Introduction
Borderlands Three continues to captivate players with its over-the-top action, quirky characters, and, of course, its insane amount of loot. Among the countless weapons you can find scattered across Pandora and beyond, the Dark Army assault rifle stands out as a particularly desirable piece of firepower. This weapon, with its unique mechanics and devastating potential, is something every Vault Hunter should consider adding to their arsenal. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step necessary to acquire this legendary weapon, ensuring you’re well-equipped to dominate the Borderlands. So, grab your gear and get ready, because we’re diving deep into exactly how to get the Dark Army in Borderlands Three.
Understanding the Dark Army Assault Rifle
The Dark Army assault rifle is a legendary Maliwan weapon that offers a unique and powerful experience. Its standout feature is its incendiary damage, making it particularly effective against flesh and armored enemies alike. When you land a critical hit, the Dark Army unleashes two rockets at a nearby enemy, dealing additional fire damage. This effect essentially turns the assault rifle into a miniature rocket launcher, offering excellent crowd control and single-target damage. The elemental damage output is significant, burning through enemy health bars with ease, especially when paired with skills or gear that boost elemental damage. The handling of the Dark Army is typical for Maliwan weaponry, requiring some charge-up time before firing, so plan accordingly. This can take some getting used to, but the sheer damage output makes it worth mastering.
The Dark Army truly shines in situations where you’re facing hordes of enemies. The rocket barrage obliterates smaller foes, while the constant fire damage whittles down the health of tougher opponents. However, its charge-up time and relatively high ammo consumption can be drawbacks. Managing your ammo and positioning yourself strategically are key to maximizing its effectiveness. Despite this, the Dark Army is a weapon that you will keep coming back to. Learning how to get the Dark Army will always be valuable.
Preparations Before You Farm
Before you embark on your quest to get the Dark Army, there are a few prerequisites to consider. First, your character level is crucial. While technically you can attempt to farm at lower levels, it’s recommended that you be at least level sixty-five or higher. This ensures that you can handle the boss fight effectively and that the Dark Army, when it drops, is at a viable level for endgame content.
Next, your progress within the game is another factor. You need to ensure you have access to the correct location. The Dark Army drops from a specific boss, and accessing this boss requires owning and progressing through a particular piece of downloadable content.
Speaking of downloadable content, to obtain the Dark Army, you must own the *Bounty of Blood* downloadable content. This adds the planet of Gehenna to the game, a dusty and dangerous wasteland filled with outlaws and interesting characters. Without this downloadable content, acquiring the Dark Army is impossible, as the required boss is locked behind this paywall.
Locating The Ruiner
The key to getting the Dark Army lies in defeating a formidable boss known as the Ruiner. He is located in a region called Psychoscape within the *Bounty of Blood* downloadable content.
Once you’re in Psychoscape, navigate towards the designated boss arena. The exact location is easily identifiable on the map as it’s a dedicated boss fight arena. The Ruiner is a unique boss with several phases and attack patterns, so be prepared for a challenging fight. Before facing him, familiarize yourself with any environmental features in the area. There are often cover spots you can use to avoid his attacks, and knowing the layout of the arena can give you a significant advantage. Mastering how to get the Dark Army means mastering how to overcome the Ruiner.
Farming the Dark Army: A Step-by-Step Process
Now that you know where to find the Ruiner, it’s time to dive into the actual farming process. Follow these steps to maximize your chances of getting the Dark Army assault rifle:
First, fast travel to the nearest location within the Psychoscape area. This will minimize travel time and allow you to get straight to the boss fight. Then, using the map, navigate directly to Ruiner’s spawn point. This is typically a clear, well-defined arena, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find.
Next, engage Ruiner in combat. Be mindful of his attack patterns and use cover effectively. Focus on dealing consistent damage while avoiding his more devastating attacks. Once Ruiner is defeated, meticulously check the loot drops. The Dark Army is a legendary weapon, so it will stand out from the rest of the loot.
Finally, if the Dark Army does not drop, don’t despair! Save and quit the game, then reload. This will reset the boss and allow you to fight him again. Repeat this process until the Dark Army finally drops.
To optimize your farming efficiency, consider increasing the Mayhem Level. Mayhem Levels are a difficulty modifier that increases enemy health and damage but also significantly boosts loot drop rates. A higher Mayhem Level increases your chances of finding the Dark Army. Also, use gear that increases your luck stat or overall loot drop chance. Certain artifacts and class mods can provide substantial bonuses to your drop rates. Playing in co-op with friends is another great strategy. You can split up the farming effort and share any Dark Armys that drop, effectively increasing your chances of obtaining the weapon.
Strategies for Defeating the Ruiner
Successfully farming the Dark Army relies heavily on your ability to defeat the Ruiner efficiently. Here are some tips to help you overcome this challenging boss:
Consider character builds and skills that are effective against bosses. High damage output and survivability are key. Skills that enhance your elemental damage, critical hit chance, or overall damage reduction can be extremely helpful.
Recommended weapon types and elements to use include corrosive weapons (to strip Ruiner’s armor) and weapons that provide high burst damage. Understanding elemental damage types will help you greatly.
Employ strategic maneuvers to avoid Ruiner’s attacks. His attacks can deal significant damage, so dodging and using cover are crucial for survival. Exploit any of Ruiner’s weaknesses. Identifying and exploiting these weaknesses can significantly reduce the time it takes to defeat him.
Dark Army Anointments to Look For
Anointments are special modifiers that provide additional bonuses to weapons. Here are some of the best anointments for the Dark Army:
“On Action Skill End, deal fifty percent bonus elemental damage of the weapon’s element for ten seconds.” This anointment synergizes perfectly with the Dark Army’s fire damage, significantly boosting its overall damage output.
“While Action Skill is Active, weapon damage is increased by two hundred percent.” This anointment provides a massive damage boost during your action skill, making the Dark Army even more potent.
“On Action Skill End, increase critical hit damage by twenty-five percent for ten seconds.” Since the Dark Army relies on critical hits to trigger its rocket barrage, this anointment further enhances its crowd control capabilities.
These anointments work exceptionally well with the Dark Army’s inherent characteristics, amplifying its strengths and making it even more effective in combat.
Is The Dark Army Worth the Effort?
So, is the Dark Army worth all the effort required to obtain it? The answer is a resounding yes, for many players. The Dark Army is a formidable weapon that can significantly enhance your gameplay experience. Its unique mechanics, high damage output, and excellent crowd control make it a valuable addition to any Vault Hunter’s arsenal. When compared to other similar weapons in Borderlands Three, the Dark Army often comes out on top due to its unique rocket barrage effect and consistent fire damage. For different character builds and endgame content, the Dark Army is particularly useful. It excels in scenarios where you’re facing hordes of enemies or need to quickly dispatch armored targets.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, getting the Dark Army in Borderlands Three is a challenging but rewarding endeavor. By following this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the Psychoscape, defeat the Ruiner, and claim this legendary assault rifle as your own. So, gear up, Vault Hunter, and get ready to add the Dark Army to your collection. Experiment with different builds and playstyles to fully unleash its potential and dominate the Borderlands. Remember that a good player always knows how to get the Dark Army when they need one. This legendary weapon is one of the best Borderlands Three has to offer.
