Where to Find Legendary Weapons in Borderlands 2: A Vault Hunter’s Guide
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So, you’re on the hunt for those coveted orange-rarity weapons in Borderlands 2? You’ve come to the right place! Legendary weapons are the pinnacle of firepower in Pandora, and acquiring them is a key part of the Borderlands experience. The straightforward answer is: Legendary weapons in Borderlands 2 can be found primarily as drops from specific bosses and mini-bosses, as quest rewards, within the general world loot pool (albeit rarely), and occasionally in vending machines. However, maximizing your chances requires understanding the nuances of each method, including efficient farming techniques and the best locations. Let’s break down each method in detail.
Boss and Mini-Boss Farming: Your Primary Source
The most reliable method for acquiring specific Legendary weapons is farming bosses and mini-bosses. Each boss has a significantly higher chance of dropping a specific Legendary item or items compared to the general world drop rate. This makes targeted farming the most efficient way to build your arsenal.
Understanding Drop Rates and Loot Pools
It’s crucial to understand that even with a dedicated drop rate for bosses, Legendary drops are never guaranteed. The average drop rate is typically around 10%, but it can vary. This means you might have to defeat a boss multiple times before the desired weapon appears.
Additionally, bosses have a “loot pool,” which includes several items they can potentially drop. Knowing the entire loot pool allows you to determine if a particular boss is worth farming for multiple desired items or if you should focus on another location. Websites like the Borderlands Wiki are invaluable resources for checking loot pools.
Popular Boss Farms
Here are some of the most popular and efficient boss farms in Borderlands 2:
- Warrior: Located in Vault of the Warrior. Drops the Conference Call shotgun and the Volcano sniper rifle.
- Terramorphous the Invincible: A raid boss available after completing the main story. Drops the Terra class mods and the Breath of the Seraphs grenade mod, as well as various skins.
- Hyperius the Invincible: Another raid boss, drops the Interfacer shotgun and the Evolution shield.
- Gee the Invincible: Raid boss in Oasis (Captain Scarlett DLC). Drops the Bekah assault rifle and the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot shield.
- Master Gee the Invincible: Drops the Nukem rocket launcher and the Acid Hail grenade mod.
- Piston: Found at the end of the “The Fall of Nakayama” Headhunter pack. Drops the Maggie pistol.
- Doc Mercy: Located in Three Horns Valley. Drops the Infinity pistol.
- Knuckle Dragger: Located in Windshear Waste. Drops the Hornet pistol. A very easy early-game farm.
- Wilhelm: Located in End of the Line. Drops the Rolling Thunder grenade mod.
- The Bunker: Located in The Bunker. Drops the Bitch SMG and the Sham shield.
- Son of Mothrakk: Located in Wildlife Exploitation Preserve. Drops the Skullmasher sniper rifle.
- Ancient Dragons of Destruction: A raid boss fight found in the Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep DLC. Each dragon has a chance to drop one or two legendary items, including weapons, class mods, and relics.
- The Uranus: Found in Helios Fallen in the Commander Lilith DLC. He drops a lot of legendaries.
Farming Techniques: Save/Quit
The standard farming technique involves defeating the boss, checking for the desired Legendary weapon, and if it doesn’t drop, saving and quitting the game. This resets the boss encounter, allowing you to fight them again immediately. Fast travel stations make returning to the boss arena quick and easy.
Quest Rewards: Guaranteed Legendaries
Several quests in Borderlands 2 offer Legendary weapons as guaranteed rewards. These quests are often one-time opportunities, so make sure you choose the weapon you desire wisely.
Notable Legendary Quest Rewards
- Law: Obtained from Marshall Friedman after completing “Won’t Get Fooled Again” in Lynchwood. Comes with the Order shield, which is received at the same time.
- Gub: Received from completing the quest “Stolen Sign” in The Dust.
- Sand Hawk: Received from Captain Scarlett in Oasis after the quest “Whoops.”
Important Note: Some quests offer multiple rewards to choose from. Research which reward is a Legendary weapon before accepting the quest to avoid making the wrong choice.
World Drops: A Rare Chance Encounter
Legendary weapons can also drop randomly from any loot source in the game, including regular enemies, chests, and containers. However, the world drop rate for Legendaries is extremely low (around 0.025%). While you shouldn’t rely on world drops for targeted farming, it’s always a pleasant surprise when one appears.
Increasing World Drop Chances
While the base world drop rate is low, certain factors can increase your chances of finding a Legendary weapon:
- Playing on higher difficulty levels (True Vault Hunter Mode and Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode): Higher difficulties offer slightly increased drop rates.
- Using Vault Hunter’s Relics: Certain relics, like the Vault Hunter’s Relic, claim to increase the chance of finding rare loot.
- Loot Midgets: These enemies have an increased chance of dropping rare items, including Legendaries. They spawn in various locations, including the Wildlife Exploitation Preserve, Thousand Cuts, and Sawtooth Cauldron.
- The Warrior: After defeating the Warrior, the area will contain a lot of iridium and weapons, including the chance of legendaries.
Vending Machines: A Stroke of Luck
Legendary weapons can occasionally appear in vending machines. The chance is very slim, but it’s worth checking the machines in each area you visit. Look for the orange rarity icon.
Checking Vending Machines Efficiently
The easiest way to check vending machines is to fast travel to different locations and quickly scan the machines. Some players believe that certain vending machines have a slightly higher chance of spawning Legendaries, but this is largely anecdotal.
DLC Considerations: New Weapons and Farms
The Borderlands 2 DLC packs introduce new Legendary weapons, bosses, and farming locations. If you’re serious about collecting Legendaries, consider investing in the DLC. Some of the most powerful weapons are locked behind DLC content.
Key DLC Legendary Weapons
- Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate’s Booty: Features the Sand Hawk SMG and access to the Oasis area with unique bosses.
- Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage: Includes the Unkempt Harold pistol (farmed from Savage Lee or the Torgue vending machines).
- Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep: Introduces the Grog Nozzle pistol (obtained through a quest, but can be kept even after the quest is completed) and the Magic Missile grenade mod.
- Commander Lilith & the Fight for Sanctuary: Features the Electric Chair grenade mod (farmed from Uranus).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you get Legendary weapons from Golden Keys in Borderlands 2?
No, you cannot get Legendary weapons from the Golden Chest accessed with Golden Keys. The Golden Chest primarily drops purple (Eridium) items.
2. What is the rarest gun in Borderlands 2?
The Diamond Weisenheimer is considered one of the rarest guns in Borderlands 2. While the normal Weisenheimer can drop as a world drop, the Diamond variant with perfect parts has an extremely low chance of appearing.
3. What is the most powerful gun in Borderlands 2?
The “most powerful” gun is subjective and depends on your character build and play style. However, some consistently top-tier options include the Norfleet, Sand Hawk, Unkempt Harold, and Pimpernel.
4. How rare are Legendaries in Borderlands 2?
Legendary guns have a base drop rate of around 5% or less from dedicated sources (bosses) and a significantly lower rate from world drops (around 0.025%). “Rare” items are Blue-rarity weapons.
5. Can I farm a specific Legendary weapon on Normal Mode?
Yes, you can farm for specific Legendary weapons on Normal Mode. However, higher difficulties (True Vault Hunter Mode and Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode) offer slightly increased drop rates.
6. Do Vault Hunter’s Relics actually increase Legendary drop rates?
The effectiveness of the Vault Hunter’s Relic is debated. While it claims to increase the chance of finding rare loot, the actual increase, if any, is minimal. It’s generally not considered a worthwhile item for dedicated farming.
7. What are Loot Midgets, and why are they good for farming?
Loot Midgets are unique enemies that have an increased chance of dropping rare items, including Legendaries. They spawn in specific locations, such as the Wildlife Exploitation Preserve, Thousand Cuts, and Sawtooth Cauldron.
8. Is it possible to get a Legendary weapon from a garbage pile?
Yes, it is possible, although extremely rare, to find a Legendary weapon in garbage piles and other “trash” loot sources due to the world drop mechanic.
9. What is the best character for farming Legendary weapons?
Any character can effectively farm Legendary weapons. However, characters with strong survivability and damage output, like Salvador the Gunzerker or Maya the Siren, can make farming more efficient.
10. How do I unlock True Vault Hunter Mode and Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode?
You unlock True Vault Hunter Mode by completing the main story campaign on Normal Mode. You unlock Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode by completing the main story campaign on True Vault Hunter Mode.
11. Are there any glitches that can help me farm Legendaries?
While glitches have existed in the past, they are often patched out by Gearbox. It’s generally recommended to stick to legitimate farming methods to avoid issues.
12. Where can I find the Unkempt Harold?
The Unkempt Harold can be farmed from Savage Lee in Three Horns Gulch or purchased from Torgue vending machines in the Torgue DLC areas.
13. Does player count affect Legendary drop rates?
While Borderlands 2 offers increased loot quality and quantity in co-op, there’s no definitive evidence that it directly increases the Legendary drop rate.
14. What are pearlescent items?
Pearlescent items are a rarity tier above Legendary. Pearlescents do not drop until at least level 61, and they are more likely to drop from bosses or other enemies that are level 61 or above.
15. Does my level affect the legendaries that drop?
Yes, your character level affects the level of the legendary weapons that drop. Farming bosses at higher levels will ensure that the dropped legendary weapon is at a higher level, which may affect its damage and effectiveness.
By understanding these methods and tips, you’ll be well on your way to building a formidable arsenal of Legendary weapons in Borderlands 2. Happy hunting, Vault Hunter! Don’t forget to explore resources like the Games Learning Society to discover how games enhance learning.