climbing skills to ascend. At the top, engage and defeat the Thunderjaw in combat. After defeating the Thunderjaw, move onto a small wooden platform and wait. The first survey drone follows a predictable flight path. When it passes by, jump and grab hold of the drone in mid-air.

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This is the first of the Horizon Forbidden West Survey Drone Location guides. 

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The Plainsong Survey Drone 

When exploring the Horizon Forbidden West map, find “Plainsong” for the second survey drone. It’s near a small village, and to spot it, look for Plainsong farms. The drone is close to the northern border, identifiable by Grazers in the area and an “Old Ones” barricade.

You can enter the battleground two ways: first, use your Igniter to defeat the “Firegleam” guarding the main entrance and deal with a “Scrapper” inside. The other option is to climb the walls from behind the battleground, utilizing your climbing ability. Jump onto the right or left wall and access the battleground. Inside, you’ll locate a turret, where the second survey drone starts its flight path.

Once latched onto it, descent slowly. With that, you are done with the second module! 

Dry Yearn Survey Drone

Find it to the north of “Dry Yearn” near a canyon linked to “Shining Wastes.” Look for the drone near a Blight-ridden lake marked by a Shellsnapper Site. It follows a path marked by blue orbs in the sky.

To reach it, head to the rock formation north of the lake and climb it using Aloy’s climbing abilities. Once at the top, you’ll see the Tenakth lookout. Wait for the drone to come by, then launch into the air and grab it.

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You have successfully gotten the third survey drone! 

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Greenswell Survey Drone 

Greenswell, a plain on the eastern end of Salt Bite. Head to the northeast of Salt Bite to locate a Plowhorn Site with a survey drone above a Campfire. Greenswell is near Scalding Spear, which has a Vista Tower. Go northeast to find a field of red Blight by a Campfire. Head east from the Campfire to a cliff with a wooden platform.

Climb the cliff with care to conserve stamina. Once atop, grasp the wooden platform and await the survey drone, which will follow its natural flight path.

Grab the collectible and run away, and you are done with the fourth survey drone!

The Stillsands Survey Drone 

To access the survey drone in the Stillsands area of Forbidden West near the ruins of Las Vegas, follow these steps:

1. Complete the “Sea of Sands” Main Quest: Before attempting to reach the survey drone, make sure you’ve completed the “Sea of Sands” main storyline quest.
2. Locate the Ruined Building: In the southern part of the Stillsands area near the “Hidden Ember,” you’ll find a ruined building.
3. Start at the Campfire: Look for a campfire near the building. This will be your starting point to reach the top of the castle.
4. Head to the Eastern Wall: From the campfire, head towards the eastern wall of the building.
5. Find the Grapple Point: Look for a “Grapple Point” on the eastern wall, and use your pullcaster to reach the roof of the building.
6. Look for Another Grapple Point: From the roof, look to your left to find another Grapple Point. Use it to start climbing the tower.
7. Climb Carefully: As you climb the tower, be prepared for the tower windows to briefly collapse. Use the Handholds to continue climbing.
8. Reach the Top: Once you reach the top of the tower, stand or sit in the gaps between two walls.
9. Wait for the Survey Drone: The survey drone will follow its regular flight path near you. When it gets close, launch yourself into the air and grab onto the survey drone to access it.

This is the fifth survey drone puzzle completed! 

Thornmarsh Survey Drone 

The survey drone is in Thornmarsh settlement, near Raintrace in the Northern edge of “Fireclaw Site.” It’s near red Blights and dead trees.

Find the nearby Campfire for reference shown in the image above. Head to the Campfire in the blighted area and locate a Grapple Point. Use the pullcaster to reach the top of the tallest dead tree with a Tenakth bird symbol. From there, go to the left tree. Wait for the drone to pass, then hop on it and descend slowly.

Grab hold of its collectible, and you are done with the sixth drone! 

The Graypeak Survey Drone 

The survey drone is in Graypeak, Southern Sheerside Mountains, dividing The Memorial Grove and The Stand of the Sentinels, with a nearby Slaughterspine area in Sky Sentry to the South-West.

To reach it, head to the North-Eastern edge of Sky Sentry settlement. Follow a Southward path into the mountains, slightly veering West to reach the Campfire site. Proceed East to the Slaughterspine Site, where cliffs with a Tenakth lookout on top can be scaled using your climbing skills.

When you are on top, go to the platform and start waiting; this is where the survey drone will appear. When it passes the platform, launch yourself up, grab hold of the drone, and bring it to a slow halt on the ground.

Sheerside Mountains Survey Drone 

The Survey Drone in question is situated in the Sheerside Mountains’ northern area, near the Northern Bulwark and a Frostclaw Site, accessible via a waterfall. To reach it, ascend the mountains, utilizing your climbing abilities, and avoiding stamina depletion. Upon reaching the waterfall, scan the area to the right, where you’ll spot a Tenakth lookout.

Once atop the cliff, move closer to the Tenakth platform, where the survey drone follows its flight path. Timing your jump is crucial as the drone passes the platform, allowing you to seize it.

Get a springing start from one edge of the platform, jump onto the drone, and start to descend the cliffs while you are hanging onto the survey drone. Bring it down, and when you are on the ground.

Stand of the Sentinels Survey Drones 

This survey drone is in “The Stand of the Sentinels,” specifically at the Plowhorn Site. To find it, head to the northern edge of the camp. From there, go southeast and locate a fallen tree. Climb onto the tree, sprint along the trunk, and jump onto a wooden platform.

Continue by searching for a Grapple Point to reach platforms atop the trees. Glide using your Glider to reach these platforms. If you fall, use the nearby wooden ladder for assistance.

Amongst the trees, you will encounter a rope that you will need to use your climbing abilities to get on top of and two horizontal ropes that connect the trees. Sprint with them and get on top of the bigger platform on the tree. Using the last vertical ladder, get on top of the last platform and wait for the drone.

Isle of Spires Survey Drone 

The final drone is in the Isle of Spires, close to the settlement in Legacy’s Landfall and near a Campfire. Once near the Campfire, head East to the broken concrete ground near the Utaru bridge.

Climb to the roof of a building and utilize the yellow beam as a Grapple Point to reach a rock. Swing with a second Grapple Point to the building’s side and ascend to the rooftop. Use a Pullcaster to glide onto the rooftop’s edge. On the rooftop, a yellow pipe aids you, and that’s where the survey drone will pass. Jump onto the drone, retrieve its module, and complete the task.

Head over to The Base and connect their data points in the base, allowing you to change the outlook of GAIA’s chamber. With that, we hope this Horizon Forbidden West survey drone location guide was helpful!