Borderlands 3 Anointments – Dominate End Game

Anointments are additional bonuses on your gear in Borderlands 3. These perks are obtained later on in the game and allow you to dominate the End Game. Anoints are special abilities that let you to boost your gear or create powerful interactions. Here is everything you need to know about Anoints.

What is Anointed Gear?

Borderlands 3 introduced Anointed Gear, these items are blessed with a special mutator. Anoints are not a new rarity level. You still have your common, uncommon, unique, rare, and legendary items. However, all these rarities can be Anointed. If they are there will be a description of the mutator up on the title card.

You can also differentiate anointed items by their light beam. While their beam has the same color as the item’s rarity, you can see additional sparkles surrounding the beam. If you are familiar with the Luneshine items in Borderlands the Pre-Sequel then you know these items have specific boosts.

With Anointed gear, these boosts can do more than just a damage boost. However, these mutators do need to be triggered in some way.

How do I Get Anointed Items?

There are 2 main ways to get anointed items. You can purchase them with Eridium at the Veteran Rewards Vending Machine or you can obtain them during the end-game content. Anointed Gear is pretty rare and has a higher chance of dropping if you are playing True Vault Hunter Mode or/and have Mayhem Mode activated.

Increasing the Mayhem difficulty will increase the chance of getting loot with anointments. With a 100% chance of anointed gear on the highest difficulty tiers.

Can I change my Anoints?

Yes, you can change the anointment on an item by using Crazy Earl’s Reroll Machine. This device can be found to the left of Crazy Earl’s door in Sanctuary 3’s Cargo Bay.

Changing the anointment on an item will cost 250 Eridium per reroll. New Anoints are chosen randomly.

What Perks do Anointed items provide?

Anointed items can provide various boosts or augment how certain things work. Here down below you will find a list of all the general Anointed buffs as well as Vault Hunter-specific buffs.

Universal Anointment List

These are the general bonus mutators that every Vault Hunter can benefit from.

Weapon Anoints

• Consecutive Hits increase Weapon Damage by 1% per hit (up to 100x), misses remove all bonuses.
• Element crit hits can cause status effects of that element to explode, creating a nova that deals 500% of the Status effect’s damage.
• Gain 150% increased Weapon Damage against enemies above 90% Health.
• Killing an enemy grants 12.5% Weapon Damage and Reload Speed for 25 seconds, this effect stacks up to 10 times.
• On Action Skill End, Deal 125% more Weapon Damage to Badass, Named, and Boss enemies for a short time.
• On Action Skill End, Gain 30% Life Steal for a short time.
• On Action Skill End, Projectile Speed is increased by 100% for a short time.
• On Action Skill End, Splash Damage is increased by 125% for a short time.
• On Action Skill End, The next 2 magazines will have a 100% additional bonus <Element> damage.
• On Action Skill End, Weapon Status Effect Damage & Chance are increased by 75% for a short time.
• On Action Skill End, Weapon Damage is increased by 100% for a short time.
• While an Action Skill is Active, Deal 75% more Weapon Damage to Badass, Named, and Boss enemies.
• While an Action Skill is Active, Weapon Damage is increased by 100%
• While enemies are below 25% Health, gain 50% increased Weapon Damage.
• While under 50% health, deal 100% bonus radiation damage.

Grenade Anoints

• On Action Skill End, gain 50% bonus <Element> Damage with Weapons for 10 seconds
• On Action Skill Start, Regenerate 1 grenade.
• On Grenade Thrown, Weapon, Grenade, and Action Skill Damage are increased by 25% for 6 seconds.
• While an Action Skill is Active, Grenade Damage is increased by 150%

Shield Anoints

• On Action Skill Start, activate any effects that trigger on shield break or fill
• On Action Skill End, Action skill cooldown rate is increased by 50% for a short time.
• On Action Skill End, Damage taken is reduced by 13% for a short time.
• On Action Skill End, gain 50% bonus <Element> Damage with Weapons for 10 seconds
• On Action Skill End, Melee Damage is increased by 100% for a short time.
• On Action Skill End, Regenerate 5% max health per second for a short time.
• On Shield break, the next shot deals 100% shield capacity as bonus Amp Damage.
• While an Action Skill is Active, constantly trigger novas that deal 38472 damage (lvl 65)

Character-Specific Anointments

Each Vault Hunter has their own specific anoints that hook into their unique abilities. Therefore, they don’t work on other characters.

• Amara-specific Anoints
• FL4K-specific Anoints
• Moze-specific Anoints
• Zane-specific Anoints

Anointments For Amara The Siren

These are bonus mutators that only apply to Amara “the Siren”.

Amara’s Weapon Anoints

• After using Phasecast, Status Effect Chance is increased by 50% for a short time
• After using Phasecast, Weapon Damage is increased by 250% for a short time
• After using Phaseslam, Weapon Damage is increased by 300% for a short time
• Astral Projection damage is increased by 200% for Phasecast and related action skills
• On Action Skill End, deal 40% bonus radiation damage for a short time.
• Orb damage is increased by 200% for Phaseflare and related action skills
• Slam damage is increased by 300% for Phaseslam and related action skills
• While Grasp is active, Weapon Damage is increased by 150%
• While Phasegrasp is active, Weapon charge time is decreased by 71%, and Fire Rate is increased by 12%

Amara’s Shield Anoints

• After using Phaseslam, 20% increased damage reduction and 12% increased movement speed
• After using Phaseslam, Melee Damage is increased by 200% for a short time
• While Phasegrasp is active, Amara constantly triggers novas that deal [###] damage

Anointments For FL4K The Beastmaster

These are bonus mutators that only apply to FL4K “the Beastmaster”.

FL4K’s Weapon Anoints

• After using Attack Command, gain 50% life steal for a short time
• After using Rakk Attack!, gain 100% critical hit damage for a short time
• Enemies damaged by Rakk Attack! take 100% increased damage for a short time
• While Fade Away is active, gain greatly increased Accuracy and Handling
• While Fade Away is active, Weapon Damage is increased by 150%
• While Gamma Burst is active, gain 115% bonus radiation damage
• While Gravity Snare is active, Weapon Damage is increased by 250%

FL4K’s Shield Anoints

• After issuing an Attack Command, gain 8% Movement Speed for a short time
• Grants an extra charge of Rakk Attack!
• When exiting Fade Away, create a nova that deals [###] damage

Anointments For Moze The Gunner

These are bonus mutators that only apply to Moze “the Gunner”.

Moze’s Weapon Anoints

• After exiting Iron Bear, gain 160% increased Splash damage for 18 seconds
• After exiting Iron Bear, the next 2 magazines will have 10% increased fire rate and 20% critical damage
• After exiting Iron Bear, the next 2 magazines will have 125% bonus incendiary damage
• After exiting Iron Bear, the next 3 magazines will have 33% increased reload speed and 67% increased handling
• While Auto Bear is active, deals 130% bonus incendiary damage
• While Iron Bear is active, Bear Fist damage is increased by 300%
• While Iron Bear is active, Minigun damage is increased by 150%
• While Iron Bear is active, Rail Gun damage is increased by 150%
• While Iron Bear is active, Salamander damage is increased by 200%
• While Iron Bear is active, taking damage has a 20% chance to spawn a grenade
• While Iron Bear is active, Vanquisher Rocket Pod damage is increased by 150%
• While Iron Bear is active, V-35 Grenade Launcher damage is increased by 200%
• While Iron Cub is active, Weapon Damage is increased by 150%
• While Auto Bear is active, constantly regenerates 8% of magazine size per second

Moze’s Shield Anoints

• After exiting Iron Bear, gain 75% increased shields and health for 25 seconds.
• After exiting Iron Bear, kills increase Iron Bear’s cooldown rate by 30%.
• When entering and exiting Iron Bear, create a nova that deals [###] damage

Moze’s Grenade Anoints

• While Iron Bear is active, taking damage has a 20% chance of spawning a grenade.
  

Anointments For Zane The Operative

These are bonus mutators that only apply to Zane “the Operative”.

Zane’s Weapon Anoints

• After swapping places with your Digi-Clone, Weapon Damage is increased by 130% for a short time.
• After swapping places with your Digi-Clone, your weapon is reloaded.
• MNTIS Shoulder Cannon damage is increased by 150%
• While Barrier is active, Status Effect Chance is increased by 50%
• While Barrier is active, Accuracy is increased by 60, and Critical Hit damage is increased by 125%
• While Digi-Clone is active, regenerate 30% of magazine ammo per second.
• While SNTNL is active, Gain 100% of damage as bonus Cryo damage.
• While SNTNL is active, Fire Rate is increased by 9% and Reload Speed by 23%.

Zane’s Shield Anoints

• When Barrier is Deployed, instantly start recharging your shields.
• While Digi-Clone is active, regenerates 3% max health per second.
• While SNTNL is active, Movespeed is increased by 15%.

Terror Anointments

Terror anointments can be obtained through the Bloody Harvest Event. These anoints only appear in the Reroll machine when the event is active.

Terror: Weapon Only Anoints

• While Terrified, gain increased crit damage. The more Terror you have, the higher the bonus.
  • Crit Damage Increase: 50 / 75 / 100% for 1 / 2 / 3 stacks of Terror.
• While Terrified, deal 75% bonus cryo damage.

Terror: Weapon + Shield Anoints

• While Terrified, gain ammo regeneration. The more Terror you have, the higher the bonus.
  • Ammo Regeneration: 5 / 11 / 16 % of magazine size per second for 1 / 2 / 3 stacks of Terror.
• While Terrified, enemy bullets have a chance to reflect off of you. The more Terror you have, the higher the bonus.
  • Bullet Deflection: 70 / 85 / 100 % chance of reflection for 1 / 2 / 3 stacks of Terror.

Terror: Weapon + Shield + Grenade Anoints

• While Terrified, gain increased damage and fire rate. The more Terror you have, the higher the bonus.
  • Damage Increase: 15 / 25 / 35% for 1 / 2 / 3 stacks of Terror.
  • Fire Rate: 7 / 14 / 21% for 1 / 2 / 3 stacks of Terror.
• While Terrified, gain health regeneration. The more Terror you have, the higher the bonus.
  • The Regeneration is 4 / 6 / 8 % of max health per second for 1 / 2 / 3 stacks of Terror.
• While Terrified, you have a chance to fire an extra projectile per shot. The more Terror you have, the higher the bonus.
• While Terrified, reduce all incoming damage by a small amount. The more Terror you have, the higher the bonus.
  • The Damage Reduction is 10 / 20 / 30 % for 1 / 2 / 3 stacks of Terror.
• On Action Skill End, heal 25% max health, effect is increased by 15% per terror stack. Consumes all Terror.
  • Max health Healed: 25 / 40 / 55 / 70 % health healed for 0 / 1 / 2 / 3 stacks of Terror.
• On Action Skill End, apply Terror to yourself every 3 seconds for the next 18 seconds.
• Melee Attacks have a 25% chance to apply Terror to yourself.

Character-Specific Terror Anointments

• Amara: After Phasegrasping an enemy, Amara fires Terror skulls at the grasped target dealing [###] damage (Weapons, Shields, and Grenades).
• FL4K: After Using Attack Command, consume all Terror and Fl4K’s Pet gains 200% bonus fire damage for a short time (Weapons and Shields).
• Moze: After Reloading, consume all Terror and create a nova that deals cryo damage (Weapons, Shields, and Grenades).
• Zane: While SNTNL is active, SNTNL gains 100% life steal while you are affected by Terror (Weapons and Shields).

Terror Tips & Tricks

• Use the “On Action Skill End, apply Terror” Anoint with a Fire & Forget Action Skill to easily keep max Terror Stacks.
• The Face-Puncher can easily stack terror when you have the “Melee Attacks have a 25% chance to apply Terror to yourself” Anoint because each pellet counts as melee damage.
• The Stinger Shield can also activate the “Melee Attacks have a 25% chance to apply Terror to yourself” Anoint because it also deals melee damage.

Anointment Acronyms

The wording on these anoints can be pretty lengthy therefore the community started using their own terms to describe each of the modifiers. Here is a list of all the Acronyms.

• 150/90 – Gain 150% increased weapon damage against enemies above 90% health.
• URAD – While under 50% health, deal 100% bonus radiation damage.
• ASE – Action Skill End
• ASA – Action Skill Active
• ASS – Action Skill Start (often used in combination with shields for the break/fill anoint).
• OGT 25 – One Grenade Thrown, weapon, grenade, and action skill damage are increased by 25% for 6 seconds.
• N2M – On action skill end, the next 2 magazines will have 100% additional bonus > element < damage.
• CDR – Cooldown Rate
• CONSEC – Consecutive hits increase weapon damage by 1% per hit, stacks to 100.

Discontinued Anointed

These anoints are removed from the game. Technically, they are still in the code but you can no longer get them on new gear or through the reroll machine.

• While Airborne, Critical Damage is increased by 25%
• While Airborne, Damage is increased by 30%
• While Airborne, Fire Rate is increased by 20%
• While Airborne, Accuracy and Handling are increased by 75%
• While Sliding, Accuracy and Handling are increased by 50%
• While Sliding, Damage is increased by 40%
• While Sliding, Fire Rate is increased by 25%
• While Sliding, building up energy that refills a portion of your shields
• While an Action Skill is Active, reduce all incoming damage by a small amount.
• While an Action Skill is Active, 250% of health damage taken is returned to the attacker as shock damage.
• On Action Skill End, Critical Damage is increased by 25% for a short time.
• On Action Skill End, create a cyber spike that damages nearby enemies.
• On Action Skill End, spawn a healing pool for several seconds.
• On Action Skill End, Fire rate is increased by 11%, and reload speed by 26% for a short time.
• On Action Skill End, Weapon Accuracy & Handling are greatly increased for a short time.
• On Action Skill End, Movement speed is increased by 5% for a short time.
• On Action Skill End, 30% of damage taken is returned to the attacker for a short time
• After exiting Iron Bear, do not consume ammo for 5 seconds
• After using Phaseslam, damage taken is reduced by 20% and movespeed is increased by 12%
• After using Phasegrasp, Weapon Accuracy and Handling are greatly increased
• While Terrified, you have a chance to fire an extra projectile per shot. The more Terror you have, the higher the bonus.

Best Anointed Weapons

Anointed weapons can make your character build very powerful. However, do remember that the anointments should play into your play style. Look at the skills and weapons you are using and try and double up specific abilities. This way you can stack the bonuses and be a destructive force. Don’t use Anoints that trigger “On Action skill End” if you are using a build that constantly keeps your action skill active.

Check out my guide about which anoints are the best.

Notes

• You can change the Anointment on an item with the Reroll Machine.
• Weapon Anoints: Only the Weapon Anoint from the item you currently hold in your hands will trigger when the conditions are met. The other 3 Weapon Anoints from that sit in your quick select loadout don’t trigger.
• Anoints that trigger the same thing don’t stack. You can avoid some of these by getting the same Anoint but with a different elemental damage type.
• Consecutive Hits Anoint: Missing a bullet does not remove the bonus. Not dealing damage for 1 second will remove the bonus, however, the “Consecutive Hits” damage may also come from other sources like your Action skill or Grenades.
• The “Gain 150% increased Weapon Damage against enemies above 90% Health” also applies to Melee attacks.

Changelog

• August 5, 2021:
  • Tweaked Iron Bear Anoints
• June 24, 2021:
  • Terror Anoints added to the Reroll machine when event is active.
  • Gearbox Software adjusted some of the anoints after the Cartels Event.
• April 8, 2021:
  • Anoint Reroll Machine added to the game
  • R.Y.N.A.H. and Broken Hearts Day weapons can now roll with Anointments
  • Action Skill Active Anointments now trigger when the Action Skill is already active
• January 21, 2021:
  • Linc Legendary pistol can now roll with Anointements
  • Addressed a reported concern that the Action Skill End apply Terror Anointment was only applying one stack of Terror
• November 9, 2020:
  • Updated Anointments to Support Fourth Skill Tree
  • The Siren can no longer “Fakegrasp”
  • The Beastmaster can no longer Gamma Burst while looking at the sky to trigger Anointments
  • Added 14 new Action Skill Damage Anointments
  • Weapon Anointments that increase weapon or melee damage after Phaseslam now properly increases damage
  • Pets will now receive damage buffs from the global grenade anointment
• October 8, 2020:
  • Terror anointments received some balance changes
• July 23, 2020:
  • Removed 21 Anointments from the loot pool
  • Addressed a reported concern where the Anointment “While an Action Skill is Active, constantly trigger novas that deal X damage” was incorrectly scaling when players received Mayhem modifiers scaling skill damage.
  • Addressed a bug that was causing the Siren’s radiation elemental Anointment to do less than indicated in the description
• June 11, 2020:
  • Added Revenge of the Cartel Anointments to the permanent drop pool for gear.
  • Buffed several Anointments
  • Addressed a reported concern that the Anointment “300% Damage above 90%” didn’t work properly with non-flesh enemy types.
  • Addressed a reported concern that the Operative’s Action Skill Anointed effects can be affected by other Action Skills when activating two Action Skills at the same time.
• April 30, 2020:
  • Adjusted the drop rates for Anointed gear in Mayhem Mode (100% on Mayhem 10)
• April 23, 2020:
  • The Revenge of the Cartel’s Event added new Anointments to the game.
  • Fix a few Anoints
• January 30, 2020:
  • Buffed drop rates and the Anointed chance
• January 16, 2020:
  • Buffed Vault hunter Anoints
• Oct 21, 2019:
  • The ‘Bloody Harvest’ added new Terror Anoints to Borderlands 3.
• October 10, 2019:
  • When Zane swaps positions with his Digi-Clone, the damage gained is increased to 130% (up from 75%)
  • When FL4K hits a target with Rakks, the target now takes 100% increased damage (up from 50%)
  • The Anointed part “Increased damage vs Badasses” no longer heals the player and now correctly adds bonus damage to Badass enemies