For most players,the Stillsands' Relic Ruins will probably be the first ruins that they stumble across after passing through the mountains and into Tenakth territory. As the name might suggest, the ruins are slap-bang in the middle of a desert (the Mojave Desert, to be precise), though anyHorizon Forbidden Westplayers expecting a dry and dusty affair will be in for a bit of a shock.
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Despite the sandy setting, the Stillsands Relic Ruins serve as awater dungeonof sorts, with players having to raise (and potentially lower) the water levels inside the structure in order to get to its Ornament. Of course, crates are also involved, as too is Firegleam, but as there’s no legit way to reach this part ofHorizon Forbidden West’s map without the Igniter, this shouldn’t be an issue.
How to Raise the Water Level
Upon dropping down into the Stillsands Relic Ruins, the first thing that players should do is climb up onto the pillar in the center of the room and jump backwards onto the nearby broken staircases by pressing the Circle button. Not far from where they land is a crate, which they should push down into the area below. There’sa Firegleam crystalin the area where it lands, which players should destroy using their Igniter.
With the wall now destroyed, players can push the crate through the hole and use it to climb up onto the nearby yellow beam. This will enable them to reach the water valve, which, as one might expect, can be used to turn on the water. Due to the nearby drainage grate, however, this water will just flow away at first, but players can put a stop to this by pushing the crate into the drainage grate alcove.
How to Get the Store Key
Almost immediately after blocking the drainage grate, the water level will begin to rise, forcing players to make a hasty retreat back to the main chamber. Once there, they’ll be able to swim over to the broken staircase with the Store Key and pick it up. There’s also a Datapoint if they head up the stairs, but players won’t need to scan it to get their hands on the Ornament this time around. With the key now in hand, they should then unlock the door to the north of the chamber.
How to Get the Ornament
Unlocking the door will reward players with yet another crate, which can be pushed into the water and used as a floating platform. Unfortunately, however,Aloy isn’t strong enoughto move it by swimming into it, meaning players will need to use the Pullcaster to get the crate where it needs to go. They’re looking for a yellow beam on the right side of the most southerly section of the chamber, so they’ll need to move the crate quite far.
This section is more frustrating than it is difficult, with Aloy only able to get out of the water in certain spots and the crate often getting caught on things if players pull it too close to them. Even so, it shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to get it to the right spot. Those who are really struggling can make life a little easier for themselves by lowering the water level again, though using the Pullcaster to move the crate is definitely faster for those who are able.
To lower the water level, players should swim back down to the valve room and close the valve, which will stop more water from pouring in. They’ll then need to use the Pullcaster to move the crate and unblock the drainage grate, after which the water level will drop back down to the way it was when Aloy first arrived. Players can then push the second crate exactly where it needs to be before raising the water level back up by repeating the steps from earlier.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available now on PS4 and PS5.
