Borderlands 4 Sidewinder: How to Unlock and Claim Your Pre-Order Bonus

What to know

• The Junk-Drunk Sidewinder is a legendary weapon in Borderlands 4 known for its unique abilities tied to ordnance mechanics.
• Available exclusively through the Gilded Glory pre-order pack, it unlocks at level 30.
• Key stats include 1,872 damage per shot, 64% accuracy, a 1.5 shots-per-second fire rate, and a 21-second cooldown.
• The Junk-Drunk Sidewinder is a Torgue manufacturer weapon that excels in explosive firepower.

As a heavy ordnance piece tied to pre-order incentives, Junk-Drunk Sidewinder (or simply, Sidewinder) rewards early adopters with ricocheting rocket volleys that can clear rooms—or accidentally backfire in hilarious ways.

How to snag the Junk-Drunk Sidewinder (your pre-order bonus)

Claiming this pre-order gem feels straightforward once you dive into Borderlands 4's menus, but a few steps ensure it lands in your arsenal without hitches. Follow this guide to equip it from the jump.

Step 1: Verify your pre-order status

Launch the game and head to the main menu's "Extras" tab. Select "Redeem Codes" and enter any provided SHiFT code from your purchase receipt—Gearbox emails these within 24 hours of activation. If issues arise, link your 2K account via the in-game prompt for automatic detection.

Step 2: Access the Gilded Glory pack

Pause the game to open the ECHO-4 menu. Navigate to the Inventory section and switch to the Equipment screen—look for the highlighted Rewards button at the bottom. Press it to claim the pack instantly, adding the items directly to your inventory. Once claimed, inspect the four legendary gear pieces, including the Sidewinder, and bank any high-level items in Sanctuary's storage until you can equip them

Step 3: Equip and level up to 30

Open your inventory and filter for "Ordnance" under heavy weapons. The Junk-Drunk Sidewinder slots into your hotbar once downloaded.

Fast-travel to a New-U station and grind side quests in the starting zone until you hit level 30—expect 2-3 hours of play for casual progression.

Sidewinder stats breakdown

Core performance numbers position the Junk-Drunk Sidewinder as a mid-game powerhouse, scaling well into endgame with elemental mods.

Here's a quick table of its base level 30 specs:

These figures come straight from in-game testing shared in community guides, emphasizing its strength against clustered bandits.

Mastering the Sidewinder in combat

Ricochets demand practice, but they pay off in scenarios like defending chokepoints against Maliwan shock troops. Community tips stress angling shots at 45 degrees for maximum chains, and swapping to corrosive elements against armored bosses. In co-op, coordinate with a teammate's gravity grenade to cluster enemies for amplified blasts. Watch for the 21-second cooldown by timing bursts around ability recharges.

Sidewinder represents one of the upper-tier heavy weapons in Borderlands 4 and is notable in several ways: it’s legendary rarity, early access via pre-order, and its manufacturer being among the heavy-ordnance catalog makes it a sought item. Even though full details are pending, having Sidewinder gives you early bragging rights and potentially a powerful tool once you discover how it behaves.