What to know
- Lead Balloon is a legendary Torgue shotgun in Borderlands 4.
- It drops from the boss Splashzone in Riptide Grotto, Coastal Bonescape in Fadefields.
- Its special perk makes projectiles float upward and split into child projectiles.
- Alt-fire shoots sticky explosives, useful for tougher enemies.
The Lead Balloon is one of Torgue’s most distinctive legendary weapons in Borderlands 4. Unlike a typical shotgun, its pellets don’t just blast forward—they float upward and then explode, releasing child projectiles that add extra splash damage. Its alternate fire adds versatility by letting you stick explosives to enemies or surfaces for precision damage. This combination makes it a weapon that’s both chaotic and strategic, perfect for mob clearing and also strong against single targets when you swap fire modes.
Lead Balloon legendary specs
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Torgue |
| Weapon Type | Legendary Shotgun |
| Rarity | Legendary |
| Drop Source | Boss: Splashzone (Riptide Grotto, Coastal Bonescape, Fadefields) |
| Unique Effect | Projectiles float upward, explode, and spawn child projectiles |
| Alternate Fire | Sticky projectiles for focused damage |
| Elemental Variants | Can roll with different elements depending on drop |
| Stats That Vary | Damage, magazine size, reload speed, splash radius, child projectile count |
| Best Use Case | Mob clearing (main fire), bossing with stickies (alt-fire) |
How to farm Lead Balloon in BL4
Step 1
Progress through the main story until the Fadefields region becomes accessible. Unlock Coastal Bonescape, where Riptide Grotto is located.
Step 2
Travel to Riptide Grotto in Coastal Bonescape. This is Splashzone’s lair. You can farm here with the Recruitment Drive mission.
Step 3
Prepare for the fight. Splashzone deals heavy splash damage and can overwhelm unprepared Vault Hunters. Bring explosive resistance or strong defensive gear.
Step 4
Defeat Splashzone. After the fight, check the loot—there is a chance for Lead Balloon to drop.
Step 5
If it doesn’t drop, use Moxxi’s Big Encore outside the arena to respawn Splashzone. Each respawn costs cash and scales with your level.
Step 6
Repeat until Lead Balloon drops. Since stats vary, you may want to farm for the best roll that fits your build.
Additional tips for efficient farming
- Raise your Luck or Legendary Drop Chance via buffs or gear, if BL4 has mechanics for that, to increase chances of the drop.
- Make sure you are not severely underleveled for Splashzone, because dying wastes time.
- Use gear or builds that mitigate explosive damage, since Torgue weapons and bosses like Splashzone tend to use explosive/splash effects.
- If possible, do this during periods of increased drop-rate events or with bonuses that affect legendary drops.
- Keep multiple loadouts: one for handling the boss’s attacks reliably, another for using the shotgun once obtained.
Why Lead Balloon is worth farming
The Lead Balloon is more than a shotgun—it’s a crowd control tool with explosive personality. Its floating projectiles excel against mobs, while the alt-fire makes it viable against tougher enemies. If you enjoy chaos, explosions, and the true spirit of Torgue, this is a weapon worth the grind.
Borderlands 4 is packed with creative weapons, and the Lead Balloon stands among the most unique. It rewards aggressive, explosive-focused playstyles while offering flexibility through its sticky alt-fire. With the right farming route and build, you can make this shotgun a centerpiece of your loadout
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