Unlocking Legendary Loot: Your Borderlands 3 Boss Farming Masterclass
So, you’re diving into the loot-filled world of Borderlands 3. Great choice, Vault Hunter. You want those legendary weapons. That’s a big part of the game. You may ask: “How do I farm these efficiently?” Let’s take a look at boss farming, focusing on Gigamind and more.
Gigamind: Your Gateway to Legendary Goodness?
First things first: Does Gigamind drop legendaries? Yes, he does. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. The buzz is real. You can snag some orange-rarity loot from this oversized brain.
Dedicated Drops: Gigamind’s Favors
Gigamind drops two legendary items with a 15% chance. These are the Tediore Smart-Gun SMG and the Red Card shield. Not bad, right?
- Smart-Gun SMG: This Tediore weapon isn’t just any SMG. It deals corrosive splash damage that also affects your turrets when you reload.
- Red Card Shield: The Red Card drops only from Gigamind. It’s like he’s saying, “Here’s a shield, maybe it’ll protect you?”
Drop Chance Real Talk
The official rate is 15%, but dedicated players crunched the numbers. One test of 150 Gigamind takedowns showed a drop rate of 10-11%. Still solid odds for loot. Every ten runs, expect a dedicated drop. Good for a day in Pandora.
World Drops: The Loot Piñata
What else does Gigamind drop? If it’s not the Smart-Gun or Red Card, it falls into world drops. This is part of the general loot pool. Some even reported getting a Hellshock from him, likely a world drop. You farm for dedicated items and also have a chance at other legendaries. It’s a loot piñata filled with guns and shields.
The rare Loaded Dice artifact can also drop from Gigamind. It’s like a bonus roll of the dice.
Gigamind Farming 101: Location, Location, Location
Ready to farm Gigamind? Fast travel to Meridian Metroplex on Promethea. Once you land, follow the roads to the right. You’ll find the arena where Gigamind awaits. It’s straightforward to locate him.
Respawning: The Necessary Evil
Here’s the catch: Gigamind isn’t friendly. He won’t respawn immediately. To bring him back, use the classic save and quit. It’s a hassle, but legendary loot doesn’t come easy. Maybe Pandora has loot trees for all we know.
Is Gigamind Farming Worth Your Precious Time?
The big question: Is farming Gigamind worth it? In a 150-run trial, 46 legendaries dropped. That’s decent. If you’re hunting the Smart-Gun or Red Card and don’t mind the quit method, Gigamind is a good farm. World drops add spice to the loot.
Level Check: Are You Ready for Gigamind?
Don’t enter Gigamind’s arena at level 5. You need to be at least level 12 or higher. Level up, gear up, then take him on.
Boss Farming 101: General Tips and Tricks
Gigamind is just one of many bosses in the legendary loot quest. Borderlands 3 has many bosses ready for farming. Here’s how to maximize efficiency in boss farming.
Save Points: Your Best Friend
Gearbox placed save points before boss fights. This gift from the loot gods helps make repeated runs less painful. Thanks, Gearbox, from our loot-hungry hearts.
Respawn Mechanics: Quit or… Not?
For most bosses, use the quit-and-continue method. Kill the boss, grab the loot, quit to the main menu, then continue your game. Boom, he’s back for round two. Keep repeating until your backpack fills.
Some bosses are different. Killavolt, for instance, has a better way. Simply “unalive” yourself after defeating him. This will respawn him without quitting completely. Different strokes for different bosses.
Graveward: The Legendary Loot Pinata Supreme
If there’s a legendary farming king, it’s arguably Graveward. He’s near a fast travel point. Jump into the fight seconds after reloading. Graveward spews out loot and is popular for a reason. For sheer volume of legendaries, he’s your best choice.
Legendary Drop Rates: The Numbers Game
Let’s discuss drop rates. The general rate for a world drop is around a 2% chance. It’s not huge, but enough to keep us grinding. Dedicated drops like Gigamind’s are much higher, making them easier to farm for specific items.
Loot Midgets: Tiny But Mighty
Don’t underestimate Loot Midgets. These tiny goblins have a 15% chance to drop a legendary. In Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode, they become “Legendary Loot Midgets” with a stunning 50% chance to drop an E-tech relic. Those little guys aren’t so insignificant now.
Beyond Gigamind: A Boss Loot Compendium
Gigamind is just one boss in Borderlands 3. There are many others with unique loot quirks. Here’s a quick overview of notable bosses and their legendary goodies:
- Shiv: A bit stingy, he drops common shotguns and doesn’t drop world legendaries. He has an increased chance for the Ripper SMG and Moxxi’s Bouncing Pair grenade mod.
- Mouthpiece: He can drop the Mind-Killer gun. If you don’t get it right away, just go back for another try.
- Saturn: This giant drops the Invader Sniper Rifle (3.3% chance) and the Hive Rocket Launcher (3.3% chance).
- Killavolt: Not only is he easy to farm, use the self-unalive trick here too. He can drop top-tier weapons like the Monarch.
- Agonizer 9000: This contraption is known for the Backburner rocket launcher, but only on Mayhem 6 or higher.
- The Warrior: Features increased chances for Conference Call shotgun, Impaler shield, and Flakker shotgun.
- RedBelly: This pair can drop the Striker Shotgun (10% chance) and the Black Snake SMG(33.3% chance).
- Dukino’s Mom: Mom might drop a Mongol rocket launcher.
- Mobley: Look out for him for a chance at the legendary Veruc.
- Caber Dawd: This Bounty of Blood enemy drops the Hammerbuster. A dedicated drop in Bloodsun Canyon.
- Troy Calypso:The end-game boss has a chance to drop good items too.
- the covetedInfinity Pistol. Infinite ammo. Infinite fun.
- Captain Traunt: Want the Kaoson SMG? Target Captain Traunt. Only on Mayhem 6 or higher.
- Mother of Groen: Mama Groen gives a 15% drop rate for the Hornet. Buzz buzz, legendary loot time.
Legendary Spotlight: Must-Have Weapons and Where to Find Them
Let’s focus on legendary weapons that are worth drooling over and where to farm them:
- Hellshock: This pistol is a legendary beast. It drops from Gigamind in a comment, but it’s a world drop too.
- Backburner: This Vladof rocket launcher is a powerhouse. Farm Agonizer 9000 (Mayhem 6+) or the Tyrant of Instinct during the True Trials event for a chance to get it.
- Kaos: Looking for explosive chaos? The Anarchy shotgun has a good drop chance from Kukuwajack in Negul Neshai (Guns, Love, and Tentacles DLC), but can drop in that DLC area too.
- Rowan’s Call: This Jakobs assault rifle shines. Red Rain in Slaughterstar 3000 increases the drop chance, but it can world drop from any loot source.
- Flipper: For Bounty of Blood DLC owners, the Flipper SMG begs to be farmed from the Minosaur mini-boss in Bloodsun Canyon. He boasts a 33% drop chance.
- Boogeyman: Sniper lovers in Designer’s Cut DLC, meet the Boogeyman. It world drops in Arms Race mode at Stormblind Complex.
- Kaoson: Once more, Captain Traunt (Mayhem 6+) is your target for the Kaoson SMG. Aim for Mayhem 6 and above.
Boss Battle Intel: Elemental Tactics
Know your enemy. Here’s an elemental damage cheat sheet for major bosses:
- Gigamind: When his red health bar appears, incendiary damage helps. Switch to fire and watch health melt. Shock weapons work for shields, then fire for flesh.
- Killavolt: Here’s a twist: despite his blue shield bar (normally shock vulnerable), Killavolt is immune to shock damage. Experiment with other elements.
- Katagawa Ball: In this fight, corrosive damage shreds yellow armor, and shock damage excels against blue shields. Elemental dance party!
Bonus Intel: Level Caps and Fast Farms
A couple of extra knowledge nuggets for your Vault Hunting journey:
- Maximum Level: In Borderlands 3, the level cap is 72. This is base game level cap, no DLC needed. Level up!
- Fastest Farm Boss: For speed farming, Graveward is often the fastest boss for legendaries. Quick travel, quick fight, quick loot.
Your guide to boss farming in Borderlands 3 is here, Vault Hunter. Go forth, defeat those bosses, and enjoy legendary loot! If at first you fail, farm again. Happy hunting!
Want more legendary farming locations? Game Rant has you covered.
Struggling with Gigamind? Check out Game Rant’s guide to beat him.
Looking for more top-tier farming spots? Odealo lists the best legendary spots in Borderlands 3.
