Players likely haven’t seen the last of Hekarro and the Tenakth. Aloy helps Hekarro during Horizon Forbidden West, and she may need the favor repaid during her battle with Nemesis. The malevolent AI wants nothing more than to kill all humans. Hekarro’s leadership may come in handy as Aloy amasses a team to go against the terrible foe, so it is worth understanding him and why he is such a valuable ally.

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Chief Hekarro and the Tenakth

The Tenakth tribe is one of many tribes players encounter in Horizon Forbidden West. It stands out due to how brutal it is, which has earned it a fierce reputation among neighboring tribes. Many of its customs and beliefs stem from JTF-10, an Old World USA military team. They find out about this team from the holograms left in Memorial Grove. After seeing the many heroic escapades of JTF-10, which they often refer to as the Ten, they deify the group and reflect their highest values and virtues onto them. The Tenakth tribe is divided into three clans - the Desert Clan, the Sky Clan, and the Lowland Clan. They have been in conflict for generations, in part because they all wish to control Memorial Grove, which is an important location for the tribe.

Much of this conflict is brought to a halt by Hekarro, who was the leader of the Lowland Clan. He gains the respect of his clan by proving himself to be one of the fiercest warriors around. He differs from many other tribal chiefs in Horizon Forbidden West because he does not desire conquest and instead wants peace. Despite his strength, he is quite merciful, even to his enemies. This is seen in his treatment of Regalla who stands against Hekarro. Instead of executing her, Hekarro instead spares her life and exiles her.

Under his leadership, the Lowland Clan claims control of Memorial Grove and Hekarro becomes chief. The tribe would have likely experienced another cycle of violent power struggle were it not for a hologram that Hekarro witnesses. He sees Anne Faraday, an Old World American who was in charge of reconciliation efforts following the terrible Battle of Mohave. Her calls for peace touch Hekarro, and it changes his heart forever. Following his encounter with Faraday’s hologram, Chief Hekarro strives to unite the three Tenakth clans. The tribe greatly benefits from this, as it allows them to put up a strong defense when they are targeted by the Carja tribe’s Red Raids. Unlike many other tribes, they hold off the Carja invasion.

Though the Carja and the Tenakth have had their battles, they manage to find common ground and establish relatively peaceful relations. This is thanks in part to King Avad, who puts an end to the Carja tribe’s brutish ways and attempts to make peace with neighboring tribes. Hekarro shares Avad’s desire for peace, though this is something not all Tenakth warriors are on board with, and some still resent the Carja. This includes Regalla, who leads Tenakth rebels against Hekarro. Though Regalla puts up a tough rebellion against Hekarro, she is defeated with a little help from Aloy.

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Unity in the Horizon Series

Though the Horizon series features plenty of conflicts, it is becoming more evident than ever that the key to humanity’s survival is harmony and unity. Many of the problems that arise are due to a lack of unity between parties that share common interests. This is true even in the Old World where humans bickered with each other instead of focusing on the common goal of humanity’s betterment. One can only imagine the dangers that would have been avoided had top minds like Elisabet Sobeck and Ted Faro been working together instead of against each other.

Hekarro, through his unification of the Tenakth tribe, has illustrated his leadership qualities and his ability to bring people together. It may be worthwhile for a Horizon prequel to explore exactly how Hekarro was able to make this happen, as it would shed light on exactly what it takes to be a leader that brings peace. This is important, as it is something Aloy will likely have to learn during her upcoming battle against Nemesis, which she will certainly not be able to deal with on her own.

A spinoff focused on Hekarro’s unification of the Tenakth clans would also reveal how the tribe was able to so valiantly defend itself against the Carja and the Red Raids. It is hinted that there were many great battles during this time, including one which destroyed Barren Light, a Carja fort. Seeing exactly what went down would grant players greater respect for the Tenakth, and allow them to see the tribe as more than just violent brutes.

The Tenakth will likely play an important role in Aloy’s upcoming face-off against Nemesis, but they aren’t the only tribe that she may need to lean on. The Carja tribe, which is massive, may also lend a hand, and Aloy may also seek aid from the brave Banuk warriors. These tribes, like the Tenakth, have their own rich history, and if Guerrilla Games ever decided to do a prequel focused on one of the tribes, they would also make good candidates.

Horizon Forbidden West is available now on PS4 and PS5.

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