Borderlands 4 Unpaid Tab Walkthrough (September 2025)

Unpaid Tab is the ninth main mission in Borderlands 4 where you'll help restore power to Carcadia and assist Zane in his quest against Callis. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every objective, provide expert strategies for challenging encounters, and show you how to save Quent in the timed finale. Expect to face tough Ripper enemies, solve puzzles, and battle the boss Driller Hole in this critical story mission that unlocks essential faction town services.

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Quick Mission Overview

Mission Details	Information
Mission Number	9th Main Mission
Quest Giver	Levaine
Starting Location	Kairos > Carcadia Burn > Ruined Sumplands
Recommended Level	13
Previous Mission	Siege and Destroy
Next Mission	Her Flaming Vision
Key Rewards	XP, Money, Eridium, Rare SMG, SICKO-4 ECHO-4 Frame

Mission Walkthrough 2025

Objective 1: Repair Carcadia

Talk to Leader Yorick

• Find Yorick in the plaza area of Carcadia
• He'll explain the power situation and assign you the task

Find and Repair Core Electrical Relay

• Head to the marked building north of Yorick
• Inside, you'll find large pipes with glowing Ripper orbs causing electrical problems
• Pro Tip: There are exactly 11 orange bubbles to destroy - shoot them all
• Use cover wisely as enemies may spawn while you're working

Activate Core Power

• After destroying all orbs, flip the switch next to the large pipe
• This reactivates the main power grid

Restore Fast Travel Station

• Run south to the courtyard and interact with the glowing panel
• This restores fast travel functionality to Carcadia

Restore Vending Systems

• Head back inside the headquarters building
• Find and flip the marked switch to activate vending machines
• You now have access to all faction town services: fast travel, vending machines, bank, respec machine, and lost loot

Restore Water Supply

• Go outside to the west end of the courtyard
• Locate and turn all three marked valves
• Listen to Levaine's dialogue about the command bolt and Callis

Objective 2: Reach the Old Refinery

Travel to Firedust Bridge

• The bridge is southwest of your current location, near the Rustical Hurl Order Silo
• You'll encounter Ripper enemies upon arrival

Clear the Bridge Area

• Defeat all Rippers in the area
• Be prepared for a Badass Psycho and Badass Rat-a-tat that may spawn
• Combat Strategy: Use Shock damage for shields and Incendiary for flesh health bars

Lower the Bridge

• Take the path under the bridge
• Turn the marked valves underneath (this won't fully lower the bridge)
• Shoot the hinges underneath the stuck part of the bridge
• This creates a path across to the other side

Assist Quent

• Cross the bridge and find Quent on the other side
• Clear the area of various Rippers and another Badass Rat-a-tat
• Speak to Quent to learn Zane went into a Ripper base alone

Objective 3: Infiltrate the Oil Refinery

Reach the Old Refinery

• Follow the marker to the refinery entrance
• Use the intercom outside the large gate
• You'll be denied entry without a password

Gather Password Fragments

Eastern Ripper Camp (Tenterhooks)

• Head to the eastern camp first (it's closer)
• Fight through at least two Badass Psychos at the entrance
• Battle your way to the back to find Eleri, the camp leader
• Boss Strategy: Eleri has shield and flesh bars - use Shock and Incendiary damage
• Critical Tip: Eleri summons turrets that deal massive damage - destroy them immediately or use Corrosive weapons
• Collect the Password Fragment after defeating Eleri

Western Ripper Camp (Near Quisling's Cave)

• Navigate through a smaller enemy camp first
• Use the grappling hook to reach the western camp
• Fight another Badass Psycho at the entrance
• Climb the staircase and grapple up to find Brenda
• Boss Strategy: Brenda is a Badass Ripper with randomized elemental affinity
• Use cover and distance to avoid being overwhelmed
• Collect the second Password Fragment after defeating Brenda

Enter the Refinery

• Return to the oil refinery and approach from the eastern side
• Clear the small Ripper camp and climb to the second level
• Find the side door and use the intercom there
• You'll now gain entry to the Queen's Cradle base

Objective 4: Disrupt Callis's Operation

Find Zane

• Follow the linear path through the refinery
• Pass a Do-Over Station and through a large door to find Zane
• Zane will assist you in combat - he distracts enemies, deals damage, and can revive you

Clear the Refinery

• Defeat waves of Rippers with Zane's assistance
• First wave includes a Badass Rat-a-tat and turrets
• Second wave spawns from underground with another Badass Rat-a-tat
• Your main target is Security Jones

Defeat Security Jones

• Security Jones is a Meathead enemy type with two flesh bars
• Recommended Weapons: Incendiary and fire damage work best
• Use cover and focus fire to bring him down quickly

Destroy the Jamming Device

• Locate the jamming device and pull off the vent with your grappling hook
• Attempt to hack it with ECHO-4 (this will fail)
• Solution: Climb the scaffolding behind the jammer
• Perform a ground slam (hold Circle/B/Ctrl while in air) on the device
• This destroys the jammer and restores communications

Objective 5: Find the Prisoners

Reach Lower Level

• Clear another wave of Rippers after destroying the jammer
• Follow Zane to an elevator platform
• Pull the lever to descend to lower levels
• Clear more Rippers in the lower area

Find the Prisoners

• Follow the path through the facility with Zane
• You'll find Callis's prisoners in cages
• Callis will speak to you and reveal her plans
• Find Quent near the prisoners

Objective 6: Final Confrontation

Prepare for Boss Battle

• Jump down the hole near the prisoners
• Recommended Loadout: Corrosive and Incendiary weapons
• Clear the area of Rippers before the boss appears

Boss Battle: Driller Hole

Phase 1 (Armor Bar)

• Attacks to Watch For:
  • Vertical Rockets: Shoot from back, fly up, then dive down - strafe to avoid
  • Direct Rockets: Fired from gun in left hand - sprint to cover
  • Underground Explosives: Create trails in ground - jump or dash away
• Strategy: Use Corrosive damage for armor bar, aim for head for critical hits
• Pro Tip: Circle slowly around the center room using the machine as cover

Phase 2 (Flesh Bar)

• New Attacks:
  • Multiple Rocket Barrage: Several rockets fire at once - sprint away
  • Enhanced Versions: All previous attacks become more intense
• Strategy: Switch to Incendiary damage, maintain distance, use cover
• Critical Tip: Driller Hole is slow-moving - use this to your advantage for repositioning

The Choice: Save Quent or Lose Quent

After defeating Driller Hole, you'll face a 60-second timed challenge to save Quent.

How to Save Quent

1. Look up above the central machine
2. Use your grappling hook to pull 5 green-highlighted levers around the machine
3. Shoot and destroy 4 red-highlighted pipes connecting to the central pillar
4. Complete both objectives within the 60-second time limit

What Happens if You Fail

• Quent dies if the timer expires
• You must still destroy the machine using the same steps
• Important: There is no difference in mission rewards whether Quent lives or dies
• The only difference is some dialogue from Zane expressing grief

Pro Strategy for Saving Quent:

• Prioritize the levers first (they take longer to pull)
• Use a fast-firing weapon for the pipes
• Move quickly but deliberately - rushing can cause mistakes
• Remember the locations: levers are on the circular platform, pipes are above

Mission Rewards 2025

Reward Type	Specific Items
Base Rewards	Cash, XP, Eridium
Equipment	Rare SMG (Blue or Purple rarity)
Cosmetic	SICKO-4 ECHO-4 Frame

Pro Tips and Strategies

General Combat Tips

• Elemental Strategy: Shock for shields, Incendiary for flesh, Corrosive for armor
• Cover Usage: Always maintain cover during large enemy encounters
• Zane Utilization: Stay near Zane when playing solo for potential revives
• Ammo Management: Stock up at vending machines before major encounters

Puzzle Solutions

• Electrical Relay: Count exactly 11 orange bubbles to destroy
• Bridge Lowering: Shoot red-highlighted hinges, not just turn valves
• Jamming Device: Must use ground slam - regular attacks won't work
• Saving Quent: Levers first, then pipes - prioritize mobility

Boss Battle Optimization

• Driller Hole Phase 1: Corrosive weapons, headshots, use central machine as cover
• Driller Hole Phase 2: Switch to Incendiary, maintain distance, circle strafe
• General: Keep moving, use slam attacks for area damage, prioritize adds when they spawn

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Missing Electrical Orbs: Players often miss 1-2 orbs - count carefully to 11
2. Bridge Confusion: Don't just turn valves - you MUST shoot the hinges
3. Jamming Device: Don't waste time trying to hack it repeatedly - go straight to the ground slam
4. Quent Timer: Many players focus only on pipes or only on levers - you need both
5. Ammo Depletion: Stock up before the refinery - it's a long section with limited resupply points

Platform-Specific Information

All Platforms

• Mission structure and objectives are identical across platforms
• Recommended level 13 applies to all versions
• All rewards are the same regardless of platform

PC-Specific Tips

• Use mouse precision for aiming at weak points on bosses
• Keyboard shortcuts for quick weapon switching during elemental changes
• Higher frame rates can help with timed sections like saving Quent

Console-Specific Tips

• Use aim assist effectively during boss battles
• Controller vibration can help indicate when to dodge certain attacks
• Quick weapon wheel access is crucial for elemental switching

Community Resources

Official Sources

• Official Borderlands Website: borderlands.2k.com - Latest news and updates
• Gearbox Software: gearboxsoftware.com - Developer insights and patches
• Official Twitter: @borderlands - Real-time updates and announcements

Community Platforms

• Official Discord: discord.gg/borderlands - Active community with 173K+ members for co-op and help
• Reddit Community: r/Borderlands4 - Discussion, tips, and player experiences
• Borderlands Wiki: Comprehensive reference for all game mechanics and lore

Why These Resources Matter?

• Discord: Find co-op partners for difficult missions, get real-time help
• Reddit: Community-driven strategies and troubleshooting
• Official Site: Stay updated on patches that might affect mission mechanics
• Wiki: Detailed lore and additional context for story elements

FAQ Section

How long does the Unpaid Tab mission take to complete?

Most players complete Unpaid Tab in 45-90 minutes, depending on skill level and whether they explore optional areas.

What level should I be for Unpaid Tab?

The mission recommends level 13, but players can complete it as low as level 11 with good gear or as high as level 15 for an easier experience.

Can I complete Unpaid Tab solo?

Yes, Unpaid Tab is fully completable solo. Zane provides significant assistance during combat sections, making it manageable for single players.

What happens if I fail to save Quent?

If you fail the 60-second timer, Quent dies but the mission continues. You still receive the same rewards, but get different dialogue from Zane.

Do I need to complete both Ripper camps?

Yes, you must visit both eastern and western camps to collect both password fragments before entering the refinery.

What's the best weapon loadout for this mission?

A balanced loadout with Shock, Incendiary, and Corrosive weapons works best. SMGs and assault rifles are excellent for crowd control, while sniper rifles help with distant targets.

Can I return to Carcadia after completing the mission?

Yes, Carcadia becomes a fully functional faction town after completing Unpaid Tab, with all services permanently available.

Are there any missable collectibles in this mission?

No major collectibles are missable in Unpaid Tab. All story-critical items are obtained through natural progression.

How difficult is Driller Hole compared to other bosses?

Driller Hole is a mid-tier boss with moderate difficulty. His attacks are telegraphed clearly, making him more about pattern recognition than raw difficulty.

Does saving Quent affect future missions?

No, saving or losing Quent has no impact on future missions or story outcomes. It's purely a moral choice with no gameplay consequences.

Expert Tips Section

Speed Running Strategies

• Carcadia Repair: Memorize orb locations for quick destruction
• Bridge Section: Have a high-damage weapon ready for hinge shooting
• Refinery Infiltration: Clear camps efficiently - focus on leaders first
• Driller Hole: Use high-damage Corrosive weapons to end Phase 1 quickly

Low-Level Completion

• Gear Focus: Prioritize elemental weapons over raw damage
• Cover Usage: Never engage without nearby cover
• Zane Dependency: Stay close to Zane during refinery sections
• Resource Management: Conserve ammo for boss fights

Achievement/Trophy Hunting

• Untouched: Complete mission without going into FFYL (Fight For Your Life)
• Savior: Successfully save Quent on first attempt
• Efficiency: Complete mission in under 60 minutes
• Elemental Master: Use all three elemental types effectively

Final Thoughts

The Unpaid Tab mission represents a significant turning point in Borderlands 4's story, establishing Carcadia as a crucial hub and advancing the conflict with Callis. While challenging at times, particularly the refinery infiltration and Driller Hole boss fight, this mission rewards careful preparation and tactical thinking.

Remember to utilize Carcadia's newly restored services after completion - the fast travel station and vending machines will be invaluable for future missions. Whether you choose to save Quent or not, the mission progression remains the same, but making the effort to save him provides a more satisfying narrative conclusion.

Bookmark this guide for quick reference during your playthrough, and join the official Discord community for real-time help with any challenging sections. With the strategies and tips provided here, you'll be well-equipped to conquer the Unpaid Tab mission and continue your journey through Kairos.

This guide was last updated in September 2025 to ensure accuracy with the current version of Borderlands 4. For the most recent patch notes and potential mission changes, always check the official Borderlands website.