The Borderlands franchise has always loved its over-the-top chaos and tongue-in-cheek seasonal events, and Borderlands 4 keeps that tradition alive with the return of a Halloween celebration like no other-the Horrors of Kairos. This limited-time event is stuffed with creepy visuals, themed loot, and a few fun surprises that will make any Vault Hunter want to Borderlands 4 Money dive back into the fray.
Whether you're here for the new pumpkin-themed cosmetics, the rare weapons, or simply to farm Rift Champions for legendary gear, there's plenty to unpack. Here's everything you need to know about Borderlands 4: Horrors of Kairos - including event dates, rewards, and the best strategies for farming the new loot.
Event Dates and How to Join
The Horrors of Kairos event runs from Thursday, October 23, through Thursday, November 6, perfectly timed to coincide with Halloween and Borderlands 4's first major balance patch. You don't need to download any paid DLC or complete special requirements - the event is completely free for all players and activates automatically when you log in during the event window.
Once you're in-game, you'll immediately notice the eerie transformation of the world. Kairos has become a blood-soaked battleground - literally - as a new weather effect rains down crimson droplets across several regions. While it might sound terrifying, this blood rain is mostly aesthetic, setting the stage for the spooky atmosphere the series is known for.
What Makes Horrors of Kairos Special
The Horrors of Kairos event celebrates everything fans love about Borderlands' holiday content: limited-time loot, unique cosmetics, and the chance to farm new bosses for rare rewards.
This year's highlight is a haunting new pumpkin head cosmetic, a callback to previous Halloween events in the series. If you've taken part in Bloody Harvest or similar seasonal events from past Borderlands titles, you'll instantly recognize the mix of silly and spooky flair.
But the real draw for many players will be the legendary cheap Borderlands 4 Weapons and grenade mod that drops exclusively during the event. Even if they aren't necessarily game-breaking in terms of power, they're valuable additions for collectors or anyone looking to expand their arsenal with limited-edition gear.
Event Rewards – What You Can Earn
Here's a breakdown of what you can expect to get during Horrors of Kairos:
Pumpkin Head Cosmetic – Earned through a limited-time SHiFT code during the event. This cosmetic adds a glowing jack-o'-lantern headpiece to your character, making it the perfect way to celebrate Halloween in-game.
The Murmur Legendary Weapon – This weapon is designed for indirect projectile builds, especially ones that use Tediore reload mechanics or rely on critical hit chaining. It's flashy, thematic, and fun to use, but early impressions suggest it's not particularly powerful compared to other high-tier loot.
The Skully Grenade Mod – A spooky-themed grenade that sadly doesn't live up to its looks. Reports suggest that the Skully might even be bugged, as its damage output and area of effect are notably underwhelming.
All of these rewards can be found either through event drops or by redeeming SHiFT codes (which Gearbox releases periodically during the event). Keep an eye on the official Borderlands Twitter account or Gearbox's community pages for those codes - once entered, you'll receive the items directly in your in-game mail.
How to Get the Event Loot
If you're hunting for the Horrors of Kairos legendary gear, your best bet is to farm world bosses and Rift Champions. Specifically, you'll want to focus on The Battle Wagon, located in The Lowering March Ripper drill site within Stoneblood Forest, Terminus Range.
Here's why this is the optimal farm:
The Battle Wagon serves as the weekly Big Encore boss, which means it has boosted loot pools and increased drop chances during the event.
It's located near multiple Rift Champion world event spawns, letting you chain encounters efficiently.
Defeating bosses like the Battle Wagon refreshes the Rift Champion spawn timer, so you can keep cycling through boss fights with minimal downtime.
Each time you defeat a world boss, you'll receive a reward box delivered to your inventory. That's where your best shot at finding the Murmur or Skully will come from. Keep in mind - these items don't drop directly from the boss but are instead included as post-fight reward items.
If you're planning on farming for hours, it's a good idea to bring a build that can handle multiple bosses quickly and consistently. Builds with strong elemental damage or high sustain (like Moze's shield loop setups or Zane's clone builds from previous games) tend to perform well here.
Tips for Maximizing Your Rewards
Play in Co-Op: Grouping up with friends not only makes boss runs faster but also increases your odds of seeing more loot drops in less time.
Save SHiFT Codes Immediately: Some codes are limited-use or time-sensitive. Redeem them as soon as they're released to avoid missing out.
Check Patch Notes: The Halloween event coincides with a major balance update, which might affect how certain weapons or grenades perform.
Don't Expect Meta Gear: The event loot is primarily for fun and collection, not for min-maxing your endgame builds.
Farm During Peak Hours: Rift Champions seem to spawn more consistently when more players are online in your region, making event farming smoother.
Final Thoughts
While Horrors of Kairos might not introduce the most powerful loot in Borderlands 4, it absolutely nails the tone and fun of a seasonal event. The mix of spooky aesthetics, exclusive cosmetics, and themed enemies makes it a perfect Halloween distraction for both new and veteran Vault Hunters.
Even if the Murmur and Skully won't replace your top-tier Borderlands 4 Weapons, there's something rewarding about farming event bosses, collecting unique gear, and seeing the world of Pandora - or Kairos - drenched in eerie red rain.
So grab your best weapons, round up your co-op crew, and jump into the Horrors of Kairos before it disappears on November 6. The rewards might not redefine your build, but the memories (and screenshots of your pumpkin-headed Vault Hunter) will be worth the grind.
If you've been exploring The Pit in Borderlands 4, you've probably met the ever-charismatic Tipsy Olivia, the club owner trying to keep her scene alive amid all the chaos. After helping her secure a new band in buy Borderlands 4 Money the La-La-Last Call side mission, she's got another problem to solve - her club's out of booze. That's where the mission "Ain't No Sham in It" comes in.