Borderlands 2 is already a challenging game, however, its “New Game+” modes called True Vault Hunter Mode (TVHM) and Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode (UVHM) increase the difficulty even more. Enemies have more health and your weapon choice becomes more important. In this Borderlands 2 End Game Guide, I’m going to tell you everything you need to know to dominate your enemies.
TVHM + UVHM Made Easy
I assume you already know the game’s fundamentals from the Borderlands 2 Beginner’s Guide when you reach this stage of the game. Therefore, here is everything you need to know about TVHM and UVHM in Borderlands 2 and how to level up your game.
1. Level Up
You can jump into the next playthrough once you complete the main story campaign. However, the next game mode has a starting level. Be sure to hit this base difficulty level because the game isn’t just more difficult but going in under-leveled means the numbers are stacked against you.
Also, don’t go into UVHM over-leveled because the enemies will scale to your level but TVHM only provides gear up to LVL50. So if your character is LVL60 the enemies in UVHM will be LVL60 but your gear is still at LVL50.
Complete the side missions during your playthrough as these provide you with a lot of Experience Points (XP). This allows you to even become a bit overpowered when going onto the next main story mission.
Game Mode / Playthrough | Enemy Level Scaling | Health | Health Regen |
---|---|---|---|
Normal Mode | 15 to 35 | Default | No |
True Vault Hunter Mode | 35 to 50 | x2 | No |
Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode | 50 to Max | x4 | Yes |
2. Elemental Effectiveness
You have been learning how to effectively use elemental damage in Borderlands 2 during your initial Normal Mode playthrough. However, this has become more important in TVHM and UVHM because using the correct counter element has increased in damage while using the incorrect element now does even less damage.
Generally, the damage of the correct element goes up from 150% to 175% damage. While using the incorrect element, your damage reduces from 75% to 40% damage. Kinetic, Explosive, and Slag are consistent throughout each playthrough.
Flesh | Shield | Armor | |
---|---|---|---|
Non-elemental | Normal: 100% TVHM: 100% UVHM: 100% | Normal: 100% TVHM: 100% UVHM: 100% | Normal: 80% TVHM: 80% UVHM: 80% |
Explosive | Normal: 100% TVHM: 100% UVHM: 100% | Normal: 80% TVHM: 80% UVHM: 80% | Normal: 100% TVHM: 100% UVHM: 100% |
Incendiary | Normal: 150% TVHM: 175% UVHM: 175% | Normal: 75% TVHM: 40% UVHM: 40% | Normal: 75% TVHM: 40% UVHM: 40% |
Shock | Normal: 100% TVHM: 100% UVHM: 100% | Normal: 200% TVHM: 250% UVHM: 250% | Normal: 100% TVHM: 100% UVHM: 100% TVHM: 100% |
Corrosive | Normal: 90% TVHM: 60% UVHM: 60% | Normal: 75% TVHM: 40% UVHM: 40% | Normal: 150% TVHM: 175% UVHM: 175% |
Slag | Normal: 100% TVHM: 100% UVHM: 100% | Normal: 100% TVHM: 100% UVHM: 100% | Normal: 100% TVHM: 100% UVHM: 100% |
3. Slag Enemies
Slagging an enemy and using the most effective elemental damage becomes a necessary game mechanic in Borderlands 2 subsequential playthroughs as the enemies become stronger and stronger.
Slag basically applies a debuff to an enemy and makes them weak against other elemental damages and therefore your damage is amplified. While it was mostly important on bosses in TVHM it really becomes necessary in UVHM (or playing with OverPower Levels) while encountering regular mobs.
Gearbox Software even increased the weapon swap speed in UVHM in order to facilitate this play style.
- Farm the best Slag weapons in Borderlands 2
- Use a Slag weapon to weaken the enemy.
- Use an Elemental weapon when they have the purple glow on them.
Playthrough | Damage Amp | Duration |
---|---|---|
Normal | x2 | 8 sec |
True Vault Hunter Mode | x2 | 8 sec |
Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode | x3 | 15 sec |
4. Optimize your Build
You need a quality character build when playing in THVM and UVHM. Look for skills that synergize with each other and add gear that compliments your build. Sometimes that means it’s not just about doing more damage but balancing out your weaknesses to keep you on your feet.
So instead of choosing the popular Legendary Bee Shield because it increases your damage, you can equip the Neogenator because it adds more survivability.
You can farm for a quality Class Mod that really strengthens your playstyle and once you have one, you don’t have to switch it out that frequently because the additional skill points are more important than the flat stat boost from the Class Mod level. You can farm Terramorphous on a lower playthrough to get its legendary class mod.
5. Use SHiFT Codes
Redeem SHiFT Codes in order to get Golden Keys. You can use this to get high-quality loot from the Golden Chest in Sanctuary. This way you can easily get some good items.
6. Farm Gear Better Gear
Farming Gear is part of the journey! Every Boss has a dedicated loot drop, go kill them a bunch of times to get quality loot. Borderlands 2 is designed to replace your gear around every 5 levels or so. Therefore you should not carry that one awesome LVL50 weapon all the way to LVL60 because it will underperform.
- Best Assault Rifles in Borderlands 2
- Best Grenades in Borderlands 2
- Best Pistols in Borderlands 2
- Best Rocket Launchers in Borderlands 2
- Best Shields in Borderlands 2
- Best Shotguns in Borderlands 2
- Best SMGs in Borderlands 2
- Best Snipers in Borderlands 2
- Also, don’t sleep on these Epic Purple Weapons.
7. More Tips & Tricks
- LOADOUT
- Ideally, use a Grenade Mod to Slag enemies, the Magic Missle from Assault on Dragon Keep is your best option.
- Set 1 Incindairy, 1 Shock, and 1 Corrosive weapon in your quick weapon select slots so you can swiftly swap to the most effective elemental damage.
- Set 1 heavy weapon in your quick weapon select slots to get an easy kill when you are down in “Fight for Your Life”.
- LOOT
- Tip Moxxi for a good SMG. Moxxi weapons heal you based on a percentage of the damage you dealt.
- Get yourself a “Rubi”. It is a quest reward for completing the mission “Rakkaholics Anonymous” which is located in The Dust. This weapon can Slag and Heal you at the same time.
- The Florentine from the Seraph Vendor in Assault on Dragon Keep is a 2-in-1 combo that Slags and Shocks enemies.
- You can farm a Slagga as an effective 3x SMG to debuff your enemies.
- Keep the “Grog Nozzle” mission item from Assault on Dragon Keep by not completing the Quest “The Beard Makes the Man”. It’s the most effective Slag and Heal weapon in the game.
- Farm Legendary Gear
- COMBAT
- Use your weapon’s scope, aim down sights, so your weapon is more accurate and you actually hit your opponent.
- Aim for the enemy’s crit spot to deal more damage.
- Prioritize your enemies. Some of them are more dangerous because they use a Shock or Heavy weapon.
- Finish off your opponents in UVHM! Don’t damage everyone just a little bit. Enemies have health regeneration.
- OTHER
- Watch out for barrels because they are deathly.
- Axton can use the capstone skill “Double Up” in the Guerrilla skill tree to have his turret Slag enemies.