Borderlands 3 is Gearbox Software's looter shooter, published by 2K and on Steam since 13 March 2020 after six months of Epic exclusivity. Four Vault Hunters chase Troy and Tyreen Calypso across Pandora, Promethea, Athenas, Eden-6 and Nekrotafeyo, the first time the series leaves Pandora properly. The level cap sits at 72, with Mayhem 1 to 11 layered on top to scale enemies and loot for endgame play.
Borderlands 3 features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pandora | About 1 to 13 on a first run | Hellwalker, the first vehicle, and Sanctuary III as your mobile base | FL4K the Beastmaster |
| 2 | Promethea | About 10 to 18 | Atlas tracking weapons, Rampager and Katagawa Jr. drops, the city fights that define act two | FL4K the Beastmaster |
| 3 | Athenas | About 14 to 17 | Cutsman from Borman Nates, Maya's storyline, one of the shortest farm routes in the game | Amara the Siren |
| 4 | Eden-6 | About 18 to 27 | Graveward loot, Aurelia and GenIVIV fights, most of the Jakobs weapon pool | Amara the Siren |
| 5 | Nekrotafeyo | About 28 to 33 | Typhon DeLeon's logs and dead drops, General Traunt drops, the run into the final fight | Amara the Siren |
Pandora: Starting Area
The series home world and the opening act, covering The Droughts, Ascension Bluff, Devil's Razor, The Splinterlands and Konrad's Hold. Road Dog in The Splinterlands is the dedicated source for the Hellwalker shotgun.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | About 1 to 13 on a first run |
| Key Rewards | Hellwalker, the first vehicle, and Sanctuary III as your mobile base |
| Recommended Role | FL4K the Beastmaster |
| Key Weapons | Hellwalker |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Action skills and four skill trees. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first weapons upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Promethea.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Promethea: Early Game
The Atlas corporate world, taking in Meridian Metroplex, Meridian Outskirts, Lectra City, Atlas HQ, Neon Arterial and Skywell-27. It is where the Maliwan war plot runs and where Katagawa Jr. and the Rampager sit as bosses.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | About 10 to 18 |
| Key Rewards | Atlas tracking weapons, Rampager and Katagawa Jr. drops, the city fights that define act two |
| Recommended Role | FL4K the Beastmaster |
| Key Weapons | Hellwalker |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Manufacturer specific gun behaviour. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Hellwalker if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Athenas.
Athenas: Mid Game
A small monastery world reached early and revisited later, home to the Order of the Impending Storm. Borman Nates on Athenas is the dedicated source for the Cutsman SMG, which keeps players coming back at every level.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | About 14 to 17 |
| Key Rewards | Cutsman from Borman Nates, Maya's storyline, one of the shortest farm routes in the game |
| Recommended Role | Amara the Siren |
| Key Weapons | Hellwalker |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Lyuda becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Elements against health bar types for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Eden-6: Late Game
The Jakobs swamp world of Floodmoor Basin, The Anvil, Jakobs Estate, Voracious Canopy, Ambermire and Blackbarrel Cellars. Graveward in the Jakobs Estate was the most farmed boss in the game for the first year after launch.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | About 18 to 27 |
| Key Rewards | Graveward loot, Aurelia and GenIVIV fights, most of the Jakobs weapon pool |
| Recommended Role | Amara the Siren |
| Key Weapons | Lyuda |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Lyuda should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Guardian Rank and True Vault Hunter Mode mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Nekrotafeyo.
Nekrotafeyo: Endgame
The Eridian home world and final act, across Desolation's Edge, Tazendeer Ruins and The Pyre of Stars. It closes the Calypso story and holds General Traunt as a repeatable farm.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | About 28 to 33 |
| Key Rewards | Typhon DeLeon's logs and dead drops, General Traunt drops, the run into the final fight |
| Recommended Role | Amara the Siren |
| Key Weapons | Lyuda |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Fourth skill trees (Designer's Cut) for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Pandora → Promethea → Athenas → Eden-6 → Nekrotafeyo. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your weapons: Some areas favor different weapons types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Borderlands 3 Guides
- Borderlands 3 Borderlands 3 Overview
- Borderlands 3 Best Builds
- Borderlands 3 Tier List
- Borderlands 3 Walkthrough
- Borderlands 3 Beginner's Guide
- Borderlands 3 Tips & Tricks
- Borderlands 3 Weapons Guide
- Borderlands 3 Combat Guide
- Borderlands 3 Boss Guide
- Borderlands 3 Crafting Guide
- Borderlands 3 Classes & Characters
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