The Enduring Buzz: Why the Bee Shield Remains a Borderlands 2 Legend
The Bee shield in Borderlands 2 isn’t just good; it’s game-breakingly good in the right hands. Its core strength lies in its unique mechanic: it provides an extraordinary amp damage bonus to every shot fired while the shield is fully charged, with zero shield drain per shot. This effectively grants players an unlimited, massive damage boost until they take damage. This allows for synergies with certain weapons and builds that would otherwise be impossible, turning ordinary characters into damage-dealing gods. The Bee, in essence, allows you to bypass conventional scaling mechanics and inflict levels of pain usually reserved for end-game, optimized builds, even at lower levels.
The Symbiotic Sting: Understanding the Bee’s Mechanics
The magic of the Bee comes down to understanding how its parts interact. While its low shield capacity and long recharge delay are definite downsides, the benefits it provides when fully charged far outweigh these negatives. The amp damage is added directly to each projectile fired, meaning weapons with multiple projectiles (shotguns, multi-pellet pistols, or weapons with the “Unlisted Projectile” effect) see exponential gains.
Unlike other amp shields that drain a portion of the shield’s capacity with each shot, the Bee maintains its charge until it’s depleted by incoming damage. This constant, undiminished amp damage output is what makes it special.
Key Benefits:
- Massive Damage Amplification: Turns even weak weapons into powerhouses.
- Synergy with Multi-Projectile Weapons: Maximizes damage output due to the additive nature of amp damage.
- Bypass Scaling Issues: Allows you to remain competitive at higher levels, even with under-leveled gear.
- Enables Unique Builds: Opens up possibilities for character builds that are otherwise not viable.
The Bee in Action: Best Weapons and Builds
Certain weapons become exponentially more powerful when paired with the Bee shield. A few of the standouts include:
- Sandhawk: This SMG fires a line of bullets that travel together. Each bullet receives the amp damage bonus, resulting in incredible burst damage.
- DPUH (Double Penetrating Unkempt Harold): This pistol fires multiple projectiles per shot, each benefiting from the Bee’s amp damage, making it a boss-killing machine.
- Fibber (with the correct barrel): A glitch with this pistol’s ricochet shots allows them to receive multiple instances of amp damage, resulting in absurdly high damage values.
Character builds that focus on maximizing reload speed, critical hit damage, or other damage buffs further amplify the Bee’s power.
The Risk vs. Reward
While the Bee can turn you into a force to be reckoned with, it also introduces a significant risk. The low shield capacity means you’re vulnerable to taking health damage quickly. This encourages a more cautious, strategic playstyle, emphasizing cover and positioning. If you’re good at avoiding damage, though, the Bee will allow you to decimate enemies before they even get a chance to react.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Is the Bee shield good for all characters in Borderlands 2?
While the Bee can be effective on any character, it shines brightest on characters who can either exploit its damage output through specific weapons or mitigate its low shield capacity through skills. Maya’s crowd control, Axton’s turret distractions, and Zer0’s deception skill are particularly helpful in keeping you alive while maximizing the Bee’s damage.
Q2: What is the best part combination for the Bee shield?
The ideal Bee shield parts depend on your priorities. For maximum amp damage, aim for Maliwan parts. If you prefer a faster recharge rate, Tediore parts are your best bet. Generally, the maximum amp damage is preferred, since the recharge delay is too situational.
Q3: Where can I farm the Bee shield?
The Bee shield can be farmed from Hunter Hellquist in Arid Nexus – Boneyard, Treants in The Forest (Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep DLC), Master Gee in Hayter’s Folly and Handsome Sorcerer in The Lair of Infinite Agony (Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep DLC). Hunter Hellquist is considered the easiest and most efficient farm due to his accessible location.
Q4: What is the drop rate of the Bee shield?
The Bee shield has a relatively low drop rate. From Hunter Hellquist and Treants, the drop rate is estimated at around 10%. From Master Gee, it’s around 1.7%. From Handsome Sorcerer it is around 0.3%
Q5: Is the Bee shield still good in UVHM (Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode)?
Yes, the Bee shield is still viable in UVHM, but you need to be more careful. The increased enemy health and damage require a more strategic approach. Using slag weapons to amplify your damage and prioritizing cover are essential for survival.
Q6: What are some alternatives to the Bee shield?
Alternatives to the Bee shield include the Sham for absorbing bullets, the Antagonist for its slag projectiles, the Evolution or Neogenator for health regeneration, the Blockade for damage reduction, and the Rough Rider for its constant damage reduction and health bonus, albeit without any shield.
Q7: How does the Bee shield interact with elemental weapons?
The Bee’s amp damage is applied before elemental damage calculations, meaning it amplifies both the base weapon damage and the elemental effect. This makes elemental weapons even more potent when paired with the Bee.
Q8: Does the Bee shield work with grenades?
No, the Bee shield’s amp damage only applies to weapon shots, not grenades or melee attacks.
Q9: What are some tips for using the Bee shield effectively?
- Stay in cover: Minimize your exposure to enemy fire.
- Use slag weapons: Slag amplifies all damage, including the Bee’s amp damage.
- Prioritize your targets: Focus on eliminating the most dangerous enemies first.
- Learn enemy attack patterns: Anticipate incoming damage to avoid losing your shield charge.
- Take advantage of healing sources: Skills, relics, or grenades that provide healing can help you recover from incidental damage.
Q10: Can the Bee shield be used in conjunction with other damage-boosting skills or gear?
Yes, the Bee shield’s amp damage stacks additively with other damage bonuses, such as critical hit damage, gun damage buffs, and slag bonuses. This allows you to achieve incredibly high damage numbers.
Q11: Does the Bee shield increase melee damage?
No, the Bee shield’s amp damage only affects weapon damage. It does not increase melee damage.
Q12: How does the Bee shield compare to other amp shields?
The Bee shield stands out because it doesn’t drain shield capacity per shot, unlike other amp shields. This allows for sustained, amplified damage output, making it significantly more powerful in most situations.
Q13: Is the Bee shield overpowered?
Many players consider the Bee shield to be overpowered due to its ability to significantly increase damage output with no shield drain. However, its low shield capacity balances this power by making players vulnerable to damage. Its effectiveness relies heavily on player skill and strategic play.
Q14: What is a “World Drop” in Borderlands 2?
A “World Drop” refers to an item that can potentially drop from any loot source (enemies, chests, containers) in the game, regardless of the specific enemy or location. The chances of a specific legendary item dropping as a world drop are very low, but it is possible.
Q15: Where can I learn more about game design and mechanics like those found in Borderlands 2?
To learn more about game design, development, and the theory behind games, consider exploring resources offered by organizations like the Games Learning Society. You can visit their website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ to discover articles, research, and educational programs focused on understanding how games work and their impact on learning. At GamesLearningSociety.org you can stay updated with the latest in gaming education.
The Bee: A Timeless Treasure
The Bee shield remains an iconic and highly sought-after item in Borderlands 2, a testament to its unique mechanics and potential for creating incredibly powerful builds. While its low shield capacity demands a careful playstyle, the rewards for mastering the Bee are well worth the effort.