How to Master Weapon Proficiencies in Borderlands 1: A Comprehensive Guide
The Core Strategy: Rakk Hive Farming
The most effective method to farm weapon proficiencies in Borderlands 1 revolves around exploiting the Rakk Hive in the Trash Coast area. The strategy is deceptively simple but highly efficient:
- Locate the Rakk Hive: Travel to the Trash Coast, where the Rakk Hive resides.
- Weaken the Rakk Hive: Damage the Rakk Hive until its health is low, but do not kill it.
- Switch Weapons: Quickly switch to the specific weapon type for which you want to increase proficiency.
- Land the Killing Blow: Deal the final damage to the Rakk Hive with the selected weapon.
- Rinse and Repeat: The Rakk Hive will respawn in approximately 1-2 minutes, allowing you to repeat this cycle.
This process allows you to continuously level up your proficiency with your chosen weapon type. By using this method you will be able to max out all of your weapon proficiencies relatively quickly.
Why the Rakk Hive?
The Rakk Hive is ideal for this farm for several reasons:
- Easy to Weaken: Its large size and predictable attack patterns make it easy to reduce its health to a manageable level without accidentally killing it.
- Consistent Respawn: Unlike many other enemies, the Rakk Hive respawns quite rapidly, allowing for consistent farming without long waits or tedious area transitions.
- Versatile Farm: You can use the Rakk Hive to level any weapon type that you want to.
- Accessible: The Trash Coast is an easily accessible location, available early in the game.
Alternative Methods
While the Rakk Hive is the most efficient, you can technically increase weapon proficiencies with any enemy. However, this method can be very slow. Other methods, such as using a character that has an ability to regenerate ammo, may increase how many shots you can get out using specific weapons. However, this does not increase how much weapon proficiency you get per kill.
FAQs: Mastering Borderlands 1 Weapon Proficiencies
1. What is the maximum weapon proficiency level in Borderlands 1?
The maximum weapon proficiency level in Borderlands 1 is 50. You can monitor your current proficiency level on the character status page within the game.
2. How do I check my current weapon proficiency levels?
You can view your current weapon proficiency levels by opening the character status page in the game menu. The proficiency for each weapon type will be displayed there.
3. How does weapon proficiency affect my character?
Higher weapon proficiency levels directly impact your character’s effectiveness with that weapon type. Benefits typically include:
- Increased damage
- Improved accuracy
- Reduced recoil
4. What weapon types are there in Borderlands 1, and can I max them all?
Borderlands 1 features the following weapon types:
- Pistols
- Revolvers
- Shotguns
- SMGs
- Assault Rifles
- Snipers
- Rocket Launchers
You can max out all weapon proficiencies on a single character, as long as you’re willing to put in the time.
5. Is there a fastest method for leveling specific weapon types?
Using the Rakk Hive method is the fastest overall. However, you can slightly adjust your strategy. If you are trying to level a specific weapon, you can ensure you only pick up and use that weapon type so your proficiency leveling will be focused on that type.
6. Do DLCs affect how I can level weapon proficiencies?
No. All content in Borderlands 1 is available as of the GOTY editions, and all content behaves the same. DLCs can contain weapons that you may wish to increase proficiency with, however.
7. How long does it take to max out all weapon proficiencies?
The time needed to max out all weapon proficiencies varies based on your dedication, using the Rakk Hive method will drastically decrease the amount of time it will take. On average, it can take several hours per weapon type to fully max out using normal methods, or significantly shorter using the Rakk Hive farm.
8. Can I level weapon proficiencies in co-op?
Yes, weapon proficiencies are unique to each player, so you can level up your weapon proficiencies while playing with friends.
9. Does leveling weapon proficiency affect weapon stats directly?
No. Weapon proficiency only affects your character’s handling of that weapon type. It does not change the stats of the weapon itself.
10. Are there any items or skills that increase proficiency gain?
No, in Borderlands 1, there are no items or skills that directly increase weapon proficiency gain. The most consistent way to gain proficiency is through actually killing enemies with that specific weapon type.
11. Does the difficulty setting affect weapon proficiency gain?
No, the difficulty setting does not affect how quickly you gain weapon proficiency.
12. Is there a “best” weapon type to prioritize for leveling?
This will depend on your play style. If you tend to favor certain weapons, focus on leveling those first. Assault Rifles and SMGs are often popular choices for their versatility, while Snipers and Rocket Launchers have their place depending on the situation.
13. Can I reset my weapon proficiency levels?
No, there is no way to reset your weapon proficiency levels in Borderlands 1. Once levels are gained, they are permanent for that character.
14. Are weapon proficiencies shared across characters?
No, weapon proficiencies are unique to each character. Each character must level their own proficiencies.
15. Is it worth the effort to max out weapon proficiencies?
Absolutely. The benefits of maxed proficiencies significantly improve your combat performance, making it much easier to handle the game’s more challenging content. Maximizing proficiencies will increase both damage output and accuracy for the user, making it a very important activity in the game.
Conclusion
Maximizing weapon proficiencies in Borderlands 1 can enhance your gaming experience significantly. By utilizing the Rakk Hive method, you can efficiently farm proficiencies and unlock your character’s full potential. Remember to check your character status page to keep track of your progress and adjust your farming methods as needed. With dedication and these tips in mind, you’ll become a true Vault Hunter master.