The Hidebound Weapon Coil is one of the more specialized and sought-after upgrades available in games like Horizon Forbidden West, where weapon modifications play a crucial role in enhancing combat performance. This particular coil boosts a weapon’s effectiveness by increasing specific stats like damage, elemental effects, or critical strike potential. Because of its rarity and power, acquiring the Hidebound Weapon Coil can give players a strong edge during late-game challenges. However, finding this coil isn’t straightforward and often requires exploration, defeating specific enemies, and visiting key vendors. Whether you’re looking to improve your bows, spears, or other ranged weapons, obtaining the Hidebound Weapon Coil is a goal worth pursuing for any serious player.
What is the Hidebound Weapon Coil?
Understanding Weapon Coils
Weapon Coils are upgrade items that can be slotted into your weapons to enhance specific stats such as damage, handling, elemental buildup, and more. These coils vary in quality, with rare and legendary types offering the most significant boosts. The Hidebound Weapon Coil falls into the high-tier category and typically offers unique bonuses related to stealth, melee damage, or elemental enhancements, depending on the game and weapon system.
Why the Hidebound Coil Matters
Unlike more common coils, the Hidebound variant often adds conditional bonuses such as increased damage while undetected, faster weapon draw speed, or stronger critical hits after dodging. This makes it especially useful for players who favor a tactical or stealth-heavy combat approach. In high-difficulty encounters or against boss-type enemies, this coil can make a noticeable difference in your survivability and efficiency.
How to Get the Hidebound Weapon Coil
1. Defeating Specific Machine Types
One of the most common ways to obtain rare coils like the Hidebound Weapon Coil is by looting them from defeated machines. Certain enemy types have a higher drop rate for rare or legendary coils. Focus on the following:
- Shellsnapper: These tank-like machines often drop advanced coils when defeated in high-level zones.
- Clawstrider and Apex variants: Especially when taken down during nighttime or in ultra-hard difficulty, their loot includes rare coils.
- Stalker: Known for stealth mechanics, these machines sometimes drop coils that match their own combat traits ideal for finding Hidebound types.
Make sure to target weak points and use Tear damage to avoid destroying potential loot containers during combat.
2. Completing High-Tier Hunting Grounds
Hunting Grounds are challenge-based areas scattered across the map. By completing all trial challenges with full marks (usually marked as Blazing Suns or similar rankings), you unlock powerful rewards that include rare coils.
- Focus on stealth trials or melee-focused challenges, which may yield stealth-enhancing coils like Hidebound.
- Return to the grounds after each major game update, as new coil types may be added to the reward pool.
These challenges also refine your combat skills and familiarize you with specific weapon techniques that synergize well with coils like Hidebound.
3. Purchasing from Special Vendors
Some in-game merchants offer rotating stock that includes rare coils. While the Hidebound Weapon Coil isn’t always available, checking back regularly may help.
- The Arena Vendor: Found in end-game hubs, this vendor accepts medals or special currency earned from arena battles.
- Specialist Merchants: Vendors that appear in settlements like Scalding Spear, Thornmarsh, or Legacy’s Landfall often have better stock than early-game areas.
To maximize your chances, fast travel between major settlements and check each merchant’s inventory. Upgrading your Pouch to carry more shards will help if a rare coil appears at a high cost.
4. Exploring Relic Ruins and Hidden Vaults
Some coils are hidden in specific, puzzle-oriented areas like Relic Ruins. These optional areas often contain locked chests that require key items or environmental solutions to access.
- Use your Focus scanner to highlight hidden passages or vents.
- Keep an eye out for Datapads or Notes that hint at secret coil stashes.
- Look for metal flowers, firegleam walls, or grappling points that open up sealed rooms.
While not guaranteed, players have reported finding rare coils like Hidebound inside these areas after completing all puzzles.
5. Rewards from Side Quests or Salvage Contracts
Some side quests, especially those involving machine salvage or high-tier contracts, will reward players with gear directly or through random loot boxes.
- Contract: The Stillsands Salvage: Completing all objectives and bonus tasks can reward rare coils.
- Outcast Challenges: High-risk quests in remote areas often have better rewards if completed without taking damage or within time limits.
Always read the reward section of a quest log before starting. If it mentions rare gear, there’s a decent chance the Hidebound Weapon Coil could be included in the drop table.
Optimizing the Hidebound Coil’s Potential
Best Weapons to Use With It
The Hidebound Weapon Coil works best when equipped on weapons that complement stealth or close-range builds. Consider these pairings:
- Sharpshot Bows: Ideal for stealth attacks and critical hits from a distance.
- Hunter Bows with stealth mods: Combine rapid-fire with silent movement.
- Tripcasters: Set traps and use the coil to maximize your first strike advantage.
Matching weapon stats with the coil’s bonus will amplify your effectiveness, especially when targeting elite machines or enemy camps.
Upgrade and Combine
As you progress, upgrade your weapons to unlock multiple coil slots. This allows you to stack the Hidebound Coil with others, such as:
- Concentration Damage Coil: Boosts critical hits while aiming with focus.
- Overdraw Coil: Increases damage when holding full draw on bows.
This combination lets you eliminate enemies with a single stealth shot, especially in early encounters during an ambush.
Playstyle Tips
To get the most out of your Hidebound Weapon Coil, consider adapting your gameplay strategy:
- Stay crouched and use tall grass for cover.
- Use silent strike abilities to start fights with an advantage.
- Equip armor sets that increase stealth resistance or focus duration.
This playstyle is ideal for players who prefer a tactical approach rather than head-on confrontation.
The Hidebound Weapon Coil is a valuable asset for any player looking to enhance their tactical and stealth-oriented gameplay. Whether you’re dismantling tough machines in silence or landing critical hits with precision, this coil adds meaningful strength to your arsenal. To obtain it, focus on farming high-level machines, completing stealth trials, exploring hidden ruins, and checking vendor inventories frequently. Patience and a strategic approach will reward you with one of the most useful modifications in the game. Equip it wisely, combine it with other powerful coils, and tailor your combat strategy to fully unlock the Hidebound Coil’s potential in every encounter.