Borderlands has always been about going bigger, louder, and crazier with its guns, and Borderlands 4 doesn’t disappoint. The game is packed with hundreds of weapons, from returning fan favorites to brand-new legendaries, and even a few unexpected purples that can rival the best loot in the game.
In this guide, we’ll break down the best guns in Borderlands 4, highlighting what makes them strong, where to find them, and why some non-legendaries are turning out to be just as powerful as their golden counterparts.
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Best Weapons in Borderlands 4
This game has an enormous arsenal, but only a select few weapons rise to the top thanks to unique perks, incredible scaling, or just raw destructive power. Below is a quick-reference table of the Borderlands 4 best weapons in the game so far, featuring their rarity, weapon type, signature effect, and where you can farm them.
Weapon | Rarity | Type | Key Perk / Trait | Drop Source |
Convergence | Legendary | Shotgun | Pellets converge for a free second hit | Bramblesong (Bittervein, Terminus Range) |
Complex Root | Legendary | Sniper | Branching projectiles, devastating against large targets | Mimicron (Tipping Point, Fadefields) |
Hellfire | Legendary | SMG | High Incendiary DoT, mob shredder | Skyspanner Kratch (Cuspid Climb, Terminus Range) |
Plasma Coil | Legendary | SMG/Beam | Shock/Radiation switch, absurd fire rate | Primordial Guardian Timekeeper (Dominion) |
Lucian’s Flank | Legendary | Assault Rifle | “Trample” trait, infinite ammo on crits | Meathead Riders (Old Scrape Drill Site) |
Aegon’s Dream | Legendary | Assault Rifle | Dual Cryo + Incendiary elemental fire | Horace (Fadefields) |
Hot Slugger | Legendary | Shotgun | Damage stacks up to +90% on kills | Callous Harbringer (Craven’s Nook, Terminus Range) |
Hellwalker | Legendary | Shotgun | Burst delete, Doom-inspired classic | Meathead Riders (Old Scrape Drill Site) |
Kickballer | Legendary | Shotgun | Infinitely bouncing projectiles, risky self-damage | Sludgemaw (Idolator’s Noose, Fadefields) |
Rainbow Vomit | Legendary | Shotgun | Fires multi-element projectiles, spreads DoTs | Leader Willem (Grindstone, Carcadia Burn) |
Kaoson | Legendary | SMG | Double sticky gyrojets per shot | Primordial Guardian Origo (Terminus Range) |
Star Helix | Legendary | Assault Rifle | Hybrid beam/AR, consistent DPS | Primordial Guardian Timekeeper (Dominion) |
Oscar Mike | Legendary | Assault Rifle | Alt-fire orbital strike (Space Laser) | Genone (Fault Finding side mission) |
Ruby’s Grasp | Legendary | Sniper | Strong elemental sniper with burst damage | Vile Lictor (Windspear, Terminus Range) |
Quincunx Stellium | Epic | Shotgun | Energy disc alt-fire + Jakobs part = boss one-shots | Random world drop (check purples while farming) |
Bod | Legendary | Multi-type | Counts as all weapon types simultaneously | Axemaul (Dominion) |
Linebacker | Legendary | Launcher | Huge splash explosions, great mobbing | Skyspanner Kratch (Cuspid Climb, Terminus Range) |
These weapons represent the current cream of the crop in Borderlands 4. Some are straightforward legendaries you’ll want in almost any loadout, while others—like Quincunx Stellium—prove that even purple rolls can define the meta when paired with the right parts.
Best Assault Rifles in Borderlands 4
In my opinion, ARs are always going to be among the Borderlands 4 best guns, no matter what. They’re just so versatile. They balance range, fire rate, and damage, making them useful in almost any situation. The best ARs go a step further by adding unique perks—like infinite ammo sustain, dual-element firing, or even orbital strikes—that set them apart from the rest of the arsenal. Below are the strongest assault rifles worth hunting and the reasons why they stand out.
Lucian’s Flank
- Manufacturer: Vladof
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Trample – critical hits restore up to 2 ammo BLOG20
- Alt-Fire: Extra Barrel for increased fire rate
- Where to Farm: Saddleback (Meathead Riders) in the Old Scrape Drill Site, Terminus Range
Lucian’s Flank is one of the most efficient rifles in the game. Its ammo-return perk makes it possible to sustain fire far longer than most other ARs, especially if you can consistently land critical hits. With Jakobs-licensed parts, those crits can also ricochet into nearby enemies, multiplying its value in mob-heavy areas. Even though Trample has an internal cooldown, this rifle is still a go-to choice for players who want a reliable, high-rate-of-fire gun that rewards precision.
Aegon’s Dream
- Manufacturer: Vladof
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Prophetic – fires both Cryo and Incendiary rounds
- Alt-Fire: Extra Barrel for faster firing and element swapping
- Where to Farm: Horace in the Hungering Plain, Fadefields
Aegon’s Dream is a versatile assault rifle with a heavy focus on elemental damage. Its dual-element perk makes it excellent for covering multiple enemy health types—Cryo is ideal for freezing armored foes, while Incendiary melts flesh enemies. It’s also one of the earliest Borderlands 4 legendary weapons available, making it a strong campaign pickup and a foundation for elemental builds.
Oscar Mike
- Manufacturer: Daedalus
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Space Laser – orbital strike alt-fire
- Secondary Trait: Tactical Rounds – +50% damage for the first half of the mag
- Where to Farm: Genone in Carcadia Burn after the Fault Finding side quest
Oscar Mike is flashy, destructive, and surprisingly practical. It's also my personal Borderlands 4 best assault rifle. The Space Laser alt-fire calls down a devastating orbital strike that shreds groups of enemies and bosses alike, while the Tactical Rounds perk boosts your early shots for even more front-loaded damage. It’s one of the most visually impressive rifles in the game, and when rolled with Cryo efficiency, it becomes an endgame powerhouse. Another cool fact, the name Oscar Mike is a reference to the character from Battleborn developed by Gearbox years ago.
Star Helix
- Manufacturer: Daedalus
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Constellation – projectiles fire in vertical or horizontal spreads
- Where to Farm: Primordial Guardian Timekeeper in Dominion
The Star Helix makes its return from Borderlands 3 and keeps its reputation as a dependable assault rifle. Its unique projectile spread increases coverage, letting you land more hits against groups or large enemies. While not as spectacular as Oscar Mike, it delivers consistent mid-range DPS and pairs well with builds that lean on precision rifles.
Bod
- Manufacturer: Hybrid (multi-type)
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: All-Arounder – counts as every weapon type simultaneously
- Alt-Fire: Fires rapid shotgun-style bursts
- Where to Farm: Axemaul in The Toil of Spoiling Vis, Dominion
Bod is one of the strangest and most versatile weapons in Borderlands 4. By counting as every weapon type at once, it benefits from essentially any perk, skill, or enhancement tied to guns. The synergy potential is enormous, making it a meta-defining weapon for players who like to experiment with stacking buffs. Its burst-fire mode also gives it excellent stopping power, blurring the line between AR and shotgun.
Best SMGs in Borderlands 4
Submachine guns have always been a staple of Borderlands, delivering blistering fire rates and strong elemental effects. Each of these few guns deserves to be called the Borderlands 4 best SMG, but which one’s your favorite?
Hellfire
- Manufacturer: Maliwan
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Deals extremely high Incendiary DoT
- Alt-Fire: Can spawn with underbarrel attachments (e.g. Shrapnel Cannon)
- Where to Farm: Skyspanner Kratch in Cuspid Climb, Terminus Range
The Hellfire is back and more powerful than ever. Its specialty is applying devastating Incendiary damage-over-time, making it perfect for tearing through flesh enemies and pairing with elemental builds. The addition of underbarrel attachments in Borderlands 4 gives the weapon extra flexibility—variants with a Shrapnel Cannon can obliterate packs of enemies in seconds.
Plasma Coil
- Manufacturer: Maliwan
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Superheated – fires plasma projectiles at an extremely high rate of fire
- Elemental Modes: Shock and Radiation
- Where to Farm: Primordial Guardian Timekeeper in Dominion
A returning fan-favorite from Borderlands 3, Plasma Coil continues to be one of the most overpowered SMGs. It spits out plasma at an absurd pace while letting you swap between Shock and Radiation, making it effective against both shields and groups of enemies. In endgame, the Radiation mode is particularly valuable for spreading explosive DoTs. It’s a must-have for nearly any build.
Kaoson
- Manufacturer: Vladof
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Fires two sticky gyrojets per shot that explode on reload or timer
- Where to Farm: Primordial Guardian Origo in Terminus Range
Kaoson is another returning powerhouse, and in Borderlands 4 it’s stronger than ever. Each shot fires dual sticky gyrojets that detonate either after a short delay or when you reload, stacking up huge amounts of splash damage. When paired with splash or fire rate builds, Kaoson becomes one of the most efficient mobbing SMGs in the game, capable of clearing groups or chunking bosses quickly.
Best Shotguns in Borderlands 4
Shotguns in Borderlands 4 come in many forms, from precision crit machines to wild splash-damage cannons. Some dominate with stacking damage bonuses, while others unleash elemental chaos that can wipe mobs in seconds. These are the standout shotguns that define the meta.
Convergence
- Manufacturer: Hyperion
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Pellets converge and hit the target again
- Where to Farm: Bramblesong in the Bittervein Auger Mine, Terminus Range
Convergence is one of the hardest-hitting in the game. One could go so far as to say it’s Borderlands 4 best shotgun. Every pellet converges back to the main target after the initial impact, effectively doubling your damage output. This makes it absurdly strong for boss fights and single-target DPS. If you’re looking for a shotgun that erases health bars, Convergence is the one to chase.
Hot Slugger
- Manufacturer: Jakobs
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Blazing Barrel – on kill, +30% damage for 10 seconds (stacks 3x)
- Where to Farm: Callous Harbringer of Annihilating Death in Craven’s Nook, Terminus Range
Hot Slugger gets stronger the more you use it. Its damage-stacking perk can boost output by up to 90% after a few kills, making it lethal in mobbing scenarios and still effective in boss fights. Combined with Jakobs’ ricochet-on-crit mechanic, it clears rooms while scaling higher with each encounter.
Hellwalker
- Manufacturer: Jakobs
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Fires a Doom-style burst with extreme power
- Where to Farm: Meathead Riders (Saddleback, Immortal Boneface) in the Old Scrape Drill Site, Terminus Range
The Hellwalker is a returning fan favorite that delivers raw power in a Doom-inspired package. Each shot blasts with heavy impact and satisfying flair, deleting enemies up close. While it doesn’t scale as absurdly as Hot Slugger, its burst damage and iconic design make it a staple shotgun for many players. BLOG20
Kickballer
- Manufacturer: Maliwan
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Force Bunt – infinitely ricocheting projectiles
- Where to Farm: Sludgemaw in Idolator’s Noose, Fadefields
Kickballer is infamous for its insane ricochet mechanic. With the right parts, it can bounce projectiles infinitely, nuking entire rooms and bosses alike. The catch is that it often ricochets back at you, making self-damage a real risk. For skilled or daring players, it’s one of the strongest guns in the game—but also one of the most dangerous.
Rainbow Vomit
- Manufacturer: Jakobs
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Fires multiple elemental droplets (Incendiary, Cryo, Radiation, etc.) per shot
- Where to Farm: Leader Willem in The Excrucible, Carcadia Burn (side missions required)
Rainbow Vomit brings pure elemental chaos. Every shot spits out droplets of multiple elements, stacking damage-over-time effects quickly and ricocheting into nearby enemies. It’s especially strong in elemental builds that thrive on spreading DoTs. On top of that, it’s one of the most visually striking guns in Borderlands 4.
Linebacker
- Manufacturer: Torgue
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Projectiles bounce and increase damage + radius per bounce
- Where to Farm: Skyspanner Kratch in Cuspid Climb, Terminus Range
Linebacker is Borderlands 4’s splash-damage king among shotguns. Each shot creates bouncing explosives that grow stronger with every rebound, making it devastating in enclosed areas. Perfect for mobbing and splash-focused builds, it clears waves with ease and chunks bosses when shots chain correctly.
Anarchy
- Manufacturer: Tediore
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Stacking perk – on reload or kill, +15% damage and -15% accuracy (max 20 stacks)
- Where to Farm: Primordial Guardian Radix in Arch of Radix, Carcadia Burn
Anarchy makes its return as one of the most rewarding stacking shotguns. By chaining kills or auto-reloads, you can ramp up to a massive +300% damage bonus, though accuracy suffers with each stack. In the right hands, this trade-off is worth it, as Anarchy can melt even the toughest bosses once fully stacked.
Best Sniper Rifles in Borderlands 4
Snipers in Borderlands 4 aren’t just about precision—they often come with wild projectile effects or elemental perks that let them shred enemies far beyond what a single bullet should do. Among the many legendary snipers, a few rise above the rest for their sheer boss-melting potential.
Complex Root
- Manufacturer: Maliwan
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Fires projectiles that branch into more projectiles
- Where to Farm: Mimicron in the Tipping Point Order Bunker, Fadefields
Complex Root is the go-to Borderlands 4 best sniper rifle for massive boss fights. Each shot splits into branching projectiles that can hit large targets multiple times, stacking up damage ridiculously fast. Even at mid-levels, Complex Root can delete Vault bosses in just a few magazines, making it a must-have for endgame farming.
Borstel Ballista
- Manufacturer: Jakobs
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Propagation – specialized long-range projectile spread
- Where to Farm: Timekeeper in Upper Dominion
Borstel Ballista is less common but worth mentioning. Dropping from the Timekeeper, it offers a unique propagation mechanic that creates chain shots, making it solid for add-clearing sniping. It doesn’t rival Complex Root’s raw power, but its Dominion exclusivity and projectile spread give it a niche in certain builds.
Symmetry
- Manufacturer: Order
- Rarity: Legendary
- Unique Trait: Bilateral – charges shots by consuming reserve ammo
- Where to Farm: Timekeeper in Upper Dominion
Symmetry takes a different approach by charging shots using your reserve ammo, turning it into a high-risk, high-reward sniper. It shines when paired with ammo sustain builds, allowing you to keep heavy shots flowing without constant reloads. Like Borstel Ballista, it’s more niche than Complex Root but still notable for advanced setups.
Best Non-Legendary Weapon in Borderlands 4
While there are lots of powerful legendary guns, one of the most broken weapons in the game isn’t legendary at all. Thanks to the licensed part system, some purple-rarity weapons can roll with combinations that rival or even surpass the strongest legendaries. The standout example is the Quincunx Stellium, a Maliwan shotgun that has already earned a reputation as the best “hidden” weapon in the game.
Quincunx Stellium
- Manufacturer: Maliwan (with Jakobs licensed part)
- Rarity: Epic (Purple) BLOG20
- Unique Trait: Energy Disc – launches a bouncing energy disc that ricochets repeatedly
- Synergy: Works best when paired with a Crit Knife (penetrator augment)
- Where to Farm: No dedicated drop – must be found randomly while farming bosses or chests
Borderlands 4 Quincunx Stellium is effectively a safer version of the Kickballer shotgun. When rolled with an energy disc alt-fire and a Jakobs ricochet part, its projectiles endlessly bounce at the target’s feet, stacking ridiculous amounts of splash damage without the risk of self-killing ricochets. When paired with a penetrator knife that guarantees critical hits for five seconds, the Stellium can one-shot bosses even without supporting gear.
The only downside is its rarity. Being a purple item, it cannot be directly target-farmed like legendaries. Instead, players must check every purple drop while farming for other legendaries—bosses like Splashzone or Mimicron are great sources. The payoff, however, is enormous: Quincunx Stellium may just be the single strongest gun in Borderlands 4, proving that rarity doesn’t always dictate power.
Conclusion
Borderlands 4 delivers some of the wildest weapons in the series, from classic legendaries like the Hellfire and Convergence to surprise purple-tier monsters like the Quincunx Stellium. Farming bosses with Encore Machines and checking for unique part combinations are the keys to finding these guns. Whether you prefer elemental chaos, splash-heavy carnage, or precision sniping, the best weapons in Borderlands 4 can transform your build and carry you through the toughest content.
F.A.Q.
What is the best weapon in Borderlands 4?
The Quincunx Stellium is widely considered the strongest weapon right now. It’s a purple Maliwan shotgun with a Jakobs licensed part that can one-shot bosses.
What are the best legendary weapons in Borderlands 4?
Some of the best legendaries include:
- Convergence (Shotgun)
- Hot Slugger (Shotgun)
- Lucian’s Flank (Assault Rifle)
- Hellfire (SMG)
- Complex Root (Sniper Rifle)
Can non-legendaries be better than legendaries in Borderlands 4?
Yes. Thanks to the licensed part system, some epic-tier (purple) weapons like the Quincunx Stellium outperform many legendaries.
How do you farm the best weapons in Borderlands 4?
Use Moxxi’s Encore Machines to repeatedly fight bosses with dedicated drops. Always check purple weapons for rare licensed parts since they can roll game-breaking combos.
What’s the best farming location for weapons early in Borderlands 4?
The Fadefields is one of the best early farming zones. Bosses like Splashzone and Horace drop powerful weapons such as Firewerks and Aegon’s Dream.