Loot defines Borderlands, but with so much gear dropping constantly, it’s impossible to grab everything. That’s where the Lost Loot Machine comes in — a safety net for gear you didn’t pick up during the chaos of battle. In Borderlands 4, these machines are more widespread and upgradeable, making them a crucial part of your progression.
Where to Find Lost Loot Machines
The first machine unlocks during the story mission “Down and Outbound” at The Launchpad. After that, you’ll see more in faction hubs and safehouses spread across Kairos. These hubs act as collection points where your missed loot is stored.
Faction Towns
- The Launchpad – The Howl
- Belton’s Bore – The Low Leys
- Carcadia – Ruined Swamplands
Safehouses
- The Lockaway – Carcadia District
- Sumpview Falls – Fades District
- The Food Court – Terminus District
Finding these locations early is important — they double as retrieval stations and fast-travel hubs, giving you both loot recovery and mobility across the map.
See also: Borderlands 4: How to Drop Items on PC, Xbox, and PS5
How to Upgrade the Lost Loot Machine
At first, the Lost Loot Machine has just a handful of slots. To make it truly useful, you’ll want to expand it with SDU (Storage Deck Upgrade) Tokens.
How to Earn SDU Tokens
- Collect Lost Capsules and Vault Symbols hidden around Kairos.
- Solve Evocarium Puzzles or explore Abandoned Aruger Mines.
- Capture Safehouses or Order Silos — the fastest farming method, granting ~40 tokens per run.
How to Upgrade
- Open the SDU tab from the main menu.
- Select the Lost Loot Machine option.
- Spend tokens to add slots (each upgrade costs more than the last).
With enough upgrades, you’ll have room to stash plenty of high-value drops.
How Items Are Collected and Stored
Once unlocked, the machine automatically collects any Rare or higher loot you didn’t pick up — weapons, shields, class mods, or even cosmetics. A few rules make it more strategic:
- Priority system: Legendary > Epic > Rare. If it’s full, lower rarity gear gets dropped first.
- Shared across characters: Items inside are accessible by all Vault Hunters on your account.
- No manual deposit: You can’t store gear here yourself — only collect what the system saved.
- Dispense system: Gear comes out one item at a time when you interact with the machine.
Because inventory is shared, switching to a high-level character before checking your loot may overwrite lower-level items.
See also: Borderlands 4 Bank Locations Guide
Why You Should Use the Lost Loot System
Kairos introduces vertical maps, uneven terrain, and chaotic fights where loot often drops in unreachable spots. Without the Lost Loot Machine, a Legendary falling into a pit could be lost forever.
Instead, this system acts like a built-in insurance policy:
- Explore freely without stressing about chasing every glowing gun.
- Farm bosses knowing you can collect drops later.
- Focus on combat instead of inventory management mid-fight.
It’s one of the most player-friendly mechanics in the series, and upgrading it early pays off across your entire playthrough.
Quick Tips: Lost Loot Machine Borderlands 4
- Check before switching characters: Low-level loot can be lost if you play a higher-level Vault Hunter first.
- Prioritize SDU upgrades: More slots = fewer chances of missing a Legendary.
- Use filters: The machine menu lets you sort by rarity and weapon type for faster management.
- Clear it regularly: Don’t let filler gear take up space that could go to better drops.
The Lost Loot Machine is more than a convenience — it’s a core part of Borderlands 4’s loot-driven design. By knowing its locations, farming SDU Tokens for upgrades, and understanding how it prioritizes items, you’ll make sure no piece of rare gear ever slips through your fingers. Play Now!
Related Guides You Might Like:
- Borderlands 4 Vault Hunters Guide: Best Classes, Skills, and Builds Explained
- Oddman in Borderlands 4: Should You Punch or Shoot Him?
- How to Level Up in Borderlands 4 – Fast XP Farming & Leveling Guide
- SHiFT User Guide Borderlands 4 – Redeem Codes & Link Accounts
- Borderlands 4 Quick Tips – Beginner Guide to Survive on Kairos
