With the next free update, developer Gearbox is expanding the Borderlands 4 endgame with a new challenge. And they’ve got me hooked!
Version 1.7 brings a new raid encounter to Borderlands 4 on May 28, 2026, where you’ll face not one but two enemies: Subjugator and Thol the Invincible. Both serve the Timekeeper and have been waiting for challengers in isolation on an island near the Witherfields for a long time. The fight is designed as a team duel: At first, the bosses attack in turns, before later combining their abilities into coordinated strikes.
Most importantly, defeating one of the two does not end the encounter. Instead, the remaining enemy grows stronger and retreats to a separate arena, where they unleash their full power. This second phase brings different mechanics depending on which boss remains, and you’ll need to master them.
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New gear as a reward
Of course, the raid gives you plenty of incentive in the form of serious loot. That includes a rare Pearlescent weapon called Jail-Broken Gatling, which turns hits into stacking bonuses for fire rate, damage, and additional projectiles. There are also four legendary items, including an assault rifle with bouncing explosions and a pistol that marks enemies first, then triggers area damage when reloaded. A heavy weapon and a high-capacity shield are also part of the drop pool.
On top of that, there are five new class mods for each playable character, as well as a firmware feature that rewards precise timing on charge shots with extra damage. According to 2K, the lineup will be expanded later when another Vault Hunter arrives via story DLC.
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More changes in the update
Beyond the raid, Version 1.7 also expands existing systems. An optional feature is being introduced that lets progress be shared between characters or deliberately kept separate. Gearbox is responding to community feedback here, with players asking for both convenience and the ability to start fresh the old-school way.
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The maximum level in Ultimate Mode is also increasing again, putting more pressure on builds and gear. However, completing the main campaign remains a requirement for the new raid. 2K has announced more content for the coming months, including additional DLC packs and a story add-on with a new playable character and area.
Now you have me hooked again
The new raid in Borderlands 4 is honestly one of the pieces of content I’m most excited about right now. Mainly because it immediately reminds me of the Wotan raid from Borderlands 3, where it took us several attempts to finally bring him down. Back then, that was exactly the kind of endgame content Borderlands needed. Not a simple boss you beat once and then forget, but a series of smaller and larger fights where builds, gear, and teamwork all had to line up just right.
Borderlands 4 seems ready to recapture that feeling. The fight against Subjugator and Thol looks far more complex than many of the series’ older boss battles. From the looks of it, you’ll constantly have to react to positional shifts, read attacks, and still put out enough damage so the fight doesn’t completely tear your team apart. In co-op, that could get properly chaotic — and that’s exactly what I’m in the mood for.
For my friends and me, big raid updates like this are usually the moment we fully come back to Borderlands. Borderlands 4 has already eaten up plenty of my time, and I’ve put in around 80 hours by now. But content like this is exactly what suddenly gets you trying new builds, farming gear again, and saying, “Okay, one more run.” I’m definitely adding several more hours for this raid.
- Haven’t finished the campaign yet? Then check out the best tips and guides for Borderlands 4 so you’re ready in time for the new raid!
