As a wise person once said, “Loot is life, it’s better than friends.” Here are some tips and tricks to help you acquire more legendary items and higher quality gear in Borderlands 3, whether through chests, bosses, or other methods.
There are countless methods to acquire loads of legendary weapons and items in Borderlands 3, catering to all playstyles based on your class, player level, and simply what you enjoy. We’ll explore several techniques to give you plenty of choices.
Check Out the Vending Machines
These machines scattered across every zone regularly sell interesting rare items, particularly during level-up periods. While it does cost some in-game currency, it’s a simple and effective way to gear up while keeping Marcus happy. However, note that they never offer legendary gear, so you may ultimately neglect them.
The Red Chest Rundown
If intense combat and dying aren’t your thing (why are you here then?), you can opt for the more peaceful method of opening red chests, ideally in Mayhem mode with at least Chaos 3 if you’ve completed the game once. There are many viable locations; the key is finding areas filled with big loot chests, recognizable by their three green lights. When you exit the game and come back to the main menu and select “Continue,” all the chests will refill.
We particularly noted two locations: the Atlas HQ region, once the story section there is completed, has almost no monsters left but boasts 6 to 7 large chests waiting for you to crack them open. There are two in the first outdoor area, all the way to the left, and another one not far up on the first floor, accessed by going around. Inside the main building, there’s another in the first room to the left, and sometimes one more on the top floor, all the way left. Finally, there’s a chest behind the counter on the Atlas CEO’s floor. If you defeat the boss Katagawa, there are two additional chests in the following rooms, the second one hidden behind the large elevator.
The second location is on the planet Eden-6, specifically in the Anvil area within its sewers, where there’s a playful nod to Game of Thrones. You’ll find one large chest in the middle of the room and another in the pipe on the ground when you turn around. While getting there isn’t without risks, once you do, your respawn point after leaving the game menu and restarting is only a few dozen meters from those chests, facilitating quick and repeated looting.
Farming Bosses
This option is for the brave, those who truly relish a challenge. You may not know that slain bosses respawn every time you leave and restart the game. Additionally, specific bosses often have unique legendaries in their loot tables, meaning you have a much higher chance of obtaining a desired item by taking down the respective boss. Sometimes, this can be your only chance. For instance, Katagawa has a high likelihood of dropping the Conference Call weapon. Therefore, it’s wise to research which legendaries you want, how to obtain them, and then repeatedly defeat the boss, ideally in Chaos 3 mode to snag 3-4 legendaries with some luck after a fierce battle. To reassure you, bosses tend to be much easier to defeat on subsequent encounters when their weak points and attack patterns become familiar.
Loot-enemies
Recognized by their distinctive purple color (not to be confused with elites), these enemies can be a frenzy of movement. If you can take them down before they escape, a wealth of loot awaits, especially in Chaos 3 mode once again. One reliable loot enemy resides behind the service elevator in Jacob’s Domain on Eden-6 (see the map below). Previously, they were guaranteed to appear every time, but that has been adjusted by Gearbox; however, if you spot one, it remains a fantastic opportunity.
Many formidable enemies populate the area, making combat challenging. However, if you’re skilled, you can secure between 3 to 10 legendaries in just a minute. Remember to check their loot bags too. Simply defeat the stragglers and reset the game. You’ll respawn a short distance away from the loot enemy, making farming incredibly fast and efficient. If you find yourself struggling in Chaos 3, feel free to lower the difficulty to Chaos 1 or 2.
Chupacabratch
This monster with an unpronounceable name is an excellent candidate for a double whammy of murder and repeated looting. It’s undoubtedly one of the fastest and simplest legendary farming methods currently available in the game. Like before, do this in Ultimate Hunter and Chaos 3 mode if possible. As it is on Athenas-6 and this planet unlocks quickly in the game, it makes for an appealing option. Best of all, it is weak and can be taken down in mere seconds depending on your gear.
Update: Gearbox has reduced its loot drops.
Similar to previous methods, you’ll need to navigate through the area under enemy fire until you reach your target in its lair, Chupacabratch. Defeat it, loot it thoroughly, then reset the game. You’ll respawn nearby, allowing for a quick repeat.
This poor monster typically drops between 2 to 4 legendary items depending on your luck, though there are times when it might not yield anything of note.
Cheating (Again)
As always, you can take a risky shortcut and attempt to cheat. For example, if one of your friends has some super legendary items, you could borrow them to use the item duplication exploit. Quick and dirty, just the way Moxxi likes it.
