[Guide] Top Gear for Fl4k

Top Gear threads have been combined into one topic, go here.


Table of Contents

  1. Notes on Playstyles
  2. Anointments
  3. Pistols
  4. Assault Rifles
  5. SMGs
  6. Shotguns
  7. Sniper Rifles
  8. Heavy Weapons
  9. Shields
  10. Grenades
  11. Class Mods
  12. Artifacts


PLAYSTYLES

While some gear can work on any build, oftentimes it is a specific playstyle that brings out the best of a piece of gear. As a disclaimer, just because a piece of gear is labeled as suitable for a particular style doesn’t mean it cannot be used in other builds. Said popular playstyles are listed below and represented by a skill icon;


- Rakk Attack Build
Tends to use weapons and gear that allows Fl4k to throw out powered-up Rakks often for high damage and other bonuses.


- Gamma Burst Build
Focuses on using your Gamma’d Pet as a strong source of aggro control for survivability and damage augmentation.


- Fade Away Build
Usually leans torwards weapons and gear that allow you to fire three of the most powerful blows you can while stealthed to obliterate foes, as well as being able to enter stealth frequently.


- Guerillas Build
A variant of the above build, but instead focuses on vomiting out as many projectiles as possible instead of a few, powerful blows.


- Action Skill Spam Build
Aims to activate Action Skills as often as possible to reap benefits from Anointments, whether it is from Action-Skill-End anointments or Action-Skill-Activation anointments.


- Pet Build
Powers up Fl4k’s beasts to become a legitimate threat on the battlefield.



ANOINTMENTS

The anointments listed here are generally considered the best you can aim for. Many of these can be slapped onto whatever piece of gear you want to use and find success, while others only work for specific playstyles. If a piece of gear later on in the Top Gear list has any other anointments that work well with it, it will be mentioned.


Weapon Anointments

Enemies damaged by Rakk Attack! take 100% increased damage for a short time.

If you’re throwing the birds, this is a fine anointment to use if the weapon can’t spawn with the Splash Damage anointment or isn’t too suitable for use with the “Next 2 Mags” anointment.

On Action Skill End, the next two magazines will have 100% additional bonus (element) damage.

An excellent option to search for if you plan on using one weapon more often than others and want a means of punching through some resistances, such as using a Shock anointment on an Incendiary weapon to handle shields better. Be warned that reloading a weapon early counts as a “mag” for this anointment.

While under 50% health, deal 150% bonus radiation damage.

As long as you’re willing to wear either a Deathless artifact or a Front Loader shield, this anointment is stupendous for increasing your overall damage due to how it works in the damage formula as well as the fact that it applies to almost all damage you can deal.

While Gamma Burst is active, gain 115% bonus radiation damage.

A decent alternative to the above anointment, but it is not as universal damage-wise and is tied to having Gamma Burst be in effect.

On Action Skill End, Splash Damage is increased by 200% for a short time.

Unless you aren’t ending Action Skills often, this is likely the best anointment to go for on any weapons that can spawn with this. Rakks are also counted as Splash Damage as well, if you’re in the mood to directly kill with your Action Skill. A list of what can and cannot have this anointment is here.

Consecutive Hits increase Weapon Damage by 1% per hit, misses remove all bonuses.

Limited to a select few weapons for effectiveness, but it is an alright choice if your build doesn’t activate your action skills too often.

Gain 300% increased Damage against enemies above 90% Health.

Formerly an incredible anointment, it has been relegated to only being useful on a select few weapons with very high base damage on the card such as the ION CANNON. On said weapons however, it gives it the potential to kill an enemy in one shot.


Shield Anointments

On Action Skill End, gain 50% bonus (element) damage for 10 seconds.

For bolstering your offenses, these anointments are the way to go, especially if you’re using and ending your Action Skills frequently (Rakk Attack/Fade Away).

On Action Skill Start, activate any effects that trigger on shield break or fill.

Depending on the shield, this can be a real knockout of an anointment. If your shield of choice has a handy on-fill or on-break effect, keep this anointment in the back of your head.


Grenade Anointments

On Action Skill End, gain 50% bonus (element) damage for 10 seconds.

The exact same anointment you can find on shields. Just find a different element than the one you have on your shield, and bring some elemental fury down on your enemies.

On Grenade Thrown, Weapon, Grenade, and Action Skill Damage are increased by 25% for six seconds.

If your Action Skills stick around longer than you activate and end them, this isn’t an awful anointment to consider. It isn’t a great boost, but it is almost free.



PISTOLS


Lightshow

Whether your a fan of the infamous Double Anarchy of Borderlands fame or not, the Lightshow makes light work of many encounters. With a quartet of dazzling bullets fired at at copious rates with seemingly non-existent recoil, it’ll chew through enemies well enough as long as you can manage the slightly wide arrangement of the bullets.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Lasodactyl, world drop in the Bounty of Blood DLC.
  • Playstyles:

Beacon

The Beacon handily shines a path to victory for the wielder. The gimmick of the weapon is the nova it produces when you reload, but that is negligible in the face of excellent damage and fire rate with no glaring weakness. A versatile weapon that will seldom disappoint.

  • Elements: :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Hellshock
  • Obtained from: Jerrick Logan, world drop in the Bounty of Blood DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Tizzy

With a little bit of everything under the hood, the Tizzy’s capable of just about whatever you want it to do. First, it seems to gain a massive fire rate increase and heat rate decrease once the weapon reaches maximum heat. Secondly, every so often it will fire an amped shot. Thirdly, it also spawns small homing projectiles that seek out enemies. As long as you have a means of keeping your ammo supply happy, this pistol will not disappoint.

  • Elements: :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Specific chests or world drop in the Arms Race DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Maggie

A pint-sized shotgun in pistol form, the Maggie lends itself well to handling most situations. The combination of multiple pellets, good fire rate, and moderate accuracy allow it to be a great means of triggering Head Count to recover Action Skills quicker.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign:
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Masher, Robo-Melter, Little Yeeti Masher
  • Obtained from: Turnkey Tim, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Prompt Critical

This Torgue pistol comes packing triple the threat of a contemporary option, with the added bonus of increasing in radius the more stickybombs are applied. Generally speaking you can kill fast enough with the standard firing mode to not warrant the sticky function however.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Craps, Unkempt Harold
  • Obtained from: Evil Lilith, world drop in the Fustercluck DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

King’s Call/Queen’s Call

With the gimmick of returning consumed ammo and producing multiple projectiles on landing a critical hit, these pistols lend themselves naturally to use with Fade Away and Two F4ng.

  • Elements: :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Seventh Sense
  • Obtained from: Tyreen the Destroyer.
  • Playstyles:

Gargoyle

Not content to merely defend the night, the Gargoyle vomits out loads of corrosive rounds that then proceed to explode for more damage, as well as having a chance to launch multiple blobs for higher damage. Anything with a yellow health bar will not appreciate being on the business end of this weapon.

  • Elements: corrosive
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Hornet,Skeksil
  • Obtained from: Dickon Goyle, world drop in the Bounty of Blood DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Nemesis

When you need some Maliwan-esque double-elemental action in Dahl form, the Nemesis can fit the bill. It is able to deal with shielded targets with the bonus shock damage, and then proceed to eat into either flesh or armor depending on the element of your choosing. Add in some elemental anointments and you can hit with multiple colors of the painbow.

  • Elements: :fire: |corrosive (bonus :zap: damage)
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Auto-Burst
  • Obtained from: Mouthpiece, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Trickshot

Packing some of the highest Jakobs fire rate this side of a Gatling Gun, the Trickshot starts off semi-auto but goes fully automatic as soon as you land a shot and showers your target in a fully-automatic hail of lead until your magazine is empty. It chews through ammo just as quickly though, but it will seldom disappoint.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign:
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: The Flood
  • Location: Specific chests or world drop in the Arms Race DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

The Blanc

Flip the switch and go to town with this handgun. The Blanc gains up to 450% increased damage by damaging an enemy and then switching the weapon’s firing mode. A simple tip for using this weapon is to simply switch the firing mode every time you reload the weapon.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Auto-Burst
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Nemesis
  • Obtained from: Ipswitch Dunne, world drop in the Bounty of Blood DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Wyvern/Psycho Stabber

For hacking, whacking, and otherwise chopping up foes, Wyverns can spawn with a high base melee damage bonus as well as anointments to further bolster it (and the Splash damage anointments if you’re looking to boost things like the Stinger or Fish Slap.) If you aren’t going to be using splash-based melee though, the Psycho Stabber sports a massive increase in melee damage, and it works well with the 300/90 anointment or melee anointments.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: (Psycho Stabber), | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive: (Wyvern).
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: 160% Melee Damage (Wyvern)
  • Obtained from: Norman Bates (Psycho Stabber), world drop (Wyvern).
  • Playstyles: Melee builds.

Scoville

The Scoville is a high power, high splash, and high ammo cost Torgue pistol that you point in an enemy’s general direction and fire. The ideal version has x2 projectiles for five ammo per shot compared to one projectile for four ammo. Fade Away builds can really make this pepper popper the life (or death) of a party.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire:
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: x2 Projectile Stock.
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Dowsing Rod (alternate fire), Protuberance, Host
  • Obtained from: Reward for completing all five Torgue’s Marketing Mistake challenges.
  • Playstyles:

Lucky 7

The Lucky 7 can potentially be one of the strongest weapons in the entire game, but it requires building around it to get the most out of it. FL4k can maintain ammo decently well with Leave No Trace, but an anointment for ammo regen is crucial. Once you combine a “7” roll and “Critical” roll on the Lucky 7 with a Stackbot, you cleave through anything like butter.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign:
  • Notable Anointments: “While Terrified, gain ammo regeneration. The more Terror you have, the higher the bonus.”
  • Location: Scraptrap Prime, world drop in the Handsome Jackpot DLC.
  • Playstyles:

Honorable Mentions

Quickdraw

One of the few weapons in the list that can’t be annointed and isn’t Legendary, the Quickdraw is not to be slept on. Switching to this weapon from any other will instantly reload it as well as give it a powerful amp damage bonus for a brief period of time.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign:
  • (Cannot be anointed.)
  • Obtained from: Mission Reward for “The Quick and the Quickerer”.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Peashooter

Take the Lead Sprinkler, turn it into a pistol, give it the fastest reload speed this side of a Tediore, and you have the Peashooter. Critical hits with this weapon drop multiple explosive ricochets in the target’s area for considerable damage, and the lightning-fast reload speed ensures you never have down time.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign:
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Lead Sprinkler
  • (Cannot be anointed.)
  • Obtained from: Mission Reward for “Blood from a Stone”.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Firefly

Shoot an enemy with this pistol, and the initial shot will spawn three more “fireflies” that seek out nearby targets. It is a bit lacking in the fire rate and magazine department for a Vladof and it incendiary-only, but it can definitely bring the pain if the extra projectiles strike the initial target.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire:
  • Obtained from: Specific chests or world drop in the Arms Race DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Miscreant

A Vladof-pistol after Mr. Torgue’s heart, the Miscreant hoses out micro-rockets like there is no tomorrow. The rockets are a little slow in-flight, but they aren’t lacking for power.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: The Quartermaster, world drop in the Bounty of Blood DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.


ASSAULT RIFLES


Monarch

An absolute monster at close range, the Monarch is best off being treated as a fully-automatic shotgun instead of an assault rifle. Four bullets per shot in standard mode and eight if using the bipod (double for both of those if you get an x2 version), the Monarch vomits out a ridiculous amount of lead and Head Count like few other weapons can. Just be aware that using the bipod mode slows you down considerably and disables sliding/jumping, which can be detrimental to dodging damage.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Dictator
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: x2 Projectile Grip (Annexed)
  • Obtained from: Killavolt (Mayhem 6 or higher).
  • Playstyles:

O.P.Q-System

Note: Currently unobtainable. Was previously obtainable during the “Revenge of the Cartels” event at a maximum of level 57.

The Q-System fires two high-power bullets at the cost of one ammo and no penalty to other stats, simple and sweet DPS. The O.P.Q-System adds a truckload of damage and fire rate on top of what the regular one already had, a chance to deal bonus shock splash damage, and an alternate firing mode that lets you produce flying copies of your gun to hose down foes with.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign:
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Q-System
  • Obtained from: Joey Ultraviolet/Josie Byte/Franco Firewall (Limited time event).
  • Playstyles: Any.

NoPewPew

Note: Currently unobtainable. Was previously obtainable during the “Revenge of the Cartels” event at a maximum level of 57.

NoPewPew does in fact pew pew quite a lot. It can arguably be called an assault-rifle version of the Linoge, just with jacked-up damage and fire rate. As long as you can land your shots, this umpteenth fire-only COV rifle will cook fleshies.

  • Elements: :fire:
  • Alternative/Similar Weapons: Linoge
  • Obtained from: Joey Ultraviolet/Roaster/The Tenderizer (Limited time event).
  • Playstyles: Any.

Sickle

Similar to the Dictator in that it is a Vladof AR well-suited to close quarters, the Sickle trades the high fire rate for more damage per shot, range, and a higher ammo cost. If you’re feeling bombastic, the “Boom” variant gives the Sickle splash damage.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Boom
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Ogre
  • Obtained from: Anointed X-4, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Clairvoyance

Combining versatility and raw damage with a frosty aftertaste of (non-splash) bombs, the Clairvoyance can be adapted to nearly any situation. Whether you want a pseudo-sniper, fully-automatic rifle, or a semi-auto shotgun-wannabe, the Clairvoyance can fill the role depending on the parts.

  • Elements: :snowflake:
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Full-Auto trigger or Masher trigger.
  • Obtained from: Kritchy.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Bekah

Though it is no longer a Pearlescent weapon, it largely retains the same effectiveness it had in Borderlands 2. With the Bekah producing three extra bullets in flight at mid-range, as long as you maintain a certain range from foes the Bekah basically has quadruple the damage displayed on the item card.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign:
  • Obtained from: Complete all Hammerlock Legendary Hunt challenges and receive it in the mail.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Good Juju

It takes a little bit of build-up, but once it is there the Good Juju decimates enemies. Superb damage is initially set back by a hefty critical hit damage penalty, but for every body shot it gains a bonus to critical hit damage (capping at 500%). This bonus resets when you reload the gun, but for every kill you make with it it’ll refill the magazine without reloading. Crank that magazine as high as you can, abuse Leave No Trace, and go to town.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: 45-Round Magazine.
  • Obtained from: The Rampager (Mayhem 4 or higher), Valkyrie Squad, Wotan the Invincible.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Star Helix

Packing a triple threat of bullets, the Star Helix is a DPS machine provided you can land all three bullets on an enemy. If you can manage to consistently nail critical hits with the shots, it is easily one of the deadliest weapons in the game.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :zap: | :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Power Troopers, world drops.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Breath of the Dying

Taking a cue from Diablo II, the Breath of the Dying releases a circle of explosive projectiles upon slaying a foe. These projectiles pack some serious punch, oftentimes killing adjacent foes. Asides from that, it packs a hefty amount of damage in the barrel.

  • Elements: corrosive
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Kaos
  • Obtained from: Shrieking Banshee (Breath of the Dying), world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Honorable Mentions

Rebound

For when you absolutely want to buzz-axe something but lack an actual buzz-axe, the Rebound has you covered. The Rebound fires explosive sawblades that proceed to rebound (surprise) off walls. Like most CoV rifles it can spawn with up to x3 projectiles, so take this into an indoor fight and watch blades fly all over the place.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Psychoreaver, world drop in the Fustercluck DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Soulrender

No bones about it, the Soulrender is a solid rifle for most occasions. High base damage with no deficiency in the stats and a chance to fire potent, homing exploding skulls with every bullet. The homing skulls in particular lend themselves well to high speed builds when aiming is difficult.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Tom & Xam.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Sawbar

A slightly odd CoV rifle that encourages ranged combat. After a set period of time, the initial bullet detonates and splits into three more exploding bullets. If you nail the sweet spot for the split, you essentially deal 300% more damage than you would otherwise. Excellent at taking down large fleshy enemies.

  • Elements: :fire:
  • Obtained from: Borman Nates, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Lovable Rogue

If you’ve ever had the problem of having to choose between a Torgue rifle’s main firing mode and the sticky bomb mode, then look no further. The Lovable Rogue fires a bullet that deals damage on impact as well as leaving a sticky, and has a chance to spawn homing missiles when the stickies go off. It’s also one of the few fully-automatic Torgue weapons, for those with sore fingers.

  • Elements: :zap:
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Contained Blast
  • Obtained from: Evil Brick, world drop in the Fustercluck DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Lucian’s Call

The Vladof counterpart to Rowan’s Call. Identical effects with a different stat distribution and different elements it can spawn in, Lucian’s Call excels at placing an endless amount of lead into the crit zone of your foe when coupled with Leave No Trace, Fl4k’s fire rate bonuses, and Two F4ng.

  • Elements: :fire: |corrosive| :snowflake:
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Rowan’s Call
  • Obtained from: Blue Fire, world drop.
  • Playstyles:

Juliet’s Dazzle

For sustaining full-auto fire and dealing with crowds, the Dazzle shines. Possessing innately penetrating bullets that ricochet off surfaces and an ability to refill the magazine upon a kill (great with “Next two mags” anointments and Leave No Trace), it handles indoor encounters particularly well. The bullet are a bit slow and they arc (although depending on the parts, the shots can move up to 75% faster or so), so adjust your aim accordingly.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :snowflake:
  • Obtained from: Aurelia, Wotan the Invincible.
  • Playstyles: Any.


SUBMACHINE GUNS


Power Coil

No one gun should have all that power…The Power Coil boasts an absurd amount of splash damage (as of November 16th), out-damaging some sniper rifles per shot, and burst-fires 16 rounds at a time with minimal delay between volleys. The single downside of this weapon is that it is elementally locked, but other than particularly bulky armored foes, nothing will take the business end of this SMG smiling.

  • Elements: :zap: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Specific chests or world drop in the Arms Race DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Flipper

The Flipper gives zero flips; it swiftly goes from firing one bullet to firing nine in the shape of a diamond, essentially meaning it has nine times the damage it says on the card (and nine chances to trigger Head Count or Leave No Trace). As long as “Immune” doesn’t show up when you shoot something with this gun it’ll likely die fast.

  • Elements: : :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Minosaur, world drop in the Bounty of Blood DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Blood-Starved Beast

If Moze’s Short Fuse skill were to be personified into a gun (gun-ified?), this is what you would get. Alongside an increased projectile count, the Beast’s bullets have a chance of randomly exploding upon impact with an enemy.

  • Elements: :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Evil Lilith, world drop in the Fustercluck DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Kaoson

Take some Torgue tech, cram it into a Dahl SMG, crank the damage up, and you have the Kaoson. The Kaoson is practical in many situations as long as you can handle the hip-fire accuracy, as it’ll deal at least double the damage on the card courtesy of the sticky bombs it deploys.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Captain Traunt (Mayhem 6 or higher).
  • Playstyles: Any.

Smog

A cousin of the Redistributor in that it is a Hyperion SMG with an appreciation for amp damage. As long as this weapon’s shield is untarnished, you gain free amp damage while zooming in with it. With the handy Barrier to keep hot lead out of your insides, you can maintain this bonus consistently. Netting a kill with this weapon also recharges the Smog’s shield.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Redistributor
  • Obtained from: Scourge the Invincible.
  • Playstyles:

Dark Army

What’s better than a decent gun? Four of them. Having this weapon in your hands will produce a trio of drones that will accompany you and attack enemies. After reloading the Dark Army, the drones gain a damage boost as well as inherit the element of the Dark Army in your hands.

  • Elements: :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Ten Gallon
  • Obtained from: Specific chests or world drop in the Arms Race DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Ion Laser

The Ion Laser doles out damage in two forms; firing it normally will send out a steady stream of damage, while ceasing your fire releases a swath of projectiles after you finish firing with the number based on how long you fired. If you repeatedly spam the fire button immediately after releasing though, you can release multiple volleys of these projectiles for high damage.

  • Elements: :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Evil Saint Lawrence.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Honorable Mentions

Night Hawkin

An odd gun for sure, but an effective one all the same. By day it spews ice, and by night it spews three incendiary rounds per shot. Along with being highly accurate and easy to handle, burst-fire variants have no delay between volleys meaning you can maintain a stream of lead.

  • Elements: :fire: (at night), :snowflake: (at day)
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: 4-Round Burst Fire.
  • Obtained from: Demoskaggon, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.


SHOTGUNS


Hellwalker

A fan-favorite for inviting enemies to Death’s warm-and-toasty abode, the Hellwalker singes enemies with flaming hot buckshot. For single targets it is a powerhouse, as the raw damage of this doomstick can typically muscle through most encounters, resisted or not. The fact that it comes with fixed parts also makes it a fairly stomach-able farm.

  • Elements: :fire:
  • Alternative/Similar Weapons: Robin’s Call, Garcia, Stagecoach, Dakota
  • Obtained from: Road Dog, world drop.
  • Playstyles:

Reflux

For melting through crowds with ease, the Reflux handles the job well. It will proc Head Count and Leave No Trace like no other weapon in the game as long as you’re firing it in crowds and otherwise spreading pain and hurting feelings.

  • Elements: |corrosive
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Brainstormer
  • Obtained from: GenIVIV (Mayhem 6 or higher.)
  • Playstyles: Any.

Face-puncher

With Melee damage getting multiplied many times over in Mayhem Mode, it becomes a powerhouse that isn’t displayed on the weapon. Pair this with the right gear for effects like life steal, ammo drain, area-of-effect damage. And if you pair it with a Stackbot, you can maintain a 495% damage bonus as well.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign:
  • Location: Muldock the Anointed, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Trevanator

A versatile and potent weapon, the Trevanator (rest easy, Trevor Eastman) fires a three-round burst of three projectiles (or six, depending on the version you have) per pull of the trigger that deal splash damage. If you need a nice elemental shotgun without any excessive bells or whistles, the Trevanator won’t disappoint.

  • Elements: :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Private Beans, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Convergence

Whereas the Reflux and Brainstormer proceed to hit your primary target and spread out to attack nearby targets, the Convergence hits your target and then proceeds to do it again. Shooting an enemy will spawn extra projectiles that proceed to penetrate your target again. As long as your able to keep a bead on your target, your DPS is basically doubled or tripled depending on the enemy faced.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Dr. Benedict, world drop in the Fustercluck DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Fearmonger

Note: Limited-time event item only obtainable during “Bloody Harvest”.

A Hyperion shotgun with some serious Torgue vibes, the Fearmonger places sticky bombs on foes that promptly explode after a moment. The raw damage of this weapon is impressive, and if you have Terror stacks built up it ups the projectile count and becomes quite fearsome.

  • Elements: :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Captain Haunt, Badass Ghosts, Loot Ghosts.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Anarchy

A real 12-Gaige shotgun, the Anarchy does far more than what the card suggests. Due to how the damage bonuses stack with one another, the damage actually climbs into absurd levels. Kill ten enemies and become the “God of Damage”.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: World drop in the Guns, Love, and Tentacles DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Tigg’s Boom

Take a Bangstick, buff the damage a healthy amount, replace the Sticky mode with meteors that fall from the sky after hitting an enemy, and you have the Tigg’s Boom. If you don’t have a particular use for the sticky mode most Torgue shotguns have yet want more boom out of your boomstick, the Tigg’s Boom will suffice.

  • Elements: :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Wotan the Invincible.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Honorable Mentions

Redline

If Torgue stole the Butcher and had their way with it, you’d get the Redline. After a brief period of charging up it vomits out projectiles with a passion. It’s potent, but likewise ammo-hungry.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Road Dog.
  • Playstyles:

Bangstick

A purple Torgue shotgun with a variation for every build, but Fl4k appreciates the maximum pellet count version of x18. With 18 chances to proc Leave No Trace while in Fade Away, you can apply an absurd number of critical stickies to handily kersploderate something to the next world.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: x18 projectiles.
  • Obtained from: World drop.
  • Playstyles:

Nothingness

If the Flakker had lasik surgery done to its eyes and became a Maliwan, the Nothingness is what it would become. The Nothingness has a lot more than nothing going for its firepower. Firing it will shoot a beam that will leave a trail of mid-air explosions in its wake, but if you fire it at the foot of an enemy (the closer the better) all of those explosions will be clustered around their toes for massive damage.

  • Elements: :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Gmork.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Insider

Similar to the Nothingness, the Insider is well suited to aiming at the feet (or rather, inside the target). The Insider’s rounds pass through a target and explode on hitting a solid object, meaning you can potentially hit for double damage if your aim is true.

  • Elements: :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: World Drop in the Guns, Love, and Tentacles DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.


SNIPER RIFLES


Complex Root

Despite being called the Complex Root, it makes simple work of enemies. Firing a shot from this weapon will produce a swath of floating projectiles that zip around the trajectory of the initial shot before detonating for high damage. Find the right range for trapping your targets in that swath, and they’ll pop like balloons.

  • Elements: :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Lani Dixon, world drop in the Bounty of Blood DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Sand Hawk

Changing its plumage a bit from an SMG in BL2 to a Sniper Rifle in BL3, the Sand Hawk returns to massacring enemies with bird-shaped carnage. Unless you fight something with an immunity to the element you’re using, you can generally just cram this gun in something’s face, pull the trigger, and move on to the next quarry. It’s a real ammo-hog though, so pace your shots out and land those crits.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Semi-Auto (tightens up the spread pattern considerably)
  • Obtained from: Katagawa Jr. (Mayhem 6 or higher).
  • Playstyles: Any.

Skullmasher

Packing the highest base damage out of any Jakobs sniper rifle in the game, the Skullmasher continues to turns brains into spuds as it has done for over a decade now. Asides from swissing heads with multiple pellets (great for maintaining Sniper ammo with Leave No Trace), it also sports an above-average fire rate for a Jakobs sniper rifle.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign:
  • Obtained from: Eista, world drop in the Guns, Love, and Tentacles DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Boogeyman

For the sniper who wants an economic rifle that is surprisingly good at taking out crowds, the Boogeyman fills those shoes. Coupling a high chance to not consume ammo when firing as well as a chance to spawn a floating skull that can easily one-shot enemies whenever you net a kill, the Boogeyman leaves the targets quaking in their shoes.

  • Elements: :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Specific chests or world drop in the Arms Race DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Krakatoa

Packing almost double the base damage of most Jakobs rifles, Krakatoa blows up a fleshy’s head like few others. The volcano that spawns after you kill something is more of an afterthought, but it can come in handy for dealing some extra hurt to enemies (or yourself).

  • Elements: :fire:
  • Obtained from: Tumorhead, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Wedding Invitation

Note: Currently unobtainable, unless you refrained from redeeming the last reward for the Valentine’s Day event (originally obtained at level 53).

An incredible rifle for the marksman who wants to save on precious sniper rifle ammo, the Wedding Invitation has a little bit of something for everyone. Asides from it dealing incendiary damage instead of the typical lack of element on Jakobs weaponry, every critical hit landed will refund the ammo spent on your last shot as well as turn into cryo and ricochet towards a nearby enemy. Provided you have a means of getting around shields, this gun will crush most foes you encounter.

  • Elements: :fire: initial bullet, :snowflake: on ricochet.
  • Obtained from: “Broken Heart” event reward for breaking 100 hearts (limited time event).
  • Playstyles: Any.

Honorable Mentions

Headsplosion

It does exactly what it says on the tin; makes heads go boom. Alongside the high base damage this rifle packs, it can be further boosted by Splash damage bonuses to really liquify a skull.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign:
  • Location: King Bobo.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Unseen Threat

Asides from the very high base damage, the Unseen Threat has a trick up its sleeve; landing a critical hit will spawn three extra projectiles that will seek out a nearby target and nail them hard.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign:
  • Obtained from: Amach, world drop in the Guns, Love, and Tentacles DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Monocle

Probably the most traditional sniper rifle out of all of the snipers on this list, but tradition works. Sporting the highest zoom in Borderlands 3, this weapon gains a huge critical hit bonus while using the scope. Stand a mile away and fire away.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign:
  • Location: Demoskaggon, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Cocky Bastard

While not as outstanding as the other two Legendary Jakobs Sniper Rifles added with “Guns, Love, and Tentacles”, the Cocky Bastard can more than hold its own. Nailing a critical will grant an extra 100% shock damage, making stripping shields a cinch.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: (Bonus :zap: on critical hit)
  • Obtained from: Eista, world drop in the Guns, Love, and Tentacles DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Storm

Dropping down a rarity from BL2, the Storm will spawn a host of floating shock orbs that proceed to zap the living daylights out of nearby foes not unlike the Brainstormer. Stellar for stipping shields from afar.

  • Elements: :zap:
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Firestorm
  • Obtained from: Red Jabber., world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.


HEAVY WEAPONS

Plaguebearer

Bringing the pain with a swarm of projectiles, the Plaguebearer bears bad news for the competition. While in flight, the main rocket continually produces mini-rockets that fly in a spiral around the main rocket until they lock-on to an enemy to destroy. Given the slow speed of the rockets, it is best to fire this weapon at a distance from your target to allow more mini-rockets to spawn.

  • Elements: :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Similar/Alternative Weapons: Scourge, Lump
  • Obtained from: Warden (Mayhem 6 or higher.)
  • Playstyles: Any.

Backburner

A Vladof heavy weapon that you can definitely bring to the fore and fray, the Backburner will suck enemies in when the main shot impacts something and then erupt with multiple, very powerful child projectiles that shoot up and rain back down in the vicinity.

  • Elements: :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Agonizer 9000 (Mayhem 6 or higher.)
  • Playstyles: Any.

Major Kong

The ION CANNON’s distant COV cousin, the Major Kong fires out one decently strong shot for three to four ammo and spawns two extra homing missiles. Holding down the fire button will increase the damage significantly at the cost of your ammo, but it packs a wallop.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: x2 Projectile Tail
  • Obtained from: Psychoreaver, world drop in the Fustercluck DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Yellowcake

Note: Currently unobtainable. Was previously obtainable during the “Revenge of the Cartels” event at a maximum level of 57.

Provided you’re a modest distance away, the splitting projectiles of this launcher will take down most foes fairly easily.

  • Elements: :radioactive:
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: x2 Projectile Tail
  • Obtained from: Joey Ultraviolet, Tyrone Smallums, FISH SLAP!!! (Limited time event.)
  • Playstyles: Any.

ION CANNON

Sporting some of the highest base damage of any weapon in the game, the Ion Cannon is what you pull out when you need to delete an enemy. Pinpoint accuracy allows it to crit enemies like a champion and most likely erase them in the process. It comes with a hefty price though as you’ll be spending six ammo per shot (seven with the Annexed variant) and reload slowly.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: x2 Projectiles Grip (Annexed)
  • Obtained from: Fabricator (Enemy, not the Eridian Fabricator).
  • Playstyles: Any.

Nukem

Representing all that Torgue stands for, the Nukem is a beefy rocket launcher with a very high base damage and an enormous splash radius. As long as you can handle the arc of the projectile, it’ll make a bang in any occasion. It’s also the most ammo efficient launcher on this list, the only thing really going against it being the lack of a sticky mode.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign:
  • Obtained from: Loco Chantelle, world drop in the Handsome Jackpot DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Honorable Mentions

Globetrottr

Able to dunk a foe with ease, the Globetrottr fires spinning “sawblades” of plasma that buzz along the ground and begin dribbling once they make contact with a foe. Assuming the foe is large or remains still for the dribbles to do their thing, they’ll be feeling the pain.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: x2 Projectile Tail
  • Obtained from: Scourge the Invincible.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Hedgehog/Quickie

Purple Torgue rocket launchers with different parts but similar usage. Use the sticky mode to plop as many bombs onto an enemy as possible during Fade Away, then blow them up to kingdom-come.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: 2 or 3 mag with stocks parts that add magazine size, 75% Sticky Damage
  • Obtained from: World drop.
  • Playstyles:

Plumage

The Plumage is essentially a shotgun-version of a typical rocket launcher. Launching eight rockets per trigger pull and packing the ability to produce free vortex grenades on previously marked targets, it is surprisingly potent and ammo-efficient during Fade Away.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign:
  • Similar Alternative Weapons: Ruby’s Wrath
  • Obtained from: Wrendon Esk, world drop in the Bounty of Blood DLC.
  • Playstyles:


SHIELDS


Stop-Gap

The Stop-Gap is the Last Stand of shields, excellent for catching your breath or otherwise covering a retreat to cover. Fl4k adores this shield to cover his metallic hide during harsh firefights.

  • Best Parts: Absorb, Shield Booster.
  • Obtained from: El Dragon Jr., world drop.
  • Playstyles:

Recharger

Similarly to the Stop-Gap, the Recharger provides a mean of extra protection once your shields are depleted in the form of a full-recharge of your shields.

  • Best Parts: Turtle, Absorb, Shield Booster.
  • Obtained from: Urist McEnforcer, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Snowshoe/Frozen Heart

The Snowshoe’s nova can be activated by sliding into an enemy or emptying your shield, while the Frozen Heart only activates on emptying your shield but it is easier to acquire. Either way, use it with the anointment for activating shield effects on Action Skill Start, and it is a great way of freezing foes (even if the Snowshoe’s nova doesn’t deal the correct amount of damage currently.)

  • Best Parts: Shield Booster, Absorb (Snowshoe).
  • Obtained from: Aurelia (Frozen Heart), Wotan/Valkyrie Squad (Snowshoe).
  • Playstyles:

Old God

Alongside the usual high capacity that Hyperion shields offer, it also comes with a 20% damage bonus to whatever element the shield is alongside a matching 25% resistance. It also has the distinction of spawning with three random additional parts unlike the two that most Legendary shields are restricted to. A well-rounded shield for when you don’t want to compromise too much offensively or defensively.

  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Absorb, Shield Booster.
  • Obtained from: World drop in the Guns, Love, and Tentacles DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Plus Ultra

For when you want to be the absolute healthiest robot on the planet, this shield is your answer. Asides from having an innate 35% absorb rate and chance to increase Action Skill Cooldown speed, this shield also has an unlisted effect of doubling your max health.

  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Health.
  • Obtained from: Dr. Benedict, World drop in the Fustercluck DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Madcap

If the Plus Ultra is the king of health-based shields, this shield is the king of shield capacity. With the right parts it can easily crack over 100,000 capacity by itself. The downside of the Madcap is that is cuts your time in Fight-For-Your-Life in half, but with this much capacity it’ll take a while before you actually fall on your knees.

  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Turtle, Shield Charge, Absorb.
  • Obtained from: Specific chests or world drop in the Arms Race DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Big Boom Blaster

One of the most sustainable shields in the game, the Big Boom Blaster helps itself to a 60% chance to restore 60% of your max capacity. There’s also the cherry on top where said boosters also restore Heavy ammo and grenades, so if you’re feeling explosive than this is the shield for you.

  • Best Parts: Capacity.
  • Obtained from: The Unstoppable, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Transformer

All-around excellence with an appetite for lead and lightning, the Transformer works wonders for keeping both your shields and ammo reserves happy.

  • Obtained from: Queen AuntWanette, “It’s Alive!” mission reward, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Messy Breakup

One wouldn’t peg a genocidal AI to be a pet person, but the Messy Breakup works surprisingly well with the “Take This!” skill. The drones end up recieving Mayhem scaling from the pet, so your pet ends up gaining some solid ranged options to work with.

  • Obtained from: Rax.
  • Playstyles:

Version 0.m

One of the most offensively inclined shields in the roster, the Version 0.m has an innate amp-shield effect while at 100% shield capacity. When it hits 0%, it spawns a circle on the ground that increases the damage of anyone in it. This works fantastically in a Clone build, as the clone will stay in place and reap the benefits of the circle while refilling your shields as it takes damage to regain the amp damage.

  • Best Parts: Capacity, Nova.
  • Obtained from: Wotan the Invincible, Valkyrie Squad.
  • Playstyles: Any.

One Shottin’ Shield

Tape three Amp parts to an Anshin or Pangolin purple shield, and you have the One Shottin’ Shield. Depending on the manufacturer it can recharge quite fast or have a high capacity, but it will drain a manageable 20% of your shields for a full-on 100% boost to your next shot. Unlike the Version 0.m or Rerouter, the non-legendary amp shields properly apply amp damage to all bullets you fire instead of just one. Provided you’re firing more than one bullet, this is the amp shield to go for.

  • Obtained from: World drop.
  • Playstyles:

Beskar

I’m rubber, you’re glue. As long as your shields are full, this handy shield will cut the damage you recieve down a chunk and return bullets to sender.

  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Absorb, Shield Charge, Turtle.
  • Obtained from: Specific chests or world drop in the Arms Race DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any, but favors usage on pets with the “Take This!” skill.

Double Downer

If you find yourself taking a knee often during combat, this may be the shield for you. This shield helps out by increasing your damage, accuracy, handling, and bleed-out duration. You’ll be able to get back up on your feet considerably easier with this shield to resume your murder-bender.

  • Best Parts: Absorb, Shield Booster.
  • Obtained from: “Double Down” mission reward.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Stinger

By itself, it is basically just a decent nova/melee shield. But when Mayhem melee-scaling and the “On Action Skill Start, activate any effects that trigger on shield break or fill.” anointment comes into play, it becomes downright nasty, clearing battlefields in seconds.

  • Obtained from: Anathema the Relentless.
  • Playstyles:

Nova-Berner/Recharge-Berner

An alternative to the Stinger-focused builds, this one trades the melee damage of the Stinger for either a very powerful incendiary nova, or the combination of a decently strong nova and instant shield recharging.

  • Best Parts: Turtle, Absorb, Shield Booster.
  • Obtained from: Valkyrie Squad (Recharge-Berner), Power Troopers, world drop (Nova Berner.)
  • Playstyles:

Honorable Mentions

Red Suit

By itself, it only really has the radiation immunity going for it. But when combined with the Pestilence’s reload nova (which gets boosted in Mayhem Mode) and an Elemental Projector relic, the novas do ludicrous damage. Spam the melee button after the Pestilence overheats and you’ll practically be a radiation version of Krieg’s Hellborn builds from BL2.

  • Best Parts: Trigger-Happy, Nova.
  • Obtained from: Atomic, “Angels and Speed Demons” mission reward.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Gas Mask

While the 50% increased Fight-For-Your-Life duration this shield offers isn’t bad, the thing that is more attractive about this shield is that it can spawn with three additional shield parts instead of two. The only reason why this is in Honorable Mentions is because the Old God exists as a Hyperion legendary shield that can also spawn with triple parts.

  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Absorb, Shield Charge.
  • Obtained from: Specific chests or world drop in the Arms Race DLC.
  • Playstyles: Any.


GRENADES


It’s Piss

Straight outta Mann Co., It’s Piss is capable of making enemies more vulnerable to all sources of damage. For big and slow targets, it’ll really help you tear into them a good deal faster. If used on a Seein’ Dead build with Fractal Frags and the Clone, the Clone can throw out piss grenades all the time and coat the entire area in the smell of ammonia.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign:
  • Obtained from: Sloth/Thunk.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Hunter-Seeker

A grenade that wants to be a gun, Fl4k can make use of this for triggering his skills related to critical hits as long as Megavore activates.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Divider (Mitosis).
  • Obtained from: Dreg & Rage, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Fish Slap

Note: Currently unobtainable. Was previously obtainable during the “Revenge of the Cartels” event at a maximum level of 57.

Similarly to the Facepuncher in that it deals melee damage instead of the typical fare (and therefore also recieves a massive multiplier in damage in Mayhem Mode, making it the strongest grenade in the game in all likelihood), the Fish Slap can be used in combination with relics that have melee-based mechanics to achieve useful combinations.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Joey Ultraviolet, FISH SLAP!!!, Tyrone Smallums.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Ghast Call

Note: Limited-time event item only obtainable during “Bloody Harvest”.

More skulls for the skull throne! The Ghast Call belches out a group of skulls when thrown. When you’ve got Terror stacks active you’ll flood foes with rivers of skulls, but even without Terror it is still effective.

  • Elements: corrosive
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Vindicator (Roid, Divider)
  • Obtained from: Captain Haunt, Badass Ghosts, Loot Ghosts.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Lightspeed

A speedy grenade that just keeps going, the Lightspeed warps to where your crosshair is at the moment of throwing. Once it hits a surface, it’ll split into multiple projectiles, and once those hit a surface it produces homing rockets.

  • Elements: :no_entry_sign: | :fire: | :zap: |corrosive| :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Obtained from: Anathema the Relentless.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Hex

While it isn’t considered gun damage like the Hunter-Seeker, the Hex still works well for when you need to quickly gain stacks for skills or certain gear.

  • Elements: :zap: | :snowflake: | :radioactive:
  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Divider, MIRV (Recurring, MIRV-tacular)
  • Obtained from: Sky Bullies, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Quasar

With the best singularities in the game, the Quasar excels at bundling up enemies into a package for you to blow them up to kingdom-come.

  • Elements: :zap:
  • Obtained from: Wick and Warty, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.


CLASS MODS


Cosmic Stalker

An all-around excellent class mod for general purposes, the Cosmic Stalker is a Hunt-enthusiast’s best friend. Along with the natural 25% increase in Hunt skill power, it can jack it up further with boosted Big Game.

  • Best Parts/Prefixes: +3 Big Game, + 2 Interplanetary Stalker.
  • Obtained from: Tyrant of Instinct, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Bounty Hunter

For taking on the biggest foes the game can throw at you, the Bounty Hunter is ideal. Invaluable in a boss fight for allowing you to trigger Hunt skills without kills as well as human, robot, and beast specific bonuses all at the same time to bosses.

  • Best Parts/Prefixes: The Most Dangerous Game, Hunter’s Eye
  • Obtained from: Lt. Preston, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

DE4DEYE

A bit more situational than the above class mods, but with the right set-up it can prove potent. Suited for use with high-power, single projectile weapons to take advantage of the 35% increase in damage and Two F4ng.

  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Two F4ng, Fast and Furryous
  • Obtained from: Vice (Grogan), world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Red Fang

The class mod to use with Gamma Burst, and Fl4k’s best class mod for improving survivability. Having enemies concentrate on your invincible pet gives Fl4k a ton of breathing room to work with.

  • Best Parts/Prefixes:
  • Obtained from: Tyrant of Discipline, world drop.
  • Playstyles:

St4ckbot

There are two methods of using the St4ckbot; either try to carefully place your shots to maintain crits while outside of Fade Away, or quickly build up your st4cks and use certain sources of damage for crazy damage (said damage seems to originate from guns without actually being gun damage, like the Face-puncher or the Pestilence’s reload nova.)

  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Pack Tactics, Fast and Furryous.
  • Obtained from: Jackbot, world drop in the Handsome Jackpot DLC.
  • Playstyles:

R4kk P4k

For when a quartet of Rakk isn’t enough, the R4kk P4k allows you a total of 12 of them to swarm enemies.

  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Pack Tactics, Head Count
  • Obtained from: Tink of Cunning.
  • Playstyles:

Peregrine

Most grenades when used in the later Mayhem levels aren’t too effective, but a few grenades are an exception to this. Crank up your splash damage and melee damage bonuses and you’ll see your Rakk pull a magic trick and turn enemies into fish-n’-gibs with a Fish Slap, or you can go the spooky route with a Ghast Call.

  • Best Parts/Prefixes: +5 Interplanetary Stalker
  • Obtained from: Dr. Benedict, world drop in the Fustercluck DLC.
  • Playstyles:


ARTIFACTS


Top Prefixes

Last Stand - Essentially a Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card, Last Stand allows you five seconds of invincibility. How those five seconds are used is up to you, whether it is to find cover to hide behind, cloak up, or tank a mighty attack.

Snowdrift - The most mobile prefix in the game, Snowdrift makes traversing a map or battlefield a breeze.

Elemental Projector - Situational, but the Elemental Projector can come in handy for taking down bosses or other bulkier foes. Light yourself up with your method of choice (typically a weapon with splash damage) and go to town on the enemy’s health bar with a matching gun.

Cutpurse/Knife Drain - A niche choice, but a useful niche nevertheless. With either a FIsh Slap or by equipping the Rocket Boots/Launch Pad relics, you can gain an extra source of ammo regeneration or health regeneration respectively without occupying one of your weapon slots.


Otto Idol

Fl4k seldom has issues killing, but keeping in top shape can be another story. The Otto Idol gives Fl4k an extra layer of survival by restoring some health with every kill made.

  • Best Parts/Prefixes: (Weapon Type) Damage, Area-of-Effect Damage, (Element) Damage, Magazine Size, Action Skill Cooldown Rate, Action Skill Damage.
  • Obtained from: Rachel the Anointed, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Victory Rush

One of the few Legendary relics in the game with an effect that isn’t tied to sliding, stomping, or meleeing an enemy, the Victory Rush increases your damage and movement speed for a minute after killing a Badass enemy.

  • Best Parts/Prefixes: (Weapon Type) Damage, Area-of-Effect Damage, (Element) Damage, Magazine Size, Action Skill Cooldown Rate, Action Skill Damage.
  • Obtained from: Azalea, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Pearl of Ineffable Knowledge

Claptrap actually did something very useful for once. As long as you’re able to maintain a consistent flow of damage on enemies in one form of another, the Pearl will substantially boost your DPS.

  • Best Parts/Prefixes: Magazine Size, Fire Rate.
  • Obtained from: Claptrap, during “The Call of Gythian” story mission in Guns, Love, and Tentacles.
  • Playstyles: Any.

Deathless

Given how a large portion of Fl4k’s survivability is tied to health regeneration, you wouldn’t think the Deathless would work too with Fl4k. The anointment for 150% radiation damage while below half-health however works tremendously with his toolkit. Provided you can find a sufficiently tanky shield and consider investing a point into Shared Spirit, you can reap some nice benefits by using this relic.

  • Best Parts/Prefixes: (Weapon Type) Damage, Area-of-Effect Damage, (Element) Damage, Magazine Size, Action Skill Cooldown Rate, Action Skill Damage.
  • Obtained from: Phoenix, world drop.
  • Playstyles: Any.

12 Likes

Giver how a decent chunk of this info was copied from the respective Zane and Amara threads, I’m definitely looking for some community input to flesh this list out.

I haven’t looked at any other classes top gear, but are they all this…long? Maybe I’m too used to the old thread but it seems like some entries could be removed. I don’t think gear that is “viable up to Mayhem 8 with good anoints” needs to be in this thread.

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To some extent, the ones labeled M8 viable are useable in Mayhem 1, just not to great effect unless you really build for them. And given how a decent amount of people don’t have certain DLCs, more potential options for loadouts isn’t a bad thing.

As for other classes top gears, they’re just as long (excluding Moze) since I’m managing the Zane and Amara threads.

Alright. Is there any way to make it more concise? Maybe combine some entries like the Beacon and Hellshock?

Fair point about the Beacon/Hellshock, will likely do so next time I update the Top Gear threads I manage (probably tomorrow).

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Hex doesn’t count as bullet/gun damage like Hunter Seeker by the way, so it can’t proc Megavore. It only crits when the beams kind of latch/pass through an enemy’s weak-point.

These are their main differences overall:
image

Hunter Seeker counts as a gun damage source but doesn’t get boosted by gun damage.

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For Grenades, add Lightspeed. It does weapon damage I believe and can crit with Megavore and proc Furious Attack. Also does good damage. I think best damaging grenade.

Would you consider The Cure an honorable mention? I haven’t tried it in awhile as I will need to reset my playthroughs, but I remember it being a decent overall weapon even with it’s lack of annointment.

Haven’t actually used the Lightspeed much myself, but if someone more knowledgeable about it can confirm it deals weapon damage it would be good. And is a level 65 Lightspeed going to outdamage a level 57 Fish Slap? Even if the Fish Slap is that underleveled, it still has the 15x melee multiplier at Mayhem 10.

Nothing is going to outdamage the fish slap when accounting for groundbreaker. Mayhem scaling melee damage also makes it tough for other grenades to beat it since they don’t get that.

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I wish that grenades(excluding Fish Slap) spawned by Peregrine gained Action Skill scaling, this would make that COM extraordinary.

Fishslap with melee damage is very strong. The best because of scaling and what not. I don’t think any grenade beats that.

The Hex is currently listed twice. (though only the name)

Just tested the Lightspeed to double check. It does not proc Furious Attack. Though it does crit to proc Head Count and the like. So I am not sure if it is gun damage per se but did hear others say so. If someone can confirm this or not, please do. Appreciate it.

Very unlikely it counts as a gun damage source if it’s not stacking Furious Attack. The crits it gets are probably only natural crits from hitting a crit spot, much like Hex’s. There’s always some room for weirdness though but I’m not available to test it myself currently.

Head Count and Leave No Trace can proc on any crit, as long as the Crit comes from the main damage source and not a bonus element.

It’s place would pretty much be for “quick heals”, more of a tool of sorts than an actual weapon choice I’d say. Not sure on it being worth a mention.

At this rate, the class mod would have been better off being a Mindsweeper of sorts: dropping a grenade that further scaled with splash boosts can could reward proper investiment of splash + general damage bonuses on FL4K’s trees for double dipping and good damage. It would be an instant reward for investing in Rakk damage through those.

Grenades being extremely meh in general just locks the choices to 1 or 2 grenades anyway.

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That’s about where I figured The Cure would wind up. I just remembered using it for some “oh ■■■■” moments awhile back.

Yeah, I remember saying I seen Peregrine that I wished it dropped some form of Mind Sweeper style nade. It remains really meh outside of Fish Slap silliness.

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Very much looking forward to reading through the thread and thanks again to @Aaron0000 for putting the work in on it.

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Honestly, if you’re looking for life-steal with a shotgun, just use a Face-puncher with a Knife Drain Static Charge or White Elephant. Does tons of damage (insane amounts if used with a Stackbot) and tops you off easily.

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The Smog entry has a reference to Zane’s barrier :slight_smile: