Bandit Slaughter: Round 1 — Borderlands 2 Game of the Year eGuide

Mission Briefing

You’ve found Moxxi’s first Circle of Slaughter, run by a bandit named Fink. Fink’s Slaughterhouse is, perhaps unsurprisingly, full of murderous bandits. You’ll have to survive five separate rounds, each with multiple waves of enemies.

Availability: Talk to Fink at Fink’s Slaughterhouse after “Rising Action.”

Unlocks: “Bandit Slaughter: Round 2”

Mission Reward: Fink

Level	Money	XP	Gear
17	$617 ($925 with Bonus)	1451	—

Arena Battles

The five “Bandit Slaughter” missions are non-stop arena battles consisting of three to five waves each. The only way to complete each of these missions is to eliminate every enemy in each wave without dying. These battles can be completed either solo or as a team. The tactics outlined in the following mission descriptions are geared to help solo players who already have a firm grasp of the combat system.

Use the vending machines in the lobby to fully stock up on ammo and to sell the numerous weapons you’ll be collecting between fights. The doors to the arena stay open until you press the button on the central platform. Use this time to familiarize yourself with the map, collect any loot left over from a previous fight, and position your team if playing cooperatively.

Fink’s Slaughterhouse

The first wave primarily consists of Marauders, Goliaths, and Nomads and feels like any of the large skirmishes you’ve endured reaching this place. Avoid using any grenades during this wave, as they’ll come in handy later. Snipe as many Marauders from the central platform as you can before being chased off. It certainly pays to have a Fire weapon on hand, along with a weapon that can Slag an enemy. This combination works wonders throughout all five rounds.

The second wave typically introduces Badass Marauders to the mix. These enemies are far more resilient than normal Marauders and almost always have a shield. Though you may want to switch to a Shock weapon if they’re the only foe left, it’s best to just let them burn. It’s also worth not wasting too many sniper rifle bullets on them in an attempt to kill them with a Critical Hit (toward the bonus objective). Save the critical kills for the lesser enemies.

The third wave commonly introduces Badass Goliaths armed with massive Gatling guns. Depending on how many other enemies are left standing, it’s often worth targeting their heads right away. This causes them to toss aside their giant gun in favor of enraging. The one thing you don’t want to do is enrage one when it’s the only enemy left. Instead, seek out some cover, and pepper them with fire bullets to ignite them. This technique buys you time to relocate to a safer position while still inflicting damage.