Table of Contents

Unlocking the Vault: What Level Should You Be For Moxxi’s Heist?

The million-dollar question, literally, when diving into Borderlands 3’s Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot is: what level should you be? The short answer is that the Handsome Jackpot DLC scales to your level, starting at level 15. This means the enemies and loot within the DLC will adjust to match your current Vault Hunter level, offering a challenging but fair experience regardless of when you choose to jump in.

However, while the DLC can be played at level 15, the real answer is more nuanced, and depends on your playstyle, build, and desired experience. Let’s explore the factors that should influence your decision on when to tackle Handsome Jack’s ill-fated casino.

Understanding Level Scaling in Moxxi’s Heist

Level scaling ensures that Moxxi’s Heist remains engaging and rewarding regardless of your level. Whether you’re a fresh-faced Vault Hunter eager to taste endgame content early or a seasoned veteran looking for a fresh challenge, the DLC adjusts accordingly.

Enemy Levels: Expect enemies to be roughly the same level as you, give or take a level or two. This prevents you from being one-shot by everything or feeling overpowered.
Loot Levels: The level of dropped weapons, gear, and mods scales alongside the enemies. This guarantees that the loot you find in the DLC will always be relevant to your character’s progression.
Mission Rewards: Quest rewards, including unique weapons and gear, also scale to your level, making them useful additions to your arsenal.

This scaling system gives you the freedom to play the DLC whenever you want without feeling under-leveled or over-leveled. However, it doesn’t mean that starting at level 15 is necessarily the best option for every player.

The Case for Starting at Level 13

Some players advocate starting the DLC as early as level 13, despite the level scaling starting at 15. The article snippet you provided suggests this as a strategy for leveling up quickly and acquiring Legendary loot. Here’s why this strategy might work:

Experience Boost: Fighting enemies slightly above your level grants more experience points. Starting slightly under-leveled can provide a noticeable boost to your leveling speed.
Early Access to Powerful Loot: The Handsome Jackpot contains powerful and unique weapons that can significantly improve your character’s build. Getting them early can give you a massive advantage in the main campaign.
Challenge: Some players enjoy the added challenge of facing tougher enemies. Starting under-leveled forces you to play more strategically and utilize your skills effectively.

However, this strategy comes with risks:

Difficulty Spike: Enemies will be significantly tougher at level 13. If you’re not comfortable with Borderlands 3’s combat or have a poorly optimized build, you might struggle.
Gear Dependence: To succeed at level 13, you’ll likely need good gear and a strong understanding of your character’s abilities.

The Safe Bet: Starting at Level 15 or Higher

For most players, starting Moxxi’s Heist at or above level 15 is the recommended approach. This offers a balanced experience with a manageable difficulty curve and ensures that you can effectively use the loot you find.

Balanced Difficulty: Enemies will be challenging but not overwhelming, allowing you to enjoy the story and explore the environment without constant frustration.
Gear Flexibility: You’ll have more flexibility in your gear choices. You won’t be forced to rely on specific weapons or builds to survive.
Easier Progression: Leveling will be smoother, allowing you to unlock new skills and abilities that further enhance your character’s build.

Furthermore, waiting until a higher level before starting the DLC can be beneficial if you plan to play through multiple difficulties (Normal, True Vault Hunter Mode, Mayhem Mode). Scaling to a higher level in your first playthrough can make subsequent playthroughs feel more rewarding.

Considering Your Build and Playstyle

Ultimately, the optimal level for starting Moxxi’s Heist depends on your individual build and playstyle.

Glass Cannon Builds: If you prefer high-damage, low-defense builds, you might want to wait until you have more skills and gear to improve your survivability. Starting too early could lead to frequent deaths.
Tank Builds: Tankier builds can often handle the challenge of starting the DLC at a lower level. Your ability to absorb damage will allow you to survive encounters that would be fatal for other builds.
Skilled Players: If you’re a seasoned Borderlands player with a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics, you might be able to succeed at a lower level.
Casual Players: If you’re new to Borderlands or prefer a more relaxed experience, starting at level 15 or higher is generally recommended.

Remember to experiment and find what works best for you. There’s no right or wrong answer. The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Moxxi’s Heist

Here are some frequently asked questions about Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot to help you better understand the DLC and make informed decisions about when to play it.

1. What level is required to access Moxxi’s Heist?

There is no level requirement to access the DLC. To start Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot DLC, players will need to have access to Sanctuary. This is granted by advancing the Borderlands 3 story to Chapter 4. Anyone that has done so can begin the new BL3 DLC regardless of their level.

2. Is Moxxi’s Heist worth it?

Yes, for many players, Moxxi’s Heist is worth the price. It offers a new environment to explore, unique enemies to fight, and powerful loot to acquire. While some quests might be considered boring, the overall story is entertaining, and the DLC is particularly appealing to creative weapon lovers.

3. How long does it take to beat Moxxi’s Heist?

The main story of Moxxi’s Heist takes around 6 hours to complete. Achieving 100% completion, including all side quests and challenges, will likely take around 10.5 hours.

4. What types of enemies can I expect in Moxxi’s Heist?

Moxxi’s Heist features a high number of armored enemies, primarily robots created by Handsome Jack. Bring weapons with corrosive damage to deal with these enemies effectively.

5. What are some of the rewards for tipping Moxxi?

Tipping Moxxi can reward you with unique weapons like Miss Moxxi’s Bad Touch (corrosive SMG) or the Deft Hail (assault rifle). The rewards are given randomly after tipping a certain amount of money.

6. What is the highest level I can reach in Borderlands 3?

The maximum level in Borderlands 3 is currently 72.

7. Does tipping Moxxi in Borderlands 3 have any benefits?

Yes, tipping Moxxi can reward you with unique weapons. After tipping her more than $10,000, you might receive weapons like Miss Moxxi’s Bad Touch SMG, a unique corrosion SMG.

8. How often can I tip Moxxi and receive rewards?

You can tip Moxxi as often as you have money to spend. She will continue to give you weapons as long as you keep tipping her.

9. What are the most valuable weapons I can get from Moxxi?

Some of the most valuable weapons you can get from Moxxi include Miss Moxxi’s Bad Touch and Miss Moxxi’s Good Touch. These weapons can have different elemental effects and feature unique prefixes, making them highly sought after.

10. Do Moxxi’s weapons have healing properties?

Yes, all the Moxxi weapons return a percentage of damage inflicted as health. The Grog Nozzle returns 65%, while other weapons return around 7% of damage inflicted as health.

11. What should I do if I want a specific elemental effect on Moxxi’s weapons?

Players can continually spend money to keep getting new versions of both guns.

12. Why does Borderlands 3 require so much storage space?

The large storage space requirement for Borderlands 3 is primarily due to the high-definition textures used throughout the game. These textures create a realistic game world, but they also take up a significant amount of storage space.

13. Is there a fourth skill tree available in Borderlands 3?

Yes, each Vault Hunter has a fourth skill tree that can be unlocked. Zane’s fourth skill tree, for example, is called “The Professional” and includes new abilities and skills.

14. Where do I start the Moxxi’s Heist mission?

To begin the Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot mission, visit the poster outside of Moxxi’s bar on Sanctuary. Then, head to the Hyperspace Terminal in Sanctuary and navigate to The Handsome Jackpot.

15. How can I enhance my understanding of gaming and learning?

To further explore the intersection of gaming and education, consider visiting the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ or GamesLearningSociety.org. You’ll find a wealth of resources on the educational potential of video games.

Ultimately, the best level to start Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot is the level that allows you to enjoy the game to its fullest. Consider your playstyle, build, and desired difficulty when making your decision. Good luck, Vault Hunter!

What level is Moxxi’s heist?