Borderlands DLC playthrough order?

[makken]

Hey guys,

I brought Borderlands GOTY back when it was on sale on steam; it took me a while to really get drawn into the game, but now I'm enjoying it far more than I expected.

My original plan was to play through the original game, then tackle the DLCs in the order they were released. However, its been brought to my attention that the DLCs are actually accessible from any point in the game, that they scale to your current level, and they unlock certain things that are quite desirable *cough* a bank *cough*

So I'm wondering, if I play through the DLCs now (I'm around level 25), will it screw up the main story or my progression? ie. I don't want to end up grabbing an extra 20 levels then come back to the main story and find everything trivial because I'm doing level 25 content while at level 50 or something.

 

[Provenone]

I'm quite certain that the whole game scales. however, i may be wrong.

 

[Borealis7]

playing the DLCs wont affect the main game, but you will have better items when you do finish the DLCs.

i played Zombie Island around level 20, and KNOXX after beating the game around level 40.
i haven't played the last one, i prefer waiting for Borderlands 2

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

You're going to end up overleveled if you do everything even without the DLC.

 

[wrbt]

it took me a while to really get drawn into the game, but now I'm enjoying it far more than I expected.

I had same reaction, and have read similar from so many others.

Despite the mission repetition (find the pieces, turn on the things, get the key, kill the big guy, clear out the baddies, etc.) Borderlands was just an outstanding game with lots of play hours for your buck. I've not read anything about Borderlands 2 but that would definitely be something I'll jump on.

 

[Aikouka]

The game will raise the levels after certain events. Like I beat the game on playthrough 2 and now all enemies are ~53+ rather than 40-something. Mad Moxxi can't really be solo'd, but I just use the bank.

 

[Firsttime]

You can get to the bank whenever. Moxie isn't really a component of the main story. It's a pure arena style add-on. Otherwise play Zombie after your first playthrough, then Knoxx and Claptrap after your second. I would say try to complete story quests and only really do side quests if you are finding yourself underleveled.

 

[NoSoup4You]

Dumb question - but any reason to avoid the side missions? Will I end up overlevelled and therefore the main missions become a cakewalk? Just curious... I tend to prefer a "more" completionist strategy and I'm not 100% convinced I'll even do a second playthrough...

Thanks!

 

[Soccerman06]

Do Claptrap first, as it shows up as the first thing after you beat the main game, zombie, then knoxx, then moxxi. When you beat the dlc shit, you get an extra skill point (even moxxi) and I believe you can repeat them after you finish for more points.

 

[smartpatrol]

I'm quite certain that the whole game scales. however, i may be wrong.

Nope, every quest has a recommended level. If you're above that level, it will be VERY easy. And if you try to do every quest, you will pretty much be permanently overleveled.

It really pissed me off the way Borderlands handles leveling. All weapon damage scales based on level. In a game so focused on guns, why should your level matter more than anything else?

It makes it hard to find the sweet spot. Either your guns are doing pathetic single-digit damage, or else you're mowing down everything with ease.

 

[sticks435]

The level scaling only kicks in after certain events in part 2. I would do main game pt 1, main game pt 2, knoxx (you get 11 more levels as part of the dlc), claptrap (because certain enemies in knoxx appear here), then zombie island. I would just use willowtree to get the skill points and backpack slots you would have gotten in pt1 and just skip them entirely in the DLC. Base level for enemies in knoxx pt2 is 52 I think, so you'll def want to wait until you finish the main game.

 

[Nebor]

Don't go into knoxx as a level 60 though. It sucks because it's too easy.

 

[makken]

So I played though the first 5 or 6 missions of Dr. Ned's zombie island; its pretty nice, but I think I will enjoy it a lot more if I came back to it after I find a nice shotgun or rapid fire SMG/machine gun. My current loadout (a revolver, a slow firing smg w/ zoom, a burst fire combat rifle, and I use the last slot to switch between a sniper rifle or a rocket launcher) isn't really ideal for mowing down waves of zombies.

Also, what do all the zombie brains do?

 

[n7]

So I played though the first 5 or 6 missions of Dr. Ned's zombie island; its pretty nice, but I think I will enjoy it a lot more if I came back to it after I find a nice shotgun or rapid fire SMG/machine gun. My current loadout (a revolver, a slow firing smg w/ zoom, a burst fire combat rifle, and I use the last slot to switch between a sniper rifle or a rocket launcher) isn't really ideal for mowing down waves of zombies.

Also, what do all the zombie brains do?

There are quests for collecting them you might not have gotten yet.

I'll link here for suggestions on playing through (in what order)
http://gbxforums.gearboxsoftware.com/showthread.php?t=112350

Explosive & incendiary weapons work very well against zombies.

 

[jinsaotomex4]

The DLC order is :
Underdome (Do this one as soon as you get a static elemental, reward is just 1 extra skill point)
Zombie Island
Secret Armory
Claptrap Revolution (this one should always be last and should always be done after the main game, at least the first time so the other stuff isn't ruined for you)

 

[Powermoloch]

mad moxxi was hard to beat solo, but i managed lols

 

[Aikouka]

So I played though the first 5 or 6 missions of Dr. Ned's zombie island; its pretty nice, but I think I will enjoy it a lot more if I came back to it after I find a nice shotgun or rapid fire SMG/machine gun. My current loadout (a revolver, a slow firing smg w/ zoom, a burst fire combat rifle, and I use the last slot to switch between a sniper rifle or a rocket launcher) isn't really ideal for mowing down waves of zombies.

Also, what do all the zombie brains do?

If you need a rapid fire SMG (shoot 4 bullets at once), I have some stored in my Siren along with SMG regen mods.

 

[makken]

There are quests for collecting them you might not have gotten yet.

I'll link here for suggestions on playing through (in what order)
http://gbxforums.gearboxsoftware.com/showthread.php?t=112350

Explosive & incendiary weapons work very well against zombies.

eh, according to that site, I should play through the game TWICE before i even get into DLCs? or am i misunderstanding it?

I didn't even have intentions to play the main game twice >.<

Underdome (Do this one as soon as you get a static elemental, reward is just 1 extra skill point)

Just tried a few rounds there, why a static elemental? I think I have a static SMG sitting around somewhere, but I'm just using it for the bank atm.

If you need a rapid fire SMG (shoot 4 bullets at once), I have some stored in my Siren along with SMG regen mods.

Thanks, but I prefer to farm my own stuff in these types of games

 

[n7]

eh, according to that site, I should play through the game TWICE before i even get into DLCs? or am i misunderstanding it?

I didn't even have intentions to play the main game twice >.<

Correct, you want to leave the DLC until Playthrough 2 as you will end up being overleveled otherwise.

Proper scaling does not take effect until you get the quest to "Find Steele" (the last mission of the game) in the second playthrough.

The game is meant to be played in the second playthrough really.
The first run is just warmup for the second playthrough, where things are tougher, guns are better, etc.

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

So typically things don't drop in the underdome, however bonus effects can still cause drops. And they drop some nice stuff.

 

[Nebor]

If you're not level 50-54 when you do Knoxx the first time, it's not going to be fun. It'll be too easy. You have to beat Knoxx in order for that DLC to properly scale.

 

[zinfamous]

Correct, you want to leave the DLC until Playthrough 2 as you will end up being overleveled otherwise.

Proper scaling does not take effect until you get the quest to "Find Steele" (the last mission of the game) in the second playthrough.

The game is meant to be played in the second playthrough really.
The first run is just warmup for the second playthrough, where things are tougher, guns are better, etc.

so the first character is going to be junk?

I don't see myself playing this through twice, and I'm quite digging my siren right now.

I'm only level 13 or so, and really taking my time. maybe that's a waste, but I guess I don't want to treat his like an MMO. :\

oh, and all of the multiplayer is co-op or duels in the arena? would be nice to see some ATOTers on, but I'm in a different timezone than most.

 

[n7]

so the first character is going to be junk?

I don't see myself playing this through twice, and I'm quite digging my siren right now.

I'm only level 13 or so, and really taking my time. maybe that's a waste, but I guess I don't want to treat his like an MMO. :\

oh, and all of the multiplayer is co-op or duels in the arena? would be nice to see some ATOTers on, but I'm in a different timezone than most.

No no, not junk at all.
There are two, well actually sorta 2.5, playthroughs for the game.

The first one is till about level ~ 35.
You can play the game after that in playthrough one, including the DLC, but you'll usually gain less & less XP, & the game difficulty is not nearly the same. And as i mentioned before, it'll result in you being overleveled in the second playthrough, which will make it overly easy.

Once you've completed the main game you'll have a second playthrough option from the main menu.

Keep in mind that as you gain levels the guns, shield, grenades, etc. will continue to be better so that best loot you've found will be replaced at some point pretty much regardless until you are at the latter stages of the leveling (58 is cap for those w/o Knoxx & 69 for those w/ Knoxx).

Co-op is sadly filled with a lot of idiots in this game.
There is rampant modding & cheating in multiplayer, & not the good kind.
Lots of overpowered modified weapons & shields that result in being invincible & all kinds of other garbage that ruins the game.
Lots of idiots wanting to duel you with their modified hacked crap weapons is likely what you are running into, though there are definitely legitimate people out there.

If you aren't familiar with what is legit & not (offficial Borderland forums are very helpful for setting up Co-op games & helping to understand the game mechanics), i'd stay away from online games or at least avoid accepting "free gift" weapons from online strangers.
If the candy looks delicious, it's likely poisoned.

Also, this is one game where the DLC is extremely worth it IMHO, other than Claptrap (still worth it; just less so).
The ending in the main game is rather disappointing, but i found General Knoxx DLC's ending (or ability to continue farming the ending(s) more than satisfying, & any loot hunters tend to agree.

 

[jinsaotomex4]

Just tried a few rounds there, why a static elemental? I think I have a static SMG sitting around somewhere, but I'm just using it for the bank atm.

You want a static elemental for the guardians you fight in the angelic ruins, which IMO is the hardest of the 3 due to the arch guardians and such (hunters can just shield bypass). The other 2 are very easy to beat solo. The reward for clearing this is 1 skill point.

I would also save knoxx until run 2.5, even if you do get a couple of quests to do armory runs. Unlocking run 2.5 is easy, all you have to do is get to the vault in playthrough #2 and even if you don't beat the boss, playthrough 2.5 is unlocked. The enemies here will start scaling to your level and such. Currently level 69 and most of the enemies are 68-70.

Hacking aside, co-op in this game is FANTASTIC if you have other people that can play with you to level up. It's possible to play the whole game, do all the quests and runs with the same group of people as the game allows for this. I leveled 1 character to 69 with my friend, and currently in the process of leveling our 2nd characters. More games with co-op should allow for this.

Also, this is one game where the DLC is extremely worth it IMHO, other than Claptrap (still worth it; just less so).
The ending in the main game is rather disappointing, but i found General Knoxx DLC's ending (or ability to continue farming the ending(s) more than satisfying, & any loot hunters tend to agree.

Honestly, I would say that the worst one is Underdome because of how it's set up, the rewards and such. Claptrap has some funny moments when you leave it for dead last, as everything makes sense but I absolutely hate the labyrinth cave.

 

[Nebor]

You want a static elemental for the guardians you fight in the angelic ruins, which IMO is the hardest of the 3 due to the arch guardians and such (hunters can just shield bypass). The other 2 are very easy to beat solo. The reward for clearing this is 1 skill point.

I would also save knoxx until run 2.5, even if you do get a couple of quests to do armory runs. Unlocking run 2.5 is easy, all you have to do is get to the vault in playthrough #2 and even if you don't beat the boss, playthrough 2.5 is unlocked. The enemies here will start scaling to your level and such. Currently level 69 and most of the enemies are 68-70.

Hacking aside, co-op in this game is FANTASTIC if you have other people that can play with you to level up. It's possible to play the whole game, do all the quests and runs with the same group of people as the game allows for this. I leveled 1 character to 69 with my friend, and currently in the process of leveling our 2nd characters. More games with co-op should allow for this.

Honestly, I would say that the worst one is Underdome because of how it's set up, the rewards and such. Claptrap has some funny moments when you leave it for dead last, as everything makes sense but I absolutely hate the labyrinth cave.

If you save Knoxx for playthrough 2.5, all the enemies will be level ~52 until you beat Knoxx, then that DLC will scale to your level.