Horizon: Zero Dawn Cauldron Locations Guide

Cauldrons — ancient production facilities filled with advanced tech and deadly machines — lie scattered across all of Horizon Zero Dawn and its DLC, The Frozen Wilds. Finding their locations and completing them grants you the ability to “override” various machines, turning them to your side.

Each Cauldron is a small dungeon complex filled with platforming, light puzzle solving, stealth, and an ending boss encounter. Follow along with this guide to learn where to find each Cauldron in Horizon Zero Dawn.

Cauldron SIGMA Location

The first Cauldron you’re likely to run across is Cauldron SIGMA. It is northwest of Hunter’s Gathering in a clearing at the base of a mountain.

There are a few watchers stationed about, and Shell-Walkers patrol regularly. The entrance isn’t that far off the beaten path, and unless you aren’t looking for it, you’re unlikely to miss the huge, futuristic hole in the rocks.

With the SIGMA override, you can hack these machines:

• Grazer
• Lancehorn
• Sawtooth
• Scrapper

Cauldron RHO Location

Cauldron RHO is in the side of a mountain southwest of Daytower Gate. 

Reaching RHO’s location is not the hard part. The entrance is at the end of a pathway going down into a small clearing. Several Watchers guarding the entryway, and they’re quick to call reinforcements if you aren’t careful.

Getting into the Cauldron itself, however, is a little more complicated. You’ll need to turn left and head down into the gorge in front of the complex. From there, you’ll work your way up through the Cauldron, rather than entering through the front and making your way down.

With the RHO override, you can hack these machines:

• Longleg
• Ravager
• Shell-walker
• Snapmaw
• Trampler

Cauldron XI Location

Cauldron XI can be found south of the city of Meridian. It’s defended by the Eclipse, and you’ll need to fight your way through them to reach the entrance. 

There are two main entrances to the Cauldron. The path from the north has a save campfire just outside the camp, and you can also come from the west. Northern aggressors will have better stealth options, but coming from the west means fewer total defenders looking your way.

You’ll find a door at the top of the camp, and you’ll have a button prompt to open it. Do so and descend.

With the Cauldron XI override, you’ll be able to hack these machines:

• Behemoth
• Fire Bellowback
• Freeze Bellowback
• Glinthawk
• Stalker

Cauldron ZETA Location

You’ll find Cauldron ZETA tucked away in a forested valley in the northwestern portion of the map. 

You’ll need to be past Dawn’s Sentinel to reach ZETA, which occurs at the midpoint of the game. From there, you can follow the path north and west until you reach the area. 

The entrance itself appears to be sealed, but if you look up and to the left, you’ll see a single red-eye Watcher guarding the actual door. There are, however, some flares surrounding your way in, and they’ll alert ZETA’s real guards if tripped.

These guards are three Stalker machines that prowl the woods just before you reach the Cauldron. They’re fast, hit hard, and turn invisible to sneak up on you. Corrosive arrows and fire arrows are a good option.

With the ZETA override, you’ll be able to hack these machines:

• Rockbreaker
• Stormbird
• Thunderjaw 

Cauldron Epsilon Location (The Frozen Wilds)

In the Frozen Wilds expansion, Cauldron Epsilon is covered in purple light and can be found at the back of a large facility known as Firebreak at the far eastern side of the map. 

Accessing the Cauldron takes place as part of the side quest “The Forge of Winter,” and you’ll need your NPC allies with you to make it through the complex. More than that, I leave for you to discover.

That’s all for our Horizon Zero Dawn Cauldron locations guide. For more tips and strategies for HZD, be sure to head over to our guides hub. 

[Cauldron Epsilon image source: Fandom]