What to know
- Manufacturer and type: Torgue explosive shotgun that fires multiple bouncing projectiles, ideal for crowd control in tight spaces.
- Unique effect: Full Coverage—bouncing projectiles gain +35% damage and +25% critical damage per bounce, up to five times.
- How to acquire: Farm Skyspanner Kratch boss in The Lambent Mines, Cuspid Climb region of Terminus Range; shares drops with Hellfire SMG and Hoarder shield.
- Best for: Builds emphasizing splash damage, like those using Harlowe or Vex Vault Hunters, especially against grounded mobs.
Linebacker is a standout legendary shotgun in Borderlands 4, prized for its explosive bouncing projectile mechanic. It fires a burst of small explosive projectiles that can bounce up to four times on terrain, each bounce increasing the damage and explosion radius. This trait excels in combat against enemies on the ground, making it particularly deadly in close to mid-range engagements.
Specs of Linebacker legendary shotgun
| Stat | Value / Effect |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Torgue |
| Weapon type | Shotgun |
| Rarity | Legendary |
| Unique trait (“Full Coverage”) | Bouncing projectiles increase damage by 25% & explosion radius by 35% per bounce (up to 4 bounces) |
| Fire rate | ~1.0 shots per second |
| Magazine size | ~12 rounds |
| Reload speed | ~2.2 seconds |
| Accuracy | ~71% |
| Damage (base) | ~15 × 4 (4 projectiles per shot before bounce scaling) |
How the bouncing projectile mechanic works
The shotgun's unique legendary effect is called "Full Coverage." When fired, its projectiles bounce between surfaces up to four times. Each bounce enhances damage by 25% and expands the explosion radius by 35%. This stacking effect means the later bounces hit harder and affect a larger area, resulting in significant burst damage on clustered enemies or tough foes standing near surfaces.
Where and how to get Linebacker
To get the Linebacker legendary shotgun, you need to defeat a specific boss and farm its drops. Here is a detailed step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Reach the Cuspid Climb area in Terminus Range
Advance in the Borderlands 4 story until you unlock the Cuspid Climb area. This region contains the Lambent Mines where the boss resides.
Step 2: Travel to Lambent Mine
From the Heritage Opus safe house, make your way through the mountainous terrain toward the Lambent Mine, navigating through enemies and environmental hazards.
Step 3: Locate and prepare for the boss fight with Skyspanner Kratch
Inside the Lambent Mine, you will find Skyspanner Kratch, a challenging airborne boss accompanied by enemy Kratches and environmental hazards like toxic puddles. Prepare with weapons that have fast bullet travel time, preferably with Fire or Kinetic damage to exploit the boss’s weaknesses.
Step 4: Defeat Skyspanner Kratch
Engage the boss while avoiding its sonic wave attacks and explosive, volatile minions. Targeting and eliminating the smaller enemies first can make the fight more manageable.
Step 5: Loot and check for the Linebacker shotgun
After defeating Skyspanner Kratch, check the boss’s drops. The Linebacker shotgun is one of its potential legendary drops, though not guaranteed every time.
Step 6: Use the Encore machine to reset the boss fight
Near the Lambent Mine, use an Encore machine to quickly reset the area and respawn Skyspanner Kratch, allowing for repeated farming runs.
Step 7: Repeat the farming process until the Linebacker drops
Continue defeating Skyspanner Kratch and resetting with the Encore machine. Farming may take multiple attempts due to drop rate variability.
Best ways to use Linebacker
To get maximum value from this weapon, try these tips:
- Use in enclosed or tight spaces so the projectiles bounce off nearby surfaces and hit enemies multiple times.
- Try to aim so that your first bounce is likely to hit a surface close to enemies — strategic bouncing increases both damage and radius.
- It synergizes well with builds that boost explosive damage, area damage, or that benefit from large radii.
- Be mindful that bouncing projectiles may take unpredictable paths; always leave yourself room to avoid friendly fire or unintended explosions.
Wrap-up: why Linebacker is worth chasing
If you like shotguns that feel chaotic, fun, and reward creative positioning, Linebacker is one of the most exciting legendaries in Borderlands 4. Its bouncing explosives make every shot more dynamic, and once you unlock the relevant area and farm Skyspanner Kratch enough, it becomes a go-to when dealing with groups of enemies. Even if it may not always be the top choice for every boss fight, its unique mechanics give it a strong place in your arsenal.
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