You’re scanning the rusted remains of a world that ended a thousand years ago, and suddenly, your Focus pings. There it is. A tiny purple icon buried under layers of dirt and history. If you’ve spent any time in the ruins of the Sacred Lands, you know exactly what I’m talking about. We’re hunting for the Ancient Vessel Devil’s Thirst.
Honestly, the name "Devil's Thirst" sounds way more metal than the actual location looks. It’s basically just the overgrown skeleton of Colorado Springs. But for Aloy, and for those of us trying to hit that 100% completion mark, these mugs—yeah, they're just coffee mugs—are the closest thing we have to a diary of the Old Ones.
Where Exactly is the Devil’s Thirst Ancient Vessel?
Locating it isn't actually that hard if you know where the ruins are, but the verticality of the terrain can be a bit of a pain. This specific vessel is tucked away in the Devil’s Thirst area, which you’ll encounter pretty early in the main questline, specifically during "The War-Chief’s Trail."
Don't just run blindly into the middle of the ruins. You want to look for the cluster of destroyed buildings near the river that cuts through the zone. Specifically, it's inside a ruin that looks like an old storefront or office on the western side of the main "city" area.
The vessel is sitting in a pile of Ancient Debris. You’ve probably seen these piles before; they look like little mounds of trash that glow when you pulse your Focus. Walk up, hold the interact button, and Aloy will pluck a "Wayfarers" mug out of the dirt.
Why Are We Even Collecting These Mugs?
It’s kind of funny when you think about it. The people of the 21st century used these for mediocre office coffee. To the Carja and the Nora, they’re sacred relics. The Ancient Vessel Devil’s Thirst is part of the first set of vessels you can collect.
There are twelve vessels in total, divided into three sets of four. This one belongs to Set 1.
Why bother? Because of Palas.
Palas is a merchant in Meridian who has a weird obsession with these artifacts. He doesn’t want shards or machine parts; he wants these mugs. If you bring him a complete set of four, he gives you a Reward Box. These boxes usually contain a decent amount of Metal Shards, some rare modifications, and occasionally some valuable crafting resources. It’s one of the easiest ways to gear up early in the game without having to farm Thunderjaws for hours on end.
The Lore Behind the "Wayfarers" Mug
If you flip the vessel over in your inventory, you’ll see the description. This one has a logo for something called "Wayfarers." In the context of Horizon Zero Dawn, these are relics of the "Old Ones"—us.
The developers at Guerrilla Games used these items to ground the sci-fi fantasy in reality. It makes the world feel heavier. Seeing a corporate logo for a travel agency or a coffee shop in a world ruled by robotic T-Rexes is jarring in the best way possible. It reminds you that the ruins Aloy climbs were once places where people worried about their commutes and their morning caffeine fix.
Tips for Navigating Devil’s Thirst
Devil’s Thirst is a combat zone. You aren't just strolling through a park.
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- Watch for Watchers: There are several patrols in the area. They’re easy to stealth-kill, but they can alert larger machines if you're messy.
- The Tallneck Factor: There is a Tallneck walking right through the center of Devil’s Thirst. I highly recommend overriding it before you go item hunting. It clears the "fog of war" on your map and marks the exact locations of collectibles, including the Ancient Vessel Devil’s Thirst.
- Use the Focus: If you can't find the debris pile, stand on a piece of high ground and spin your camera while the Focus is active. The purple icon will show up through walls.
What Most Players Miss
People often grab the vessel and fast-travel away immediately. Don't do that.
The area around Devil’s Thirst is rich with Datapoints. If you’re a lore nerd, there are several audio logs and text files nearby that explain what happened to the civilians in Colorado Springs when the Faro Plague first hit. It’s dark stuff, but it adds a lot of flavor to the hunt.
Also, check the nearby bridges. There are often Supply Crates hidden underneath them that contain Sparkers and Wire, which you'll need for your trip to Meridian.
The Trade-In Process
Once you have the vessel from Devil’s Thirst, plus the other three in Set 1 (Arches, Dronehop, and Western), head to the Hunter’s Market in Meridian.
Look for the icon that looks like a small cup on your map. That’s Palas. He’s usually standing under a colorful awning. Talk to him, navigate to the "Trade" tab, and hand over the goods. The "Palas’ Reward Box - Set 1" is a significant boost for a mid-level player.
Actionable Steps for Completionists
If you want to wrap this up quickly, follow this sequence:
- Override the Devil’s Thirst Tallneck. This is your priority. It makes the entire zone visible and safe to navigate from above.
- Fast travel to the campfire on the western edge of the ruins.
- Head east toward the river. Keep your Focus active and look for the purple "Ancient Debris" indicator inside the shattered building.
- Collect the vessel and then head north toward the "Arches" vessel location to finish the set in one go.
- Hoard your sets. Don't go back to Meridian for every single mug. Wait until you have all four in a set so you don't waste time on loading screens.
Hunting for the Ancient Vessel Devil’s Thirst is a small part of the Horizon experience, but it’s these little touches of world-building that make the game a masterpiece. You aren't just picking up loot; you’re picking up the pieces of a broken world.