Borderlands 4 Relieving the Guard Walkthrough

Relieving the Guard is a main story mission in Borderlands 4 where you must clear a Crimson Lance checkpoint to open the way to the next area. You will fight waves of enemies, destroy a beacon, and then defeat a named boss. This walkthrough covers every objective, the best gear to bring, and how to beat the final fight without losing your sanity.

Mission Overview and How to Start

You pick up Relieving the Guard automatically after completing the previous story mission, “The Calm Before.” The mission marker appears on your map in the region of The Splinterlands, pointing to a Crimson Lance barricade that blocks the road to the next zone. There is no level requirement listed, but the enemies scale to your Vault Hunter’s level, so you can attempt it as soon as it appears. The mission has three main objectives:

• Reach the Crimson Lance checkpoint
• Destroy the communications beacon
• Defeat the boss, Captain Valeria

Once you accept the mission, a waypoint guides you to the checkpoint gate. The path is linear, but there are side areas with loot chests and optional enemies. If you are under-leveled, consider clearing a few side missions first to grab better gear.

Reaching the Checkpoint

Follow the road from the fast travel station. You will encounter a few scattered Crimson Lance troopers and a turret emplacement. Take out the turret from long range with a sniper or rocket launcher before advancing. The checkpoint itself is a fortified gate with two guard towers and a barricade. As you approach, a short cutscene triggers showing the gate closing. You must now fight through the checkpoint to open it.

There are three waves of enemies: first a group of troopers and a heavy gunner, then a second wave with a badass engineer who deploys a shield, and finally a wave of jetpack troopers. Use the environment for cover – the barricade and shipping containers provide good protection. Shock damage is effective against shields, and corrosive weapons work well against the armored heavy. After clearing the waves, the gate opens and you can proceed into the courtyard.

Destroying the Communications Beacon

In the courtyard, you see a large antenna tower. Your objective is to destroy the beacon at its top. There are two ways to do this: you can shoot the beacon directly from the ground if you have a long-range weapon, or you can climb the stairs on the side of the tower. The stairs are guarded by two snipers and a turret. If you choose to climb, take out the snipers first, then the turret. At the top, interact with the beacon to plant an explosive charge. After planting, you have 30 seconds to get clear before it detonates. The explosion also destroys the tower, creating a new path forward.

Alternatively, you can shoot the beacon with a rocket launcher or a sniper with high damage. The beacon has a health bar, and once it reaches zero, it explodes automatically, but the blast radius is smaller. Both methods work, but planting the charge is safer if you have low damage output.

Boss Fight: Captain Valeria

After the tower falls, Captain Valeria drops down from a dropship with two heavy gunners. She is a mid-tier boss with a shock shotgun and a grenade launcher. Her attacks are telegraphed: she raises her gun before firing a spread of shock pellets, and she lobs grenades that leave a corrosive puddle. The key is to keep moving and use cover. The arena is a large open space with several low walls and a central raised platform.

Valeria has three phases. In phase one, she fights alone with her shotgun. When her health drops to 66%, she calls in two jetpack troopers and starts using her grenade launcher more often. At 33% health, she enrages, moving faster and firing a continuous beam from her shotgun. Focus on the adds first, then return to Valeria. Corrosive weapons work well against her armor, and shock weapons strip her shield quickly. Once she is down, she drops a legendary shotgun called “Valeria’s Revenge” and a mission reward of cash and experience.

Rewards and Loot

Completing Relieving the Guard grants you a significant amount of experience, cash, and a guaranteed legendary drop from the boss. The mission also unlocks the next story mission, “The Hidden Base.” In addition, the checkpoint area becomes a fast travel point, and a vending machine appears near the gate. The boss can be farmed by reloading the game and returning to the area, though she only spawns during the mission. If you want to farm her, you must restart the mission from the mission select screen, which resets all objectives.

Common Mistakes and Tips

One common mistake is rushing the boss fight without clearing the adds. Valeria’s jetpack troopers can flank you while you focus on her, so always prioritize them. Another mistake is standing in the corrosive puddles – they deal heavy damage over time. Use the central platform to break line of sight and force Valeria to come to you.

For gear, bring a shock weapon for shields, a corrosive weapon for armor, and a fire weapon for flesh. A grenade mod with a shock or corrosive element is also helpful. If you are playing co-op, have one player focus on adds while the other damages the boss. The mission is not particularly difficult, but it can be frustrating if you are under-leveled. If you are struggling, level up by completing side missions in The Splinterlands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip the cutscene?

Yes, you can skip the cutscene when the gate closes by pressing the skip button. This is helpful for farming the boss, as it saves time.

What level should I be for this mission?

The mission scales to your level, but the enemies are around level 12-14 if you are on a fresh playthrough. If you are below level 10, you may want to do a few side missions first.

Does the boss respawn?

Captain Valeria only spawns during the mission. If you leave the area and return, she will not be there. To fight her again, you must reset the mission from the mission select screen.

What is the best element to use against Captain Valeria?

She has a shield, armor, and health, so you will need to switch elements. Use shock to strip the shield, corrosive for armor, and fire for health. A shock weapon is the most important.

Is there a secret chest in the area?

Yes, there is a red chest on the roof of the building to the left of the boss arena. You can reach it by jumping from the central platform. It contains random loot and can be opened once per mission.

Can I co-op this mission?

Yes, the mission is fully playable in co-op. Enemies scale, so it is recommended to have a balanced team with different elements.

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