You're riding through the desert, the sun is dipping behind the jagged rocks of the Cascades, and suddenly you hear it. That low, rhythmic snarling. It isn’t just one Freaker. It’s hundreds of them. If you’ve spent any time in Bend Studio’s post-apocalyptic Oregon, you know the specific brand of dread that comes with stumbling onto Days Gone Belknap hordes before you’re actually ready to handle them.
Belknap is the second region Deacon St. John explores, and honestly, it’s a massive wake-up call. In the starting area of Cascade, the hordes are small—mostly appetizers. But once you cross over into the volcanic, scrub-brush hellscape of Belknap, the scale shifts. You realize the game isn't just about stealthy headshots anymore. It’s about crowd control, stamina management, and occasionally screaming at your monitor because a stray Swarmer cut off your path to the bike.
The Belknap region contains seven distinct hordes. Some are relatively manageable, tucked away in caves where you can rain down death from above. Others? They’re absolute nightmares that wander the open road or congregate around mass graves. Managing these groups requires a shift in mindset. You can’t just "wing it" here like you did with the O'Leary Mountain horde. You need a plan.
The Reality of the Belknap Horde Locations
Most players make the mistake of thinking they can just hunt these things down during the day. While that’s technically true—they sleep in caves when the sun is up—catching them on the move at night is often where the real chaos happens. In Belknap, the terrain is your biggest enemy or your best friend. There are narrow canyons that act as perfect chokepoints, but those same canyons can become deathtraps if you get cornered.
Take the Patjens Lakes Horde. This one hangs out near the Rebel Rock Spire. If you catch them in their cave, you have a slight advantage because of the elevation. But if they spot you while they’re "watering" at the lake? Good luck. The open space makes it incredibly hard to herd them into a neat line for a grenade toss. You’ll find yourself sprinting toward the bridge, hoping your stamina bar doesn’t hit zero before you reach your bike.
Then there’s the Marion Forks Horde. This is probably the one most people encounter first because it’s so close to the town. They live in a cave just north of the town center. The tricky part isn't the size—it's about 50 to 75 Freakers—it's the proximity to other threats. Belknap is notorious for Marauder patrols and Rippers. Nothing ruins a perfectly good horde fight like a random sniper from a nearby camp taking a potshot at you while you're trying to time a Napalm Molotov. It happens more often than you'd think.
Why the Lava Arch Horde is a Milestone
If you want to test your mettle, the Lava Arch Horde is the one. It’s located right in the middle of the map. This isn't just another group of zombies; it's a structural challenge. The cave system here is deep. If you go in there without enough scrap to fix your melee weapon or enough kerosene for your throwables, you're basically offering yourself up as a snack.
What makes this specific encounter interesting is the environment. The volcanic rock creates these natural funnels. You can place a remote bomb, lure them out, and watch the physics engine do the heavy lifting. But the Belknap hordes aren't stupid—well, they are, but their sheer numbers compensate for a lack of IQ. If one reaches you, the stun-lock is real. One hit leads to four hits, and then you’re looking at a loading screen.
Gearing Up Before You Commit
Let’s be real: trying to clear all the Days Gone Belknap hordes with the starter 9mm and a bruised ego is a bad move. You need to hit Trust Level 2 with Tucker at the Hot Springs camp. Why? Because the MWS (Military Western Specialized) is a game-changer. It has the fire rate and magazine size to actually thin the herd.
- Attractors are king. Don't just throw them randomly. Wait until the horde is tightly packed near an explosive barrel.
- The SMP9 is the best sidearm for this. You get it as a reward for killing just a few hordes. Once you have it, the Belknap groups become significantly easier to kite.
- Stamina Cocktails. If you aren't crafting these, you're playing on hard mode for no reason. In the Belknap desert, there isn't much cover. You have to be able to outrun the pack until you can turn around and spray.
The Shadow Lake Horde is another one that catches people off guard. It’s right at the top of the map, near the tunnel leading back to the Cascades. Because it’s so close to a NERO checkpoint, people often stumble into it while trying to find injectors. It's a classic Days Gone moment: you’re focused on finding a fuse, you turn a corner, and 50 Freakers are staring you in the face.
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Survival is about the "Kite"
Kiting is an art form in this game. You run, you roll, you turn, you shoot. Repeat until the music stops. The Bear Creek Hot Springs Horde is perfect for practicing this. They live near the ambush camp. If you're feeling particularly devious, you can actually lead this horde into the Marauder camp and let them do the work for you. It’s one of the most satisfying things you can do in the game. Seeing a bunch of armed bandits panic as a horde descends on them is peak entertainment.
However, the game's AI can be unpredictable. Sometimes the horde will lose interest in the bandits and turn right back toward you. You have to stay on your toes. The Belknap region is unforgiving like that. The lack of lush forest means you can see them coming from further away, but they can also see you.
The Technical Side of the Belknap Hordes
From a technical standpoint, what Bend Studio did with these hordes is still impressive years later. Even on older hardware, seeing a hundred individual entities moving with a "flocking" AI is a sight to behold. In Belknap, the dry atmosphere and the way the dust kicks up behind the Freakers adds a layer of grime that feels very "Pacific Northwest High Desert."
It’s not just about the numbers, though. It’s the sound design. The way the screeching echoes off the canyon walls in the Twin Craters area is genuinely unsettling. That horde is tucked away in the southeast corner, and it’s one of the smaller ones, but the atmosphere makes it feel massive. You’re in this desolate, cratered landscape, and the only sound is the wind and the shuffling of feet.
Misconceptions About Progression
A lot of players think they have to wait until they get the Napalm Molotovs from the late-game story missions to clear these. That’s a myth. You can absolutely wipe the Belknap map clean with basic Molotovs and a decent LMG. In fact, clearing them early gives you a massive boost in XP and camp trust, which makes the middle section of the game a lot smoother.
Tucker’s camp is all about firepower. While Copeland focuses on the bike, Tucker sells the guns. Clearing the Belknap Crater Horde (located northwest of the Hot Springs) is the fastest way to get in her good graces. It’s a medium-sized group, but they’re predictable. They move between a small cave and a nearby watering hole. Catch them at dawn when they're retreating to the cave, toss a couple of grenades into the entrance, and you’ve already killed half of them before they even realize you're there.
Final Strategies for the Desert
Don't ignore your bike. Your bike is your life. When you're engaging Days Gone Belknap hordes, always park your bike facing away from the horde with a clear path forward. There is nothing more humiliating than trying to mount your bike while a Swarmer is biting your neck, only to realize you parked facing a rock wall.
Also, watch the weather. Rain is rare in Belknap compared to the rest of the map, but when it happens, Freakers are stronger. They do more damage and they're more aggressive. If a storm rolls in while you're stalking the Mt. Bailey Horde, maybe reconsider. Wait for the sun. Freakers hate the sun, and it gives you a much-needed edge in visibility.
The Mt. Bailey Horde is often missed because it’s tucked away in the far west. It’s a smaller group, but the terrain is tricky. Lots of verticality. If you aren't careful, you can accidentally dodge-roll off a cliff while trying to avoid a reacher. Yes, it happens.
Steps to Conquer Belknap Today
If you’re staring at your map and wondering where to start, take a breath. It’s manageable. Follow this logic and you’ll be the apex predator of the high desert:
- Visit the NERO Checkpoints first. You need the stamina injectors. Powering up Deacon’s lungs is more important than his health bar. If you can't run, you're dead anyway.
- Clear the Ambush Camps. This unlocks the map details and shows you exactly where the "Horde" icons are. Knowledge is power, or at least it keeps you from getting ambushed while you're doing the ambushing.
- Check your inventory for Attractors and Frag Grenades. If you’re low on kerosene or cans, go on a supply run to the Marion Forks gas station. It’s a goldmine for crafting materials.
- Pick one horde and commit. Don't try to pull two at once. The Patjens Lakes and Marion Forks hordes are the best "starter" hordes in this region. Use them to get your timing down.
- Use the "Environmental Kills" method. Look for those red barrels and crates. One well-placed shot can take out ten Freakers, saving you precious ammo.
Belknap is a brutal place, but it’s where you truly learn how to play Days Gone. It forces you to stop being a survivor and start being a hunter. Once you've cleared these seven hordes, the rest of the game—even the massive ones in the South—won't seem nearly as impossible. It’s all about that first successful burn.
The feeling of standing over a pile of scorched Freakers while the sun rises over the Belknap craters is one of the best moments in modern gaming. Just make sure you have enough gas in the tank to get home.
Next Steps for Success
To maximize your efficiency, focus on unlocking the "Two Dog" mission or reaching the Lost Lake region if you find the Belknap weapons aren't cutting it. However, the most immediate actionable step is to farm the Marion Forks area for scrap and kerosene; having a full inventory of throwables is the only way to ensure you aren't caught off guard by a wandering pack. Once you have the SMP9 from the "Horde Killer" storyline, return to the Lava Arch and use the narrow cave entrance to funnel the Freakers into a kill zone. This will give you the necessary Trust levels at the Hot Springs camp to buy the superior primary weapons needed for the endgame.