The Kairos Job isn’t your typical Borderlands side mission – it’s a full-blown heist that’ll test your puzzle-solving skills, combat prowess, and patience. Located in the Outbounders HQ at Launchpad in Fadefields, this multi-part mission involves assembling a crew, cracking safes under pressure, and pulling off what should be the score of a lifetime.
Spoiler alert: the final reward is hilariously underwhelming, but the journey is absolutely worth it. Think of it as Borderlands 4’s answer to Ocean’s Eleven, complete with laser grids, explosives, and enough Order troops to make you question your life choices.
Why The Kairos Job Stands Out
This mission is unique in several ways that make it memorable:
- Multi-phase structure – Unlike most side missions, this spans multiple locations and gameplay styles
- Puzzle mechanics – Combines timing challenges with spatial reasoning
- Crew recruitment system – Each member brings unique skills and personality
- Stealth elements – Rare for Borderlands, but adds strategic depth
- Environmental storytelling – The mission reveals lore about the Outbounders and their methods
Fair warning: This mission can be frustrating if you’re not prepared for its complexity. Take your time, and don’t expect a traditional “shoot everything” Borderlands experience.
Part 1: Assembling Shim’s Dream Team
Starting The Kairos Job
Head to the Outbounders HQ at Launchpad in Fadefields and speak with Shim. She’ll outline the job – a big score that requires the right crew with specific skills. This conversation unlocks two recruitment missions that you can tackle in any order, though I recommend starting with Kilo since safe-cracking is central to the entire operation.
Recruiting Kilo: The Safe-Cracking Specialist
Location: South of Launchpad in The Howl Mission: Scoundrel Roundup: Kilo
Kilo’s recruitment test is all about proving your quick reflexes under pressure. You’ll find a practice safe with four interaction points:
- Switch (left side) – Flip up or down
- Target panel (top) – Requires shooting
- Lever (right side) – Pull to activate
- Button (bottom) – Melee to press
The First Safe Puzzle Solution:
Once you melee the button to start, Kilo will bark orders with roughly 5 seconds per command. Here’s the exact sequence:
- Flip the switch (left)
- Shoot the panel (up)
- Pull the lever (right)
- Shoot the panel (up)
- Flip the switch (left)
- Melee the button (down)
- Pull the lever (right)
- Melee the button (down)
- Flip the switch (left)
Pro Tips for Success:
- Position yourself centrally before starting – don’t stand next to any one control
- Use a fast, accurate weapon for shooting the panel – shotguns can be unreliable
- Practice the movements without starting the sequence to build muscle memory
- Stay calm – panic leads to mistakes, and there’s no partial credit here
Recruiting Glitch: The Tech Infiltration Expert
Location: South from Kilo’s position, at Zadra’s hideout Mission: Scoundrel Roundup: Glitch
If you’ve completed A Lot to Process quest, you’ll recognize this location. Glitch’s test involves navigating a laser-filled house to deactivate 3 power relays without triggering any beams.
Laser Navigation Strategy:
Power Relay 1 (North Section):
- Enter through the main door carefully
- Stick to the left wall initially
- Crouch-walk under the horizontal beams
- Time your movement between the rotating lasers
Power Relay 2 (East Section):
- Use the doorway on the right side of the room
- Jump over the floor-level beams – don’t try to crouch under them
- Watch for the sweeping vertical laser pattern
Power Relay 3 (South Section):
- Look for the broken laser panel that creates a safe pathway
- Use your jetpack for precise positioning over floor lasers
- Pull the lever quickly and retreat the same way
Critical Success Tips:
- Take your time – rushing leads to laser contact and enemy spawns
- Use your jetpack sparingly – it’s easy to overshoot and hit ceiling lasers
- Learn the laser patterns – they’re consistent, not random
- Save before attempting – if you mess up, you can reload rather than fight through enemies
Part 2: The Heist Begins
Getting to The Debilitory
Once both crew members are recruited, return to Shim to begin the actual heist. The target is a facility in Hungering Plain called The Debilitory – a heavily fortified Order stronghold that’s about to get a very rude awakening.
Travel tip: This is a perfect time to check your loadout and grab supplies. The upcoming sections involve both stealth and heavy combat, so bring versatile weapons and plenty of ammo.
Accessing the Warehouse Roof
Meeting the crew at the house, Glitch will hand you Electro Charges – your tools for disabling the facility’s defenses. The roof access requires some creativity:
Primary Route (Vehicle Required):
- Head east from the meeting point
- Loop left up the cliff face
- Use vehicle boost to launch onto the warehouse roof
- Land carefully to avoid fall damage
Alternative Route (Jetpack Method):
- Climb onto the meeting house roof
- Use your jetpack to glide across to the facility
- This unlocks unique dialogue from Shim but offers no gameplay advantages
Why the vehicle method is better: More reliable, less dependent on jetpack fuel management, and gives you a cleaner landing zone for the next phase.
Placing Electro Charges on Arrays
You need to locate and plant charges on 4 defensive arrays positioned around the facility roof. These aren’t randomly placed – they follow a logical pattern based on the facility’s security grid.
Array Locations:
- Northwest corner – Near the main ventilation system
- Northeast section – Close to the communications tower
- Southwest area – Adjacent to the power distribution hub
- Southeast position – By the secondary access ladder
Placement Strategy:
- Clear enemies first – Order troops will spawn as you plant charges
- Use cover effectively – The roof has plenty of HVAC equipment for protection
- Watch your positioning – Don’t fall off while fighting
- Plant charges quickly – Once you start, the facility goes on high alert
Part 3: Safe-Cracking Under Fire
The Second Safe Puzzle
After successfully placing all Electro Charges and dealing with the Order response, it’s time for the real test. Head to the west wall of the facility to find the main safe – significantly more complex than Kilo’s practice version.
Safe Puzzle #2 Solution:
Melee the button to start, then execute this sequence:
- Pull the lever (left)
- Flip the switch (right)
- Pull the lever (left)
- Shoot the target (up)
- Melee the button (down)
- Shoot the target (up)
- Melee the button (down)
- Pull the lever (left)
- Melee the button (down)
- Flip the switch (right)
- Pull the lever (left)
- Shoot the target (up)
- Flip the switch (right)
Advanced Tips for the Second Safe:
- The timing is tighter – you get less margin for error than the practice safe
- Enemies may attack during the sequence – consider clearing the area first
- Use explosive weapons carefully – splash damage can hit the wrong targets
- If you fail, restart immediately – don’t waste time with partial sequences
Explosive Entry
Once the safe is cracked, you’ll need to eliminate more Order troops before triggering the explosives the crew planted. Shoot the explosives on the floor to blow open the facility entrance – this is your dramatic entry into the main heist location.
Part 4: Laser Grid Infiltration
The Advanced Power Relay Challenge
Inside the facility, you face the mission’s most complex puzzle: navigating laser grids to disable 3 power relays without triggering security systems. Failure spawns enemies and locks you out of bonus loot – specifically a common chest with decent early-game gear.
Relay Navigation Breakdown:
North Wall Relay:
- Use the grapple point to access the elevated section
- Follow the pattern: left → right → left → right
- Use minimal jetpack thrust – just enough to clear gaps
- Pull the lever and immediately back away
East Wall Relay:
- Enter via crouch-walking under the laser grid
- Jump over the two floor-level beams – don’t try to slide under
- Timing is crucial – wait for laser sweeps to pass
- Pull the lever from the side to avoid beam contact
South Wall Relay:
- Look for the broken laser panel that creates a safe corridor
- Use this pathway to bypass most of the security grid
- Jump or jetpack over remaining floor lasers
- Pull the final lever to deactivate the entire system
Stealth Section Pro Tips:
- Study the laser patterns first – they repeat on predictable timers
- Use your scanner – it can help identify safe pathways
- Move deliberately, not quickly – precision beats speed here
- If you trigger lasers, fight through and complete the objective – the mission continues regardless
The Bonus Chest Reward
Successfully navigating all three relays without triggering security unlocks a common chest at the north wall. While it only contains green and blue gear, it’s worth grabbing for early-game players or completionists. The chest disappears permanently if you trigger the security system.
Part 5: The Final Safe and Great Disappointment
Finding the Cutting Point
The main safe requires a different approach than the timing puzzles. You need to melee the safe on its left side – this is the weak point Kilo can exploit to cut through the armor plating.
Why this matters: Unlike the previous safes, this one tests your observation skills rather than reflexes. Look for visual cues like scratches, wear patterns, or slightly different coloring that indicate the optimal cutting location.
Collecting Drone Rockets
After identifying the cutting spot, Order forces flood the area including Badass Attestor (Watcher) enemies. These special units drop Drone Rockets when killed – you need exactly 3 rockets to breach the safe.
Combat Tips for This Section:
- Target Badass enemies first – they’re your rocket source
- Use cover effectively – the facility has plenty of defensive positions
- Don’t waste rockets – you can’t get extras if you miss the placement
- Clear all enemies before placing rockets – avoid interruption during the placement sequence
Placing the Explosive Charges
Once you have all 3 Drone Rockets, place them on each side of the safe. This triggers a massive explosion that sends the safe flying – literally. The safe ends up in a completely different location, requiring travel to complete the heist.
Part 6: The Anticlimatic Finale
Tracking the Safe to Smackwater
The explosion launches the safe all the way to Smackwater in Lopside – quite a distance from your starting location in Hungering Plain. Fast travel is available, or you can make the journey overland if you want to explore.
Route to Smackwater:
- Exit the facility (fast travel recommended)
- Head north through Carcadia Burn
- Continue to Smackwater in Lopside
- Prepare for more Order resistance
The Final Confrontation
At Smackwater, you’ll face one last wave of Order forces defending the crashed safe. This is a straightforward combat encounter – no puzzles, no stealth, just good old-fashioned gunplay.
Combat Strategy:
- Use the terrain – Smackwater has natural cover opportunities
- Watch for environmental hazards – explosive barrels and unstable structures
- Focus fire on priority targets – eliminate threats in order of danger level
- Save ammo for the final push – you’re near the end, so don’t hold back
The Ultimate Letdown
After all this work – crew recruitment, complex puzzles, stealth infiltration, multiple combat encounters, and cross-map travel – the safe contains… hair products. That’s it. Hair gel, styling cream, and similar cosmetic items that have no practical game value.
Why this works narratively: It’s classic Borderlands humor – building up this elaborate heist only to reveal the “ultimate score” was basically a drugstore cosmetics section. The real reward was the friends you made along the way (and the XP you earned).
Mission Rewards and Benefits
While the safe contents are disappointing, The Kairos Job offers substantial benefits:
Experience Points: This mission provides excellent XP due to its length and complexity Combat Challenges: Multiple opportunities to complete weapon-specific challenges Skill Practice: Tests various gameplay mechanics you’ll use throughout Borderlands 4 Story Context: Provides background on Outbounders faction and their methods Unique Dialogue: Special conversations and character development for crew members
Tips for Mission Replay
If you’re considering replaying The Kairos Job:
- Focus on speed – now that you know the solutions, time yourself for efficiency
- Try different approaches – experiment with alternative routes and strategies
- Help other players – this mission is much more fun in co-op
- Screenshot the safe contents – share the anticlimax with friends who haven’t played it
Character Build Considerations
This mission works well with various character builds, but certain approaches excel:
Stealth-Friendly Builds: Characters with movement abilities handle the laser sections better Balanced Loadouts: You need both precision weapons for targets and heavy weapons for combat Crowd Control Specialists: The facility assault benefits from AoE damage dealers
Connection to Other Content
The Kairos Job connects to several other Borderlands 4 elements:
- Fadefields exploration – ties into other side missions in the region
- Order faction lore – provides context for ongoing conflicts
- Outbounders reputation – affects how other faction members interact with you
- Equipment familiarity – prepares you for similar mechanics in endgame content
Common Player Mistakes
Rushing the puzzles – Take time to understand each mechanism before starting timers Ignoring positioning – Stand in optimal locations before beginning timed sequences
Triggering lasers intentionally – The bonus chest isn’t worth much, but completionist satisfaction matters Under-preparing for combat – Bring adequate supplies for extended fighting Expecting amazing rewards – Manage expectations about the final payoff
Alternative Strategies
Solo vs. Co-op Approaches:
- Solo: Take your time with puzzles, plan routes carefully
- Co-op: Assign specific roles – one person handles puzzles while others provide cover
- Speedrun: Focus on optimal routes and skip unnecessary combat
Different Character Classes:
- Mobile characters excel at laser navigation
- Tank builds handle the combat sections more easily
- Precision-focused builds perform better at the shooting portions of safe puzzles
Ending With
The Kairos Job exemplifies Borderlands 4’s willingness to experiment with mission design. While it breaks from traditional formula with its puzzle focus and stealth elements, it creates a memorable experience that players discuss long after completion.
The anticlimatic ending is perfect Border
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