All Flashpoint Consequences and Major Choices - Horizon Forbidden West Guide - IGN (2024)

During Aloy's journey through the Forbidden West, she'll be able to make a range of decisions that alter her relationships and the events of the story. Included in these are major story choices and flashpoints, which are dialogue-based decisions that allow Aloy to pick how she approaches a conversation.

In each of these moments, the game will give you the option of responding with compassion, intelligence or aggression. When a flashpoint appears, you'll see three dialogue options marked with individual symbols.

The heart represents the compassion option, the brain represents the intelligence option and the fist represents the aggression option. Picking one will change how Aloy reacts, potentially cultivating or souring her relationship with a character going forward.

Below, you'll find all the game's flashpoints and the consequences for each major story decision.

Point of the Lance Flashpoint - King Avad Choice

During the Point of the Lance quest, you'll find a flashpoint during an optional conversation with Sun-King Avad. The ruler will discuss what Aloy plans to do after she's conquered the Forbidden West, with Avad wanting the hero to return to Meridian. He hints that he's romantically interested in Aloy and would like to get to know her better. This leads to a flashpoint.

Compassion - Aloy tells Avad that she'd love to spend more time with him in Meridian, but the mission is too important and she must focus on the task at hand. She claims that she can't think about what comes after, to which Avad tells her that whatever she chooses, she'll always be welcome in Meridian.

Intelligence - Aloy reminds Avad that it's important to have perspective and that their relationship comes second to her mission to save the world. Avad agrees, musing that as a liege, he should be the one considering the needs of the people before his own.

Aggression - Aloy gets angry at Avad, stressing the importance of her mission and asking him if he's listened to any of her warnings. Avad apologizes and asks her to forget his offer, wishing her the best of luck on her journey.

To the Brink Flashpoint - Erend Choice

During the To the Brink quest, Aloy will be reunited with Erend, although there is some tension between the pair. Erend is frustrated that Aloy left Meridian unceremoniously following the battle against HADES, not saying goodbye to the slew of comrades that risked everything to help her defeat her foe. After Erend makes a passive-aggressive remark towards Aloy, the hero confronts her ally's bitterness head-on, opening up a flashpoint after he reveals he's hurt she left without a trace.

Compassion - Aloy apologizes for leaving so suddenly, revealing to Erend that her mission will impact the fate of humanity. Erend is taken aback by the news and asks to help, but Aloy admits that it's bigger than simply fighting machines, claiming it's something she must do on her own. Erend accepts this and the two make up.

Intelligence - Aloy breaks down her mission and explains to Erend why it's so important, noting that the fate of humanity rests on her shoulders. Erend agrees that her reason for leaving was important and regrets bringing up his frustration with her sudden absence.

Aggression - Aloy snaps at Erend, telling him that the stakes of her mission are more important than his feelings. When Erend hears the fate of the world is at stake, he feels terrible, telling her that he shouldn't have said anything.

The Twilight Path - Tolland Cleanbroker Choice

After ascending the cliffs behind the Shadow Carja's camp and discovering the fate of Sahovar in The Twilight Path side quest, Aloy will come face to face with Tolland Cleanbroker: the salvager that killed the Stormbird Sahovar was praying to. The Chainscrape local is demanding the Shadow Carja let him through so he can reach the remains of his prey. When Aloy finally arrives at the camp, a flashpoint will trigger.

Compassion - Aloy relates to Tolland, reminding him that the Stormbird's heart has brought him nothing but frustration. She tells him that he might as well cut his losses and head home. Tolland's men agree that the Stormbird isn't worth the trouble and the group return to Chainscrape.

Intelligence - Aloy reminds Tolland that the law states the first person to reach a machine's salvage is entitled to keep it. Although the salvager is aggravated, he acknowledges that she is correct, leaving with his men and heading back to Chainscrape.

Aggression - Aloy squares up to Tolland and welcomes him and his men to fight her. Tolland initially rises to the threat until he realizes that his men are terrified at the prospect of facing the legendary Hero of Meridian. He backs down, returning to Chainscrape with his men.

GEMINI - Beta Choice

After completing the Faro's Tomb quest and returning to base, Aloy discovers that she needs Beta's assistance on the team's most perilous mission yet. The only problem? Beta is far from pleased about the prospect of venturing headfirst into danger, especially as her capture would result in returning to a life of servitude. When convincing Beta to join the mission, Aloy gets a flashpoint decision:

Compassion - Aloy promises to personally protect Beta, telling her that the importance of the world rests on her shoulders. Beta rejects the notion before eventually agreeing to go with Aloy after the pair discuss Rost.

Intelligence - Aloy reminds Beta that she devised a solid plan, telling her that the probability of success without her is much slimmer than if she decides to tag along. Beta rejects the notion before eventually agreeing to go with Aloy after the pair discuss Rost.

Aggression - Aloy tells Beta that the world is relying on her and she needs to find her courage. Beta rejects the notion before eventually agreeing to go with Aloy after the pair discuss Rost.

Regalla Choice - The Effects of Killing or Saving Regalla

After Aloy soars into battle during the Wings of the Ten mission, she finds herself going head to head with Regalla in a high-stakes battle that will decide the future of the Tenakth. Aloy eventually wins this fight, overpowering Regalla and forcing her to submit. She's then faced with a hard choice: put an end to the revenge-driven chief of the rebels or spare her, recruiting her to join the fight against the Zeniths. A flashpoint decision will follow this, asking Aloy what she intends to do with her foe.

Compassion - There's another battle ahead - Aloy spares Regalla on the condition that she joins the team's battle to take down the Zeniths. She agrees, expressing her lust for a warrior's death in battle. She'll then head to Aloy's base and eventually join the invasion of the Zenith base during the Singularity mission. No matter your choices, she'll always die in the ensuing battle, being killed by a horde of Spectres.

Intelligence - This isn't easy - This choice won't resolve the flashpoint, but better flesh out the decision you must make. Aloy will weigh up Regalla's crimes but also what good she could serve if left alive, before the rebel leader demands she makes a decision

Aggression - You Life Ends here - Aloy decides that Regalla's atrocities cannot go unpunished. She sentences the leader to death, at which point Kotallo impales her with his spear. With Regalla dead, Chief Hakkaro gives Aloy her Sharpshot bow, Regalla's Wrath, telling her to put it to good use in the battles ahead.