How to Beat Gigamind in Borderlands 3

Gigamind is one of the early bosses you beat as part of the main storyline of Borderlands 3. Do not be fooled by his appearance though. A large brain in a jar riding a hoverboard might seem hilarious, but Gigamind can be surprisingly tricky to take down. He is a curveball that the game throws at the start to keep you on your toes, forcing you to reconsider your weapons and build options.

He is a living database for the Maliwan faction, storing critical information you need to get your hands on to help Rhys in BL3. Gigamind will not simply hand over the data just because you asked nicely. You have to fight the walking cranium for it, which will not be easy.

With a powerful shield, an army of drones, and waves of minions to back him up, Gigamind has only one weakness, which many players often overlook. This Borderlands 3 guide breaks down the boss fight by diving into his attack patterns, how you can find the best attack opportunities, and survive his overwhelming firepower.

Whether you are tackling him solo or in co-op with friends, here is everything you need to know to beat Gigamind for his legendary loot.

Gigamind’s Location in Borderlands 3

Gigamind can be found in Meridian Metroplex on the planet Promethea. Make your way to the Rise and Grind Coffeehouse and follow the corridor at the back of the brewing establishment, as shown in the map above. The corridor will take you straight to Gigamind.

If the path is blocked, continue completing Borderlands 3’s mainline story quests in Meridian Metroplex until Zero opens the passageway. This will happen during the sixth mission: Hostile Takeover. The path to Gigamind’s arena will remain open for you to return and beat him for a chance to loot all his rewards.

Gigamind’s Phases and Attacks

Advertisement

The Gigamind boss fight involves three phases in Borderlands 3, each with unique attack patterns and sometimes a combination of attacks from different phases. Get yourself familiar with how the walking cranium behaves in each phase.

Phase 1: Shield Defense and Mid-Range Attacks

Gigamind moves around the arena on a hoverboard during the first phase of the fight, firing mid-range projectiles as basic attacks and deploying shielded drones. He also has a shield, giving him high resistance against standard attacks. Having a good shock weapon is essential here to drain his blue shield bar fast.

Phase 2: More Shields and Shielded Troopers

Gigamind enters the second phase of the fight after you deplete his shield. With his red health bar exposed, Gigamind becomes vulnerable to incendiary damage. Hence, switch from your shock weapon to an incendiary weapon to burn through his flesh for increased damage.

He also starts firing more projectiles and calling waves of Maliwan Assault Troopers, who can sometimes be shielded by drones from taking damage. It is best to always leave a couple of them alone in case you are low on health. You can use the Assault Troopers to get an easy Second Wind to get back on your feet.

Gigamind may have lost his main shield in the first phase, but he still has more shields to boost his defenses in Borderlands 3. During the second phase, he breaks away from his attacks to enter the center of the arena. Here, he generates one of two shields to protect himself. If it’s a green shield, Gigamind will absorb most of the damage you send his way. If it’s a red shield, Gigamind will reply by firing a barrage of gunfire. While you can shoot the shields to do reduced damage, it is far more effective to flank him.

Phase 3: More Drones and Tornadoes

Gigamind enters the last phase of the fight when his health bar drops low. He gains a new attack, deploying clusters of drones in a massive whirlwind. This is a powerful attack that you must avoid. It does a lot of damage, especially if you are playing at higher Mayhem levels.

Related

Borderlands 3: Best SDUs to Unlock First

You need billions of in-game dollars to buy all the SDU upgrades in Borderlands 3. Here are the best ones you should spend on first.

Advertisement

Best Strategy to Beat Gigamind in Borderlands 3

Gigamind is, basically, a bullet sponge, in the first phase. While shock weapons are highly effective, you can rely on other damage types or even normal bullets. This, though, will take longer to deplete his shield. Hence, if you do not have a shock weapon, you can try to bring at least shock grenades. These are also pretty effective against shields.

Gigamind has two weak spots in Borderlands 3. The first is his head, which might be difficult to target since you will be on the move to avoid his projectile attacks. The second and most critical weakness is the glowing circle on his back. Hence, whenever Gigamind creates his shield during the second phase, flank him to target his weak spot.

Several legendary weapons in Borderlands 3 make Gigamind an easy boss to farm. When playing at higher Mayhem, always bring a shock and an incendiary weapon to the fight.

Additionally, make it a priority to clear all the drones. This might seem trivial, but they can quickly add up to overwhelm you. Weapons that do splash damage work great. Take down the shield drones first, followed by the rest. Clear the air space, so you have to only focus on the units on the ground.

Finally, do not forget to use cover in BL3. You cannot keep running and jumping to evade every attack throughout the boss fight. Make your way behind cover to let your shield recharge. This also puts you in an excellent position to peek from either side to shoot from safety.

Gigamind Loot Rewards

Advertisement

Gigamind has a 15 percent chance to drop two legendary weapons in Borderlands 3. The first one is the Tediore Smart-Gun SMG, featuring high corrosive splash damage that carries over to your turrets upon reloading. The second is the Anshin Red Card shield, which damages and drains enemies of their shields by sliding into them.

Both legendary weapons are primed to be part of any overpowered build in BL3. Even if they do not fit your preferred playstyle, you can still farm Gigamind to add his loot to your pool.

First-Person Shooter

Action

RPG

Advertisement

Franchise

Borderlands

Advertisement

Released

September 13, 2019

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer , Online Co-Op , Local Co-Op

Engine

Unreal Engine 4

Advertisement

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language

How Long To Beat

25 Hours

Advertisement

Steam Deck Compatibility

yes

X|S Optimized

yes

PS Plus Availability

N/A

Advertisement

Split Screen Orientation

Vertical or Horizontal

Number of Players

1-4

Advertisement

Local Co-Op Support

1-4 Players

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Cross Save

yes

Advertisement

Cross-Platform Play

PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S

Expand

Advertisement