The R&D lab is swarming with Creeps. Eliminate them, and Ted will say he's on his way to destroy the facility himself. However, you'll need to reactivate the elevator so he can reach you. Go up the stairs in the back of the room and press the button on the console to Borderlands 4 Boosting bring the lift back online.

Survive the Vile Experiment Attack

While you wait for Ted's arrival, several mutated enemies labeled Vile Experiments will attack. These Creeps are enhanced versions with more health and damage, so use elemental weapons and explosive gear to handle the waves efficiently.

Once the final wave is defeated, Ted arrives at the lab. Speak with him, and he'll mention feeling a strange pull to the place - an urge to return to where it all started. Against your warnings, he steps into one of the machines used in the Order's experiments.

Final Boss: Vile Ted

In a shocking twist, the machine reacts to Ted's presence and mutates him into Vile Ted - the final boss of this mission. He fights like other Vile-class enemies but hits harder and moves faster. Use high-damage weapons and abilities to keep him staggered, and take cover when he uses area-of-effect attacks.

Once defeated, Ted drops loot and an ECHO Log, revealing his final thoughts and confirming that his transformation was irreversible. Collect the log for completion and grab any valuable Borderlands 4 Items he leaves behind.

Escaping the Facility

With Ted gone, a door at the back of the lab unlocks. Go through it and follow the long hallway to another elevator. Before leaving, pick up one last ECHO Log next to a fallen scientist beside the elevator switch. Flip the switch and ride the lift back to the surface.

When you emerge outside, the mission officially completes, and you'll receive your base rewards.

Rewards and Extras

After the mission ends, open your Inventory to find an additional reward chest containing:

A random weapon (Uncommon or Epic)

The Weirdo vehicle paint job

A matching weapon skin

These cosmetic and gear rewards serve as reminders of your descent into one of Borderlands 4's most disturbing missions.

Tips for the Mission

Bring elemental Borderlands 4 Weapons. Creeps and Vile enemies are weak to fire and corrosive types.

Use the cover smartly. The narrow hallways make grenade splash damage risky.

Grab every ECHO Log. They expand on the Order's backstory and Ted's fate.

Save your best ammo for the Vile Ted boss fight - it's the toughest part.

Below the Surface isn't just another side quest - it's a tragic story about survival, corruption, and redemption. With Ted's journey finally ending where it began, you leave the Hydrus Sublab knowing you've put one of Borderlands 4's darkest chapters to rest - and claimed some solid loot in the process.

Vile Ted and the Experiments is one of the most haunting and emotional encounters in Borderlands 4. Taking place near the end of the Below the Surface side mission in Dominion City, this boss battle puts players face-to-face with Ted - a victim of the Order's cruel experiments - as he transforms into something monstrous. In this walkthrough, we'll cover where to find the fight, how to defeat both the Vile Experiments and Vile Ted, and what Legendary loot you can expect for surviving the ordeal.

Location and Setup

You'll face Vile Ted and the Experiments in the Hydrus Sublab, an abandoned Order research facility beneath Dominion City. This is the same area explored during the Below the Surface mission. After fighting through waves of Creeps and reactivating the elevator, Ted will contact you, saying he's coming down to meet you in the R&D lab. This marks the beginning of the final sequence.

Before Ted arrives, however, you'll need to survive a fight against the Vile Experiments, a group of heavily mutated Creeps that guard the lab's core. Make sure to restock at the nearby ammo vending machine and reload all your cheap Borderlands 4 Weapons before the encounter begins.

Phase One: Defeating the Vile Experiments

While waiting for Ted's arrival, three Vile Experiments will emerge from containment pods around the lab. These enemies are enhanced Creeps with Eridium-infused armor that completely negates health damage until shattered.

Combat Tips:

Target Weak Points:

Each Vile Experiment's Eridium plating has glowing nodes. Focus sustained fire or explosive weapons on these areas to break the armor faster.

Use Corrosive or Explosive Weapons:

Eridium armor is especially weak to corrosive damage, though explosive weaponry works well too. Shotguns with wide spreads or splash damage can break multiple nodes at once.

Isolate and Eliminate:

Try to kite one Creep away from the others to focus your fire. Each one's armor regeneration can make prolonged fights difficult, so burst damage is key.

Once all three Vile Experiments are destroyed, you'll have a brief window to regroup. Ted then approaches, expressing his need to "return to where it all began." The tone shifts dramatically as he steps into a nearby experimental chamber - triggering the transformation into buy Borderlands 4 Boost Vile Ted.