What to know

  • "The Timekeeper's Order" is the main mission 20, recommended for level 35 Vault Hunters in Kairos' Dominion area.
  • Completing it rewards the Original Synth head cosmetic for Rafa, plus XP, cash, a rare grenade, and vehicle/weapon skins.
  • Expect platforming challenges, enemy waves from Vile and Order factions, and a two-phase boss fight against the Timekeeper.
  • Start after finishing main mission 19, "Plan Z," given by Zadra in Upper Dominion.

You gear up for the climactic push in Borderlands 4, where stylish cosmetics like the Original Synth head reward your Vault Hunter's grit. This mission blends traversal puzzles, skirmishes, and a showdown that feels like the series at its chaotic best. Follow these steps to claim your prize without missing a beat.

Prep (before you start)

  • Finish Main Quest 19: Plan Z. The Timekeeper’s Order won’t appear until that’s done.
  • Hit about level 35 or close. The mission recommends it. Bring gear that can handle mid- to high-level enemies.
Finish Main Quest 19: Plan Z
  • Load a balanced kit: a shield-breaker (shock/arc) or high single-target DPS, something for armored targets (corrosive/armor piercing or heavy hits), and a grenade or two that deal lingering damage. Bring repkits and a mobility gadget if you use one.
  • If you play co-op and want the head for each player, make sure each player has the mission active and completes it on their own character.

How to start the mission

  1. Open the map and fast-travel to Kairos → Dominion → Upper Dominion.
  2. Find and speak to Zadra to pick up The Timekeeper’s Order main mission.

Walkthrough — step by step (what you’ll do in the mission)

Step 1

Reach Upper Dominion. Move forward along the marked path and step into the beam to advance.

Step 2

Break out. After you arrive you’ll be trapped behind glass. Shoot the glass to drop down and continue.

Step 3

Use vents, grapples and jump pads. Open the vent with your grappling hook, climb walls, use jump pads and grapple points to traverse the vertical puzzle sections. Expect timed jumps and sequences where you must chain grapples and double jumps. If you fall, backtrack to the last platform.

Step 4

Clear the approach. You’ll meet groups of Vile and Order enemies. Kill them to progress. Use cover, clear adds first, then push forward. Open the tower door. After clearing the guards, interact with the door to open it.

Step 5

Ascend the tower. Enter the tower and ride/step into the next beam to trigger the cutscene that starts the boss section.

Confront the Timekeeper

Step inside the tower and ride the central beam skyward—a cutscene rolls, unveiling the boss arena. Drop into the fight against the Timekeeper: dodge its temporal blasts and chip away at weak points on its chassis. Land critical hits during its recharge phases to stagger it.

Defeating the Guardian Timekeeper

The boss evolves into its Guardian form post-defeat, ramping up the intensity with electrified floors that pulse damage. Grapple between safe platforms to evade the hazard while unloading on exposed vents. Weave through its laser sweeps and summon adds—clear them quickly to focus fire. When it staggers, pour everything into the core for the kill.

How to save Kairos and finish strong

With the Guardian down, approach and interact with the fallen Timekeeper to trigger the finale cutscene. Kairos breaks free, mission complete—you've unlocked the Original Synth head and a haul of cosmetics to flaunt in co-op runs

After the fight — claiming Original Synth

  1. After you kill the Timekeeper and complete the cutscene objective (“Save Kairos”), the mission ends.
  2. Open your Inventory → Reward Center / Rewards chest (on the right side of the Backpack/Inventory screen). There you’ll see mission reward items and unlocks.
  3. Claim the Original Synth head from the chest. It appears as a cosmetic reward (head).
  4. To equip: go to Customization → Head for your Vault Hunter and select Original Synth.
Source: Reddit

If you don’t see it: double-check you completed the mission on the same character you want the cosmetic for. If you played co-op, the player who turned it in gets the popup — others may need to look in their Reward Center manually.

Troubleshooting & extra tips

  • Mission locked? You must finish Plan Z first. If that quest is incomplete, Timekeeper won’t show.
  • Platforming trouble? Take it slow. Use grappling anchors and jump pads as checkpoints. If you fall, most areas respawn you near the puzzle rather than sending you all the way back.
  • Cosmetic missing after claim? Search Inventory → Rewards chest. If still missing, relogging or restarting the session often fixes UI delivery bugs.
  • Want the head on multiple Vault Hunters? Complete the Timekeeper’s Order while playing each character you want it on. That’s the simplest guaranteed method.
  • Co-op: Have each player accept and complete the mission on their own character to be safe.

What does this unlock mean in Borderlands 4

Getting the Original Synth head is a nice cosmetic milestone showing story progression and personalizing your Vault Hunter. It does not affect gameplay stats but does contribute to an immersive experience by visually distinguishing your character.

The Original Synth head is a rewarding cosmetic earned through advancing key main missions in Borderlands 4. Following the step-by-step approach of completing "The Timekeeper's Order" and claiming your reward ensures you get this unique customization. Show off the original synth style as you continue your adventure across Kairos.