Borderlands 4 is packed with powerful legendary weapons, but few stand out like the Kickballer Shotgun. Known for its explosive ricochet mechanics and devastating splash damage, the Kickballer has quickly become one of the most sought-after shotguns in the game. Players across the community are eager to add it to their arsenal—not just because it’s powerful, but because it’s one of the most fun-to-use guns in the series.

If you’re wondering how to unlock the Kickballer, where to farm it, and how to maximize its potential, you’ve landed in the right place. This comprehensive guide covers everything from the quest requirements and boss fights to advanced farming tips and best builds to pair with this weapon.

What Makes the Kickballer So Special?

The Kickballer is a legendary Maliwan shotgun with unique projectile physics. Instead of firing a simple spread of pellets like most shotguns, it launches curved projectiles that ricochet off surfaces. Each ricochet creates a high-speed copy of the projectile, which can bounce again before vanishing.

This ricochet chain makes it extremely deadly in the right hands. Imagine firing at the floor in a crowded room and watching the bullets ricochet, bounce off walls, and explode around enemies. That’s the Kickballer experience.

Key traits of the Kickballer:

Fires curved projectiles that ricochet off surfaces.
Every bounce creates a duplicate projectile with its own damage.
Deals splash damage, which can hurt both enemies and the player if used recklessly.
Available in multiple elements—fire, shock, corrosive, cryo, and radiation (but not kinetic).
Highly sought-after variant: the Jakobs-licensed accessory roll, which can create infinite ricochets (a bug, but extremely popular).

The weapon is equal parts chaotic and powerful. While it requires careful positioning, it’s unmatched in crowd control and style.

How to Unlock the Kickballer Shotgun

Unfortunately, you can’t get the Kickballer immediately. It’s locked behind a set of quests and a specific boss fight. Here’s the breakdown:

Step 1: Progress the Main Story

You’ll first need to finish the main mission “Rush the Gate” in the Fadefields region. Completing this mission opens up new side quests, which are necessary to access the boss that drops the Kickballer.

Step 2: Complete “Null and Void”

After “Rush the Gate,” head to The Launchpad, where you’ll find Rush near the crashed ship of Idolator Sol. Speak to him to begin the “Null and Void” side quest. This mission sets the stage for your path toward unlocking the weapon.

Step 3: Finish “All Charged Up”

Once “Null and Void” is complete, Rhodes will offer you another quest called “All Charged Up.” This mission culminates in a battle with Sludgemaw, a thresher-type boss. Defeating Sludgemaw for the first time makes it possible to farm the Kickballer.

Where to Farm the Kickballer

The Kickballer is primarily obtained from Sludgemaw, though it’s also part of the world drop pool (rare from other enemies). Farming Sludgemaw is by far the most efficient method.

Region: Fadefields
Zone: Watershed Gate, in Idolator’s Noose
Boss: Sludgemaw (thresher-type enemy)

After completing “All Charged Up,” you can use Moxxi’s Big Encore machine to respawn Sludgemaw as many times as you want for farming attempts.

Farming Strategy: Maximizing Your Drop Chances

Legendary farming in Borderlands has always been about patience and preparation. Here are the best strategies to optimize your chances of getting a Kickballer—and hopefully the best variant:

1. Use the Moxxi’s Big Encore Machine

After defeating Sludgemaw once, activate the Encore machine to respawn the boss instantly without replaying the entire mission. This allows repeated farming runs until you get the weapon.

2. Target Weaknesses

Sludgemaw is primarily health-based, not shield-heavy, so fire-elemental weapons are most effective for taking it down quickly.

3. Optimize Your Gear

Equip class mods, artifacts, and shields that boost splash damage or ricochet effects. This way, when you finally obtain the Kickballer, you can immediately test it at full potential.

4. Patience is Key

Sludgemaw does not guarantee a legendary drop every time. It may take multiple runs before you finally get the Kickballer.

5. Jakobs-Licensed Variant

If you’re lucky, you may roll the Jakobs-licensed Kickballer, which has a bug that allows infinite ricochets. While unpredictable, it’s arguably one of the most entertaining variants to use.

How to Use the Kickballer Effectively

Getting the Kickballer is only half the journey—mastering it is the real challenge. Here are some pro tips to maximize its effectiveness:

1. Mind the Splash Damage

Because it deals splash damage, firing too close to walls or enemies can backfire and damage you. Always maintain a safe distance.

2. Choose Open Arenas

The ricochet mechanic thrives in open areas with multiple surfaces. Tight corridors often cause projectiles to bounce back into you.

3. Aim for Enemy Clusters

Firing at groups of enemies increases the chance of chained ricochets, dealing massive AoE damage.

4. Use with Explosion Buffs

Combine with grenade mods, shields, or class perks that increase explosion damage to amplify the Kickballer’s splash potential.

5. Experiment with Elements

Fire: Best for fleshy enemies.
Corrosive: Excellent against armored foes.
Shock: Great for shields.
Cryo: Freeze enemies in place, then bounce shots into them.
Radiation: Useful in crowded battles for chain explosions.

Best Builds to Pair with the Kickballer

Certain Vault Hunter builds amplify the Kickballer’s strengths. Consider these synergies:

Splash Damage Moze-style builds (grenade-focused) multiply its explosive output.
Crit-based builds (using ricochet multipliers) turn bounces into deadly critical chains.
Elemental builds (Amara-style) take advantage of Kickballer’s multiple elemental variants.

Can You Get the Kickballer Outside Sludgemaw?

Yes, but with caveats. While the Kickballer is part of the general legendary loot pool, the odds of obtaining it randomly from world drops or other bosses are extremely low. Farming Sludgemaw remains the most efficient and reliable method.

Why the Kickballer is a Must-Have

Borderlands games are famous for outrageous weapon designs, and the Kickballer fits perfectly in that tradition. It’s not just about raw damage—it’s about chaotic fun.

Whether you’re ricocheting infinite bouncing bullets with the Jakobs roll or carefully bouncing projectiles into enemy clusters, this shotgun delivers some of the most entertaining gameplay in Borderlands 4.

If you’re chasing high-tier loot and memorable weapons, the Kickballer should be at the top of your farming list.

Final Thoughts

The Kickballer Shotgun in Borderlands 4 is a weapon that embodies everything fans love about the series: creativity, chaos, and explosive fun. While obtaining it requires some quest progression and farming dedication, the payoff is worth it. Once you master its ricochet mechanics, you’ll see why players consider it one of the standout legendaries in the game.

So grab your gear, prepare for Sludgemaw, and start farming—the Kickballer is waiting to make your Borderlands 4 experience even more explosive.

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