Horizon Forbidden West: How to unlock & use face paint

Horizon Forbidden West has plenty of unlockable cosmetics and items, like face paint. These are acquired as rewards throughout the story for completing quests, collecting War Totems, and getting Valor Surges. So, here’s how you can apply Aloy’s iconic face paint in the game.

Be it a protagonist, a vehicle, or a weapon, cosmetics provide players with different ways to customize their characters. And when it comes to Horizon Forbidden West, that’s no different.

The open-world adventure has many cosmetics to choose from, but one, in particular, takes the cake – Aloy’s face paint.

Face paints are a crucial part of the game’s main character as it distinguishes her from the rest. There are plenty to enjoy and choose from – and here’s how to partake in the fun.

Contents

• What are face paints in Horizon Forbidden West?
• How to unlock face paints in Horizon Forbidden West
• How to apply face paint in Horizon Forbidden West
• Where to find Painters in Horizon Forbidden West
• All Horizon Forbidden West face paints

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What are face paints in Horizon Forbidden West?

Face paints are one of many cosmetics in Horizon Forbidden West that players can use to switch up Aloy’s look. Like other cosmetics, they serve no purpose but to give alternatives to the protagonist’s appearance.

Throughout the game, players will encounter various NPCs. Each has their own unique face paints from differing tribes. This means that as fans play, they too can represent a tribe.

How to unlock face paints in Horizon Forbidden West

A good chunk of face paints in Horizon Forbidden West can be unlocked via the main story mission as well as side quests. As you play, you’ll start seeing face paint pop up as a reward for completing content.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to utilize them until you encounter the settlement of Scalding Spear, in the third main area. This means that depending on how much you’ve explored or followed the story, you might be running around with their pockets filled with paints with no way to apply them.

How to apply face paint in Horizon Forbidden West

To apply face paint, you will need to find a Painter merchant in a settlement. Once found, speak to the Painter and they will gladly apply the face paint of choice at a cost of 10 Metal Shards.

Conversely, if you are looking to remove face paint, perhaps to introduce a new one, talk to the NPC once again and they’ll remove it for 1 Metal Shard.

It’s worth noting that you can also apply face paint while using Photo Mode, but it won’t remain on Aloy once play is resumed.

Where to find Painters in Horizon Forbidden West

As aforementioned, Painters are the NPCs that apply face paint on Aloy. There are a total of three in Horizon Forbbiden West in each of the major Tenakth settlements: Scalding Spear, The Bulwark, and Thornmash.

All Horizon Forbidden West face paints

Nora

Oseram

Banuk

Utaru

Carja

Tenakth

Zenith

Quen

Special

Valor Surges

• Ranged Master
• Powershots
• Chain Burst
• Elemental Fury
• Warrior’s Vigor

For more Horizon Forbidden West content, check our guides below:

Horizon Forbidden West review | Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition PC requirements: Minimum & recommended specs | Will Horizon Forbidden West run on Steam Deck? | Horizon Forbidden West: How to destroy Firegleam (Red Crystals) | Horizon Forbidden West: How to apply face paint | How to fix Horizon Forbidden West bricking PS5 | Horizon Forbidden West Explorer vs Guided Mode: What’s the difference? | Is there a Horizon Forbidden West difficulty trophy? How to change difficulties