Top 5 XP Farming Methods to Level Up Fast in Borderlands 4
Leveling your character to reach endgame has always been the main goal of a Borderlands playthrough, and Borderlands 4 is no different. In this latest title, leveling up is simple, easy, and rewarding. To help you optimize your leveling experience, here are five of the best ways and places to farm XP in Borderlands 4.
When to Optimize Leveling in Borderlands 4
Optimizing your leveling is most important after you beat the campaign. Fortunately, most of the best XP farms are available in the post-game as well. Which method you choose depends on how much of a grind you’re willing to endure and how much patience you have for repeating tasks multiple times.
The Easiest XP Farm: Side Quests
If you prefer a more casual XP farm that’s also narratively fulfilling, focus on completing side quests — all of them. It doesn’t matter when you complete side quests; tackling them as you discover them during the campaign and exploration tends to provide a comfortable leveling experience.
Additionally, many side quest-locked bosses, such as Leader Willem, drop amazing Legendary items even before you reach the endgame. Just one Legendary drop can significantly change the course of your playthrough. While you may need to refarm for higher-level versions later, never underestimate the impact of a single powerful item early on.
The Fastest XP Farm: Vile Bounties
For the fastest and least involved XP farm, Vile Bounties are your best bet. These special contracts become available once you complete the campaign and enter Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode. Vile Bounties task you with hunting enemies empowered by Vile crystals.
Despite their increased health, these enemies typically take no more than fifteen seconds to defeat as your build improves, meaning you’ll spend most of your time traveling between bounties rather than fighting. To minimize downtime, stick to the Fadefields area and shuttle between its safehouses and the Launchpad Faction Town.
Most bounties in this opening area are within 400-500 meters of their boards. Avoid the Terminus Range bounties if possible, as they are often too distant or located on difficult-to-reach cliffs. Carcadia Burn is better, but for the best results, the western Fadefields remain your top choice.
If you find a bounty board without any Vile Bounties, simply quit and reload to refresh the board for a chance at better contracts. Remember, you can hold up to five contracts at once. Filling all five slots with Vile Bounties from the same area allows you to clear them quickly before refreshing again for maximum gains.
The Most Rewarding XP Farms: Ripper Drill Site Activities
The next three recommended XP farms are all located at various Ripper Drill Site world activities. These farms are excellent for several reasons:
- Clearing all enemy waves plus the boss(es) grants a significant XP boost—more than 10% of the level 49 XP bar.
- Each activity boss has fantastic Legendary drops, along with a chance for strong Epic gear to enhance your build.
- They’re easily accessible and quick to restart, minimizing downtime between runs.
Below are three solid Ripper Drill Site options, providing a good mix of variety and rewards. If you get tired of these encounters, other Ripper Drill bosses can offer additional farming options, albeit slightly less efficient.
The Pitted Stain: Fadefields
The first Ripper Drill Site you’ll likely access is The Pitted Stain, located in the eastern Fadefields area called Idolators Noose. Here, you’ll face the Foundry Freaks—a trio of Ripper bosses accompanied by their trash mobs. The fight is chaotic but manageable; all the Freaks spawn at the same location, so a strong build can melt them quickly to complete the encounter nearly instantly.
The drill sits near the southwest coast of the zone. After clearing the fight, simply exit through the front gate to access the nearby Moxxis Big Encore machine to repeat the run efficiently.
The Lowering March: Terminus Range
Next is The Lowering March in the northwestern Terminus Range. After defeating the initial waves of enemies, the massive Battle Wagon boss appears. This huge, slow-moving beast comes with a saddle full of Rippers and offers formidable resistance.
Its critical hit spots can be awkward to reach, but mag-dumping weapons such as The Bod or Rainbow Vomit work wonders. Like The Pitted Stain, the Moxxis Big Encore machine is conveniently located next to the main exit, making farming this activity smooth and easy.
Saws Clench: Carcadia Burn
Located in the north of Carcadia Burn, Saws Clench is the least favorite of the three. The bosses here are smaller, flying targets that move unpredictably and can distract you from other threats. Restarting the run is also more cumbersome due to the location of the Moxxis Big Encore machine, which requires either a lengthy detour or some tricky platforming to return.
Despite these challenges, fighting three bosses grants triple the chance for Legendary drops, including the coveted Wombo Combo. If you have a build capable of quickly cutting through these annoying bosses, restarting may be your biggest time sink.
Combining Farming Methods for Optimal Leveling
Personally, side missions will be my leveling strategy of choice, but ideally, you should incorporate a healthy mix of all these methods.
If you want the most efficient XP farm in Borderlands 4, Vile Bounties are your go-to resource. For a strong shot at valuable Legendaries, farming the Ripper Drill bosses is the way to go.
By balancing these approaches, you can enjoy both fast leveling and rewarding loot to power your endgame journey.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146131/5-best-xp-farms-to-level-up-fast-in-borderlands-4
