Borderlands 4 Guide: Acquiring the Hot Slugger Legendary Shotgun

The Hot Slugger is a distinguished legendary shotgun featured in Borderlands 4, notable for its impressive damage multiplier effect. Recognized as one of the game’s top-tier shotguns, it can be obtained relatively early in your gaming journey.

Players, however, must venture off the typical paths to unlock the potential of the Hot Slugger. Its acquisition may prove to be time-consuming due to its notably low drop rate.

This guide is tailored for those eager to add the Hot Slugger to their arsenal, enhancing their capability against formidable foes and bosses. Below are the detailed steps to secure the coveted shotgun.

How to Obtain the Hot Slugger

Callous Harbinger of Death Borderlands 4

To acquire the Hot Slugger, players must defeat the Callous Harbinger of Annihilating Death, a boss found within Craven’s Nook bunker.

This bunker is positioned in the northern area of Heart of the Mountain, directly north of the Bones of Sanctuary fast-travel point.

Upon arriving at Craven’s Nook, you’ll encounter a locked door covered with a solid substance. To gain entry, you need to locate a liquid canister situated nearby, which can be picked up using your grapple hook.

Throw the canister at the door to clear the obstruction, granting you access to the bunker.

Given the difficulty of Craven’s Nook, it is advisable for players to be at least level 20 before attempting this dungeon.

Inside, continue making your way to the end of the bunker where you’ll confront the main boss—the Callous Harbinger of Annihilating Death.

Defeating this boss presents a chance to acquire the Hot Slugger shotgun, but be prepared for a rare drop, as it belongs to the legendary weapon tier.

Farming the Callous Harbinger of Annihilating Death

Callous Harbinger of Annihilation Moxxi Encore Machine Borderlands 4

Fortunately, players can repeatedly challenge the Callous Harbinger of Annihilating Death by using Moxxi’s Big Encore Machine located near the boss arena entrance. This machine fully resets the encounter, allowing for a fresh attempt.

It’s important to exercise patience, as it may take upwards of 20 attempts before the Hot Slugger finally drops. From personal experience, the effort is worthwhile, as the shotgun is one of the most powerful weapons available.

To re-engage the boss, you’ll need to purchase an encore, which costs around 30, 000 Cash.

During the battle, jumping is crucial when the boss performs area-of-effect attacks, and utilizing cover when it launches rocket projectiles will keep you in the fight. Simply dodging to the side will suffice to avoid its charge attacks.

Employ your highest DPS weapon to swiftly diminish the Harbinger’s health. With practice, defeating the Callous Harbinger will become routine as you farm for the Hot Slugger—the challenge diminishes as you familiarize yourself with its attack patterns.

Attributes of the Hot Slugger

The Hot Slugger’s reputation as one of the premier shotguns in Borderlands 4 is largely attributed to its robust damage output and the legendary Blazing Barrel effect.

This unique effect provides an additional 30% damage for 10 seconds following the elimination of an enemy, and can stack up to three times, resulting in a potential total damage increase of 90%.

This mechanic rewards players for their aggressive playstyle, continually amplifying damage output with each kill. It’s particularly advantageous during intense missions that pit you against waves of adversaries.

In summary, the Hot Slugger is an essential weapon you shouldn’t overlook. Its capability to significantly enhance damage output can carry you through the entirety of the game’s endgame content, making it a standout choice among the many guns you’ll discover throughout your journey.

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