Borderlands 4 introduces a revamped loot system designed to streamline cooperative play. Instanced loot ensures fairness by granting each player their own exclusive drops, eliminating competition for gear—whether playing online, locally, or across platforms. Here’s a breakdown of its mechanics and implications.
How Instanced Loot Works in Borderlands 4
- Every player receives unique, personalized loot from enemies, chests, and bosses. Others cannot claim items meant for you.
- This system applies to all gear types: weapons, shields, grenades, class mods, and Eridium.
Instanced Loot and Level Scaling
- Personalized scaling ensures loot and enemies match each player’s level. For example, a level 12 character and a level 28 ally will each receive appropriately leveled gear and face scaled enemy challenges.
- This dynamic balancing keeps gameplay fair and rewarding, regardless of team level discrepancies.
Online and Split-Screen Co-Op Compatibility
- Supports up to four players online, with instanced loot functioning seamlessly across platforms via crossplay.
- Two-player split-screen on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S also provides independent loot streams for each player.
Trading Mechanics
- While loot is personalized, trading remains possible. Players can manually drop items from their inventory to share with teammates.
- This preserves cooperative strategies while preventing accidental or intentional loot theft.
Benefits of Instanced Loot
- No more fights over legendary drops—a common frustration in earlier Borderlands games.
- Co-op sessions become smoother, as players focus on gameplay rather than racing to grab loot.
FAQ
- Does Borderlands 4 have instanced loot?
Yes. All players receive individual loot allocations in every game mode. - Can teammates steal my loot?
No. Items generated for you remain exclusively accessible to your character. - Does instanced loot work in local co-op?
Yes. Split-screen players each receive separate loot drops. - Is trading still available?
Yes. Players can manually exchange items via inventory drops. - How does loot scaling work in co-op?
Each player’s gear and enemies scale dynamically to their character level.