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After escaping the Welcome Center and defeating Scathe, your main goal is to turn on the elevator at the Abandoned Post. Doing this will grant you access to the rest of the Coastal Bonescape and the entire planet of Kairos.
To reach the top of the cliffs and activate the elevator, you need to steal a glide pack from the Rippers at Riptide Grotto. This is your first big challenge in Borderlands 4, but as a Vault Hunter, you’re capable of handling it.
How to reach Riptide Grotto
When Claptrap greets you on the beach, follow him around the camp and listen to his instructions. Open the grill and take a hot dog, then head north and fight off enemies near the base of the elevator. Claptrap will then guide you to the Ripper camp to the east.
If you go to the Options menu, select Audio > Advanced, and scroll down, you can adjust Claptrap’s voice volume or even mute him completely. Also, defeating Claptrap with a shot grants a bonus 100 XP, but he won’t notice or react. No need to feel bad about it.
You’ll probably be at level 2 by the time you reach the elevator, especially after beating Scathe and fighting on the beach. Before heading to Riptide Grotto, make sure to choose and equip an Action Skill and assign your first Skill Point. You’ll gain more levels along the way, so take your time to assign new Skill Points as you earn them — every bonus helps early in the game.
Travel east until you see the entrance inside a cliff wall. The path features enemies like Manglers and Kratch, which offer a good chance to try out your Action Skill safely. The entrance is a climbable wall with lots of handholds and a yellow-and-black bar at the top; approach it to climb.
How to find and defeat Splashzone
The first part of Riptide Grotto is a straightforward canyon chase, guarded by Rippers. Fight through to reach the main area, which has cliffs over a shallow bay. Enemies come from both sides and sneak from the cliffs ahead, so stay alert and keep moving. The path to take is ahead and left on the cliffs, but there’s also an optional detour to the lower right for extra ammo and loot.
If you have a sniper rifle or scoped weapon, you can take out enemies from above without risking a melee confrontation. Alternatively, a long-range Action Skill like Harlowe’s CHROMA Accelerator works well.
Follow the cliffs clockwise, climbing and grappling as needed, until you reach the vending machine. Clear out nearby enemies, then restock and upgrade your skills. When ready, jump across the broken bridge next to the vending machine to reach Splashzone, who will drop down as soon as you enter his lair.
Splashzone boss fight
The fight takes place in an open area and a narrow looping corridor. Stay in the open to avoid traps, as Splashzone hits hard in melee. Use the corridor to lure him into traps or escape if needed. Rippers will spawn constantly alongside Splashzone; use grenades and Action Skills to keep their numbers down. Sometimes, you’ll need to leave a few alive to fight for your life, but don’t let them overwhelm you—they can be as dangerous as Splashzone himself.
When Splashzone is defeated, collect his loot, including the key to a nearby chest containing the glide pack. You can respawn him at the Encore Box for extra challenges later, but it’s better to finish the current mission first to unlock contracts and rewards.
How to power the elevator
Follow Splashzone’s lair exit using the glide pack to stay on higher ground as you cross the beach. Use the signs and jump from wooden platform to platform to make your way. To activate the glide pack, hold down the jump button in midair; it can be turned off the same way. Remember, the glide pack has limited power and needs recharging between uses.
Reach the cliff to the right of the elevator, which has climbable walls leading to the top. Be prepared for an attack by Manglers that leap down from above, often including a tough “badass” enemy. When you reach the railing overlooking the landscape, grapple onto the roof. Approach the elevator, wait for Claptrap to finish speaking, then take the dead Order soldier’s Bolt from the corner, install it on the elevator to power it, and lift Claptrap up. When Claptrap approaches the door, melee it to open.
Inside, grab the tablet from the desk at the back, and use it to activate the console by the left window through a long interaction. This activates essential base functions like:
- Fast Travel, so you can teleport here later.
- Vending machines for selling junk, buying gear, and restocking ammo.
- Contracts, optional missions for XP, money, and other rewards. You can hold up to five at once, and patrols are good to keep active for extra encounters and rewards.
Finally, wait for Claptrap to connect himself to the transmitter, then press the button beside him to broadcast across Kairos. This ends the Recruitment Drive and kicks off the “Down And Outbound” quest, where you’ll meet new allies in your fight against the Timekeeper.
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