By Richard Brown Borderlands 4 has been out for a few weeks now, and you’re probably already familiar with the basic tips and tricks. However, after spending hundreds of hours in the game, we’ve come across some advanced and hidden strategies that most players have no idea about. To help you survive in Kairos, here are the 10 best Borderlands 4 tips and tricks that can give you a real edge.
10. Skip Reload Animation
Many Borderlands 4 players don’t realize that you can skip the weapon reloading animation to save yourself precious time. How exactly? Well, just throw a grenade or a throwing knife while reloading, and the animation will be bypassed. In a game like this, every second counts, especially when you’re going up against hordes of enemies and need to complete objectives.
9. Use Armor For Aggressive Plays
If you’re constantly in the middle of the battle with a melee or close-quarters combat build, consider picking up some armor. It’s valuable for these builds because it regenerates over time, automatically replenishing every second, even when you’re soaking damage.
If you’re playing super aggressively, armor not only boosts your defense but also gives you damage reduction, which makes it a solid option.
8. Infinite Loot Spawn Point
There are tons of farming spots to snag some of the best loot in Borderlands 4, but nothing comes close to the Ripper Drill Site up north. Here, you’ll go against waves of enemies, allowing you to level up fast while enjoying a constant stream of loot drops, including legendaries.
It’s a great spot to test out all the different builds you’re experimenting with and crafting strategies to take down other bosses with.
7. Use The Right Elemental Combo
Elemental damage is more important than ever before in Borderlands 4, and the developers have tweaked the strengths and weaknesses of each element. However, Cryo and Radiation stand out as the most versatile options.
Cryo works against armor, while Radiation is great for melting shields, and both are effective against flesh. Using this combination covers everything you need to go against in this game.
6. Wait to Claim Certain Rewards
You might’ve noticed that most of the weapons and items you receive scale to your current level. Due to this, sometimes it’s a better idea to hold off on certain rewards in Borderlands 4 until you’ve leveled up.
For instance, in Carcadia Burn, there’s a side mission called ‘Vend of the Line. It’s best for you not to complete this at a low level, as the legendary reward won’t be that powerful. Wait until you’re around level 30 to 40, and then come back to claim it.
5. Cryo Damage Against Flying Enemies
One of the most frustrating challenges in Borderlands 4 is dealing with fast-moving flying enemies. They’re tricky to hit with projectile weapons, and while hitscan weapons help, using Cryo damage is often the smarter choice.
Cryo can slow them down or even bring them crashing down on the ground. Get a fast SMG with Cryo damage, and freeze those flying monsters right out of the sky. It’s simple, effective, and quite satisfying.
4. Grab Every Quest Possible
In previous Borderlands games, side quests always scaled up to your current level at the time you accepted them. So, if you picked a quest at level 10, it would stay Level 10 forever. However, that’s not a thing in Borderlands 4 anymore.
If a quest is masked as hard, it will be challenging whether you’re level 40 or level 10. This means you can, and should, pick up every quest you come across. This way, when you’re bored with the main stuff, you can take up side quests, and have a bunch of missions to explore without going back.
3. Use Your Grappling Hook
The Grappling Hook is one of the most versatile tools in Borderlands 4, and not something that’s solely for tossing explosives mid-combat. You can use it to gain a positional advantage, aka high ground (sorry, Anakin).
If you’re getting swarmed with bullets, don’t just hide behind cover; look for ledges or buildings to secure a safe position, or swing across the battlefield to reach safety. The Grappler can bail you out of many situations.
2. Always Use Radar
Do yourself a favor, and turn on the Radar in gameplay settings. Why it? Well, first, you can more easily predict the number of enemies around you and how tightly they’re grouped together. The radar shows their distance and makes it easier to track threats. While the compass can get messy with locations, the Radar keeps the UI and the rest of the stuff pretty clear.
1. Take Up Bounty and Patrol Contracts
On the billboards in Borderlands 4, you’ll come across contracts. We recommend filling up your five slots with bounty and patrol contracts.
Ignore the others, as most of the bounty and patrol contact missions can be simply completed by playing through the game, or at least you’ll pass right by their location as you progress. There’s no need to go out of your way to complete these contacts.
With that said, is there any particular Borderlands 4 tip or strategy that has helped you? Let us know in the comments below.
