What to know
- The Cold Shoulder is a legendary assault rifle that infuses cryo damage into all its attacks for crowd control.
- Its Iced Out effect is a legendary trait in Cold Shoulder rifle that ensures constant freezing, unpredictable bullet paths, homing chances, and area damage bursts.
- You snag it exclusively from Moxxi's Tip Jar by dumping cash repeatedly into her slot.
- Farm it early in hubs like Sanctuary for quick upgrades against ice-vulnerable bosses.
Right from the start, Borderlands 4 fans are taking note of the stand-out gun Cold Shoulder and its ever-popular cryo-themed “Iced Out” effect. If you've ever wanted to freeze your foes and shatter groups with a single weapon, this guide breaks down everything you need to know—from what makes Cold Shoulder so special, to exactly where to pick up your own.
What is the Iced Out effect in Borderlands 4?
The Iced Out effect is the legendary trait tightly wound into the Cold Shoulder rifle’s core. When this effect triggers, shots from the gun don’t just apply basic cryo damage—they explode in a blast radius, freezing nearby enemies and sometimes causing a chain reaction in crowded fights. The effect boosts crowd control, slowing and potentially freezing large groups, rendering them vulnerable to shattering hits or heavy melee finishers.
- Iced Out is always active: every Cold Shoulder shot deals cryo and creates area damage on proc.
- Slowing, freezing, and area effect damage make this ideal for controlling enemy swarms.
- Frozen targets are more susceptible to melee damage, letting you finish them off quickly.
Cold Shoulder rifle specs and benefits
Cold Shoulder is a Torgue-manufactured assault rifle that stands out a few ways. Every version of this legendary is cryo-only (it can’t spawn in other elemental types), and unique shots can unpredictably home in on enemies, spreading the freeze effect even wider.
- Every drop comes with a built-in Hyperion shield, offering extra durability while you shoot.
- Bullets can sometimes change trajectory mid-flight to seek new targets or hit cover-hugging foes.
- The area-of-effect blast on impact can break up enemy clusters, giving major crowd control.
This makes Cold Shoulder a versatile pick for Vault Hunters who want to freeze and break rush-down groups or slow big targets while maintaining personal defenses with the gun’s built-in shield.
How to get the Cold Shoulder rifle in Borderlands 4
The best method to get the Cold Shoulder is through Moxxi’s Tip Jar, a special station you’ll find about midway through the main story.
Step 1
Progress the main questline until you reach the “Wrath of the Ripper Queen” or "Shadow of the Mountain" mission. The Wrath of the Ripper Queen takes you to Carcadia Burns, specifically to Moxxi’s Bottoms Up! bar in the western part of the zone.
Step 2
Once inside the bar, find Moxxi’s Tip Jar on the main counter. Interact to start tipping.
Step 3
Choose your tip amount. You can tip either $100 or $1,000 at a time—legendary drop chances are not dependent on the tip size, but larger tips speed up farming by cutting down on interaction breaks.
Step 4
Keep tipping. The drop is random, so you might get Cold Shoulder after a few tips or have to spend a larger sum. It is the more common drop versus the Sweet Embrace shotgun, so players generally see Cold Shoulder appear first.
Step 5
Pick up your new legendary and start freezing foes!
Quick look: Cold Shoulder stats and drop info
Wrapping up your icy arsenal in Borderlands 4
If you want a legendary that locks down crowds and dishes out chilling style, the Cold Shoulder is a perfect choice in Borderlands 4. Head to Moxxi’s Tip Jar, try your luck with well-placed tips, and unleash the Iced Out effect for maximum freeze control on the field.
Discussion