Borderlands 4 Firmware Tier List - BL4 Best Firmware Sets (Mods) & Fast Farm

Firmware is one of the hottest new features for endgame Borderlands 4 players, adding a powerful layer of customization to your build. If you’ve reached the late game, you’ve probably started to notice these unique bonuses popping up on your loot, but figuring out which firmware sets are truly worth using can give you a big edge. With this guide, we will walk you through what firmware is, how it works, the best firmware sets to aim for, and the most efficient ways to farm for them.

How Firmware Works in Borderlands 4?

Firmware in Borderlands 4 is a special bonus that appears at the bottom of certain gear pieces. You’ll spot it by the glitchy, shimmering effect around the gear’s border. If you just see a straight colored line, there’s no firmware attached. These bonuses do not show up early in the game; you’ll start to encounter them once you hit the later stages and begin taking on bosses or opening endgame chests.

Firmware can only appear on your character’s bottom five equipment slots: Rep Kit, Ordnance, Class Mod, Enhancement, and Shield. Weapons don’t currently support firmware, though there’s speculation this could change in the future.

Each firmware comes in set types, and you can stack up to three pieces of the same set across your gear. The more you stack, the better the bonuses become—reaching tier three unlocks the most powerful effects.

How To Use & Transfer Firmware in BL4?

Once you have the firmware you want, head to the transfer machine (unlocked after your first Ultimate Vault Hunter mission). This device allows you to move firmware from one item to another, but keep in mind:

• The item you transfer from is destroyed in the process.

• Each item can only have its firmware swapped once.

• You can only have one piece of a specific firmware set on each gear slot—stacking is done by equipping multiple gear pieces with the same firmware.

Borderlands 4 Best Firmware Sets & Mods

Some firmware sets have become staples for top-tier builds, while others shine in specific playstyles. Here are the best sets to watch for and what they offer:

1. Deadeye: The Gold Standard for Crit Builds

• Tier 1: +30% gun accuracy

• Tier 2: +25% gun critical damage

• Tier 3: Each critical hit grants 15% critical damage per stack (max 5 stacks, 10 seconds)

Dead Eye is almost universally recommended, especially for crit builds. Stacking three can result in a massive boost to your overall crit damage, up to 100% when maxed out. It’s incredibly strong for any build focused on precision and high damage output.

2. Trickshot: Ammo Efficiency and Reloads

• Tier 1: +5% reload speed

• Tier 2: +10% gun critical damage

• Tier 3: Critical hits have a 50% chance to refill one ammo in the current magazine

Perfect for players who want to keep firing without frequent reloads, Trickshot is ideal for those who love continuous firepower.

3. Gadgets of Hoy: Ordnance Cooldown and Damage

• Tier 1: -15% ordnance cooldown

• Tier 2: +20% ordnance damage

• Tier 3: Defeating enemies with ordnance grants +20% ordnance damage for 15 seconds

A must-have for grenade and heavy weapon builds, Gadgets of Hoy lets you spam grenades and abilities more often while ramping up their damage.

4. Get Throwing: Grenade and Thrown Weapon Power

• Tier 1: +10% ordnance damage

• Tier 2: +20% splash radius

• Tier 3: Grenades and Tediore-thrown guns have a 50% chance to spawn homing missiles

This set can help clear out mobs and bosses alike, especially for those who favor thrown explosives.

5. Action Fist: Melee and Action Skill Focus

• Tier 1: +15% melee damage

• Tier 2: +10% action skill damage

• Tier 3: Melee action skill damage +25% for 8 seconds after defeating an enemy

Pair this with melee-focused builds for a huge damage spike when fighting up close.

6. Real Big Fist: Explosive Melee

• Tier 1: +15% melee damage

• Tier 2: +25% melee damage

• Tier 3: Defeating enemies triggers a nova explosion for 200% melee damage in a radius

This set is fantastic for those who enjoy wiping out groups of enemies at close range.

7. Bullets to Spare: Magazine and Fire Rate

• Tier 1: +5% fire rate

• Tier 2: +20% magazine size

• Tier 3: Fire rate increases by 50% of magazine size

Great for rapid-fire builds, letting you shoot longer and faster.

8. Oscar Mike: Reload Speed and Burst Damage

• Tier 1: +10% reload speed

• Tier 2: Up to +20% gun damage as your magazine empties

• Tier 3: +30% fire rate for 4 seconds after reloading

Oscar Mike is all about quick reloads and maximizing damage bursts.

9. Gujiker (Guj FC): Action Skill Spam

• Tier 1: +10% action skill cooldown rate

• Tier 2: +15% action skill damage

• Tier 3: +20% action skill cooldown rate (30% total)

For action skill spammers, this firmware makes your key abilities even more accessible and impactful.

10. Baker: Shields and Survival

• Tier 1: +10% shield capacity

• Tier 2: +15% Rep Kit cooldown duration

• Tier 3: +25% max health

Ideal if you find yourself taking heavy hits and need more staying power.

11. God Killer: Anti-Badass Tech

• Tier 1: +10% damage to badass enemies

• Tier 2: -10% damage taken from badasses

• Tier 3: +20% damage for 1 minute after defeating a badass

Specialized for zones with lots of tough enemies.

12. Life Blood: Healing and Sustain

• Tier 1: +10% Rep Kit healing

• Tier 2: +5% life steal

• Tier 3: Regenerate 10% max health on enemy kill

Perfect for builds that need to constantly recover health.

13. Rubber Band Man: Tankiness and Life Steal

• Tier 1: +5% damage reduction

• Tier 2: +5% life steal

• Tier 3: Doubles both effects to 10%

An excellent choice for players looking to soak up more damage and recover in tough fights.

14. High Caliber: Projectile Speed and Piercing

• Tier 1: +25% projectile speed

• Tier 2: +10% gun damage

• Tier 3: Bullets pierce enemies

Great for status builds or anyone wanting to hit multiple targets at once.

15. Risky Boots: High Risk, High Reward

• Tier 1: At <35% health, -30% damage taken

• Tier 2: At <35% health, +35% movement speed

• Tier 3: At <35% health, +100% damage dealt and +5% life steal

Risky Boots requires some finesse to use, but with the right setup (such as the Gravitar class mod and Atomic Driver), it’s possible to stay below 35% health and double your damage. This set is a hidden gem for advanced players who can maintain low health for enormous damage boosts.

How To Get Firmware in Borderlands 4?

Firmware drops from a combination of boss fights and high-tier chests, but only after you’ve beaten the main story. Here are the top farms for collecting firmware quickly:

1. The Timekeeper (Upper Dominion)

This spot offers two boss kills and four red chests at the end, each red chest having a chance at two firmware pieces. That’s up to eight firmware from chests alone, plus whatever the bosses drop. The faster you can clear the boss, the more efficient your farm will be.

2. Ripa Roadirds (Carcadia Burn Drill Site)

No red chests here, but you’ll face three bosses and a swarm of badass enemies, leading to a pile of loot and firmware opportunities. It’s also a great source of XP for leveling.

3. Primordial Guardian Inceptus (The Vault)

This farm features two red chests at the end, each with two possible firmware drops. The boss itself can drop additional pieces, making it a solid option for firmware and purple gear.

4. More Tips

• Red chests are especially valuable for firmware drops, so always prioritize them.

• Bosses have a chance to drop gear with firmware attached, so repeatable boss runs are effective.

• Save good firmware pieces in your bank for later, even if you don’t need them immediately. This gives you the flexibility to swap sets as needed.