How to Farm Money in Borderlands 3: A Comprehensive Guide
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The quickest way to farm money in Borderlands 3 (BL3) is to play Mayhem Mode 11 on the highest difficulty and repeatedly defeat bosses that drop a lot of loot, then sell all the unwanted items at a vendor. Combine this with Guardian Rank perks and the right class build to maximize your efficiency in both killing and looting. You can also focus on looting chests in areas like the Scrapland and the Anvil on Eden-6, but boss farming is typically much faster, especially the Graveward boss, which is a common and effective early farming option.
Understanding the Economy of Borderlands 3
Borderlands 3’s economy revolves around cash, Eridium, and Golden Keys. While Eridium is used for purchasing exclusive items and cosmetics, and Golden Keys unlock special chests, cash is essential for everything from purchasing ammunition and health to buying valuable items from vending machines and even fueling some end-game activities like re-rolling anointments. Without a steady income, you’ll find yourself struggling to afford the best gear and stay competitive, especially as you progress through Mayhem Mode.
Optimizing Your Farming Strategy
To truly maximize your money farming potential, consider these key factors:
Maximizing Loot Drops
- Mayhem Mode: Playing on higher Mayhem Modes, especially Mayhem 10 or 11, significantly increases loot drop rates. While the enemies become tougher, the sheer volume of loot you acquire more than compensates for the increased difficulty. The increased quality of loot also means higher selling prices.
- Guardian Rank: Invest Guardian Rank points into perks like “Lucky Day” (increased luck) and “Expedited Excavation” (faster item pickup). These small bonuses add up over time, improving both your drop rate and your efficiency.
- Loot Luck: Equipping artifacts or class mods that boost your loot luck can also contribute to more frequent and higher-quality drops. Experiment with different gear to find the optimal setup for your playstyle.
Efficient Farming Routes
- Graveward: This boss, found on Eden-6, is a popular choice for early-game farming due to its relatively simple attack patterns and high loot drop rate. A corrosive weapon is particularly effective.
- Tyreen the Destroyer: Another easy boss in endgame, Tyreen the Destroyer is found at the end of the main campaign. She is also a good option for quick and easy boss farming.
- The Fabricator (Traunt): Traunt is located in the Atlas HQ on Promethea. He is easily farmed and drops various loot making him a good farming option.
- Dedicated Loot Sources: Some enemies have a higher chance of dropping specific legendary items. While not directly related to money farming, targeting these enemies can result in valuable gear that you can sell for a significant profit if you don’t need it.
- Circle of Slaughter/Proving Grounds: These are great options for continuous waves of enemies and loot. They are located at various locations, with Slaughterstar 3000 being a popular choice.
- Vault Card Loot: The two vault cards offer a variety of legendary items that can be sold at vending machines.
Sell Smarter, Not Harder
- Filter Your Loot: Don’t waste time picking up every white or green item. Focus on blue, purple, and orange items, as they fetch a higher price.
- Vendor Locations: Learn the locations of conveniently located vendors. Sanctuary III is a popular choice due to its numerous shops.
- Inventory Management: Regularly sell your unwanted items to avoid filling up your backpack and losing potential loot.
Utilizing Class Builds for Farming
Certain class builds excel at speed farming. For example:
- Amara (Siren): A build focused on melee damage and elemental damage can quickly clear hordes of enemies and defeat bosses with ease.
- FL4K (Beastmaster): A build that boosts your pet’s damage can allow your pet to do a majority of the killing, enabling you to focus on looting. A crit-focused build can quickly eliminate bosses.
- Moze (Gunner): A build that focuses on Iron Bear and splash damage can clear rooms quickly.
- Zane (Operative): A clone and drone-focused build can be very effective for both damage and survivability, allowing you to efficiently farm even in high Mayhem levels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the best early-game method for farming money in Borderlands 3?
The best early-game method is to play through the story and sell unwanted items to vendors. Once you reach Graveward on Eden-6, he becomes an accessible and repeatable boss for farming both XP and money. Make sure to turn up your difficulty level, and loot everything you can for a higher chance of getting quality loot drops.
2. Does playing on higher Mayhem Modes increase the amount of money I get from selling items?
Yes, playing on higher Mayhem Modes increases the quality and quantity of loot drops, which translates to more valuable items to sell. Mayhem 10 and 11 offer the highest rewards.
3. What are some of the best legendary items to sell for a good profit?
High-tier legendary weapons with desirable anointments, such as “Next Two Mags Have 125% Bonus Fire Damage,” typically fetch a higher price. Look for gear with high damage output and useful perks. Also, focus on purple-rarity gear that has high stats.
4. Is it worth farming the Takedown at the Maliwan Blacksite for money?
The Takedown at the Maliwan Blacksite can be profitable, but it requires a well-geared character and a dedicated team. It’s more efficient for loot than for pure money farming, so only consider it if you also need specific gear from the Takedown.
5. Can I farm money offline in Borderlands 3?
Yes, you can farm money offline, but you won’t benefit from any hotfixes or updates that might improve loot drops or item values. The best online methods are generally more efficient.
6. How does the vending machine work for money farming?
Vending machines are primarily used for selling unwanted items. You can also sometimes find good deals on gear, but relying on vending machines for income is not an effective farming strategy. The primary use for vending machines is selling loot.
7. What Guardian Rank perks are most helpful for money farming?
“Lucky Day” (increased luck) and “Expedited Excavation” (faster item pickup) are the most helpful Guardian Rank perks for money farming. Any perks that boost loot luck are generally helpful for increased loot rarity.
8. Should I focus on farming chests or bosses for money?
Boss farming is typically more efficient, as bosses drop a larger quantity of loot in a shorter amount of time. While chests can contain valuable items, their spawn rates and loot quality are less consistent than boss drops.
9. How often should I sell my loot to a vendor?
Sell your loot whenever your backpack is nearing full. Holding onto items for too long prevents you from picking up new, potentially more valuable gear.
10. What are the best locations for farming money in the DLCs?
The best locations depend on your level and gear. Generally, any area with a high enemy density and multiple chests can be a good choice. Areas like the Scrapland in the Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck DLC can be profitable.
11. How can I increase my backpack space to carry more loot?
You can purchase Storage Deck Upgrades (SDUs) from Marcus Munitions on Sanctuary III. These upgrades increase your backpack capacity, allowing you to carry more loot and sell it later for a larger profit.
12. Are there any specific builds that are particularly good for money farming?
Builds that prioritize high damage output, fast movement speed, and efficient area-of-effect attacks are ideal for money farming. Look for builds that can quickly clear hordes of enemies and defeat bosses in a short amount of time.
13. Does increasing the game difficulty beyond Mayhem 11 affect money farming?
No, increasing the game difficulty beyond Mayhem 11 in normal mode does not have an effect on money farming. The biggest increase in rewards stops at Mayhem 11.
14. What role does the Black Market play in money farming?
The Black Market, which changes location each week, can offer unique items for purchase. However, it’s not a reliable source of income. It should be a secondary focus, not your primary farming method.
15. Is it beneficial to play with a group for money farming?
Playing with a group can be beneficial, as you can clear content faster and cover more ground. However, you’ll also have to share the loot, so the overall profit may be lower unless you have a system for distributing items fairly. Some builds and classes, also benefit from the presence of allies.