Unveiling the Dark Army: A Weapon Overview
Borderlands, the ever-popular looter-shooter franchise, continues to captivate players with its over-the-top action, quirky characters, and, of course, its seemingly endless arsenal of weapons. Among the many legendary weapons coveted by Vault Hunters, the Dark Army stands out as a particularly potent and sought-after assault rifle. If you’re looking to add this weapon to your arsenal and unleash its unique brand of mayhem upon the Borderlands, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will provide a comprehensive walkthrough on how to obtain the Dark Army in Borderlands , equipping you with the knowledge and strategies necessary to farm this powerful weapon effectively. Get ready to dive into the specifics of the Dark Army, its strengths, and the most efficient method for adding it to your collection.
The Dark Army is a legendary assault rifle in Borderlands known for its distinctive firing mechanic and high damage potential. This is no ordinary assault rifle; it unleashes a barrage of homing rockets in addition to its standard bullets, turning every firefight into a miniature fireworks display of destruction. While the exact stats can vary slightly based on the specific version and anointment, a typical Dark Army possesses respectable damage output, decent accuracy, and manageable handling. Reload speed and magazine size are fairly standard for its weapon class, but the fire rate, combined with the homing rocket barrage, is where this weapon truly shines.
The defining characteristic of the Dark Army is its special effect: the weapon consumes a small amount of your health with each shot. This might seem like a drawback, but it’s a calculated risk that rewards aggressive playstyles. The homing rockets seek out enemies with surprising accuracy, often hitting targets behind cover or at a distance, ensuring that your health sacrifice translates into consistent damage.
The Dark Army often comes with elemental damage, which further enhances its effectiveness against specific enemy types. A Dark Army with corrosive damage, for example, can quickly melt through armored opponents, while a shock variant can tear down shields with ease. Experiment with different elemental versions to discover the perfect Dark Army for your preferred playstyle.
When it comes to anointments, the Dark Army synergizes particularly well with those that boost damage after action skill use, increase critical hit damage, or provide health regeneration to offset the weapon’s health cost. Finding the right anointment can transform the Dark Army from a formidable weapon into an absolute powerhouse.
The Dark Army’s appeal lies in its versatility and raw damage potential. It’s effective against a wide range of enemies, from standard grunts to formidable bosses. Its homing rockets make it particularly useful for dealing with fast-moving or evasive targets. If you enjoy a fast-paced, aggressive playstyle and don’t mind sacrificing a little health for a lot of damage, the Dark Army is definitely a weapon you should consider adding to your arsenal.
The Path to the Dark Army: An Overview
The most reliable method for obtaining the Dark Army in Borderlands is to farm a specific boss. This involves repeatedly defeating the boss, looting the dropped items, and then resetting the encounter to fight the boss again. The boss in question is General Traunt, found in Atlus HQ on the planet Athenas. While the Dark Army isn’t a guaranteed drop, with persistence and a bit of luck, you can obtain this weapon by repeatedly defeating him.
The Dark Army Farm: A Detailed Guide
Preparing for the Hunt: Laying the Groundwork
Before you start farming General Traunt for the Dark Army, it’s essential to prepare your Vault Hunter to maximize your efficiency and survivability. Character builds focused on damage output, survivability, or specific skill trees can significantly impact your farming speed. Consider using a build that allows you to quickly dispatch General Traunt while minimizing the risk of death.
Gear choices also play a crucial role. Equip yourself with weapons that complement the Dark Army’s playstyle or enhance your overall farming efficiency. Weapons with high burst damage or the ability to quickly take down enemy shields can be particularly useful. Shields that provide health regeneration or damage reduction can help offset the Dark Army’s health cost. Class mods and relics that boost your damage output, survivability, or luck can further improve your farming experience.
When choosing a difficulty setting, Mayhem Level offers the best balance between challenge and reward. Higher Mayhem Levels increase the drop rates of legendary items, but they also make enemies tougher. Experiment to find the Mayhem Level that allows you to efficiently farm General Traunt without being overwhelmed.
Finding your target: Locating General Traunt
General Traunt is located in Atlus HQ on the planet Athenas. To reach him, you’ll need to progress through the main story campaign until you unlock access to Athenas. Once you’re on Athenas, fast travel to the Atlus HQ location. From the fast travel point, proceed through the level, following the objective markers until you reach General Traunt’s boss arena. The path is fairly linear, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding your way.
Conquering the General: Fighting General Traunt
General Traunt is a challenging boss fight, so it’s essential to understand his attack patterns and weaknesses. He primarily uses elemental attacks, so equip a shield with high resistance to his chosen element (cryo or fire). Stay mobile and dodge his attacks, taking advantage of cover when necessary.
General Traunt is vulnerable to critical hits, so aim for his head whenever possible. Use weapons with high critical hit damage to maximize your damage output. Weapons with elemental damage that he is weak against are also highly effective. Focus on dealing consistent damage while avoiding his attacks.
Staying Alive: Important Tips for Surviving the General Traunt Fight.
- Keep moving to avoid Traunt’s projectiles.
- Use cover to shield yourself from his attacks.
- Pay attention to his elemental attacks and adjust your shield accordingly.
- Aim for his head to maximize critical hit damage.
- Bring weapons that target his weaknesses.
After Defeating Traunt: Loot and Repeat
Once you’ve defeated General Traunt, loot the dropped items. There’s a chance the Dark Army will be among the loot, but it’s not guaranteed. If the Dark Army doesn’t drop, don’t despair! Simply exit the game to the main menu and then reload your game. This will reset the boss fight, allowing you to fight General Traunt again. Repeat this process until the Dark Army drops.
Boosting your chances: Tips and Tricks
Understanding the effects of Mayhem Levels: The higher the mayhem level, the greater the chances of legendary loot dropping. However, the enemies will be harder and more difficult to kill.
Loot Tink events can sometimes influence the drops in Borderlands , though their impact is difficult to predict. During a Loot Tink event, keep an eye out for any changes in the drop rates for the Dark Army.
Certain Vault Hunter skills can increase your loot luck or efficiency, potentially improving your chances of obtaining the Dark Army. Research your chosen Vault Hunter’s skill trees and identify skills that can help you farm more efficiently.
Certain artifacts or class mods can boost your luck, increasing the chances of legendary items dropping. Look for artifacts and class mods with the “luck” or “looting” stat.
Playing in cooperative mode can also increase your chances of obtaining the Dark Army. When playing with friends, the loot drops are shared, so you have more opportunities to find the weapon.
Dark Army Variants and Anointments: Understanding the Details
The Dark Army can come in different variants, with slightly varying stats and prefixes. Pay attention to the specific stats and prefixes of each Dark Army you find and choose the one that best suits your playstyle.
Anointments can significantly impact the Dark Army’s performance. Look for anointments that boost damage, critical hit damage, or health regeneration. The right anointment can transform the Dark Army from a great weapon into an exceptional one.
Exploring alternative methods: Are there other ways to obtain the Dark Army?
While farming General Traunt is the most reliable method, there are other very rare ways to potentially obtain the Dark Army. It can occasionally appear in vending machines or drop from rare chests, but these occurrences are extremely uncommon. Don’t rely on these methods as your primary strategy for obtaining the Dark Army.
Conclusion: Claiming your Dark Army
Obtaining the Dark Army in Borderlands requires patience, persistence, and a bit of luck. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can maximize your chances of obtaining this legendary weapon. Remember to prepare your Vault Hunter, locate General Traunt, understand his attack patterns, and repeat the farming process until the Dark Army drops. Don’t forget to boost your chances by increasing the Mayhem Level, utilizing loot luck skills and gear, and playing in cooperative mode. Once you obtain the Dark Army, experiment with different variants and anointments to find the perfect version for your playstyle. With dedication and a bit of perseverance, you’ll be unleashing the Dark Army’s explosive power upon the Borderlands in no time. Now go forth, Vault Hunter, and claim your Dark Army! Happy hunting!
