Borderlands 2 XP Farming Guide

The Ultimate XP FARMING Guide

If your goal is to reach level 80 as quickly as possible, catch up with friends, or level a new character faster, XP farming can save you a lot of time.

There are several XP farming methods in Borderlands 2, and the best one depends on your platform, the DLCs you own, and whether you want to farm loot while gaining experience. In this guide, you’ll find the most effective XP farms to help you reach level 80 faster.

How XP Scaling Works in NVHM, TVHM and UVHM

Before jumping into specific farming routes, it helps to understand how XP actually works in Borderlands 2.

NVHM, TVHM and UVHM explained

Experience gains in Borderlands 2 depend heavily on enemy levels. Enemies close to your current level provide the best rewards, while enemies far below your level quickly become inefficient.

Depending on the playthrough you’re in, the scaling is different, so here is everything you need to know:

Normal Vault Hunter Mode (NVHM)

In Normal Mode, enemy levels are fixed, this means strong farming spots eventually lose value because your character quickly outlevels them.

If you’re playing through NVHM, it’s usually better to progress naturally rather than spending hours grinding one enemy.

True Vault Hunter Mode (TVHM)

TVHM works similarly to NVHM: ennemies have a fixed level. After completing the main story, ennemies and quests scale up automatically to around level 50.

Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode (UVHM)

UVHM changes leveling completely: enemies scale with your character level, allowing farming methods to remain effective for much longer.

This is why many players simply progress through NVHM and TVHM, then focus their serious farming efforts in UVHM.

XP Per Hour vs XP Per Kill

When choosing an XP farm, don’t focus only on how much XP a single enemy gives. What really matters is how much XP you can earn per hour.

For example, a boss may reward a large amount of XP, but if it takes several minutes to reach and defeat, it may be less efficient than farming weaker enemies that can be killed quickly and respawn nearby.

When choosing an XP farm, prioritize:

• Short travel times
• Fast enemy kills
• Quick resets
• Consistent spawns

PC vs Console Differences

Platform choice can actually affect which farms perform best:

• On PC, loading times are faster, so Save & Quit methods are efficient.

• On console, especially older consoles, loading screens can take much longer, so it’s best to avoid short Save & Quit methods.

Best XP Farming Methods

Bad Maw

Best for: PC
Difficulty: Easy
DLC Required: No

Bad Maw is one of the most popular XP farms in Borderlands 2 because of how quickly runs can be repeated. Unlike bosses that require long travel routes, Bad Maw spawns close to the entrance of Bloodshot Stronghold and can be farmed repeatedly with minimal downtime.

However, because Bad Maw relies heavily on short Save & Quit cycles, players on console with longer loading times may eventually find other methods more efficient.

Location

Bad Maw is found in Three Horns – Divide, guarding the entrance to Bloodshot Stronghold.

Unlock Requirement

Reach the Bloodshot Stronghold section of the main story.

Important: DO NOT completing the quests at Happy Pig Motel that activate the fast travel station. Otherwise, you’ll spawn there instead, making each run slower.

How to Farm Bad Maw

1. Spawn in Three Horns – Divide
2. Run toward the Bloodshot gate
3. Kill Bad Maw and nearby enemies
4. Pick up Eridium and useful loot
5. Save & Quit
6. Reload and repeat

Optimization Tips

• Complete The Good, the Bad, and the Mordecai to obtain Moxxi’s Endowment, which grants bonus combat XP.
• Grenades can help clear nearby enemies quickly.
• Prioritize run speed over stopping for every item drop.
• If loading times become a problem later, switch to longer farming routes.

LOOT

• Eridium
• Blue rarity gear
• Purple rarity gear

Mick Zaford

Best for: PC
Difficulty: Easy
DLC Required: No

Mick Zaford is considered one of the fastest XP farms in Borderlands 2 because of the extremely short distance between the spawn point and the target. Once properly set up, a run can take only a few seconds, making this one of the strongest XP-per-hour methods available.

Location

Mick Zaford is located in The Dust, by the train that takes you to Lynchwood.

Unlock Requirement

Get the side quest “Clan War: Zaford vs. Hodunks” from Ellie in The Dust and play until Zaford and the Hodunks are dueling.

It’s important that you side with the Hodunks.

Once you’ve completed the quest. You’ll see a train between them that goes to Lynchwood. Take the train to Lynchwood and then return to The Dust. Now, you can farm XP by killing Zaford, Save & Quit and restart for loads of XP.

How to Farm Mick Zaford

1. Fast travel to Lynchwood
2. From Lynchwood go to the Dust
3. Run toward Mick’s spawn location
4. Kill Mick
5. Pick up loot if needed
6. Save & Quit
7. Reload and repeat

Optimization Tips

• Complete The Good, the Bad, and the Mordecai to obtain Moxxi’s Endowment, which grants bonus combat XP.
• Mick Zaford drops the Maggie, allowing you to regularly upgrade your weapon while farming XP.

LOOT

• Cash
• Eridium
• Mick Zaford drops the Maggie
• Hodunk drops the Slagga

URANUS

Best for: PC / Console
Difficulty: Medium
DLC Required: Commander Lilith & the Fight for Sanctuary

Uranus is widely considered one of the best overall farms in Borderlands 2 because it combines two things players usually want at the same time: fast XP gains and excellent loot. Unlike farms that only focus on experience, Uranus can reward you with legendary gear while you level, making each run feel more valuable.

Location

Uranus is located in Helios Fallen.

Unlock Requirement

Requires the Commander Lilith & the Fight for Sanctuary DLC.

Progress through the DLC story until reaching Helios Fallen and defeating Uranus for the first time.

How to Farm Uranus

1. Fast travel to Helios Fallen
2. Move toward Uranus’ arena
3. Defeat Uranus
4. Collect loot
5. Save & Quit
6. Reload and repeat
7. Optimization Tips

Optimization Tips

• Moxxi’s Endowment provides additional combat XP and can speed up long leveling sessions.
• Uranus has two large critical spots on the sides of his head.
• Farm Uranus from the tunnel entrance behind the crates near the ammo boxes, in this way he won’t be able to hit you.
• I recommend using the Bee shield + corrosive Sand Hawk to melt him in seconds.

LOOT

• Legendary gears
• Pearlescent weapons
• Eridium

Badlands + Saturn

Best for:  Console
Difficulty: Medium-hard
DLC Required: No

The Badlands run is one of the most flexible XP farms in Borderlands 2 because it combines multiple enemies into a single route instead of relying on constant Save & Quit cycles.

You’ll move through Arid Nexus – Badlands, defeating Rabid Skags, Bone Head 2.0, Saturn, and additional enemies along the way.

This method is particularly popular among console players because it doesn’t require Loading Screens as much as other methods. It also has the added benefit of occasionally spawning Tubby enemies, giving you a chance at legendary class mods while leveling. 

Location

The farm takes place in Arid Nexus – Badlands.

Unlock Requirement

Reach Arid Nexus – Badlands during the Data Mining main story mission.

How to Farm Badlands + Saturn

1. Spawn in Arid Nexus – Badlands
2. Kill Rabid Skags and nearby enemies
3. Defeat Bone Head 2.0
4. Continue through the area toward Saturn
5. Kill Saturn
6. Defeat the nearby Constructor if possible
7. Save & Quit
8. Repeat the route

Optimization Tips

• Complete The Good, the Bad, and the Mordecai to obtain Moxxi’s Endowment for bonus combat XP. 
• Use corrosive weapons against Saturn, Constructors, and Loaders (corrosive Sand Hawk).
• Prioritize Rabid Skags, as they provide excellent XP rewards for normal enemies.

LOOT

• Legendary gears
• Eridium

Bar Room Brawl

Best for:  Console
Difficulty: Medium
DLC Required: Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage

Bar Room Brawl is one of the most unique XP farms in Borderlands 2 because it does not rely heavily on Save & Quit farming. Instead of killing a single boss repeatedly, you continuously fight waves of enemies inside Pete’s Bar.

Bar Room Brawl is often considered one of the best options for players with longer loading times, especially on console. It can also feel less repetitive than short boss farms since you’re constantly fighting groups of enemies rather than repeating a few seconds of gameplay.

Location

Bar Room Brawl takes place in Pete’s Bar located in The Beatdown.

Unlock Requirement

Requires the Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage DLC.

Complete the DLC story until unlocking the repeatable mission Bar Room Brawl. There are 3 different tiers, if you can do the 3rd one: “Tier 3 Rematch: Bar Room Blitz“

How to Farm Bar Room Brawl

1. Travel to Pete’s Bar
2. Accept Bar Room Blitz (tier 3 is possible)
3. Defeat all enemy waves
4. Turn in the mission
5. Reaccept the mission
6. Repeat

Optimization Tips

• Complete The Good, the Bad, and the Mordecai to obtain Moxxi’s Endowment for bonus combat XP. 
• Weapons or grenades with large area damage can clear enemy waves extremely quickly (Harold, Norfleet or Slag + Incendiary weapons)
• Use a Magic Missile grenade to slag big crowds of ennemies.
• The Tokens can be useful to buy a Unkempt Harold once you’ve reached you’re desired level.
• EXCELLENT way to earn badass points.

LOOT

• Torgue Tokens
• Eridium
• Gears

Which XP Farm Should You Use?

Not every XP farm is equally effective for every player. The best method depends on your platform, available DLCs, and whether you only want XP or also want loot along the way.

Below are some recommendations I’ve put together, so you can quickly find the best XP method based on your situation.

Reached Level 80? Start Building Your Character

Now that you’ve reached your target level, the next step is optimizing your character for endgame content, raid bosses, and OP levels.

Choose your character below to find optimized builds:

• Salvador Builds
• Maya Builds
• Axton Builds
• Zer0 Builds
• Gaige Builds
• Krieg Builds

If you’re still farming gear, you can also check:

• Legendary Farming Guide
• Money Farming Guide
• SHIFT Codes

Frequently Asked Questions