Borderlands is a series not short on selling points: a colorful and expansive universe to explore, a cast of spirited characters, and a ton of guns. Aside from the draw of those key ingredients, there's one more common element that keeps Borderlands 3 players coming back and that's a love of big numbers... but not in a math class sense.
Borderlands 3 features over one billion guns for players to collect, and in doing so, they'll gain millions of XP. It might sound daunting, but if you're a new player, catching up to the pros is a cinch. Go to these places to get started.
Updated August 2, 2021 by Joseph Burrell: Borderlands' Director's Cut update has arrived and with it comes a new level cap. Though players can now reach level 72 — and fight some new bosses, even on base-game planets — many of the best farming methods remain as reliable as ever for keeping your vault hunter in peak condition. We've updated this article to reflect any changes.
9 Estate Sale (Jakob's Estate)
Borderlands 3 early-adopters will tear up reminiscing on how rewarding this farming route used to be. Before the Jakob's Estate map was subjected to a host of hotfixes, the Servant's Lift area was the place to be for fledgling vault hunters stocking up on rare loot.
The area isn't useless now, but players used to be able to load into the entrance of the manor and quickly backtrack down the lift for a guaranteed Loot Tink spawn, once you claimed his treasure simply save, load and repeat. In the current build of the game the Leery Hamlet and Servant's Lift areas are still densely packed with mobs, so while you can't abuse Loot Tinks endlessly you can pick up levels.
8 The Seer (Scryer's Crypt)
Your first encounter with members of the Eridian species in Borderlands 1 is exhilarating - even on an alien planet, the discovery of hyper-advanced visitors that are foreign to Pandora itself remains one of the series' best reveals. Since then the Eridians have become familiar to the fanbase, but that doesn't mean Borderlands 3 is running out of spectacles.
The Seer is a new boss introduced in the Director's Cut expansion. As the commander in chief of the aforementioned galaxy-conquering aliens, The Seer is no pushover. Fortified by a shield, armor, and one more shield, you'll want to deal steady shock and corrosive damage to prevent The Seer from recovering. It can also summon back-up guardians to heal it directly. Squint hard when fog envelopes the field, as The Seer becomes nearly invisible, but remains vulnerable to damage.
Once you've bested E.T. you'll earn a heap of XP, as well as the chance find some of the game's best class mods - Amara-mains should find this loot particularly enticing. If money is no object you can repeat the encounter by jumping from the platform and dying. You can also run back from the teleporter for a longer, cheaper route back to the arena.
7 Enter The Upside-Down (The Droughts)
Borderlands 1 and 2 were packed with pop culture references and Borderlands 3 continues that tradition - although nothing will ever top Borderlands 2's "Eff Yo' Couch" achievement. Head to Bloodbucket's Chapel on Pandora in search of the game's nod to Stranger Things, the Demoskaggon.
The "Kill The Demoskaggon" mission randomly appears (and reappears) on the notice board after you unlock Sanctuary. The mission is also apart of the annual Halloween event quests. The 'skaggons can spawn without the quest but they aren't guaranteed so this farm will take some repeated loading.
Bring some cryo or radiation weapons because they're fire-immune. You'll get a good amount of XP doing this, as well as the very respectable Nighthawkin and Monocle guns.
6 Hillbilly Hunting (Ambermire)
The references don't stop, and this is a two-for-one deal. If you've done the "Target of Opportunity" bounty for Zer0 then you've already encountered this subtle Deliverance, and not-so-subtle Mumford & Sons, Easter egg. Jump down the waterfall near Rogue's Hollow on Eden 6 to trigger the guaranteed spawning of four psycho billies all named... Billie (or Billy, or Billi, or Billee).
Prioritize fire and multi-target weapons in your kit. You'll want to fight these guys at a high difficulty for the XP, but if you're simply looking for their Electric Banjo drop, go ahead and turn down the mayhem, that shield has a constant drop rate regardless. The shield's flavor text is a quote from Mumford & Sons' bassist, who was surprised to learn that their contemporary-folk-rock album had mass appeal.
5 Circuit City (Lectra City)
If you followed the Borderlands 3 story missions without deviation then you may have missed this boss when he first becomes accessible. If you're a map completionist, you probably worked your way through Lectra City as soon as you reached Promethea, and you probably also caught a whooping from Killavolt while your level was low.
Go back and exact your revenge on Moxxi's loudmouth, TV star ex-lover, not only because she asks you to do so, but because farming Killavolt can earn you heaps of XP — and The Monarch SMG if you're fighting above mayhem six.
Just watch out for those excessive shock AoEs, and remember to shoot him in the crotch for Moxxi... and for the criticals. For a quick reset simply die in Killavolt's arena after you've defeated him to respawn just outside and start the fight anew.
4 Jon Snow Strategy (The Anvil)
Hidden in the sewer systems beneath a prison full of psychos on a planet covered by rotting swampland is a palace fit for a queen. Named after Game Of Thrones character Daenerys Targaryen, The Mother of Dragons (and a dozen more self-indulgent titles), Borderlands' Mother of Grogans rules from her grimy keep in West of Gross — like Westeros — with her three dragon pets.
Just like the earlier Easter egg boss, Demoskaggon, The Mother of Grogans is a rare spawn, so you can increase farming efficiency if you have friends farming her in their own games, generating bounties for you. To really speed up this process simply give her a good punch, as she dies from a single melee attack. You'll still need to take care of the grogans though, so be prepared.
3 The Slaughter House 500 (Pandora)
This farming advice might be obvious, but the Slaughter Shaft is still one of the best ways to grind for levels and loot if you've got a couple of friends, some spare time, and don't want to be bothered by re-loading your game to spawn rare enemies.
You might also want some shields specifically to mitigate rocket damage. Enemy spawns are randomized but getting a bunch of bad-asses appearing at once can throw a wrench in your farming plans quickly.
2 Grave Robbing (The Floating Tomb)
For the longest time Graveward was the definitive pick for players farming spammable story mode bosses. The levitating arboreal colossus checks all the boxes, a quick and accessible teleporter, giant exploitable weak points, and an attack pattern that's fun and unique without being too punishing (unless he spawns adds while you're playing on upper mayhem levels, RIP).
Bring fast, long-range firepower, like your Monarch from Killavolt, and melt the critical points on his hands, chest, and forehead (ordered from highest to lowest critical hit bonus) when possible.
1 Look Away, Claptrap (The Handsome Jackpot)
These previous tips have all been base-game-friendly, but a proper list wouldn't be complete without mentioning the most absurd Borderlands farming strategy since the Borderlands 2 "Fleshstick" exploit, which requires Moxxi's Heist of the Handsome Jackpot expansion.
Travel to the north-western corner of the zone from the Compactor-Trashlantis teleporter until you reach the Scraptrap Nest. Clearing this room gives tens of thousands of XP at high mayhem, and resetting the fight is as simple as walking backwards out of the room and back in, or summoning Moze's bear.