Exploring the post-apocalyptic world of Horizon Zero Dawn offers players countless secrets to discover within ancient ruins and overgrown wilderness. Among the most valuable items scattered throughout Aloy's journey are Power Cells, which serve as essential keys to unlocking top-tier protective equipment. Understanding where to find these rare artifacts and how to use them ensures you maximize Aloy's survivability during challenging combat encounters.
Primary Purpose of Power Cells in Horizon Zero Dawn
Power Cells are special quest items required to complete the side mission known as Ancient Armory. By gathering all five hidden cells, players can restore power to the ancient mechanism inside a subterranean bunker. This unlocks the powerful Shield-Weaver outfit, an advanced armor set that generates a damage-absorbing forcefield around Aloy.
The forcefield absorbs incoming attacks completely before taking damage to Aloy's primary health pool. When the shield depletes, it temporarily flashes red and recharges after avoiding further hits for a short duration. Obtaining this armor dramatically changes combat strategy during tough endgame fights.
Finding Early Game Power Cell Locations
The first Power Cell can be retrieved when exploring the open world after Aloy reaches adulthood. Players can return to the Underground Bunker where Aloy fell as a child and use her spear to break stalactites blocking a hidden room. Inside this office space, the cell rests on a desk waiting to be collected.
Another early cell is located inside the All-Mother Temple during or after the main quest titled The Womb of the Mountain. After waking up inside the mountain, search the side corridors for a open ventilation shaft near a locked door. Crawling through this duct leads directly into the room housing the second cell.
Unlocking Mid and Late Game Power Cells
The remaining three Power Cells are tied to critical path missions in major old-world facilities. During the Maker's End quest, players must scale to the absolute top of the Faro corporate tower. Continuing up the ruined spire above Ted Faro's office reveals a cell sitting on a high platform.
In the icy ruins of The Grave-Hoard, the fourth cell rests on the floor inside a side chamber unlocked after completing ring-dial puzzles. Finally, during the quest titled The Mountain That Fell, explore the ruins of GAIA Prime. Before rappelling down deeper into the facility, follow a hidden side path into a glowing cave to secure the fifth cell.
How to Unlock the Shield-Weaver Outfit
Once all five items are collected, fast travel back to the Ancient Armory ruin located between the Sacred Lands and Nora territory. Insert the first two cells into the entry matrix to solve a time-based holographic dial puzzle. This grants access to the inner chamber containing the sealed armor suit.
Insert the remaining three Power Cells into the second terminal to restore full power to the containment clamps. Solve the final angle-based lock puzzle to release the armor from its display. Open the newly acquired outfit box in your inventory to equip the most protective suit available in the game.
