Borderlands 4 features a plethora of formidable bosses, each of which can be revisited thanks to the mechanic known as Moxxi’s Big Encore. This innovation allows players to farm bosses at their convenience, making the quest for coveted weapons like the Hot Slugger significantly more manageable.
Among these challenging enemies, one of the trickiest to farm is Sludgemaw, a Thresher that prefers to lurk underground. Although Sludgemaw can be a frustrating adversary, the rewards it drops make the effort worthwhile, particularly its impressive weaponry.
In this guide, we will explore Sludgemaw’s location and provide valuable strategies to simplify the farming process, enhancing your chances of obtaining those sought-after drops.
Locating Sludgemaw in Borderlands 4
To find Sludgemaw, head to the Watershed Gate situated in the Idolator’s Noose area of The Fadefields. You will first need to complete the All Charged Up faction side mission assigned by Rhodes, which is unlocked after finishing the Null and Void mission.
This mission guides you through the Watershed Gate, culminating in a battle with Sludgemaw within the facility’s basement. Upon completion, you can return to this site anytime to engage Sludgemaw again using the Moxxi’s Big Encore feature.
Sludgemaw’s Drops and Rewards
Sludgemaw is particularly renowned for dropping powerful legendary items, but patience is key, as you may need to challenge it multiple times to receive the desired loot. My experience reflects this; I had to farm Sludgemaw on several occasions before securing a legendary drop.
This drop rate stands in stark contrast to bosses such as Bramblesong, who are known for yielding legendary drops with greater frequency.
| Name | Item Type | Abilities |
|---|---|---|
| Onion | Shield | Grants immunity to damage for two seconds whenever one of its armor sections breaks. |
| Birt’s Bees | Weapon/SMG | Hivemind bullets ensure that all shots fired home in on enemies. |
| Kickballs | Weapon/Shotgun | Fires a projectile that bounces around the arena, dealing splash damage with each hit. |
Among Sludgemaw’s drops, the Kickballer shotgun stands out as one of the game’s more formidable legendary weapons. Additionally, Birt’s Bees is highly sought after for its unique capabilities. The Onion shield also provides excellent defense, enhancing your character’s survivability—particularly valuable in challenging encounters. These items clearly outperform others like the Noisy Cricket from Sidney Pointylegs.
Strategies for Defeating Sludgemaw
Farming Sludgemaw can be quite taxing unless you wield a character build capable of defeating bosses in a single shot. For those looking for an alternative, here’s a tactical tip to enhance your chances of victory.
Upon entering the arena, approach Sludgemaw closely and then back away just enough to remain outside of its melee attack range. There exists a sweet spot where Sludgemaw will incessantly attempt to hit you, yet it will fail, allowing you to focus on depleting its health without the risk of it retreating underground.
Mastering this positioning technique significantly alleviates the challenge of the boss fight and grants you the ability to deal damage freely, paving the way to ultimately defeat Sludgemaw.
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