Best Side Quests In Borderlands Series

As a seasoned adventurer who’s ventured through the chaotic realms of Pandora, Promethea, and now Tiny Tina’s Wonderland, I must say that the quest lines in these games never cease to amaze me. Each one is as unique as the characters we encounter, and the stories they weave are nothing short of extraordinary.

Known for its offbeat and unconventional side missions, the Borderlands collection leads the pack in the looter shooter genre. It’s among the top choices for cooperative shooting experiences, making it an excellent choice for playing with a team of four friends.

Although the primary narrative of the Borderlands games is enjoyable, what truly captivates fans about this series are the intricately crafted side missions, the characters within them, and the surprising twists these side missions present. It’s not surprising that many players find these side quests superior to main missions, and the series offers numerous such side quests that often steal the show in each game.

9 You. Will. Die.

Over And Over

Best Side Quests In Borderlands Series

Game: Borderlands 1
DLC: The Secret Armory Of General Knoxx
Mission location: T-Bone Junction Bounty Board

Title of this challenge is a prophecy, and it’s almost certain that every player will meet their demise at least once throughout this mission. The sole objective for players is to defeat Crawmerax. Unlike other missions, there are no route-finding tasks, item collection, or dialogues with NPCs; just the player, an indestructible armored crab-like creature, and a vast number of bullets stored in the character’s pockets.

In the add-on content for Borderlands 1 called The Secret Army of General Knoxx, players can pick up this optional quest once they’ve finished the main storyline at the T-Bone Junction Bounty Board.

The ingenuity of this mission comes not only from the sheer spectacle it holds but also the absurd difficulty and satisfaction of burying bullets in a monster 10 times the player’s size. There is nowhere to run to and unless it’s a co-op playthrough, the player is trapped in a deathloop with Cramerax until they manage to bring it down.

8 Porta Prison

“Dying In A City-Issues Fecapod Is A Class Three Offense”

Game: Borderlands 3
Mission location: Lectra City

The foundation of this task is amusingly absurd: Trashmouth, your mission provider, finds himself stuck inside a portable toilet due to an overly bureaucratic AI system refusing to release him. This leads to a whimsical chase for a lenient AI chip that can free him, and the journey will take unpredictable twists and turns, making this side quest even more enjoyable.

The Borderlands series is well-known for its witty humor and top-notch writing, and the interactions between Trashmout and the AI chips players can insert into the portapotty are particularly noteworthy in this mission. To make it even better, the mission’s conclusion, which won’t be revealed here, is sure to have players laughing out loud.

7 Claptrap Rescue Missions

Vault Hunter To The Rescue

Game: Borderlands 1
Mission location: Multiple locations all over the map

14 unique rescue operations for Claptrap are scattered across the universe of Borderlands, and they’re quite endearing.

Occasionally during their adventure, players encounter a damaged claptrap robot missing some components. As selfless heroes, they feel compelled to search for the necessary parts to repair these robots, even if it involves treacherous mountain climbs or battles against relentless creatures. The reward they receive – an upgraded backpack SDU – is not what they seek.

6 Shoot This Guy In The Face

Death Request

Game: Borderlands 2
Mission location: On a ledge by Broken Face Bridge in Thousand Cuts

In the sequel, Borderlands 2, they significantly enhanced the writing and quality of side quests. One of the briefest missions within any Borderlands game is considered the finest by fans – it’s the one where the player encounters Face McShooty who requests the player to shoot him in the face while he dances about.

Once players agree to the mission, their sole task becomes targeting McShooty specifically in the head. However, they must take care not to hit him anywhere else, such as his arms, legs, or torso. Following this, there’s no surprise development that challenges the fabric of reality; just as one might anticipate, a blast to McShooty’s face results in an explosion and his demise.

As a seasoned gamer with countless hours spent navigating through complex missions and engaging in intense battles, I appreciate the simplicity and understated elegance of this mission. Unlike many other games where I find myself enduring tedious escort missions or embarking on laborious fetch quests, this one offers a refreshing change of pace. There’s no need to face vengeful enemies after completing the main task, just pure unadulterated satisfaction as I take the easiest headshot in gaming history with McShooty. It’s a breath of fresh air and a testament to the creativity of its designers.

5 Transaction-Packed

Game In A Game

Game: Borderlands 3
Mission location: Desolation’s Edge on Nekrotafeyo

In Borderlands, there’s a side mission that goes meta in an extraordinary way. Claptrap requests your assistance in testing an augmented reality game called Destroyer of Worlds. However, the catch is that this game is riddled with glitches and features in-app purchases that players find hard to resist, despite their intentions otherwise.

Despite being slightly longer than ideal, this mission offers an intriguing sneak peek into where the gaming industry might be moving. Designed to be frustrating, the mission presents unique challenges such as escorting and defending Lana, who repetitively says the same lines, from airborne adversaries. Additionally, the abundance of microtransaction boxes with glitchy “No” buttons adds to its uniqueness within the Borderlands franchise.

4 Claptrap’s Birthday Bash

Boombox, Pizzaz, And Loneliness

Game: Borderlands 2
Mission location: Sanctuary

In the thrilling world of Borderlands, I seldom find myself emotionally moved. Yet, when it happens, it’s as if they’ve reached deep into my gaming heart and wrenched out every last thread. Take for instance the side quest featuring Claptrap in Borderlands 2. This lovable, series-emblematic Vault Hunter companion is portrayed in a shockingly grim manner, leaving a lasting impact on me as a player.

1. Generally, players view this robot as lacking in deep emotions, given its mechanical nature. However, when Claptrap extends an invitation to his birthday party, it exhibits genuine excitement and anticipation for the player’s attendance.

It transpires that out of the four invitations Claptrap sends, only you attend the birthday party, making it a solitary affair for the player and this small robot. As the game subtly urges you to idle while “enjoying” the party, it becomes painfully evident to players how isolated Claptrap is without other Claptrap units. This sense of loneliness seems to resonate with many.

3 You Are Cordially Invited: Tea Party

“Best Tea Party Ever”

Game: Borderlands 2
Mission location: Tundra Express

In the realm of characters within the Borderlands series, Tiny Tina stands out as an exceptional design. She’s not only intelligent and creative, but she’s also marked by emotional trauma, mental scars, and a fierce spirit that exudes resilience.

In the “You Are Formally Invited” series of missions, players join forces with Tiny Tina to avenge her parents’ murder by a villain named Flesh-Stick. The final mission in this storyline is titled “Tea Party.” Although Borderlands delves into the heartrending past of a character like Tiny Tina, it doesn’t dwell on despair; instead, the main character assists Tiny Tina in exacting revenge on Flesh-Stick and escaping any repercussions.

Kicking off in a humorous twist with the task named “Whack Wooden Stick”, the player is required to engage in melee combat against the individual responsible for Tiny Tina’s parents’ death, who happens to be the strapped-down host of the tea party seated at the end of the table. By doing so, they ignite the festivities.

1. In this game, the character assists in defending against three successive attacks by adversaries, all aiming to save Flesh Stick. The mission concludes with Tiny Tina delivering a shock to Flesh Stick and declaring, “This is the Best Tea Party I’ve Ever Had!” in her signature style.

2 The Nibblenomicon

“He whose name is Oblivion, the Forgotten One, Sleeper beyond the Gate of Silence and Sensing Tongue of the Umbral Void”

Game: Borderlands 3
DLC: Guns, Love, And Tentacles
Mission location: The Lodge

As a seasoned Vault Hunter and Borderlands veteran, I must admit that the missions in this game are usually a wild ride, but the one I just embarked on in the Guns, Love, and Tentacles DLC is nothing short of extraordinary. Words struggle to encapsulate the sheer absurdity, hilarity, and bizarre nature of this side quest. The task at hand? Retrieve the Nibbblenomicon. Simple enough, right? Not quite. This mission takes the cake when it comes to over-the-top, laugh-out-loud moments, and outlandish twists that leave you scratching your head in disbelief. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, with plenty of gunfights, puzzles, and alien creatures thrown in for good measure. If you’re looking for a wildly entertaining detour in Borderlands 3, I highly recommend giving this one a try – but be prepared to question reality as you know it!

In the depths of the Dustbound Archives, a peculiar cookbook with a penchant for talking, loathing cilantro, and stamping resides. This archives is teeming with eccentric members of a mad book club who engage in the most amusing chatter throughout the game. As the player navigates through this archive, they eliminate book club members, obtain the book from a librarian (may she find peace), and then hand it over to the mission-giver.

1 Ron Rivote

“Sir Rivote, A Finer Knight I Have Never Known”

Game: Tiny Tina’s Wonderland
Mission location: Tangledrift

In Tiny Tina’s Wonderland, this adventure will acquaint the player with Ron Rivote, a self-styled knight who may be delusional, whose moniker and backstory bear such striking resemblance to the character Don Quixote from the renowned novel that it’s more than just plausible.

At the behest of Sir Rivote, the player initially vanquishes a menacing Cyclops, later assists in rescuing Sir Rivote’s princess from perilous circumstances, and subsequently eliminates a swarm of adversaries. Triumphantly, they secure victory and witness Sir Rivote depart on his steed with the princess, heading towards the horizon.

In this unique scenario, the Cyclops resembles a clock tower featuring a single eye, whereas the princess isn’t a human or even a doll, but rather a broomstick. The adversaries are mushrooms, and Sir Rivote mistakenly believes his steed, also the broomstick, to be the princess. Instead of galloping towards the horizon, he leaps on it to escape from the island, plummeting straight down to the ground below.

2024-08-18 01:34