Hyperion: Loaders

The meat and potatoes of the Hyperion army, and the brunt of the actual horsepower behind the labor that goes into a marvel such as Opportunity or the Hyperion space station. Robotics was going out, becoming passé, thought more trouble than it was worth, based on the difficulties and just general fastidious nature of the CL4P-TP robot series. But when Handsome Jack purchased Hyperion, one of the things he refocused the corporation on was its robotics line, discontinuing CL4P-TP models and taking the whole program in a new direction.

Jack’s decision led to the modular robotics exhibited here, where many models are produced using relatively similar shells and parts, but to different purposes entirely. Well, not different purposes entirely, as just about every robotic loader has guns on it, but certainly different means to an end.

Loaders all have a red, eye-like sensor somewhere. This is what they see out of, and it’s always a critical-vulnerable area. Depending on the model of loader, the actual joints where the body meets the limbs might also be critical-vulnerable spots, and criticals in these locations may blast bits of the loader off entirely, perhaps severely disabling them; many loaders can be literally blown to pieces if you know exactly where to fire.

GUN Loader

The most basic of the new loader lines, the GUN Loader carries an assault rifle in its right arm, and uses its left arm to throw grenades. Whenever a loader winds up a grenade toss, a hologram image appears above its head, which tips you off to what it’s doing. Up close, either arm can be used to melee. If you blast off either arm by shooting precisely where the arm links with the body, then the GUN Loader won’t have use of that arm anymore (unless a surveyor repairs it). Blast off BOTH arms, and the GUN Loader will be relegated strictly to attacking with a sparking Shock projectile that the red sensor eye can generate.

If you blast the link between the GUN Loader’s body and one of its legs, it will fall over. It can only crawl at this point, and use its gun and grenades. If you blow off an arm, you cannot blow off a leg, and vice versa.

As creatures made of metal, GUN Loaders are very vulnerable to Corrosive rounds, and you’ll be fighting a ton of loaders, the GUN variety in particular. Get used to keeping a favorite Corrosive weapon or two with you at all times.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
4	1	2	Normal	Arm and leg joints, sensor eye	/ —

Location: Bloodshot Ramparts, Tundra Express, End of the Line, The Highlands, Lynchwood, Opportunity, Eridium Blight, Arid Nexus, Hero’s Pass, Hyperion Friendship Gulag

EXP Loader

If ever a Hyperion unit could get along with a suicidal psycho, that unit would be an EXP Loader. The EXP means “explode” which is what the unit does when it gets close to its target. EXP Loaders have vulnerable linking joints between their arms, legs, and body, and the limbs can be blasted off. If legs are removed, the loader will still attempt to crawl toward the target; if arms are removed, the loader is undeterred (as it can still run).

When a target is detected, the power core of the EXP Loader rises up and begins flashing, with an effect that looks something like a siren warbling. Shooting this power core destroys the EXP Loader instantly, detonating it like a barrel. If any other loaders or Hyperion troops are nearby, they’ll likely be killed or severely wounded in the blast. If an EXP Loader targets you and makes it all the way nearby, you’ll still have a chance to come away unscathed if you immediately start sprinting away from the exploding loader, possibly while sprint jumping.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
3	1.5	1	Chump	Arm and leg joints, power core	/ —

Location: Bloodshot Ramparts, Tundra Express, End of the Line, The Highlands, Lynchwood, Opportunity, Eridium Blight, Arid Nexus, Hero’s Pass, Hyperion Friendship Gulag

BUL Loader

BUL Loaders are a bit like nomads, in that they carry impenetrable shields with their left arms. With their right arms they carry powerful rivet guns. They’ll either approach nomad-style, firing the gun and using the cover of the shield, or they’ll hunker down behind the shield, then actually bulldoze forward rapidly, right at you! You can interrupt a bulldozing maneuver by dealing enough damage to the portion of the BUL Loader that is still sticking up over the impenetrable shield portion as they bulldoze forward.

Either arm can be broken at the link and destroyed, removing that accessory. If the loader loses both arms, it attacks by firing sparks from its sensor eye.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
7	5	2	Tough	Arm joints, sensor eye	/ —

Location: Bloodshot Ramparts, Tundra Express, End of the Line, The Highlands, Lynchwood, Opportunity, Eridium Blight, Arid Nexus, Hero’s Pass, Hyperion Friendship Gulag

WAR Loader

WAR Loaders are a cut above, and they look like it. Their arms are very large autocannons and they constitute the primary attack of the WAR Loader. Shoot the joints that link these arm-cannons to the body and you can blow them clean off! Shoot them both off and the WAR Loader will be restricted to using its eye sensor zapper. If you get close to these imposing loaders, they’ll stomp, blasting a small wave in all directions.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
8.5	7	3	Tough+	Arm joints, sensor eye	/ —

Location: Tundra Express, End of the Line, The Highlands, Lynchwood, Opportunity, Eridium Blight, Arid Nexus, Hero’s Pass, Hyperion Friendship Gulag

HOT Loader

A HOT Loader is basically a GUN Loader with the assault rifle arm replaced by a flamethrower. From far away, the Hot Loader can fire globs of fire like slow scorching rockets; up close, it can lay down a continuous track of scalding flame. The HOT Loader tosses grenades with its other arm, usually if it cannot get a bead on you to try a flaming projectile. Either arm can be blasted off, or the legs, but not both arms and legs. One crippling injury per loader is enough. If the legs are shot out from under a HOT Loader, it continues to crawl with its arms, using its fire gun and grenades.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
5	2	3	Normal+	Arm and leg joints, sensor eye	/ —

Location: Tundra Express, End of the Line, The Highlands, Lynchwood, Opportunity, Eridium Blight, Arid Nexus, Hero’s Pass, Hyperion Friendship Gulag

JET Loader

These fortunate loaders are capable of flight, and can basically transform into jets. As for attacks, they’re like GUN Loaders with a weaponry upgrade—JET Loaders tend to mix in sniper rifles and rocket launchers to go with the assault rifles GUN Loaders rely upon. They also use grenades, and as with other loaders, grenade use is announced by the holographic image above the JET Loader’s head as the grenade is primed for throwing.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
4.5	1	3	Normal	Arm joints, eye sensor	/ —

Location: The Highlands, Lynchwood, Opportunity, Eridium Blight, Arid Nexus, Hero’s Pass,Hyperion Friendship Gulag

RPG Loader

The RPG Loader is outfitted for a serious conflagration, one that no mere person can survive. Keep cover nearby and available while fighting them. They’re armed with a rocket pack mounted on their backs, a rocket launcher in their right arm, and grenades in their left. Either arm can be shot off if you aim for the links between body and limb, but the RPG Loader will retain its access to mini-mortar salvos via rocket pod.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
8	6	1	Tough	Arm joints, eye sensor	/ —

Location: Opportunity, Eridium Blight, Arid Nexus, Hero’s Pass, Hyperion Friendship Gulag

PWR Loader

PWR Loaders were basically intended as adaptable forklifts, but in combat their blade-like limbs become deadly deflectors. PWR Loaders spread their lifting limbs and spin them like fans, which deflects incoming bullets. These spinning arms can be shot off at the joints, taking away one arm’s worth of deflection and slashing potential for the loader, but it’s difficult. The key to attacking PWR Loaders is to use explosive damage, like with rockets, grenades, and gyrojet projectiles, which the PWR Loader cannot send back your way.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
5.5	2.5	3	Normal+	Arm joints, eye sensor	/ —

Location: Bloodshot Ramparts, Tundra Express, End of the Line, The Highlands, Lynchwood, Opportunity, Eridium Blight, Arid Nexus, Hero’s Pass, Hyperion Friendship Gulag

LWT Loader

Hurray! The LWT Loader was a portable locker for some high-ranking Hyperion officer. Now, in the chaos, after you disable it, the contents are yours to keep.

With their slim profiles and nonthreatening behavior, LWT Loaders can be easy to miss, but keep an eye out. It’s a treasure chest with legs!

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
1	—	3	Normal+	—	/ —

Location: Bloodshot Ramparts, Tundra Express, End of the Line, The Highlands, Lynchwood, Opportunity, Eridium Blight, Arid Nexus, Hero’s Pass

JNK Loader

These old, rusted out loaders represent earlier generations of Hyperion’s post-CL4P-TP efforts at developing somewhat-humanoid robots. These models are so old that they aren’t even supported anymore, and cannot be repaired by surveyors. In lieu of official support, the remaining JNK Loaders have patched each other up, and patrol an area as abandoned as they are.

As with GUN Loaders, the arms and legs can be shot off at the links. Shooting off both arms causes the robot to attack with the Shocking eye projectile. Shooting off a leg forces it to crawl.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
6.5	—	2	Tough+	Arm and leg joints, eye sensor	/ —

Location: Arid Nexus

ION Loader

One of the more advanced and coordinated loader units, the ION Loader is a welcome sight to any Hyperion forces on the battlefield, and a deep annoyance to Vault Hunters the world over. The ION Loader, once it gets planted somewhere and charges up energy, can produce a large bubble shield, much like Axton’s Phalanx Shield for his Sabre Turret. This energy shield can deflect your attacks, and nearby loaders and Hyperion forces will congregate within the bubble to take refuge and fire at you from safety.

The ION Loader itself can also fire at you directly with a sparking eye shot that’s like the spark fired by other loaders when they have no arms remaining. The arc reactor built into each ION Loader can also itself be a weapon—if unfriendlies approach an ION Loader up close, the arc reactor will zap them with electricity, heavily damaging shields. This also discourages bogeys from entering the sphere of influence of the ION Loader’s bubble shield.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
6	3	2	Tough+	Arm joints, eye sensor	/

Location: Bloodshot Ramparts, Tundra Express, End of the Line, The Highlands, Lynchwood, Opportunity, Eridium Blight, Arid Nexus, Hero’s Pass

SGT Loader

Handsome Jack isn’t stupid, and the Hyperion Corporation isn’t clueless—they know exactly what the weak spots are on most loaders. The approach in most cases was frankly quantity over quality—loaders were initially unproven, and besides, most idiot bandits and threshers can’t be expected to do something crafty like aim at arm and body joints. However, for threats to the Hyperion Corporation who ARE crafty enough to take advantage of the myriad design flaws of loaders, some tougher versions were commissioned. The SGT Loader fires with both arms, and lacks vulnerable joints—you won’t be shooting the arms or legs off this one. The only critical-vulnerable spot is the red sensor eye, which is a pretty small target unless you’re uncomfortably close to a hostile robot with two firearms.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
7.5	5.5	3	Tough	Eye sensor	/ —

Location: Opportunity, Eridium Blight, Arid Nexus, Hero’s Pass

Angelic Guard

The Angelic Guard are high-powered loaders that don’t show up until True Vault Hunter Mode. Once you first encounter them, though, you’ll find them anywhere you find loaders. These hardened targets share the same advantage as SGT Loaders—they’ve been bolstered to remove the joint vulnerability. So there’s no disabling the Angelic Guard, and the critical spot is the small red eye. Rely on strong Corrosive weapons to deal efficient damage to them.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
8.5	7	4	Tough	Eye sensor	/ —

Location: The Bunker

Badass Loader

Not only does a Badass Loader dual wield with its conventional arms as a SGT Loader does, but it also has dual autocannons like a WAR Loader! With careful aim, you can shoot off the arms or the autocannons. The legs cannot be disabled or destroyed. If you manage to shoot off all the firing limbs, this loader will fall back on eye sensor zaps, like most others.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
15	8	5	Badass	Arm joints, eye sensor	/ —

Location: Bloodshot Ramparts, Tundra Express, End of the Line, The Highlands, Lynchwood, Opportunity, Eridium Blight, Arid Nexus, Hero’s Pass

Loot Wee GUN Loader

One of the weaker loot container Badasses is based off GUN Loaders, and will attack with the same weaponry—a rifle and grenades.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
6	1	3	Badass	Sensor eye	/ —

Location: Loot Containers

Loot Wee JET Loader

Loot Wee JET Loaders are hilarious because they, just like their full-sized counterparts, are capable of flight. The effect is a bit like watching a child’s ECHO-controlled mini-gyrocopter in flight.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
6	1	2	Badass	Sensor eye	/ —

Location: Loot Containers

Loot Wee WAR Loader

The adorable nature of the tiny weapons of Loot Midget Badasses is diminished somewhat when the guns in question are WAR Loader autocannons. The Loot Wee WAR Loader is one of the most dangerous of the Loot Midgets, capable of killing Vault Hunters faster than most normal enemies, and better than WAR Loaders themselves.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
12	1	4	Badass	Sensor eye	/ —

Location: Loot Containers

Wilhelm

Man meets loader in Wilhelm, a cyborg who figures heavily into the events between the first Borderlands and this one. He was there to help orchestrate the fall of the first four Vault Hunters, and he was there with Handsome Jack to take control of Pandora and capitalize on the Eridium the opened Vault produced. Needless to say, you’ll have a chance to hear Wilhelm’s scream.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
25	6	2.5	Boss	Leg joints, head	/ —

Location: End of the Line

Mal

Identity can be a hard thing to pin down, even for those of us sure of our sentience. What if we longed for such assurance, because we knew we were just neatly arranged piles of cables, at heart? That’s the dilemma faced by Mal, for whom you’ll undertake a mission series in the Eridium Blight.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
8	—	2	Super Badass	—	/ —

Location: Eridium Blight, mission: “A Real Boy: Human”

Bone Head 2.0

This throwback to yesteryear is proof that we shouldn’t forget our history. Bone Head 2.0 may be found roaming a place from yesterday. He may also be carrying some cool stuff.

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
8	—	2	Super Badass	Arm and leg joints, eye sensor	/ —

Location: Arid Nexus - Badlands

Super Badass Loader

Super Badass Loaders only show up during True Vault Hunter Mode. These Badasses are outfitted with two tri-barreled blazing autocannons, which fire so fast that they light their targets on fire. You won’t survive direct fire from one of these in the open for long.

Saturn

The Ultimate Badass of the Hyperion Corporation’s lineup, the Saturn model loader is so costly to upkeep that there’s only one at a time, and it’s deployed only to areas of utmost importance. You won’t be splitting the limbs anywhere on this thing—both arms are plasma autocannons that make short work of any shield, and four more plasma turrets are mounted on Saturn… along with a front-facing rocket pod for rocket volleys, a la Constructor Bots!

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
80	—	8	Boss	—	/ —

Location: Arid Nexus – Badlands

Health Multiplier	Shield Level	DMG. Multiplier	XP Value	Crit. Areas	Weak./Res.
22	10	6.5	Super Badass	Arm joints	/ —

Location: Opportunity, Wildlife Exploitation Preserve Hero’s Pass