Master Borderlands 4’s new Ordnance weapons system! Complete guide to grenades, heavy weapons, cooldowns, and build optimization for maximum mayhem.
What Makes Ordnance Weapons Game-Changing in Borderlands 4?
If you’ve been wondering what all the fuss is about regarding Borderlands 4’s new weapon category, you’re in for a treat. Ordnance weapons represent one of the most exciting additions to the franchise, essentially giving every Vault Hunter access to devastating heavy artillery that operates completely separate from your standard weapon loadout.
Think of Ordnance as your “oh snap” button – that moment when you need to clear a room full of enemies or melt a boss’s health bar in seconds. Unlike previous Borderlands games where grenades were somewhat limited, Borderlands 4 expands this concept into a full weapon category that can fundamentally change how you approach combat.
Understanding the Ordnance System
Here’s what makes Ordnance weapons unique in the Borderlands universe:
- Dedicated Fifth Weapon Slot: Your Ordnance weapon doesn’t compete with your four main weapons – it gets its own special slot
- Cooldown-Based System: Instead of traditional ammo, these weapons operate on cooldown timers
- Massive Damage Output: Built for high-impact moments rather than sustained fire
- Firmware Compatibility: At level 25+, you can enhance these weapons with special modifications
How to Use Ordnance Weapons
Activating your Ordnance weapon is simple – just press R1 on PlayStation, RB on Xbox, or G on PC. Once activated, you’ll switch to your heavy weapon or grenade, ready to unleash serious destruction.
Pro Tip: The cooldown timer starts immediately after use, not when you switch back to regular weapons. This means you can fire your rocket launcher, immediately switch back to your assault rifle, and the cooldown will tick down in the background.
Complete Ordnance Weapon Breakdown
Heavy Weapons Category
Light Machine Gun
- Functionality: Hold the trigger to spin up the barrels for increased fire rate
- Strategy: Perfect for sustained boss damage phases
- Drawback: Burns through its limited usage quickly when spun up
- Best Use: Medium to long-range encounters where you can maintain line of sight
Rocket Launcher
- Functionality: Rapid-fire explosive rockets with held trigger
- Strategy: Incredible for crowd control and boss burst damage
- Safety Warning: These will absolutely destroy you if used at close range
- Best Use: Open areas with grouped enemies or stationary boss phases
Plasma Cannon
- Functionality: Continuous beam that chains to enemies for damage over time
- Strategy: Excellent for shields and armor, with potential chain reactions
- Unique Feature: The beam “sticks” to targets, making it forgiving for aim
- Best Use: Tanky enemies or tight corridors where enemies bunch up
Grenade Category
Traditional Grenades
- Variety: Impact, splash, delayed, and manufacturer-specific variants
- Strategy: Each manufacturer brings unique mechanics (think Tediore’s reload-throwing heritage)
- Versatility: Works in almost any situation
- Best Use: Gap closers, crowd control, or finishing off low-health enemies
Throwing Knives
- Functionality: Precision projectiles with critical hit bonuses
- Strategy: Rewards skilled aim with massive headshot damage
- Learning Curve: Higher skill ceiling than traditional grenades
- Best Use: Taking out priority targets or sniping weak points on bosses
Strategic Integration and Build Synergy
The real magic of Ordnance weapons happens when you start building around them. Each Vault Hunter has dedicated skill trees that can dramatically enhance Ordnance effectiveness.
Cooldown Management Tips
- Timing is Everything: Learn boss patterns to maximize Ordnance usage during vulnerable phases
- Skill Investment: Look for skills that reduce cooldowns or increase Ordnance damage
- Firmware Synergy: Once you hit level 25, prioritize Firmware that complements your playstyle
Combat Flow Integration
The key to mastering Ordnance weapons is treating them as part of your combat rotation, not just panic buttons. For example:
- Open encounters with a rocket launcher barrage
- Switch to primary weapons for sustained damage
- Use throwing knives for precise eliminations
- Finish with grenades for cleanup
Limitations and Strategic Considerations
Fight for Your Life Restriction Unfortunately, you can’t use Ordnance weapons while in Fight for Your Life mode. This means traditional weapons and action skills become even more important for survivability.
Cooldown Vulnerability Heavy reliance on Ordnance weapons can leave you in tough spots when they’re on cooldown. Always maintain strong primary weapon options.
Resource Management While these weapons don’t use traditional ammo, their limited usage per cooldown cycle requires strategic thinking about when and how to deploy them.
Getting Started with Ordnance Weapons
For new players, I recommend starting with traditional grenades to get familiar with the cooldown system before moving to heavy weapons. The rocket launcher, while tempting, can be unforgiving if you’re still learning enemy patterns and map layouts.
As you progress and unlock better gear farming methods, start experimenting with different Ordnance types to find what fits your playstyle.
Looking Ahead
Ordnance weapons represent just one piece of Borderlands 4’s expanded arsenal. Combined with the game’s crossplay functionality and enhanced co-op features, these weapons open up entirely new strategies for team play and solo mayhem alike.
Whether you’re planning boss farming runs or just want to cause maximum chaos in Kairos, mastering the Ordnance system will significantly enhance your Borderlands 4 experience.
Ready to dive deeper into Borderlands 4? Check out the official game page or grab it on Steam and PlayStation to start your own Ordnance-fueled adventure!
