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Once you’ve activated the Abandoned Post in Borderlands 4, you can head north to explore the rest of the Fadefields. There, you’ll meet a group called the Outbounders—a brave band of rebels determined to escape Kairos and its oppressive ruler. Your first mission with them, “Down and Outbound,” introduces you to the team and the dangers they encounter.
“Down and Outbound” is split into three main parts. You can complete all of them in one session or spread them out across side quests. There are also optional collectibles that provide additional lore if you choose to find them.
How to Meet the Outbounders
After defeating Splashzone and upgrading your first safehouse in the Coastal Bonescape, Claptrap will send you north to get in touch with the Outbounders. There’s still plenty to do in the starting area, such as collecting gear, and there’s no time limit, so you can take your time until you’re ready to move on.
You can always return to the Coastal Bonescape later to finish up any unfinished tasks. Whether you choose to advance now or explore more at your own pace is entirely up to you.
The only way to reach the other parts of the Fadefields is past the abandoned town of Plungeford, located north of your current position. This is also the location for the “Meat Is Murder” side quest, where you’ll hunt down a killer. The town is now inhabited by Rippers, so prepare for a fight when you arrive.
Climb the wooden scaffolding at the back of the town; once at the top, you’ll find a path through the cliffs leading to The Howl, a new area. From there, it’s just a quick walk northeast to The Launchpad, which is the Outbounders’ base.
Fighting The Order
When you arrive at The Launchpad, it will be under attack by The Order. You need to eliminate all enemies in the town square before continuing. Use elemental weapons wisely—try switching between them—as different enemies have weaknesses. The Order employs shields, armor, and flesh, so adjusting your tactics based on their defense types will help.
Keep an eye on the sky during the fight. Wardens and Witnesses can fly, so if you’re only watching the ground, you might end up ambushed from above.
After defeating the enemies, Rush will invite you into the bunker beneath the village. Enter through the gate under the bridge to the south and make your way through the tunnels to meet him. After a cutscene, you’ll gain access to the village’s vending machines, a bank, and a respec station. Take the ladder near Rush to return to the surface, then talk to Conway to unlock vehicle travel.
How to Defeat Spymaster Horace
Next, head northeast to Horace’s Oversight to face the Spymaster. This is a good chance to explore the new area and do some side quests, but you can also stick to the main story. Your new vehicle will make reaching the facility, marked as a large white square on the map, quick and easy.
If you get lost during main quests, press up on the D-pad to have the game guide you using the Echo-4 map. It considers obstacles and roads to show you the best route, but only for the current quest.
Where to Find All the Contraband
When you arrive, Rush will ask you to recover contraband scattered inside the facility. Collecting these items is optional but beneficial—it unlocks lore about the Outbounders. Each main area has one item you can find, so you can move through the facility without worrying about missing anything.
- In the entryway, look for an open door to the left of the stairs leading to the covered area and the main entrance. Inside, you’ll find Dice’s Dice on a crate.
- Inside the large courtyard, stick to the left side instead of following the main path. There’s a door leading to a corridor and stairs; on the second floor, you’ll find the Lost Hair Products. An outside door on the upper level lets you access an exterior walkway without retracing your steps.
- On the roof, before jumping into the hatch for Horace’s boss fight, climb over the railings to the neighboring rooftops. There, you’ll find a red chest and the Victory Cookbook.
- After defeating Horace, head out the west door to the outside. Immediately turn left and follow the exterior of the building to find a garage containing Rush’s Novel Collection.
Horace Boss Fight
Horace is mostly talk—until he gets possessed by the Timekeeper. In his first phase, he’ll fly around and shoot at you like a Warden. Keep moving and use cover to avoid his blasts, focusing your fire on his Shield using Shock and Corrosion damage.
Once his Shield is down, Horace becomes temporarily invincible, then drops to the ground and switches to melee combat. Stay ahead of him to avoid his scythe attacks and heal when necessary. He’s more vulnerable to grenades in this phase. Incendiary rounds work best once he switches to melee, so switch your damage types accordingly.
How to Recover the Bolt Parts
After defeating Horace, loot his body—the quest advances when you collect his Bolt (highlighted in teal). Conway will send you southeast to the Wreck of the Nostalgia to find parts needed to repair the Bolt. There might still be some Order enemies on your way; you can either fight them or outrun them using your speeder.
At the wreck, face the Rippers guarding the area and gather the parts:
- The casing is on a pile of crates near the entrance.
- The data drive is lodged inside a console inside the main hull.
- The cylinder is in a cave beyond the hull; glide there after collecting the data drive. Be cautious, as a tough enemy will spawn upon entry!
When you have all three parts, return to The Launchpad. You can walk, use your vehicle, or quickly travel via the new Fast Travel station in the bunker. Talk to Rush and Conway inside, then insert the parts into the console to finish the quest. This sets in motion your mission to take on Idolator Sol—and eventually, the Timekeeper.
Mission Rewards
After completing the quest, don’t forget to check your inventory. You’ll receive a new Vault Hunter Style to customize your outfit and a random weapon of rare or epic quality. “Down and Outbound” can be replayed multiple times—you can keep playing to earn different guns, especially by fighting Horace repeatedly through Moxxi’s Encore machine in his lair.
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