Amid ongoing discussions about loot rates in Borderlands 4, Creative Director Graeme Timmins has confirmed that the game’s loot drops are fixed and not affected by the difficulty level. A recent inquiry on X by streamer Ki11er Six led Timmins to respond, stating, “Dedicated drops are fixed/not influenced by difficulty/UVH.”

As players farm bosses for legendary gear, this clarification intensifies the ongoing debate regarding the game’s drop rates. A player test revealed a mere 5% legendary drop rate, leading many unaware of the fixed drop mechanics to feel increasingly demotivated in their efforts.

Borderlands 4’s Drop Rates Are the Same on All Difficulties

While Borderlands 2 and 3 also employed fixed loot tables, their Mayhem and Ultimate Vault Hunter modes offered better drop quality based on the difficulty level. In contrast, Borderlands 4 has adopted a fixed drop system, which may diminish the incentive for players to grind bosses on higher difficulties such as Ultimate Vault Hunter 5.

Nevertheless, the Ultimate Vault Hunter mode maintains its value. Although the base drop chance is unchanged across difficulty levels, players can still obtain improved loot quality, perks, rarity tiers, and stat ranges under harder settings. This ensures that players receive better loot, despite the consistent rate of legendary drops.

Timmins also pointed out the reasoning behind this design was to prevent players from feeling compelled to engage in higher difficulties solely for improved drop chances, an issue criticized in similar games like Destiny 2.

The situation can be frustrating, particularly for newcomers to the Borderlands franchise. Veterans are accustomed to these mechanics, so players entering through Borderlands 4 may expect a more rewarding experience after overcoming tougher challenges.