The His Vile Sanctum quest is the fourteenth main mission in Borderlands 4, following Dark Subject. It’s a long, multi-stage mission that takes you across Windspear, into the Substation Canonary, and finally through the gates of Vile Lictor’s Fortress. Along the way, you’ll face Order forces, tricky Phase devices, the Vile Twins, and finally, the boss himself—Vile Lictor.
Mission Overview
- Quest Giver: Defiant Calder
- Location: Windspear / Belton’s Bore → Substation Canonary → Umbral Foundry
- Recommended Level: 18–20
- Rewards: XP, Eridium, Cash, Sniper Rifle (Rare/Epic), Armed Collection Vault Hunter Head, Carapacer Vehicle Skin
Step 1: Assault the Bridge to Vile Lictor’s Fortress
- Follow Amara across the bridge southwest of Windspear.
- Fight through waves of Order troops guarding the entrance.
- At the far end, you’ll encounter Orbulus, a mini-boss.
- Aim for the crystal on his head to break his shield.
- Once his protection drops, he falls quickly.
After defeating Orbulus, fast travel back to Belton’s Bore to regroup with Calder.
See also: How to Fix His Vile Sanctum Glitch in Borderlands 4
Step 2: Power Substation & Bruce’s Escort
- Calder sends you to Substation Canonary, north of Stoneblood Forest.
- Clear out the Order troops inside until you reach a chamber with a massive energy spike.
- This is where you meet Bruce, a giant ally who smashes down barriers.
- Escort Bruce as he moves toward the three Phase Limiters (A, B, and C).
- Kill enemies along the way or Bruce won’t advance.
- Once he exposes a limiter, shoot it to destroy it.
- After all three are destroyed, huddle with Bruce. This triggers a teleport into the caves of The Low Leys.
Step 3: Breaching Vile Lictor’s Fortress
- Move through the caves and enter the Phase Rifts using your grappling hook.
- After three rifts, you’ll arrive outside the fortress.
- Here, you’ll find Bruce’s corpse—take his Control Core.
- Carry it to the engineering bay and insert it into the console.
- This unlocks Bruce Bombs, glowing orbs that destroy purple barriers.
- Use them to:
- Break the gate’s side shields.
- Shoot the exposed cores to unlock the main gate.
- Enter the gate to be teleported into the Umbral Foundry.
Step 4: Destroying Phase Barriers & Eridian Relics
Inside the Foundry:
- Use Bruce Bombs to break through more barriers.
- Find the vent path to collect bombs hidden behind doors and levers.
- Enter the vertical chamber containing three Eridian Relics.
- Each relic is shielded by a bubble.
- Use Bruce Bombs to clear the bubble, then shoot the relic.
- Be careful—falling here means instant death. Use grapple points to move safely.
After destroying all relics, the Vile Twins spawn.
- They use Cryo attacks and heavy melee strikes.
- Focus on one twin at a time to make the fight easier.
- Amara joins to assist you, and she can revive you if needed.
Step 5: Preparing for Vile Lictor
- After the twins, follow Amara to the next elevator.
- Optional: check on Amara before taking the lift.
- At the top, vending machines are available—restock ammo and sell junk gear.
- When ready, step onto the jump pad to launch into the boss arena.
Step 6: Vile Lictor Boss Fight
Vile Lictor has two main phases and several devastating attacks. Here’s how to survive:
Phase 1 – Limb Destruction
- You can’t hurt him directly at first.
- Target and destroy his floating limbs to open weak points.
- His mouth is the critical hit zone when exposed.
- Expect energy walls across the arena—jump or glide to avoid them.
Phase 2 – Arena-Wide Threats
- After losing his armor, Lictor crawls around the arena.
- Watch for:
- Arena bomb attack: Grapple to outside platforms to dodge the explosion.
- Projectile claws: Strafe or dash away.
- Energy nova: Keep moving in circles.
- Use corrosive weapons for armor and shock weapons for shields.
- Keep mobile, exploit weak points, and stock up on healing from the ammo piles around the arena.
Step 7: Mission Completion
- Once defeated, loot Vile Lictor’s Bolt.
- A cutscene plays, setting up the next chapter (Rising Action).
- Return to Calder at Belton’s Bore to complete the quest.
- Rewards include XP, Eridium, money, a rare/epic Sniper Rifle, and customization cosmetics.
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Best Practices for His Vile Sanctum
- Stay stocked: Use vending machines before the boss fight.
- Elemental advantage: Bring corrosive and shock weapons for faster phase breaks.
- Mobility is survival: Grapple points and glide maneuvers are essential to avoid instant-kill mechanics.
- Ammo management: The Foundry fights are long—don’t waste high-damage ammo on basic enemies.
His Vile Sanctum is one of the longest and most challenging missions in Borderlands 4, but it’s also a turning point in the story. By staying mobile, using Bruce Bombs effectively, and mastering the Vile Lictor fight mechanics, you’ll push through the Umbral Foundry and secure some of the best loot of the mid-game. Play Now!
