Borderlands 4 His Vile Sanctum walkthrough

His Vile Sanctum is the final main story mission in Borderlands 4’s Terminus Range area. You’ll pick this quest up immediately upon completing Dark Subject. It’s an incredibly long mission, made harder by the twin sub-bosses just before the final boss of the area, Vile Lictor. If you aren’t paying attention, that fight is going to be miserable, but we’ve defeated him, and are ready to help you take him down once and for all.

You also get a very important storyline swerve at the end of this mission, but we won’t spoil it here. It does get shown in the mission walkthrough video though, so do be aware of spoilers. If you’re looking to wrap up His Vile Sanctum in Borderlands 4, here’s what you need to do.

Complete His Vile Sanctum quest guide for Borderlands 4

Mission Information

Quest Giver: Defiant Calder
Location: Belton’s Bane
Recommended Level: 18-23
Approximate length of mission: Hour and a half+

(Bulk of mission starts at 45:21)

Mission Steps

Reach Vile Lictor’s fortress, follow Amara, Kill Orbulus
Return to Belont’s Bore, follow Defiant Calder, reach Power Substation
Find Energy Spike, Kill Order Forces, Find Defiant Calder
Find Energy Spike, Kill Order forces with Bruce
Find Energy Spike, Follow Bruce
Destabilize Phase device, Escort Bruce to Limiter A, B, and C (and destroy A, B, and C)

Breach Vile Lictor’s Fortress section

Huddle near Bruce
Enter Phase Rift, Find Bruce, Find engineering bay
Insert Bruce’s control core, destroy barrier

Kill Vile Lictor section

Destroy Phase barrier
Destroy Eridian Relics
Kill Vile Twins
Continue with Amara, Activate Elevator (Optional Objective: Check on Amara)
Kill Vile Lictor
Take Lictor’s Bolt, return to Calder

1) Reach Vile Lictor’s fortress, follow Amara, Kill Orbulus

Orbulus really isn't anything special, compared to what's to come (Image via 2K Games)

After speaking with Defiant Calder in Borderlands 4’s Bolton’s Bore, you’ll head directly to Vile Lictor’s fortress as a part of His Vile Sanctum. Unfortunately, you’re not going to be able to get very far. There’s a long bridge filled with waves of enemies, so fight your way through them until you reach the end. Following Amara will lead you towards Orbulus, one of Vile Lictor’s lieutenants.

He’s not any more powerful than any ordinary Badass in the game, so he’s an easy win. However, he is a Vile Enemy, so you’re going to need to break his crystal, and then defeat the orbs that spawn. After you break down his shield, he’s a nobody. Sadly, we can’t proceed, so it’s back to Belton’s Bore.

2) Return to Belont’s Bore, follow Defiant Calder, reach Power Substation

"It's a long way, to the promised land, so you better well know your way" - Bad Religion (Image via 2K Games)

Defiant Calder will sort of convince his colleagues to assist the Vault Hunter, but not without tragedy taking place. There’s a Power Substation that we can assault, and it just might be our way into Vile Lictor’s palace.

Unfortunately, it’s a very long way away from here. I recommend taking your time and picking up the various Points of Interest and collectibles on the way. There’s even a Silo right near the Power Substation. Fight your way up to the Power Substation, and make sure to use the Ammo Refill before you go inside.

3) Find Energy Spike, Kill Order Forces, Find Defiant Calder

It's Bruce! He's such a big help (Image via 2K Games)

Once inside, your next major goal in Borderlands 4 is to find the Energy Spike, which will be deeper in the Power Substation. If you happened to get lucky on the last mission and pick up the Ohm My God weapon, you can shred through the Order Forces in no time at all.

Just deal with them like you always do. There are a few Badasses that can show up, and at least one annoying Bulkhead enemy. Other than that, it’s business as usual. Before you can progress much farther, you’ll get another wave of Order forces, led by a Badass Domination Engine, but it’s not too scary.

4) Find Energy Spike, Kill Order forces with Bruce

Before too long, you’ll get some help, in the form of the mighty Bruce! This huge monstrosity will start using its attacks to help you fight the Order forces, making things so much easier. Like other allies, Bruce is immune to damage, and uses all of the attacks those Hulkhead monsters did.

It’s nice to know that he cannot die, so you can just smash through this room of Borderlands 4 enemies with complete impunity. Now that you have an ally, make your way through the room, putting down Order forces.

5) Find Energy Spike, Follow Bruce

It's time to break some more machines! (Image via 2K Games)

Once the room is empty, Bruce will run deeper into this Borderlands 4 dungeon, so follow along. It naturally leads to more enemies. Having electric damage weapons will be a real benefit throughout this dungeon, so if you lack one, and pick it up, consider keeping it if the damage is high enough.

After you clear out the Order forces, you’ll follow Bruce again for this step of Borderlands 4’s His Vile Sanctum mission. Ultimately, it’s going to lead you to a room where there are a trio of Phase Devices that you’re going to want to destroy.

6) Destabilize Phase device, Escort Bruce to Limiter A, B, and C (and destroy A, B, and C)

Just take Bruce for a walk and slaughter the Order forces, until you can break these machines (Image via 2K Games)

In order to get through this room in Borderlands 4, you need the help of Bruce. Kill enemies while near Bruce, and he’ll start moving towards Phase Limiter A. Once there, he’ll smash the ground, and that brings up the Limiter for you to shoot. This is one of the harder rooms in the area though. Bulkheads, Badasses, Wardens, everything you’ve seen so far from the Order.

The above screenshot shows what the Phase Limiter looks like when it’s time to shoot it. So put a few rounds into the middle of it, and start working towards the other side of the room with Bruce. Phase Limiter B is on the other side. Just make sure you stick with Bruce. Phase Limiter C is above you, at the Grapple Point.

7) Breach Vile Lictor’s Fortress, Huddle near Bruce

Just jump in the purple rift. What's the worst that could happen? (Image via 2K Games)

There’s about to be a titanic explosion, as the result of all your meddling, but thankfully, Bruce can tank it for you. Just rush over to where Bruce is and stand next to him to survive this explosive wave of power in Borderlands 4. Why can’t he just stick around the whole game? It would sure solve a lot of problems.

You’re also going to see a large, ominous, purple portal. Go through it, and you’ll find yourself closer to Vile Lictor’s Fortress in no time at all. You’ll still need to find a way in, and as usual, Bruce is going to give you something that will get you through the next several sections of this dungeon. After a little bit of a delay, you’ll be at the next section of Borderlands 4’s His Vile Sanctum mission.

8) 7) Breach Vile Lictor’s Fortress, Enter Phase Rift, Find Bruce, Find engineering bay

Get used to seeing these purple barriers and yellow bombs (Image via 2K Games)

You’ll find yourself in a cave full of Creeps, so battle your way through them, until you get to the Phase Rift. It’s a long corridor, this cave, and it’s going to feature several badass Creeps, but they aren’t incredibly powerful. Just keep moving forward, until you see the Phase Rift. If you’ve been into Augur Mines, you’ve seen these after defeating the boss.

This time you’ll land in another technological area, so push your way through the Order forces, and use the next Phase Rift you find. Now you’re outside Vile Lictor’s Fortress, but you still need a way in. Battle your way through Thunderheads and other Order enemies once you get outside of this building, but make sure to top up your ammo before you do.

You also need to find the remains of Bruce while you’re here; his control core is going to help us. The quest marker will guide you right to Bruce’s body, so pick up his Control Core, and use the ECHO Device to guide you to the Engineering Bay.

You can do this while there are still enemies around, so keep that in mind. I recommend fighting everyone before going to the Engineering Bay, though; solid exp, and potential for great loot.

9) 7) Breach Vile Lictor’s Fortress, Insert Bruce’s control core, destroy barrier, use Bruce Bombs to destroy barriers

Circled: The Bruce Bomb and both barriers (Image via 2K Games)

When you get to the Engineering Bay for Borderlands 4’s His Vile Sanctum mission, slot the core into the machine as Defiant Calder instructs. This will give you access to Bruce Bombs in certain sections of the map. They’ll break down any purple barriers you see. The catch is that if you get hit while carrying one, it seems to go away, and they also are on a timer.

You can see the bomb in the above screenshot, and the purple barrier. Get used to these, because you’re going to see quite a few of them going forward. Break down that first barrier, grab another bomb, and throw it at the purple energy field up ahead that guards a weapon chest, if you are looking for more loot.

Head back outside, and you’ll see another Bruce Bomb generator near the two Barriers you need to break down. Just grapple the Bruce Bomb and throw one at both of the barriers on the left and right side of the gates, then shoot the cores like you did earlier. Now, you can progress to the next section of Borderlands 4.

10) Kill Vile Lictor, Destroy Phase barrier

Just break this open and get the bomb you need (Image via 2K Games)

Now that you’re inside Vile Lictor’s Fortress in Borderlands 4, the primary objective has become Kill Vile Lictor. You’ll need to break down the first Phase Barrier you come across, so you can progress.

You should also take the time to refill your ammo in this room, and sell off any junk weapons and gear you don’t need. You’re going to need every single shell and bullet going forward. The next room will have plenty of Order forces for you to defeat, so take them down. This is a large area riddled with Badasses and annoying enemies though, so take your time and don’t let them surround you.

The next room has a Bruce Bomb you can use, but it’s behind a door you can’t get through. Walk around to the other side of the wall, and you’ll find a grate you can Grapple Down and crawl through. Activate the button in here, grab the Bruce Bomb, and blow up the Phase Barrier to progress through this Borderlands 4 mission.

11) Kill Vile Lictor, Destroy Eridian Relics

The first bomb is close to where you started at (Image via 2K Games)

Next up in Borderlands 4 is a gigantic room with enemies that frankly, never seem to go away. It also could be that I kept dying in this room trying to figure out what was going on, though. There are three Eridian Relics behind purple barriers in this room. If you head left when you enter the room, you’ll find a Bruce Bomb generator.

Just grab the bomb, turn around, and let it rip! (Image via 2K Games)

There’s a Purple Barrier to your left, but defeat the enemies before you try and throw the Bruce Bomb at them just in case. You might be able to throw it from a good distance, but if that fails, clear out the enemies around it, then throw. When the barrier’s down, a few shots will stop the Eridian Relic.

On the far right side of the room, you’ll find a broken bridge to jump over, and a ladder to climb; another Bruce Bomb generator can be found here. Turn around from here, and throw it to the Purple Barrier immediately ahead of you, to clear out Eridian Relic #2.

Look down from that second bomb location to find the final relic (Image via 2K Games)

Go back to the platform where the second Bruce Bomb was, and look down from the point you picked it up (facing north on the compass) to find third Eridian Relic for this part of Borderlands 4’s main mission.

12) Kill Vile Lictor, Kill Vile Twins

These two aren't really much of a threat since you have help (Image via 2K Games)

Hop back up on the main platform of this room of Borderlands 4, and Vile Lictor’s henchmen, the Vile Twins will show up. As you can probably predict, they’re also Vile Enemies. They have powerful melee strikes with their axes, Cryo Damage Blasts, and Cryo Ammo.

Focus on one of them at a time, and eliminate their shields, and then the Twin themselves. They aren’t really difficult, since it’s only the two of them and nobody else. If one of them glows gold, they’re going to try and knock you off the platform, but you can glide back into position.

At least you aren’t alone, though; Amara helps you in this battle and can Revive you. Beware of the Vile Twins’ leaping axe attacks and cold blasts, and their powerful knockback blow, you should be just fine.

13) Kill Vile Lictor, Continue with Amara, Activate Elevator (Optional Objective: Check on Amara)

After you beat down the Vile Twins, follow Amara in Borderlands 4, and go to activate the elevator. There are still more enemies ahead, but it’s nothing nearly as bad as the previous rooms were. Head down the elevator, and watch the next cutscene. You can stop to check on Amara, to your right, before heading down to fight Vile Lictor himself.

14) Kill Vile Lictor

Take out the limbs, then focus on the main body (Image via 2K Games)

Vile Lictor isn’t a terribly difficult boss, to be honest. Before you can damage him at all, you need to destroy at least one of Lictor’s Limbs. I recommend blowing them all up, because they have low health. The more limbs you break, the more openings you reveal to damage him. As Vex, this just means you summon Specters to open fire.

The Limbs are in the upper left and right of the screen, and have little blue health bars. During this phase he’ll also launch purple energy walls at you, but there are gaps between them, and you can probably jump over them. Having an electrical damage gun will be to your favor here. When he stops taking damage, break more limbs, and resume shooting.

His Limbs can also fire energy claws at you, but they didn’t hit especially hard. Still, try to avoid them if you can. Wear down his first health bar this way, and you’ll have to wait for his brief cutscene to resume battle.

If you don't use one of these, you'll have to start this Borderlands 4 boss fight over again (Image via 2K Games)

Now he becomes mobile, and crawls around the arena. There’s tons of ammo on the ground too, so thank goodness for that. He can fire lots of energy claws in this phase. When he creates a purple orb in the middle of the ground, look above you for a grapple point, or you’re going to die.

Vile Lictor will probably do this a second time during this Borderlands 4 fight. Just keep chasing him around and shooting him, and he’ll go down in no time in phase 2. You can land a bunch of critical hits when his face opens up, so take those times to really lay in the firepower.

15) Take Lictor’s Bolt, return to Calder

Your reward is this cool new vehicle (skin optional) (Image via 2K Games)

Once Vile Lictor is defeated in, grab the Bolt, and make sure to watch the cutscene that follows. It informs something that could be a problem much later in the game. Return to Calder when you’re ready, and His Vile Sanctum will end in Borderlands 4.

If you haven’t already, you should now head over to Carcadia Burn for the next major story point in Borderlands 4. Your rewards for this mission are Xp, Money, Eridum, a Sniper Rifle, the Armed Collection Vault Hunter Head, and Carapacer Vehicle.

Check out our other Borderlands 4 guides and features

About the author

Jason is an Esports and Gaming journalist at Sportskeeda holding an amazing 11 years of experience under his belt. Having put out 4000-plus articles and amassing over 15 million reads for Sportskeeda, he is among the company’s most experienced writers. Jason holds a Bachelor's degree in English from UNC Pembroke and was inspired to become a gaming journalist very early on in life after reading Nintendo Power.

Jason is a jack of all trades when it comes to gaming journalism. He’s a key writer in Sportskeeda's MMO department, but he also likes to help out in other categories, like streamers, RPG, card games, and whatever else is needed. A solo gamer at heart, Jason's favorite titles include Earthbound and Dragon Warrior.

Jason places high value on accuracy and relevance in his write-ups. He achieves this with thorough research to sift facts from rumors. One of the biggest highlights of his career is his interview with Canadian pro wrestler Kenny Omega about his inclusion in the Like a Dragon game series. He is also good friends with journalist Kazumo Hashimoto, who he admires for the kind of stories he works on and his deep ethics.

A true cinephile, one of Jason’s primary hobbies involves enjoying cinematic experiences. He also loves reading, be it fiction or manga, when not working. Additionally, he streams on Twitch and posts his gaming insights on YouTube.

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Edited by Jason Parker