A Lot to Process serves as a pivotal campaign mission in Borderlands 4, connecting the aftermath of Idolator Sol’s defeat to the broader revolution against the Timekeeper. This lengthy quest features extensive combat encounters, environmental puzzles, and a challenging boss fight, all while advancing the story through your alliance with the Order scientist Zadra.
This comprehensive guide covers every quest phase, common bug fixes, and strategic advice to help you complete this crucial mission efficiently.
Quest Overview and Prerequisites
Starting Requirements:
- Complete previous story missions including Idolator Sol’s defeat
- Meet with Rush and Conway at Outbounders headquarters
- Receive intel about Order scientist in nearby woods
- Prepare for extended mission with multiple phases and travel requirements
Mission Scope:
A Lot to Process represents one of Borderlands 4’s longer campaign quests, featuring:
- Multiple distinct locations requiring travel and exploration
- Complex facility infiltration with stealth and combat elements
- Environmental puzzle solving through facility mechanics
- Major boss encounter against the Oppressor gunship
- Story advancement that unlocks significant portions of Kairos
Phase 1: Finding Zadra’s House
Objective: Locate the Order Scientist
Following Rush and Conway’s intel, your first task involves finding Zadra’s remote hideout in the woods.
House Access Puzzle:
The scientist’s house initially appears inaccessible, but environmental interaction solves the entry problem:
Step-by-Step Solution:
- Approach the house and note the locked/sealed entrance
- Locate the nearby shack adjacent to the main building
- Break the obstacles blocking one of the shack’s windows
- Shoot the generator visible inside the shack
- Wait for house windows to open automatically
- Prepare for immediate combat as turrets become active
Combat Preparation: The generator activation triggers defensive systems:
- Multiple turrets emerge from opened windows
- Immediate engagement required to prevent heavy damage
- Clear all turrets before attempting house entry
- Use cover provided by environmental structures
Phase 2: Meeting and Losing Zadra
Initial Contact:
Inside the house, you’ll encounter Zadra, who provides crucial information about Order operations and bioweapon research. Despite her valuable intelligence, the meeting ends with her capture, setting up the rescue mission that dominates the quest’s remainder.
Post-Capture Objectives:
- Clear Order forces from the immediate area around the house
- Prepare for extended travel to the processing plant location
- Stock up on supplies as the next phase involves significant combat
Phase 3: The Processing Plant Infiltration
Facility Overview:
The Order’s processing plant serves as both a Wildhorn research facility and Zadra’s prison. This complex infiltration requires specific mechanics understanding for successful completion.
Core Objectives:
Primary Tasks:
- Follow Wildhorns through the facility’s processing system
- Modify shower controls to enable disguise mechanics
- Bathe in Wildhorn blood to fool facility scanners
- Navigate to Wildhorn scanner at the processing track’s end
- Locate and rescue Zadra from her holding cell
Stealth Mechanics:
The Wildhorn blood disguise system represents a unique gameplay element:
Disguise Process:
- Locate shower controls within the facility
- Modify settings to release Wildhorn blood instead of standard cleansing
- Stand in the blood shower until fully covered
- Maintain disguise while navigating scanner checkpoints
- Avoid actions that might compromise the disguise
Scanner Navigation:
- Approach scanners slowly to allow proper identification
- Follow Wildhorn movement patterns to avoid suspicion
- Use environmental cover when disguise effectiveness wanes
- Reapply blood covering if available throughout the facility
Zadra’s Rescue:
Holding Cell Location: Zadra’s imprisonment location contains valuable collectibles alongside the rescue objective:
- Navigate to holding cell using facility layout clues
- Clear guarding enemies without triggering facility-wide alerts
- Interact with cell controls to free Zadra
- Collect Fadefields Vault Symbol located within the holding cell area
Collectible Note: The Fadefields Vault Symbol in Zadra’s cell represents one of the region’s important collectibles, contributing to Vault Symbol collection objectives.
Phase 4: Critical Bug and Solutions
The Zadra Escort Bug:
Many players encounter a progression-blocking bug where Zadra fails to open the path forward after her rescue. This issue can halt quest completion entirely without proper troubleshooting.
Proven Solutions:
Method 1: Area Clearing
- Search every accessible area within the facility thoroughly
- Look for enemies stuck in spawn rooms or inaccessible locations
- Clear all red indicators from your combat compass
- Pay special attention to Armature enemies that commonly get stuck
- Verify area clearance through compass color changes (red to clear)
Method 2: Checkpoint Reset
- Deliberately eliminate yourself using explosive weapons or environmental hazards
- Allow checkpoint system to reload the most recent save
- Restart the escort sequence with potentially reset enemy spawns
- Attempt progression with cleared enemy states
Method 3: Enemy Tracking The most common cause involves enemies losing aggro states while remaining alive:
- Monitor combat compass for color changes indicating hidden enemies
- Investigate yellow compass indicators suggesting non-aggressive but present enemies
- Use area-of-effect abilities to reveal hidden or stuck enemies
- Systematically check spawn locations for missed enemy clearance
Phase 5: The Oppressor Boss Fight
Boss Encounter Setup:
After resolving the escort issues, the quest culminates in a challenging boss fight against the Oppressor, a heavily armed flying gunship.
Pre-Fight Preparation:
Teleporter Repair:
- Defeat Order troops in the facility’s upper levels
- Collect spare parts dropped by eliminated enemies
- Install parts in the teleporter terminal as directed by Zadra
- Watch teleporter transport Zadra to safety before malfunctioning
Oppressor Combat Strategy:
Phase 1 – Aerial Combat:
- Maintain constant movement to avoid devastating aerial bombardment
- Use available cover but avoid staying in one position too long
- Focus sustained fire on the gunship’s visible weak points
- Manage ammunition carefully during this extended damage phase
Phase 2 – Grounded Combat:
- Continue damage application once the Oppressor crashes to ground level
- Watch for area-denial attacks even while grounded
- Use close-range weapons if tactical situation allows
- Finish the encounter through focused fire on critical systems
Post-Fight Rewards:
The Oppressor becomes a farmable boss after quest completion, offering opportunities for legendary item acquisition through repeat encounters.
Farming Potential:
- Return to facility after quest completion for repeat fights
- Use Moxxi’s Big Encore for efficient farming
- Target legendary drops specific to the Oppressor’s loot table
Phase 6: Quest Resolution
Final Objectives:
After the Oppressor’s defeat, complete the mission through:
Exit Sequence:
- Open the revealed door that leads back to the processing plant entrance
- Collect loot from the red chest near the facility exit
- Use Digirunner for travel to the next objective location
Zadra’s Backup Plan:
- Navigate to underground safehouse filled with traps and hostile fauna
- Clear defensive obstacles to reach Zadra safely
- Receive crucial intelligence about Timekeeper elimination strategies
- Learn about Timekeeper’s lieutenants for future mission planning
Story Progression Impact:
Mission completion unlocks:
- Majority of Kairos regions for exploration
- Access to Carcadia Burn and Terminus Range
- Advanced story missions targeting Timekeeper’s organization
- Side quest availability in newly accessible areas
Strategic Recommendations
Pre-Mission Preparation:
- Stock ammunition for extended combat encounters
- Bring healing items for sustained facility infiltration
- Prepare diverse weapons for various enemy types and ranges
- Clear inventory space for mission-specific loot and rewards
Progression Pacing:
Consider completing Idolator Sol’s remaining content before advancing:
- Finish Idolator Sol completely for better preparation
- Complete Fadefields side quests before moving to new regions
- Engage in Vault activities for XP and equipment upgrades
- Avoid rushing campaign to prevent level disparity issues
Level Management Warning:
The guide specifically cautions against campaign rushing due to:
- Enemy level scaling that can create 5+ level gaps
- Difficulty spikes in subsequent content
- Equipment inadequacy for higher-level encounters
- XP deficits affecting character progression
Recommended Activities:
- Vault completion for XP, loot, and Glider upgrades
- Side quest completion for character development
- Exploration activities for collectibles and experience
- Equipment upgrading through vendor interactions and farming
For comprehensive progression strategies, reference our Fast Leveling Complete Guide.
Technical Troubleshooting
Additional Bug Prevention:
- Save frequently during long mission segments
- Verify quest progression at each major checkpoint
- Clear cache if experiencing persistent technical issues
- Restart game if bugs become consistently problematic
Performance Optimization:
- Close unnecessary applications during extended gameplay sessions
- Monitor system temperatures during intensive combat sequences
- Ensure adequate storage space for save file management
For technical performance optimization, check our Best PC Settings Optimization Guide.
Final Thoughts: A Pivotal Campaign Moment
A Lot to Process represents a crucial turning point in Borderlands 4’s campaign, establishing key alliances and opening the majority of Kairos for exploration. While the mission’s length and potential technical issues can be challenging, successful completion provides essential story progression and access to the game’s most rewarding content.
The Zadra escort bug, while frustrating, has reliable solutions that prevent permanent quest blocking. Understanding the facility mechanics and Oppressor combat strategies ensures smooth progression through even the mission’s most challenging segments.
Key Takeaways:
- Lengthy multi-phase quest requiring patience and preparation
- Critical story progression unlocking major game areas
- Zadra escort bug has proven solutions through enemy clearing
- Oppressor boss fight offers post-completion farming opportunities
- Pacing recommendations prevent level gap issues in subsequent content
What’s Next: Use the newly unlocked areas for side quest completion and character development before tackling the next major story beats.
Official Resources:
Related Mission Guides:
- One Fell Swoop Mission Guide & Zadra Bug Fix
- Story Mission List Complete Guide
- Fast Leveling Complete Guide
- Fadefields Vault Symbols Locations Guide
Remember: patience and thoroughness are your best tools for conquering this complex but rewarding campaign mission!
