Borderlands 4 is here, and it’s putting more players than ever back into the rhythm of blasting through waves of enemies, chasing loot, and taking down bosses. While the main story and character builds are likely to command the most attention during these early weeks, one new addition should not be ignored. Players looking to maximize loot efficiency, no matter where they are on their journey, shouldn't sleep on Moxxi’s Big Encore Machine, because it’s one of Borderlands 4’s most impactful upgrades.
In earlier entries, farming a boss required a less-than-efficient save-and-quit process, pulling co-op partners out of lobbies and forcing everyone to reconnect. Now, with Borderlands 4’s new Moxxi’s Big Encore Machine, that ritual is a thing of the past. It means that any boss fight can be replayed on demand, keeping the entire group together without disruption. The machine does come with a scaling cost, but its arrival alongside the changes to enemy scaling means the quality-of-life improvements far outweigh the credits spent.
Moxxi’s Big Encore Machine Is Borderlands 4’s Simplest Game-Changer
More than a convenience, Borderlands 4's Encore Machine reshapes the pace of farming in a way that makes legendary hunting far more accessible. Each time it is used, the fee increases slightly by roughly 2.33%, topping out at 30,000 credits at level 50 for story Bosses, Ripper Drill Sites, and Order Bunkers, with main story bosses capped slightly higher at 40,000 credits. While that may sound steep, it is a small price to pay for uninterrupted farming runs, especially when split among friends in a co-op session.
Previous Borderlands games required players to quit back out to the main menu every time a boss run was completed, adding unnecessary downtime to an otherwise fun gameplay loop. Now, players can string together repeated fights in seconds rather than minutes, making the chase of dedicated drops far more engaging. This cements farming as a much more natural extension of gameplay rather than a chore.
Borderlands 4’s Level Scaling Keeps Farming Fresh
Another upgrade to farming is Borderlands 4's revamped level-scaling system. Enemies throughout the game now scale to be near a player’s level, no matter where they are. This means that loot drops always remain relevant, eliminating the problem from past games, where early bosses’ gear would be obsolete and worthless to re-farm only a few levels later.
Borderlands 4' s Legendary items are deliberately rarer this time around, which balances things out to prevent farming from feeling like an exploit. With a sliding scaling system in place, nearly every encounter has the potential to reward meaningful upgrades, even outside of legendary drops. In practice, the combination of Encore accessibility and level scaling means farming is more meaningful than ever, not just for unique drops, but also for refreshing an arsenal to match the campaign’s pace.
Borderlands 4 Has A Perfect Early Legendary Farm
For players eager to take advantage of these new systems, Splashzone is one of Borderlands 4's earliest and easiest boss farms. Encountered during the early Recruitment Drive story mission, the bandit is an extremely straightforward fight with a rather large loot pool. Splashzone comes with three dedicated legendary drops: the Lead Balloon shotgun, the Firewerks shield, and the Jelly grenade.
The shield and grenade are terrific options, but while the shotgun might offer some early-game utility, it isn’t quite as useful thanks to a strange bullet trajectory. However, the level-scaling system means that whatever players get will at least be relevant well beyond their initial Borderlands 4 encounters. Additionally, with the Encore Machine, Splashzone can be farmed in seconds, allowing players to stack up chances at these legendaries quickly.
The Encore Machine Ensures Farming in Borderlands 4 Has Never Felt Better
Splashzone is the perfect showcase of Moxxi’s Big Encore Machine and how farming has evolved in Borderlands 4. Aside from ensuring farming won’t be tied to tedious menu navigation anymore, the Encore machine also means farming is valuable, no matter where players are in their playthrough. So for those seeking the best gear, farming in Borderlands 4 has never been faster, smoother, or more rewarding.
Borderlands 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 88%
- Released
- September 12, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Publisher(s)
- 2K
