Borderlands 3: 10 Legendary Weapons You Need and How to Farm Them
Introduction
Borderlands 3 is overflowing with legendary weapons, each with unique effects and staggering damage potential. But with hundreds of legendaries, knowing which ones to chase can be overwhelming. This guide cuts through the noise, highlighting ten of the best legendary weapons in the game and the most reliable methods to farm them. Whether you're diving into Mayhem 11 or just starting your Vault Hunter journey, these guns will carry you through Pandora and beyond.
1. Hellwalker
Type: Shotgun
Why it's great: The Hellwalker is a devastating incendiary shotgun that deals massive single-shot damage. Its high pellet count and guaranteed incendiary element make it perfect for melting flesh-based enemies. Plus, it always rolls with the same parts and anointments – just farm for a good anointment.
Farming: Road Dog in The Splinterlands (Carnivora). Fast travel to The Splinterlands, drive to Carnivora, and kill Road Dog. Mayhem mode increases legendary drop rates, so crank it up to Mayhem 11 for the best chance.
2. Monarch
Type: Assault Rifle
Why it's great: The Monarch is a Vladof assault rifle that fires in a fixed four-shot burst when aiming down sights, or an eight-shot burst with the bipod deployed. Its insane fire rate and damage output make it a top-tier choice for Moze and other Vault Hunters.
Farming: Kill Killavolt in Lectra City (prompts for Maya quest) on Mayhem 6+. Killavolt is a straightforward farm – just make sure you have a shock-resistant shield or good mobility.
3. Light Show
Type: Pistol
Why it's great: A Dahl pistol that fires extremely fast and has a large magazine. The Light Show deals high critical hit damage and is exceptionally accurate. It comes in all elements, making it versatile against any enemy type.
Farming: Drop from Lasodactyl in the Guts of Carnivora, or from any loot source in the DLC Revenge of the Cartels event. The most consistent farm is Lasodactyl – spawn near the fast travel point and defeat the giant bird.
4. Beacon
Type: Pistol
Why it's great: A Tediore pistol that is thrown and creates a large elemental explosion, then spawns additional homing projectiles. Excellent for mobbing and clearing areas fast. It also has a built-in crit bonus.
Farming: Drop from General Traunt in the Atlas HQ on Mayhem 6+. General Traunt is a quick boss fight with a good drop rate for the Beacon.
5. Sand Hawk
Type: SMG
Why it's great: The Sand Hawk is a Dahl SMG that fires a horizontal spread of projectiles. Each projectile deals full damage, making it a beast against large enemies. It's also effective for mobbing if you can control the spread.
Farming: This weapon is a world drop, but the best farm is to defeat Katagawa Jr. on Atlas HQ on Mayhem 6+. Alternatively, you can use the Maurice's Black Market vending machine when it's available.
6. Reflux
Type: Shotgun
Why it's great: A Torgue shotgun that fires sticky projectiles that attach to enemies and then explode when reloaded. The Reflux also chains electricity between enemies, making it excellent for crowd control and dealing with groups.
Farming: Drop from the Sumo mini-boss in the Floodmoor Basin on Mayhem 6+. Sumo is located near the fast travel point, making farming quick.
7. Breath of the Dying
Type: Assault Rifle
Why it's great: A Dahl assault rifle that shoots high-damage bullets and, when you kill an enemy, releases a corrosive nova. This makes it fantastic for clearing mobs of enemies, especially when they are clumped together.
Farming: Drop from the Warden in the Anvil on Mayhem 6+. The Warden is a guaranteed spawn, and with Mayhem 11, you'll see this drop often.
8. Clairvoyance
Type: Assault Rifle
Why it's great: A Dahl assault rifle with a unique trait: it fires a single high-damage projectile that ricochets to nearby enemies after a kill. Its damage numbers are among the highest for ARs, and the ricochet effect adds great mobbing potential.
Farming: Drop from the Heckle and Hyde duo in the Guts of Carnivora on Mayhem 6+. They share a spawn point, and both can drop the Clairvoyance.
9. Flipper
Type: SMG
Why it's great: A Maliwan SMG that fires a stream of projectiles that gain damage as you hold the trigger. It also has an underbarrel option to switch elements. The Flipper melts bosses and mobs alike with sustained fire.
Farming: Drop from the Minotaur in the Negul Neshai arena (Moxxi's Heist DLC) on Mayhem 6+. You'll need to complete the DLC to access the arena.
10. Guardian 4N631
Type: Assault Rifle
Why it's great: A unique AR from the Arms Race mode. It fires a three-round burst and has a built-in 150% bonus damage to enemies above 90% health. Perfect for one-shotting tough enemies or shredding boss health bars.
Farming: This weapon only drops in the Arms Race mode from bosses or chests. The most reliable method is to kill the Harker boss at the end of Arms Race, but any loot source can drop it. Make sure to extract it successfully.
Honorable Mentions
Other legendaries like the Backburner, Plaguebearer, Kickcharger, and Prompt Critical are also top-tier, but the ten above represent the best balance of power and farmability. Always check your anointments and parts – a well-rolled version of any of these will dominate on Mayhem 11.
Farming Tips
- Mayhem Mode: Always farm on Mayhem 10 or 11 (11 removes annoying modifiers while keeping loot bonuses). Higher Mayhem means higher legendary drop rates.
- Loot Luck: Invest in the Loot Luck guardian rank to increase rare drop chances.
- Shlooter: If you have the Shlooter artifact (from the Vault Card), equip it before opening chests or killing bosses to increase world drop chances.
- Leave and Reload: Most bosses can be farmed by killing them, saving and quitting, then reloading to respawn them.
With these weapons in your arsenal, you'll be ready to tackle any content Borderlands 3 throws at you. Happy hunting, Vault Hunter!