الوسم: Triple-A Games

  • How to get the Rainbow Vomit in Borderlands 4 by completing quests and solving mysteries

    How to get the Rainbow Vomit in Borderlands 4 by completing quests and solving mysteries

    The Rainbow Vomit is a highly coveted gun in Borderlands 4. It’s considered one of the top legendary weapons in the game. When fired, it releases multiple elemental projectiles arranged like a star, causing huge damage on impact. It’s the closest thing to a grenade launcher you can get without using explosive ordnance. If you want to quickly clear enemies or take down bosses in seconds, few other legendary weapons compare. Here’s how to obtain it and a brief explanation of its special effects.

    ### How to Get the Rainbow Vomit

    The Rainbow Vomit drops from Leader Willem, a boss found in Grindstone of the Worthy, located in Carcadia Burn. This boss becomes available after completing a series of side quests for Levaine in the Carcadia hub. You need to finish five specific side quests in this order:

    1. Enter the Electi I
    2. Enter the Electi II
    3. The Council Divided
    4. A Traitor Within
    5. The Mole’s Gambit

    After completing “The Mole’s Gambit,” you can farm Leader Willem anytime by using Moxxi’s Big Encore machine in his arena. The Rainbow Vomit is guaranteed to be in his loot pool. There’s also a very rare chance to find Rainbow Vomit as a world drop.

    ### Rainbow Vomit Legendary Effect

    Rainbow Vomit is a Jakobs shotgun that fires a cluster of three elemental projectiles in an arc with each shot. It’s essentially a grenade launcher that shoots three elements at once. The specific elements depend on the gun’s random roll. Although it launches elemental projectiles, it technically counts as a kinetic weapon.

    Getting your character to land critical hits—using skills or gear such as a Jakobs Knife with the Penetrator augment—will dramatically increase damage output. When you scale your damage and elemental effects properly, this gun can easily defeat most bosses in Borderlands 4.

  • How to Find and Open Golden Chests in Borderlands 4: Completing and Solving

    How to Find and Open Golden Chests in Borderlands 4: Completing and Solving

    The golden chest has returned in Borderlands 4 and works similarly to earlier versions. If you have some golden keys, you can open the golden chest in major hub towns to get valuable items.

    Because of the open-world design in Borderlands 4, there are now several golden chests scattered throughout the game. The process to unlock them is the same as before, so experienced players will find it familiar. For newcomers or those who haven’t played Borderlands in a while, here’s a quick explanation of what the golden chest is and how to unlock it.

    What Are Golden Chests?

    Golden chests are a special, reusable source of loot in Borderlands 4. In each main hub town, you can spend golden keys to open these chests, which always drop high-quality gear. Items from these chests are at least of Epic quality. Similar to Borderlands 3, there’s a decent chance of getting Legendary items from the world loot pool when opening these chests.

    All types of items you normally find in red chests are available here—guns, shields, ordnance, and class mods. Items from the golden chest always match your character’s level. This makes it a good way to gear up while leveling or to improve your gear after reaching the level cap for endgame challenges.

    Golden Chest Locations

    Town Location Map
    The Launchpad The Howl, The Fadelands
    Carcadia Ruined Sumplands, Carcadia Burn Map
    Belton’s Bore The Low Leys, Terminus Range Map
    The Lockaway Carcadia District, Dominion Map

    How To Get Golden Keys

    Golden keys are earned using Shift Codes. Gearbox sometimes posts these codes on social media, which you can redeem in-game for free golden keys and cosmetic items. Keep in mind, golden keys are single-use for your entire account, so use them wisely.

    If you want to collect more keys, check out the Borderlands 4 Shift Codes guide for all active codes and tips on how to redeem them.

  • Completing and Solving the Boss of the Fadefields Vault in Borderlands 4

    Completing and Solving the Boss of the Fadefields Vault in Borderlands 4

    Like earlier games in the series, in Borderlands 4, you choose to play as one of four Vault Hunters—powerful fighters searching the galaxy for Vaults. However, things rarely go smoothly; most of the time, it ends in bloodshed, death, and chaos.

    While busy getting arrested by and escaping from the Order, and helping resistance groups fight back, there’s still time to raid Kairos’ Vaults. The first Vault you’ll likely encounter is the Arch of Inteceptus, but it’s not just a matter of walking in and grabbing the loot. You’ll have to fight your way through and earn the right to claim it.

    How to Find All Three Fadefields Vault Key Fragments

    To unlock any regional Vault, you need a Vault Key. Each key is made up of three Vault Key Fragments scattered across a specific part of Kairos.

    Before the fragments appear, you’ll need to unlock their respective Silos. These Silos are buildings controlled by the Order, similar to Safe Houses. You don’t need to find a datapad to access them, and they serve as fast travel points and locations where you can buy supplies from vending machines.

    Once you take control of a Silo, the game will reveal the general location of its associated Vault Key Fragment on the map. You then use an on-screen detector to hunt down each fragment. In Fadefields, there are three Silos to capture:

    • The Stockroom
    • The Kit Hole
    • Deep Seven

    When you get close to a fragment, an indicator appears in the top-right corner of your screen, just below the enemy radar. This indicator has four bars, filling up as you approach the fragment. It flashes and makes noise to help you locate it, so check the area carefully.

    Vault Key Fragment One

    The earliest fragment appears after capturing The Stockroom Silo, located just northeast of the Abandoned Post Safehouse, which you unlock during the main mission called Recruitment Drive. The fragment itself is in the Coastal Bonescape region, towards the southwestern corner of the map. Head down to Stillshore Point, clear out the Rippers, then go around the back of the larger house. Drop into the water, jump onto the small dock below, and you’ll find the fragment sitting on a crate marked with the number 32.

    Vault Key Fragment Two

    The second fragment is in The Howl, unlocked after capturing The Kit Hole Silo, northwest of The Launchpad town. To find it, head northeast past the farms and fields, then follow the hill down past the Mangler burrows. The fragment is located on the northeastern side of a large rock formation, attached to a small alcove with yellow-glowing rock formations.

    Vault Key Fragment Three

    The last fragment is in the Idolator’s Noose region, unlocked after taking the Deep Seven Silo in Dissected Plateau. Travel to Rosemary’s Reserve, past the broken wall and hay, then clear out the Rippers. Find the large platform at the farm’s back, use your Grapple to rip away the vent door next to the ammo crates, and inside, you’ll find the fragment in the outstretched hand of a dead Ripper in a corner.

    How to Get Through the Fadefields Vault

    After collecting all three fragments, the Vault’s location appears on your map in the Dissected Plateau, south of the Deep Seven Silo. Approach the broken Vault, interact with the altar to combine the fragments into a complete Vault Key, and then repair the Vault itself. Interact with the altar again to start the side mission, then head inside.

    The Vault challenge involves four combat arenas. Each arena features unique enemies, mostly variants of the Order, with the first three containing special versions, and the final one involving a boss fight.

    Note: The enemies in these Vaults drop weapons as usual. The variety of enemies makes it a good spot to farm for lower-tier weapons and Class Mods.

    During fights, you’ll find several Ammo Crates for resupplying, but you can’t move between platforms until all enemies are defeated. Each arena is followed by a rest area with vending machines for ammunition and medkits.

    Tips for success: Use the abundant cover on each platform—walls, rocks, ledges—to heal and reload safely. Ordnance with large Area of Effect (AOE) damage and the Singularity perk are effective for clearing enemies.

    Each arena features a named enemy:

    • The Lathe
    • The Great Void
    • Perturbalon

    The Lathe and Great Void are similar to stronger versions of their normal counterparts, the Stryker Engine and Bulkhead. Perturbalon, a Warden variant, has a unique mechanic: it’s protected by a shield that can only be destroyed by destroying floating Vile Ordonite orbs. Once all are eliminated, the shield drops.

    Perturbalon employs standard Warden attacks along with massive quake attacks similar to the Bulkhead. Its health phase transitions are triggered by the destruction of its shield and its health dropping to 25%, where it will unleash tail slams and ground shoves.

    When its health reaches 25%, Perturbalon will anchor its tails into the ground, causing them to jabs upward around the arena—these can be dodge-rolled away from. Keep circling and dodging its attacks, staying at the arena’s edge to avoid its grabs and tail attacks. Use your Grapple to reveal its weak spots—glowing pustules at the top—and shoot them to deal extra damage.

    The Final Fight with Inceptus

    After the third arena, another rest station appears before the final challenge: a fight against Inceptus, the Vault’s guardian. Inceptus is a giant, draconic enemy that combines high power and speed, mainly doing untyped and Corrosive damage.

    Attack mechanics include:

    • Tail grabs and slams
    • Tail whips covering the arena
    • Poison spores that explode
    • Sudden tail slams
    • Hanging upside down, unleashing acid projectiles
    • Entering a cocooned state with a shield
    • Tail slamming from its cocoon
    • Summoning shockwaves and stabbing attacks

    In the fight, your best approach is to move constantly, dodge tail slams by jumping, and avoid poison spores by air-dodging or grappling away. When Inceptus is about to cocoon, it will hover and cover the floor with acid, with only the top pustules vulnerable.

    To break its shield, shoot the floating orbs around its head—destroying all three removes the shield. Use your Action Skill and ordnance during the downtime when Inceptus is stunned after its shield breaks. When its health drops to 25%, it will enter the cocooned state again; repeat the same grapple-and-shoot tactics.

    Once defeated, Inceptus erupts, scattering loot, and a rift appears. Use your Grapple to leap into the rift, which transports you to the final platform. There, you’ll get a permanent buff—your Glide Pack will be upgraded, allowing longer glides.

    Rewards

    Defeating Inceptus rewards you with two Red Chests to unlock, along with 6,000 Cash, 10 Eridium, and a Rare or Epic Submachine Gun. When leaving the Vault, grapple into the rift again to return to the pre-boss rest station, from where you can fast travel or exit through a nearby vault portal.

  • Tips for Completing All SBCs and Solving Challenges in EA Sports FC 26

    Tips for Completing All SBCs and Solving Challenges in EA Sports FC 26

    EA Sports FC 26 marks its third year since breaking away from its FIFA partnership, and Ultimate Team remains as popular as ever despite EA’s efforts to shift focus. Squad Building Challenges, known as SBCs, are one of the best free ways to improve your Ultimate Team. These challenges rotate daily and weekly, offering new opportunities to earn rewards.

    Whether you’re experienced or just starting out, it’s important to understand the key aspects of SBCs and any recent changes. Having a good grasp on SBCs will help you get back to grinding fast.

    What Is an SBC?
    In Ultimate Team, SBCs are challenges where you exchange your unwanted players for limited rewards. These challenges come with exclusive rewards that test your team-building skills to meet specific requirements.

    You can build these squads by using players from your club or purchasing new players from the transfer market specifically for SBCs.

    Types of Rewards in SBCs
    SBCs offer two main types of rewards:

    1. Untradeable, exclusive players
    2. Pack upgrades

    Both are valuable; however, securing guaranteed player items in mode full of RNG can be a big help, especially for free-to-play teams working towards better players, often called Road To Glory teams.

    How to Do SBCs
    You can complete SBCs while playing on your console or PC, using the EA Sports FC 26 Companion App on your phone, or through the Web App. This allows you to buy players, organize your club, and complete SBCs on the go, so you’re ready when you return home.

    When you start an SBC, you’ll get a quick tutorial that explains:

    • How to view requirements and progress
    • How to add players from your club, duplicate pile, or transfer market
    • How to submit the squad to claim your rewards

    Before diving into the more advanced SBCs, you need to complete four introductory challenges to unlock access to higher-level SBCs. These are:

    • Break Away: Exchange one player with an OVR of 64 or lower for a Silver Pack
    • A Brace: Exchange two players with OVRs between 65 and 74 for a Silver Pack
    • Hat Trick: Exchange three players with OVRs between 65 and 74 for a Gold Pack
    • A Pair of Pairs: Exchange four players with OVRs between 75 and 84 for two Rare Gold Players Pack

    Best General SBC Tips
    Once you’re familiar with the basics, you’ll want to move quickly through SBCs. One of the most efficient tools for this is Multiswap, which helps you swap multiple players into your SBCs at once.

    To use Multiswap, select it while viewing the cards, then choose a player. After selecting a player, move to an empty SBC slot, pick another player, and repeat. Using Multiswap is often mapped to the start or select button on consoles.

    Speeding up your SBC completion also involves strategies:

    • Start with the lowest OVR players to conserve your better ones for stricter SBCs
    • Use the two-three-six breakdown: for an 85 OVR requirement, use two players above 85, three equal to 85, and six just below 84 to save costs
    • Always prioritize untradeable cards first
    • Save players from major leagues or countries like France or the Premier League for specific SBC requirements
    • If stuck, consult solution sites like EasySBC for guidance
    • Avoid using Live cards until all upgrades are applied

    Multiswap remains the most critical tool for completing SBCs quickly, but mastering this along with strategic roster management will turn you into an SBC pro.

  • How to Complete EXPcalibur in Dying Light: The Beast to Solve Its Secrets

    How to Complete EXPcalibur in Dying Light: The Beast to Solve Its Secrets

    If you’ve played a Dying Light game before, you probably know about the EXPcalibur Easter egg, which unlocks a very powerful weapon. It makes a comeback in Dying Light: The Beast.

    This time, finding EXPcalibur is a bit more complex. You not only need to locate the sword, but also collect eight Sigils scattered around Castor Woods that are required to unlock it. Let’s get started.

    ### Where to Find Every Sigil

    Dying Light: The Beast is full of collectibles. Most are just for decoration, but there’s one set that really matters—Sigils. There are eight of these carved stone markers found throughout Castor Woods. Finding all of them is necessary to unlock EXPcalibur.

    #### Blood Sigil
    The Blood Sigil is located in the Mental Asylum area of Castor Woods, which is a high-level zone. You should be at around Level 11 to approach it safely. It’s hidden in the middle of a fountain in the asylum’s garden, attached to the base of the fountain.

    #### Curse Sigil
    The Curse Sigil is in the Villa Area, close to the Village Voltage Pole Safe Spot. Inside the park, look for a spooky tree (which is part of a side quest). To the left of this tree, you’ll see a skeleton holding the Curse Sigil in its mouth.

    #### Death Sigil
    The Death Sigil can be found in Old Town, just above the Railway Station. Go to the church entrance indicated on the map, then enter and go through the hole to the right. Proceed into the room with a large statue—this is where the Death Sigil is located.

    #### Shadow Sigil
    The Shadow Sigil is one of the easiest to miss. It’s located in Exile’s Cave in the Villa Area. Inside the cave, find the NPC standing next to a candle in the middle. The Sigil is on the ground nearby. Using Survivor Sense can help highlight it.

    _Note: You encounter Exile’s Cave about halfway through the story, which seems intentional to prevent early access to EXPcalibur._

    #### Sacrifice Sigil
    The Sacrifice Sigil is in the National Park, specifically in a Stonehenge-style area that hosts a boss fight later. Climb down to the structure beneath the cliff, then turn around and face the pillar to spot the Sigil stuck to the wall.

    #### The Moon Sigil
    The Moon Sigil is in the southern part of the National Park, near the waterfall symbol. Head to the marked spot on the mountain trail, then go through the crack at the top. To the right, next to some trees and a stone partly buried in the ground, you’ll find the Sigil.

    #### The Void Sigil
    Close to where The Moon Sigil is located, The Void is behind the waterfall in the National Park. Behind the waterfall, there’s a hidden cave path. Follow it to reach a water body where the Sigil floats at the bottom.

    #### Witch’s Mark Sigil
    The last Sigil is also in the southern portion of the National Park, slightly east near the Safe Zone. Look for a small cabin, go inside, and you’ll find the Witch’s Mark Sigil attached to the wall.

    —

    ### How to Collect and Unlock EXPcalibur II

    After gathering all Sigils, head to the top of a large rock in the National Park. There’s a path to climb up involving circling the rock and swinging onto branches to reach a higher spot.

    Once at the top, the EXPcalibur II is embedded in the ground, marked with eight points around it. Approach each point and hold the action button to place the Sigils. After all are set, a zombie will spawn; dropkick it away, then spend a few minutes pulling the sword free from the ground.

    EXPcalibur II in Dying Light: The Beast is an extremely powerful sword. It can only be used once since it’s irreversible. Though it’s a lot of work for a one-time weapon, many players find the journey rewarding and fun.

  • Quick Tips for Leveling and Solving Fast in Borderlands

    Quick Tips for Leveling and Solving Fast in Borderlands

    The leveling system in Borderlands 4 can feel a bit odd at times. Campaign missions tend to level up your character faster than you do, pushing you to do side quests and explore the open world to stay on track. In the later parts of the game, some enemies are permanently overleveled, making leveling up difficult for some builds.

    Luckily, there are ways to quickly raise your level to counteract this aggressive scaling. Today, we’ll share tips on how to level efficiently during the main campaign and the endgame grind for the Ultimate Vault Hunter.

    Levels 1-30: Complete Campaign Missions and Drill Sites

    When you start the campaign, your best approach is to complete all main story quests, along with any Drill Sites and Strongholds you come across. Drill Sites are excellent sources of XP, even on the hardest difficulty, Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode (UVHM), after finishing the campaign. They take about a minute to clear and can be farmed repeatedly. Strongholds also give a good chunk of XP, and you should clear them to unlock fast travel points and bounty boards.

    By doing this, you’ll stay close to the main story’s level progression. If you find yourself a little behind in levels, doing some side quests in the area can help. While side quests aren’t the fastest way to gain XP, they do offer other rewards like money and cosmetic items. By the time you finish the campaign, aiming for around level 30 and unlocking UVHM is a good goal.

    Warning: Near the end of the campaign, you’ll enter a zone with enemies marked with an exclamation point indicating their level. These enemies are always overleveled, and you might want to run past them. Gearbox is aware of this and may fix the issue in a future update.

    Levels 31-50: Farm Vile Bounties

    Once you hit level 30, you’ve got two main options to level up quickly:

    1. Continue farming Drill Sites.
    2. Take on Vile Bounties.

    Drill Sites are still a strong way to gain XP, especially in UVHM, so keep farming them if you want. However, if you’ve been doing that throughout the campaign and want some variety, Vile Bounties are a great alternative. These quests appear at Stronghold bounty boards and involve hunting high-value targets marked on the map. They usually take less than a minute to complete and reward about a quarter of a level each time. The best part is that the XP scales with your level, so they’re always worthwhile. Sometimes, they also reward you with legendary gear if luck is on your side.

    Co-op Tips

    If you’re playing with friends, consider splitting your team among different Drill Sites nearby. XP is shared across players in the same region, so hitting different sites at once benefits everyone’s leveling process. Farming a couple of Drill Sites simultaneously can help your team level up very quickly, as long as your build can handle the enemies’ scaling difficulties in multiplayer.

    A popular method involves focusing on the Drill Sites “Pitted Stain” and “Prospects” in the Fadelands. These are close together, and clearing both at the same time can net your team a level every few minutes.

  • How To Reach Boss’s Office, Thirst Scrap & Gilded Drop to Solve Mob Mentality in BL4

    How To Reach Boss’s Office, Thirst Scrap & Gilded Drop to Solve Mob Mentality in BL4

    Completing side missions in Borderlands 4 is crucial because they help you earn a lot of experience points (XP) and level up faster. Most side quests give substantial XP, so doing them while progressing through the main story can help you reach the highest level before finishing the campaign.

    Many of these missions can be quite tricky due to their placement in the game world. For example, the Mob Mentality side quest in Borderlands 4 appears to be a simple fetch job from a distance, but as you go along, you’ll find it’s more complex than it first seems.

    How to Start the Mob Mentality Side Mission

    To begin this mission, you need to keep advancing through the main story until you complete a quest called Shadow of the Mountain. Finishing this will unlock access to the Belton’s Bore Faction Town, located in Low Leys within the Terminus Range.

    Once inside Belton’s Bore, head towards the town’s main entrance. Take the path to the left and find a grappling point to launch onto a platform behind it. On that platform, look directly at the two vending machines with stairs on their left side. Use the stairs to go to another platform. At the top, turn left to find a table with a floating blue holographic wolf mask. Interacting with this mask will trigger the start of the Mob Mentality mission. If no prompt appears, leave the town briefly then return to reset the game state.

    After activating the mission, you’ll chat with a character called The Boss. He will inform you about your next steps, including heading to an area called The Pit, which is close by and marked on your map.

    Getting into The Boss’s Office

    The Boss’s office is located in the heart of The Pit, inside the second level of a club. To reach it, go to the middle of the area then turn right, where stairs lead up to the second floor. Head left once upstairs; Numba One will block the way. To proceed, interact with Numba One to throw his drink (which you find at the bar downstairs). Remember, you have to actually throw it at him to persuade him to clear the path.

    After he moves, go through the doorway to enter The Boss’s office. Inside, he will provide information about the Wolf Mask and where to search for it—a key step in the quest.

    Finding the Thirst Scrap

    Following the conversation, your next task is to go to The Thirst Scrap. This location is conveniently marked on the map and not too far away. Upon arrival, you will confront enemy creatures called Creeps, which are dangerous and can swarm quickly. Make sure to bring weapons effective against crowds, like shotguns and grenades, to handle them efficiently.

    Once the area is cleared, talk to an NPC named Pickett Fenster. He will tell you he needs to take a break—by drinking his favorite Numba One drink. To get it, head to the bar at the bottom of the stairs you just came up. Interact with Tipsy Oliva behind the bar; his Numba One drink should be highlighted in green on the left side. Grab it and return to Numba One, giving him the drink.

    Tip: Remember Tipsy Oliva’s tip that you need to throw the drink at Numba One for him to step aside.

    With the path cleared, head up the short path to a door, and go inside to find The Boss’s office. In the back, he’ll be near his desk. When you talk to him, he will mention the Wolf Mask and where to look next.

    Getting to the Thirst Scrap

    Your journey now takes you to The Thirst Scrap again. The marker on the map indicates the spot, which is close by. After completing your conversation with The Boss, head there to proceed.

    Next Steps: Reaching the Dead Drop at The Gilded Drop

    Once at The Thirst Scrap, you’ll need to eliminate a group of enemies called Manglers—fast and tough foes. It’s a good idea to have weapons suitable for crowd control, like shotguns and grenade mods, before tackling them.

    After clearing the area, find NPC Pickett Fenster, who will tell you about the dead drop. To access it, head to a porta-potty on the central platform in the area and open it to retrieve the mask—the dead drop that The Boss has been asking for. Return it to him to complete this part of the quest.

    Finding the Dead Drop

    Alternatively, if you can’t find it where expected, leave the spot and head to the mountains on your immediate left. Be cautious, as Manglers might attack you here as well. Take them out before proceeding. Then, follow the route uphill nearby, making a jump and dash across a gap onto a ledge. Use your grapple or glide to land on a tower across the gap, where you’ll find a canister to insert into the machine. Activating the machine will open a door leading to another hallway. Follow it to locate Pickett Fenster again.

    Final Steps to the Dead Drop

    Pickett will instruct you to head to The Gilded Drop, positioned southwest of The Pit. When you arrive, ensure the area is clear of enemies, particularly Creeps and other threats. The dead drop—usually a box or hiding spot—will be located there, which contains the mask.

    Completing the Mission

    After retrieving the mask, head back to The Pit. When you confront Numba One, you’ll have to fight him and the guards. Once Numba One is defeated, make your way to the office and hand in the quest. Unlike other missions, you won’t face a boss fight against The Boss; he’s mainly interested in the mask, and the mission concludes without any big boss battles.

  • How To Complete Timid Kyle’s Neglected Opening in Borderlands 4

    How To Complete Timid Kyle’s Neglected Opening in Borderlands 4

    With the Outbounds as allies and Zadra freed from the Order in Borderlands 4, it’s time to confront the Timekeeper’s subordinates. However, you’ll need more allies first. Vile Lector is in the Terminus Mountains, and he has the Augur under his cruel control through experiments.

    Though they dislike the Order as much as anyone, most are too afraid to fight back, except for a few brave ones. Now is the moment to turn the tide and support Defiant Calder in rallying the Augur against Vile Lector. But first, you have a task to complete for him.

    How to Reach Belton’s Bore

    This quest opens right after finishing the previous story mission, A Lot to Process. It’s the main one to focus on if your goal is to eliminate Vile Lector first.

    Start by heading east of Deep Seven Silo in the Dissected Plateau. Follow the road north until you reach Checkpoint Vermillion. You can either fight through or drive past this checkpoint to get to the other side of the mountains.

    Before starting, note that a barrier blocks the entrance to the Terminus Mountains. It will disappear once you complete the Shadow of the Mountains quest and go through it.

    Continue following the main road northwest, passing through the unmarked ruins east of Grey Havenage Safehouse. Keep going north until the road splits. Take the eastern route; as you pass the mountains, you’ll receive a call.

    Head east until you arrive at The Low Lays region. Expect a battle against the Order here, with some NPC allies helping out. Once the area clears, talk to Joyless Stellan.

    They aren’t too excited about what’s happening, but one person might help—a guy named Defiant Calder. He’s located in the eastern corner of Cuspid Climb, which requires a lengthy trip to reach.

    How to Reach Defiant Calder’s Office

    Follow the road away from Belton’s Bore, heading east. When it splits, go south to reach the eastern part of Cuspid Climb. Approaching his location, you’ll face a group of Order enemies, including at least one Badass and two Bulkheads.

    Make sure to activate the Heritage Opus Safehouse along the way, just north of Calder’s location. Doing so will save you multiple trips back and forth.

    When you arrive at the objective marker, get ready for a call from Vile Lector directly. Further down the road, past the Order blockade, you’ll see a cutscene with Defiant Calder. Take out the nearby Order enemies, then speak with Calder, who will ask for a favor.

    Enter The Lambent Mine. The first chamber is filled with Order enemies that you need to kill. After clearing them out, jump to the right side of the room to grab Signal Beacons. Place them on the consoles on the bridge and near the forcefield to advance.

    In the next room, you’ll face more enemies, including the persistent Kratch creatures. They’re usually taken out quickly by the Order allies or by your firepower.

    Continue into the chamber with the large pit. Grapple onto the nearby machine at the edge, then climb to the upper platform. Place the next two Signal Beacons on the consoles: one near the grapple point and another past the door on the left, down the catwalk, and around the corner behind a red door. Be prepared for a Pinhead enemy to spawn—kill it, then hack the console to proceed.

    Go down the hall, using the console in the adjacent room to unlock the main doors. Then, head through the dig chamber, which will be populated with Kratch enemies. Kill them so they don’t follow you forward.

    Approach the forcefield door, where you’ll find two more Signal Beacons to place—one by the door and the other on a broken platform near a large machine. Hack these, then move through the forcefield.

    Inside a small room, you’ll find an ammo and shield vending machine. Restock if needed before entering the final chamber, where the boss fight awaits.

    How to Beat the Skyspanner Kratch

    This boss fight features a Kratch mech that’s a real nuisance. It has four main attack types, which it switches between during the fight:

    1. Hovering and releasing five to six Kratch that home in and explode, causing heavy corrosive damage—these damage your shields significantly.
    2. Circling the room and dropping a ring of stationary Kratch bombs that will explode if you get too close.
    3. Firing a multicolored beam that knocks you back constantly and can push you into Kratch bombs.
    4. Releasing several ground-based Kratch when its health drops below 25%, which crawl toward you and can go over obstacles to reach you and explode.

    Important tip: Avoid stepping into the green liquid on the floor; it’s toxic waste that drains your shields quickly. Keep moving and alternate between shooting down Kratch bombs and targeting the Skyspanner Kratch itself.

    Using elemental guns—preferably from Maliwan or other damage-over-time weapons—helps clear out the smaller enemies and keeps the boss damage consistent. Consider equipment with the Taser mod, which sticks to enemies and inflicts shock damage for about ten to 15 seconds, adding significant damage to the boss.

    Utilize grapple points around the chamber to stay mobile. The fight doesn’t have phases or attack pattern changes, so keep dodging Kratch, avoid the beam, and focus on shooting the boss.

    After the Boss Fight

    Once defeated, exit the chamber and head to Defiant Calder’s office inside Belton’s Bore. Pick up the relic from the altar in the room’s center. Return with the relic to Calder, who will thank you.

    Follow Calder inside Belton’s Bore, watch the cutscenes, and place the relic on its new altar. Completing this will finish the Shadow Over The Mountain quest, rewarding you with experience, money, Eridium, a random Rare or Epic pistol, and the Solar Flair weapon skin.

    This mission also unlocks the Augur Mines scattered on the map, such as Timid Kyle’s Neglected Opening, and opens the way to the next main mission, Crystal Brawl.

  • How To Make Money Quickly by Completing and Solving in Borderlands 4

    How To Make Money Quickly by Completing and Solving in Borderlands 4

    Cash is abundant in Borderlands 4 because there aren’t many major expenses, but it’s still a key currency. You’ll need millions in your Vault Hunter’s wallet to buy cool items from vending machines or to use the respec machine to change your skills.

    Even if you don’t need to spend a lot of money right away, it’s smart to farm some cash when you start Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode. This way, you can buy items from Maurice’s shop or vending machines with Legendary gear. Here are the best ways we found to boost your game cash:

    ### Farm Drill Sites
    A good early way to make extra money is to farm Drill Site encounters around the world. These are small camps that have a quick platforming part followed by a boss fight. They’re pretty easy and give a decent amount of cash. The bosses at each Drill Site also have unique loot tables, so you can farm for specific Legendaries if needed. For example, the boss Pango Bango at the Tendercage Drill Site can drop the Phantom Flame revolver. Farm the site with the Legendary pool you want, and sell leftover drops for extra cash.

    ### Sell Unused Gear
    The best way to make money is to sell every spare gun you find. Items of Epic and Legendary quality are worth a lot at higher levels and can quickly fill your wallet with millions. The fastest way to sell items is to farm any boss near a Moxxi’s Big Encore station. Almost every boss in the game can be farmed this way, especially from Drill Sites or side quests, since they usually have fewer immunity phases and many adds. Make sure to loot your drops as junk and auto-vendor with vending machines—it adds up quickly.

    ### Complete Bounties
    Another effective method is to complete bounties from bounty boards around strongholds. These include Vile Bounties, which you can find after finishing the campaign. These bounties are marked as purple or orange and give more XP and cash than normal bounties. Take the bounty, hunt the marked target, and you’ll earn a small cash reward along with a lot of XP.

    While the cash from bounties isn’t huge, they are arguably the best way for solo players to get XP. The rewards are scaled to your level, so you always get relevant experience. The cash isn’t bad either, but selling weapons from boss farming generally makes more money.

  • Top Legendary Weapons for Rafa in Borderlands 4: Completing and Solving

    Top Legendary Weapons for Rafa in Borderlands 4: Completing and Solving

    Rafa is an excellent Vault Hunter for most gun-focused playstyles in Borderlands 4. He benefits from a combination of passive skills related to ammunition and strong weapon enhancements, allowing for various weapon builds. Whether you prefer one-shot shotguns or high fire rate setups that shower enemies with bullets, Rafa can handle it.

    Since legendary weapons are some of the strongest guns in the game on Kairos, Rafa performs best when equipped with a full set of legendary gear. As you farm for endgame equipment to progress through Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode, keep an eye out for these items to maximize Rafa’s potential.

    Hot Slugger

    The Hot Slugger is considered one of Rafa’s top weapons, a breech-loaded Jakobs shotgun that gains increased damage with each kill, stacking up to three times. At full stacks, it deals 90% more damage, making it capable of one-shotting most enemies. This shotgun’s high damage output works particularly well with Rafa, especially when your build leverages the Vitriol node in his Remote Agent (red) tree, which adds bonus corrosive damage to the first shot in the magazine. Since Hot Slugger only fires one round per shot, it always benefits from this bonus. Combining it with damage scaling mods allows you to clear UVHM content with ease.

    Phantom Flame

    The Phantom Flame pistol is a semi-automatic Jakobs revolver that can fire in full-auto mode when aimed. Rafa’s unique augment, Bullet-Buddy Deluxe, allows you to temporarily reactivate your class ability, granting infinite ammo for a short duration. Using this augment with Phantom Flame lets you repeatedly fire hundreds of rounds quickly, massively increasing your damage output. Keeping your reticle over enemy heads ensures precise hits, making this a powerful choice. It also pairs well with the Metal Management node from the People Person (blue) tree.

    Kickballer

    The Kickballer, a Legendary weapon, is one of the strongest options for Rafa if you have a Jakobs knife with the Penetrator mod, which forces projectiles to critical hit and ricochet. To utilize this, you need a Kickballer with a Jakobs augment, enabling projectiles to bounce multiple times. Firing at enemies’ feet causes projectiles to arc upward, bounce multiple times, and critically strike, creating an endless loop of ricochets that can wipe out most enemies. This setup can be severe on your screen but is very effective against tough foes. Multiple ricochets from nodes that boost bouncing projectiles make this tactic even more deadly.

    Swarm

    The Swarm grenade is not a traditional weapon but is extremely powerful. Upon impact, it releases a swarm of projectiles that seek out targets, dealing significant damage. Each projectile can kill weaker enemies on its own, and the grenade’s ability to generate continuous damage makes it valuable. Using Rafa’s grenade nodes like Booming Business enhances its effectiveness. Throw these grenades whenever possible for maximum advantage.

    Useful Legendary Equipment

    Though not weapons, some legendary gear significantly boosts Rafa’s performance and should be prioritized:

    • Devastating Dancer: A class mod that doubles the strength of Overdrive buffs, but only while using an action skill. It always includes a Soltado point, which doubles Overdrive effects on kills.
    • Firewerks: An armor shield that spawns a missile barrage upon killing an enemy, synergizing well with the Swarm grenade.
    • War Paint: A Reptic that temporarily boosts fire rate and movement speed, ideal for powering up before boss fights for increased damage.

    Farming for these items, along with powerful weapons like Hot Slugger, Phantom Flame, Kickballer, and the Swarm grenade, will make Rafa significantly more formidable throughout your journey.

  • Getting Clearance for the Elevator in Borderlands 4 Recruitment Drive: A Complete Guide

    Getting Clearance for the Elevator in Borderlands 4 Recruitment Drive: A Complete Guide

    After escaping the Welcome Center and defeating Scathe, your main goal is to turn on the elevator at the Abandoned Post. Doing this will grant you access to the rest of the Coastal Bonescape and the entire planet of Kairos.

    To reach the top of the cliffs and activate the elevator, you need to steal a glide pack from the Rippers at Riptide Grotto. This is your first big challenge in Borderlands 4, but as a Vault Hunter, you’re capable of handling it.

    How to reach Riptide Grotto
    When Claptrap greets you on the beach, follow him around the camp and listen to his instructions. Open the grill and take a hot dog, then head north and fight off enemies near the base of the elevator. Claptrap will then guide you to the Ripper camp to the east.

    If you go to the Options menu, select Audio > Advanced, and scroll down, you can adjust Claptrap’s voice volume or even mute him completely. Also, defeating Claptrap with a shot grants a bonus 100 XP, but he won’t notice or react. No need to feel bad about it.

    You’ll probably be at level 2 by the time you reach the elevator, especially after beating Scathe and fighting on the beach. Before heading to Riptide Grotto, make sure to choose and equip an Action Skill and assign your first Skill Point. You’ll gain more levels along the way, so take your time to assign new Skill Points as you earn them — every bonus helps early in the game.

    Travel east until you see the entrance inside a cliff wall. The path features enemies like Manglers and Kratch, which offer a good chance to try out your Action Skill safely. The entrance is a climbable wall with lots of handholds and a yellow-and-black bar at the top; approach it to climb.

    How to find and defeat Splashzone
    The first part of Riptide Grotto is a straightforward canyon chase, guarded by Rippers. Fight through to reach the main area, which has cliffs over a shallow bay. Enemies come from both sides and sneak from the cliffs ahead, so stay alert and keep moving. The path to take is ahead and left on the cliffs, but there’s also an optional detour to the lower right for extra ammo and loot.

    If you have a sniper rifle or scoped weapon, you can take out enemies from above without risking a melee confrontation. Alternatively, a long-range Action Skill like Harlowe’s CHROMA Accelerator works well.

    Follow the cliffs clockwise, climbing and grappling as needed, until you reach the vending machine. Clear out nearby enemies, then restock and upgrade your skills. When ready, jump across the broken bridge next to the vending machine to reach Splashzone, who will drop down as soon as you enter his lair.

    Splashzone boss fight
    The fight takes place in an open area and a narrow looping corridor. Stay in the open to avoid traps, as Splashzone hits hard in melee. Use the corridor to lure him into traps or escape if needed. Rippers will spawn constantly alongside Splashzone; use grenades and Action Skills to keep their numbers down. Sometimes, you’ll need to leave a few alive to fight for your life, but don’t let them overwhelm you—they can be as dangerous as Splashzone himself.

    When Splashzone is defeated, collect his loot, including the key to a nearby chest containing the glide pack. You can respawn him at the Encore Box for extra challenges later, but it’s better to finish the current mission first to unlock contracts and rewards.

    How to power the elevator
    Follow Splashzone’s lair exit using the glide pack to stay on higher ground as you cross the beach. Use the signs and jump from wooden platform to platform to make your way. To activate the glide pack, hold down the jump button in midair; it can be turned off the same way. Remember, the glide pack has limited power and needs recharging between uses.

    Reach the cliff to the right of the elevator, which has climbable walls leading to the top. Be prepared for an attack by Manglers that leap down from above, often including a tough “badass” enemy. When you reach the railing overlooking the landscape, grapple onto the roof. Approach the elevator, wait for Claptrap to finish speaking, then take the dead Order soldier’s Bolt from the corner, install it on the elevator to power it, and lift Claptrap up. When Claptrap approaches the door, melee it to open.

    Inside, grab the tablet from the desk at the back, and use it to activate the console by the left window through a long interaction. This activates essential base functions like:

    • Fast Travel, so you can teleport here later.
    • Vending machines for selling junk, buying gear, and restocking ammo.
    • Contracts, optional missions for XP, money, and other rewards. You can hold up to five at once, and patrols are good to keep active for extra encounters and rewards.

    Finally, wait for Claptrap to connect himself to the transmitter, then press the button beside him to broadcast across Kairos. This ends the Recruitment Drive and kicks off the “Down And Outbound” quest, where you’ll meet new allies in your fight against the Timekeeper.

  • How to Use Beast Form and Solve Its Powers in Dying Light: The Beast

    How to Use Beast Form and Solve Its Powers in Dying Light: The Beast

    Most of Dying Light: The Beast will feel familiar if you’ve played the previous games, with parkour movement and intense zombie combat.

    One big new feature in this game is the “Beast” itself. Kyle is somewhere between human and a Volatile, which gives him access to unique and powerful moves.

    How to Enter Beast Mode and What It’s Used For

    You’ll first see Beast mode during the very first mission. Kyle gets surrounded by zombies and transforms. This early moment shows how Beast mode works — it’s triggered when a meter fills up as Kyle takes or deals damage.

    In the beginning, Kyle can’t control Beast mode and automatically transforms when the meter is full. This might be frustrating if you want to save it for later. But as you level up and defeat Chimeras, you’ll upgrade the transformation ability, allowing you to trigger it manually by pressing L3 + R3.

    Once upgraded, you can activate Beast mode earlier, but that reduces its power. When in Beast mode, Kyle uses quick punches that eliminate most enemies in a few hits and moves faster than usual. Activating Beast mode also quickly restores some health, and more benefits can be unlocked as you upgrade your Beast Powers.

    Unlocking Beast Powers

    During the story, a character named Olivia assigns you quests to find and defeat powerful Chimeras, which upgrades your abilities. While the skill tree gives some customization, you’ll end up unlocking all the powers naturally by progressing through the story and defeating Chimeras.

    Most powers are combat-focused, such as heavy hits, knock-back moves, and the ability to pick up heavy objects. There are also special movement skills, like leaping high into the air or turning the grapple hook into a zipline.

    Two of the most important powers control the Beast transformation: one lets you choose when to activate it, and another allows you to access it when the meter is half-full.

    Tips and Tricks for Beast Mode

    Beast mode is fairly straightforward but keeping a few tips in mind can help you maximize it. Remember, the Beast meter resets whenever you rest—so using it at night, especially against Volatiles, is best saved for when you really need it.

    While the flashy special attacks look cool, they drain the meter fast and usually don’t do much more damage than simple attacks. It’s often better to just use quick swipes to keep your meter going, as they tend to take down enemies in one hit anyway. Using special moves for heavy damage isn’t worth the meter cost.

    A key piece of advice is to avoid activating Beast mode early if you have a power that grants control. Activating with a full meter gives you health regeneration, which is vital since taking damage fills the meter, leaving you more vulnerable if you activate it prematurely.

    Another useful tip — once you’ve unlocked the high jump and grapple hook in Beast mode, it’s a great way to get around quickly, especially during climbing sections. Combining these abilities lets Kyle reach almost any place, as long as you’re willing to spend some of your meter.

  • Complete Your Quest: Solving All Safes and Codes in Dying Light: The Beast

    Complete Your Quest: Solving All Safes and Codes in Dying Light: The Beast

    While you can find some resources by looting bodies and bags, many more valuable items are hidden inside locked safes in Dying Light: The Beast. To access these safes, you need a special code, which isn’t easy to find. Each safe and locked box has its own unique code, which you can either guess or discover nearby. Inside, you’ll find legendary med kits, valuable items, and cash. To save you from spending hours trying to crack the codes, here is a list of all safe locations and their combinations in Dying Light: The Beast.

    All Safes and Locked Box Locations and Codes

    Many safes appear during main or side quests, while others are found spontaneously during exploration of different areas and Dark Zones. Usually, the combination to open a safe is hidden nearby in a note or clue. If you’re struggling to find the codes, here are some of them, or you could try listening for a faint click when turning the dial to the correct number.

    Safe Location Combination
    School Safe School Dark Zone Found in binary on the whiteboard. Code: 5-40-90
    Iris’s Safe Iris’s House / Robbers’ Hideout During the Last Wish Quest. Code: 20-07-06
    Chief Engineer’s Safe Chief Engineer’s Office During the Hydro-Puzzle Quest. Code: 27-01-15
    Musician Safe Abandoned Musician Basement (North of the Vanity Store, Villa Area) On a Bloody Rabbits poster. Code: 02-02-19
    Supermarket Locker Nate Market in Villa Area On a nearby note. Code: 65-63-35
    Hotel Safe Northernmost Hotel in Old Town Count pencils, books, and TVs in the room. Code: 07-06-01

    Note that more safes and their combinations will be added as they are discovered, so check back later for updates.

  • Top Co-Op Teams in Borderlands 4 for Completing and Solving

    Top Co-Op Teams in Borderlands 4 for Completing and Solving

    Building a strong Vault Hunter is tough, but assembling a team of skilled characters can make it easier. In Borderlands 4, some pairings work perfectly together, while others just get the job done. We’ll discuss which duos and teams create the best cooperative experience, whether you’re just starting or a seasoned player.

    Each character has unique abilities. Depending on who you choose, you’ll want teammates who can support or complement your strengths. Here’s a breakdown of the Vault Hunter lineup and the best partnerships for duo and team play.

    ### A Coven of Witches

    Imagine an entire team of Siren characters using The Fourth Seal skill tree. Each Siren can summon up to four clones, creating an army of 20 units — four clones plus the original four Sirens. While not practical for every situation, it’s impressive to see. Each clone can have a different elemental alignment, allowing you to unleash a storm of elements on enemies. Whether you swarm opponents with Specters or send out Reapers, it’s highly satisfying to see a large militia attacking.

    Beyond clone summoning, Vex can also cast Eldritch Blast and fly around as a vampire-like figure, or you can assemble a team of Trouble Tigers, giant elemental predators that mark enemies and make battles easier. Mixing elemental types and abilities adds variety and excitement. Just keep communication clear for the best results, and you can even color-code your team to match elemental powers.

    ### The Siren and The Exo-Soldier

    Vex and Rafa are a great pair, working together to maximize their strengths. Vex can focus on marking enemies and summoning her companion, while Rafa excels at melee combat and melee-based marking with his Arc-Knives. Rafa approaches enemies directly, drawing fire, while Vex stays back and uses her ranged attacks. When paired, they effectively limit enemies’ options and deal continuous damage.

    Swapping elemental powers—like Shock or Corrosive—between Trouble and Rafa enhances their synergy. Vex’s Clone and Familiar support helps her partner, providing extra firepower and coverage. Together, they can quickly take out bosses or clear the campaign, with Vex’s clones providing support for Rafa’s melee attacks. Alternatively, Rafa can heal himself with melee strikes while Vex drains enemies’ health, creating a powerful duo that’s tough to beat.

    ### The Gravitar and The Exo-Soldier

    Harlowe and Rafa make a supporting team, especially effective because Harlowe can buff allies with her Flux Generator to increase damage. Both can link attacks to control enemies and deal continuous damage, enabling battlefield dominance without risking their own lives.

    Using grenades, both characters can control crowds over a wide area. Although more technical, this combo rewards players who enjoy a strategic approach. For maximum effectiveness, gear them with Maliwan weapons, which are great for elemental synergy.

    ### The Viking and The Siren

    Amon the Viking and Vex create a flexible and powerful duo. Amon can switch between Cryo and Incendiary damage, offering versatile attack options. Vex thrives on Kinetic damage but can swap her element and abilities using Trouble, her Companion.

    Amon’s ability to attack from afar or up close makes him a durable tank, taking hits and drawing fire, while Vex heals herself through lifesteal and supports from a distance. Their combined skills allow them to handle various situations with ease, especially when Vex supports Amon with her clones and summoning powers.

    ### One of Each

    A fun choice is to assemble a team of all four different Vault Hunters. This mix offers a lot of versatility: Harlowe supports with her Flux Generator, Rafa and Amon balance melee and ranged attacks, and Vex provides support and firepower from afar. They can handle different elemental powers, and with good coordination, each character gets their moment to shine.

    While communication is important, this diverse team can cover many roles and adapt to different challenges. Using a variety of weapon types, especially assault rifles, enhances their firepower, making the team even more effective.

    —

    Creating strong partnerships and balanced teams can significantly improve your experience in Borderlands 4. Whether you prefer dedicated support, heavy hitters, or a mix of characters, the right combinations will help you face any challenge.

  • How To Recover the Order Contraband in Borderlands 4 by Completing and Solving

    How To Recover the Order Contraband in Borderlands 4 by Completing and Solving

    Once you’ve activated the Abandoned Post in Borderlands 4, you can head north to explore the rest of the Fadefields. There, you’ll meet a group called the Outbounders—a brave band of rebels determined to escape Kairos and its oppressive ruler. Your first mission with them, “Down and Outbound,” introduces you to the team and the dangers they encounter.

    “Down and Outbound” is split into three main parts. You can complete all of them in one session or spread them out across side quests. There are also optional collectibles that provide additional lore if you choose to find them.

    How to Meet the Outbounders

    After defeating Splashzone and upgrading your first safehouse in the Coastal Bonescape, Claptrap will send you north to get in touch with the Outbounders. There’s still plenty to do in the starting area, such as collecting gear, and there’s no time limit, so you can take your time until you’re ready to move on.

    You can always return to the Coastal Bonescape later to finish up any unfinished tasks. Whether you choose to advance now or explore more at your own pace is entirely up to you.

    The only way to reach the other parts of the Fadefields is past the abandoned town of Plungeford, located north of your current position. This is also the location for the “Meat Is Murder” side quest, where you’ll hunt down a killer. The town is now inhabited by Rippers, so prepare for a fight when you arrive.

    Climb the wooden scaffolding at the back of the town; once at the top, you’ll find a path through the cliffs leading to The Howl, a new area. From there, it’s just a quick walk northeast to The Launchpad, which is the Outbounders’ base.

    Fighting The Order

    When you arrive at The Launchpad, it will be under attack by The Order. You need to eliminate all enemies in the town square before continuing. Use elemental weapons wisely—try switching between them—as different enemies have weaknesses. The Order employs shields, armor, and flesh, so adjusting your tactics based on their defense types will help.

    Keep an eye on the sky during the fight. Wardens and Witnesses can fly, so if you’re only watching the ground, you might end up ambushed from above.

    After defeating the enemies, Rush will invite you into the bunker beneath the village. Enter through the gate under the bridge to the south and make your way through the tunnels to meet him. After a cutscene, you’ll gain access to the village’s vending machines, a bank, and a respec station. Take the ladder near Rush to return to the surface, then talk to Conway to unlock vehicle travel.

    How to Defeat Spymaster Horace

    Next, head northeast to Horace’s Oversight to face the Spymaster. This is a good chance to explore the new area and do some side quests, but you can also stick to the main story. Your new vehicle will make reaching the facility, marked as a large white square on the map, quick and easy.

    If you get lost during main quests, press up on the D-pad to have the game guide you using the Echo-4 map. It considers obstacles and roads to show you the best route, but only for the current quest.

    Where to Find All the Contraband

    When you arrive, Rush will ask you to recover contraband scattered inside the facility. Collecting these items is optional but beneficial—it unlocks lore about the Outbounders. Each main area has one item you can find, so you can move through the facility without worrying about missing anything.

    • In the entryway, look for an open door to the left of the stairs leading to the covered area and the main entrance. Inside, you’ll find Dice’s Dice on a crate.
    • Inside the large courtyard, stick to the left side instead of following the main path. There’s a door leading to a corridor and stairs; on the second floor, you’ll find the Lost Hair Products. An outside door on the upper level lets you access an exterior walkway without retracing your steps.
    • On the roof, before jumping into the hatch for Horace’s boss fight, climb over the railings to the neighboring rooftops. There, you’ll find a red chest and the Victory Cookbook.
    • After defeating Horace, head out the west door to the outside. Immediately turn left and follow the exterior of the building to find a garage containing Rush’s Novel Collection.

    Horace Boss Fight

    Horace is mostly talk—until he gets possessed by the Timekeeper. In his first phase, he’ll fly around and shoot at you like a Warden. Keep moving and use cover to avoid his blasts, focusing your fire on his Shield using Shock and Corrosion damage.

    Once his Shield is down, Horace becomes temporarily invincible, then drops to the ground and switches to melee combat. Stay ahead of him to avoid his scythe attacks and heal when necessary. He’s more vulnerable to grenades in this phase. Incendiary rounds work best once he switches to melee, so switch your damage types accordingly.

    How to Recover the Bolt Parts

    After defeating Horace, loot his body—the quest advances when you collect his Bolt (highlighted in teal). Conway will send you southeast to the Wreck of the Nostalgia to find parts needed to repair the Bolt. There might still be some Order enemies on your way; you can either fight them or outrun them using your speeder.

    At the wreck, face the Rippers guarding the area and gather the parts:

    • The casing is on a pile of crates near the entrance.
    • The data drive is lodged inside a console inside the main hull.
    • The cylinder is in a cave beyond the hull; glide there after collecting the data drive. Be cautious, as a tough enemy will spawn upon entry!

    When you have all three parts, return to The Launchpad. You can walk, use your vehicle, or quickly travel via the new Fast Travel station in the bunker. Talk to Rush and Conway inside, then insert the parts into the console to finish the quest. This sets in motion your mission to take on Idolator Sol—and eventually, the Timekeeper.

    Mission Rewards

    After completing the quest, don’t forget to check your inventory. You’ll receive a new Vault Hunter Style to customize your outfit and a random weapon of rare or epic quality. “Down and Outbound” can be replayed multiple times—you can keep playing to earn different guns, especially by fighting Horace repeatedly through Moxxi’s Encore machine in his lair.

  • How to Play Rafa the Exo-Soldier: Solving Skills in Borderlands 4

    How to Play Rafa the Exo-Soldier: Solving Skills in Borderlands 4

    The secret to Borderlands 4’s success lies in versatility, and Rafa offers plenty of customization options to face any challenge. As a cybernetic warrior, he’s one of the top Vault Hunters to choose, and there’s good reason for that. Here’s what makes him stand out, the best ways to build him, and which playstyles work best for both beginners and experienced players.

    There’s a lot to cover, but we’ve got everything you need. This guide explains the Exo-Soldier class in Borderlands 4 and how Rafa can easily handle anything that crosses his path on Kairos.

    Exo-Soldier Class Overview

    [Image: Borderlands 4 Rafa, the Exo-Soldier, surrounded in blue]

    The Exo-Soldier class focuses on gunslinging and speed for quick, chaotic battles. Rafa is highly adaptable, and the different skill trees available allow for customization based on your preferred playstyle. Whether you enjoy cooperating with others or taking on enemies solo, Rafa has a build for you. Here’s a breakdown of the top Exo-Soldier builds and the situations they’re best suited for—perfect for both newbies and veterans.

    Rafa Skill Trees

    Tree Name Description Best For
    People Person Targets enemies and marks them for increased damage when fighting in groups. Ideal for multiplayer scenarios, especially with teamwork. Multiplayer
    Remote Agent Focuses on raising damage and shield regeneration, making Rafa a strong solo damage dealer. Campaign
    This Year’s Gimmick Enhances melee capabilities and survivability, best for solo play where in-close combat is key. Solo

    People Person: Works well if you’re teaming up with friends, with Rafa targeting enemies and marking them for team damage boosts. It’s a bit complex, so beginners may want to start elsewhere.

    Remote Agent: Perfect for solo campaigns or small groups, turning Rafa into a durable, high-damage gunner capable of healing himself while spraying enemies with bullets.

    This Year’s Gimmick: A melee-focused build that unlocks the Arc-Knives, letting Rafa fight up close with stealth elements and quick burst damage. In multiplayer, be cautious about other Vault Hunters to avoid getting caught in crossfire.


    Best Campaign Build for Rafa

    Leveling through the campaign is time-consuming, but Rafa’s red skill tree can speed things up. This build emphasizes balanced power and range, helping to wipe out enemies and keep Rafa healthy. His action skill, Peacebreaker Cannons, automatically fires shoulder-mounted lasers dealing kinetic damage and knocking back enemies. Early on, using Peacebreaker early refunds part of its cooldown, making it a reliable tool.

    Focus on the Remote Agent tree, prioritizing Sitiar and Shield Barriest for damage buffs and shield regeneration. Maintain Overdrive mode for increased speed, especially since Rafa naturally enters it after activating his action skill, boosting his mobility.

    Choose the Bullet-Buddy Deluxe Augment to boost incendiary damage with ammo, allowing you to fire without consuming rounds while restoring skill duration with critical hits via Juerga. The Insta-Fort Battle System makes Peacebreaker Cannons detonate as turrets, increasing their damage output. The Volatile Hollowpoints augment turns these cannons into rockets with splash damage, making them excellent for high DPS.

    If you prefer a more explosive approach, Double-Ought Autoshot ricochets shots for additional damage and critical hits, which helps refill Overdrive quickly. Pair with fast-firing assault rifles (like those from Vladof or Daedalus) for maximum efficiency.

    Key Skills

    Focus on passive abilities that increase gun damage, shield regeneration, and ammo efficiency. Top skills include:

    • Sitiar: Boosts gun damage.
    • Deft Hands: Improves fire rate.
    • Shield Barriest: Enhances shield recharge.
    • Juerga: Restores action skill duration on critical hits.
    • El Valiente: Increases damage scaling with shield health.
    • Everdrive: Extends Overdrive duration.
    • Temerario: Further increases gun damage with active overdrive.
    • Las Jaras: Ammo regeneration during Overdrive.
    • The Thrill: Fire rate increase, especially during Overdrive.

    Best Solo Build for Rafa

    This build emphasizes melee with the Arc-Knives, focusing on quick damage and survivability in close combat. Using the This Year’s Gimmick tree, Rafa can unleash Blade Flurry for a final burst of damage before resuming his gun-fighting.

    The goal is to maximize Arc-Knives damage and duration, with lifesteal essential since Rafa will be in melee range most times. Borrow skills from Remote Agent, like Altered Cabron, which restores health upon killing enemies with Arc-Knives, adding corrosive damage that stacks.

    Augments like Thundercutter increase splash damage from melee attacks, while Galvanic Panic transforms Arc-Knives into damaging lasers that chain between enemies, scaling with the number of marked foes. Continuous melee combat with this build is effective for quick kills, especially when working with team members who can capitalize on the crowd control.

    Key Skills

    Support your melee focus with passive skills that boost damage and survivability, such as:

    • Handshake Deal: Increase melee and gun damage.
    • Midnight Oil: Adds corrosive bonus damage.
    • Dial In: Critical hit chance increase with melee.
    • Saldar: Lifesteal on melee hits.
    • El Borracho: Increased corrosive damage during action.
    • Resiliencia: Damage reduction when hit.
    • Embrace: Increase melee damage and health regeneration.

    Best Multiplayer Build for Rafa

    For team play or matchmaking, build Rafa around support with People Person, utilizing the Apophis Lance offhand cannon that pierces enemies with shock blasts and explodes for damage. This setup allows Rafa to play a ranged role, marking enemies for increased damage and scaling his power with enemy marks.

    Start with Sangre por Sangre, which reduces cooldowns after using the Lance’s charges, letting Rafa repeatedly fire the piercing blasts. Augments like Engorged Bore increase projectile radius and speed, while Project: Gorgon turns the Lance into a laser that chains damage across enemies, especially potent with incendiary effects.

    In combat, stay at range using assault rifles (Vladof and Daedalus are prime options) to maximize damage while keeping enemies marked and controlled. This build is excellent for supporting allies by damaging multiple foes simultaneously, clearing out groups efficiently.

    Key Skills

    To support this playstyle, focus on:

    • Abajo: Increases cooldown rate after grenade throws.
    • Arriba: Boosts cooldown on enemy kills.
    • Las Jaras: Ammo regeneration in Overdrive.
    • Metal Management: No ammo consumption when activating skills.
    • Pa’ Dentro: Health regeneration upon using action skills.
    • Preparado: Faster cooldown after reloading.
    • Fiesta: Action skills free from duration costs when applying effects.
    • El Soldado: Gun damage increased during Overdrive, especially with projectile-focused builds.
    • The Right Tools: Increased ordnance damage when reloading.
    • Per My Last: Extra damage chance on action skill hits.

    Summary

    Rafa’s versatility shines through with multiple builds suited for different playstyles—whether you prefer solo melee combat, cooperative ranged attacks, or balanced hybrid gameplay. Equipping him with the right weapons, Augments, and skill trees allows him to excel in any situation—so gather your gear and adapt as needed.

  • Where to Find Every Survivalist Cache in Borderlands 4 While Completing the Game

    Where to Find Every Survivalist Cache in Borderlands 4 While Completing the Game

    Borderlands 4 features hundreds of collectibles found across its expansive open world. One of the first sets you can complete before leaving the Fadefields involves ten Survivalist Caches—large boxes filled with guns and gear you need to find.

    Most of these caches are hidden away from plain sight, tucked in spots away from busy paths. Often, you might pass by some without noticing. Here’s how to locate all ten.

    ### All Survivalist Cache Locations

    In the southeast corner of Coastal Bonescape, there’s a small Ripper camp called Haywire Shire. After clearing out enemies, look behind the houses on the east side for a big chest filled with guns.

    Moving east from Harper’s Hideaway to a covered bridge crossing the river, inside the bridge’s box, climb onto the rafters to find a hidden Survivalist Cache.

    Heading west from Harper’s Hideaway to Sarrett’s Jetty, there’s a cache between two shoreline buildings, guarded by Rippers. The cache is hidden behind them.

    From Mort’s farm in Gushing Turret, go west to the lake’s edge and find a broken pipe that you can swim through. Behind it, in a hideout, there’s a cache in the back room.

    In the woods northeast of Rootdown Estates, climb a rusty wreck with a wall on the left that leads into some Ripper caves. Defeat enemies in the back room to find a cache and a red chest.

    At the southeasternmost part of the map, near a crash site in the swamps of Idolator’s Noose, look for an inlet with a small island. North of that, inside a crashed ship, you’ll discover another cache.

    In the area called Idolator’s Noose, climb cliffs on the path to Someday Rise. Instead of crossing a broken wooden bridge, jump into the gorge below to find an abandoned camp with a cache.

    Following the northwest road from Synthetic Nave toward a farm near a fork, look to the right for a drainpipe you can crawl into. Inside, you’ll find a secret room with a cache.

    In the woods near the “Sum Of His Parts” mission, climb the wall on the southwest edge of the garden nearby. Inside a shack there, you’ll find a cache.

    Finally, in the early part of the game, after defeating Redthumb in “The Sum Of His Parts,” climb the wall southwest of the garden to find a shack containing a Survivalist Cache.

    ### How To Open Survivalist Caches

    These caches are different from regular chests—they have a tiny switch you must interact with to open them. It’s located on either of the short sides near the top, with signs indicating where to trigger the mechanism. It may be tricky at first, but once you open one, the rest become easier.

    ### What Do You Get For Opening Survivalist Caches?

    Each cache contains a variety of weapons and gear, mostly uncommon and rare items, with some epic-tier loot, scaled to your level. They’re perfect for giving your character a boost early on. You can also wait to open them until your current gear is behind your level, as loot scales accordingly. Since these caches tend to drop higher-rarity items than standard chests, they are worth the effort. Keep in mind, unlike regular chests that reset each game session, each Survivalist Cache can only be opened once per campaign.

    Once all ten are opened, you complete the related Collection Challenge, earning extra money and Eridium. Additionally, you’ll unlock a new reward— the Never Say DIY weapon skin—available from your main inventory screen.