Top 5 Legendary SMGs in Borderlands 4 and How to Farm Them

Borderlands 4 continues to push the boundaries of the looter-shooter genre with an impressive arsenal of over-the-top weapons. Among them, the Legendary SMGs stand out as some of the most fun and versatile guns in the game, perfect for high-damage builds, crowd control, and elemental mayhem.

Like all Legendary loot in Borderlands 4, these weapons won’t come easy. Farming them often means replaying boss encounters, completing story missions, or grinding difficult areas. But the payoff is worth it — each of these SMGs brings a unique mechanic that can reshape how you play.

Also Check: How to Get the Linebacker Legendary Shotgun in Borderlands 4 (Farm Location & Stats)

Also Check: Best Borderlands 4 Easter Eggs & Pop Culture References (How to Find Them)

Here are the top five Legendary SMGs in Borderlands 4 and how you can farm them.

5) Hellfire

• Flavour text: All hell can't stop us now
• Effect: Burning Desire

The Hellfire SMG is a fiery classic returning from the original Borderlands. It excels at burning down flesh-based enemies thanks to its high Fire damage and strong status chance. In the hands of characters like Harlowe or Vex, who synergize with elemental damage, the weapon becomes even more devastating.

Also Check: Borderlands 4 Super Soldier Shield Guide – How to Beat Vile Lictor and Farm the Legendary

How to farm Hellfire: Unlock Cuspid Climb in Terminus Range, progress through Shadow of the Mountain, and defeat Skyspanner Kratch. This boss can drop both Hellfire and the Linebacker shotgun, making it a rewarding farm.

4) Birt’s Bees

• Flavour text: Fill your life with laughter and bees.
• Effect: Hivemind

This Vladof SMG is a reliable workhorse, firing tracking projectiles that home in on enemies after a short delay. It’s a great utility weapon for general use, though its slow fire rate and large magazine make it better when paired with ammo-regenerating gear like the Super Soldier Shield.

How to farm Birt’s Bees: You’ll need to finish the campaign first. After that, head to Idolator’s Noose and defeat Sludgemaw during the All Charged Up mission. You can then farm it using Moxxi’s Encore Machine.

3) Ohm I Got

• Flavour text: Back off, man. I'm a scientist.
• Effect: Energy Transfer

For players who like to gamble with their Shields, the Ohm I Got SMG is a powerhouse. It consumes your Shield to boost damage output by 50%, and with Overshield builds, it essentially becomes a non-stop energy blaster. Pairing it with status-effect builds makes it even more lethal.

How to farm Ohm I Got: Progress through the story until you reach the Elpis Orbital Shatterfield and start the Another Day, Another Universe mission. Defeat the Moon-maddened Callis (Second Ripper Queen) to get a chance at this weapon, or farm it later using the Encore system.

2) Kaoson

• Flavour text: Twice the power!
• Effect: Granted

True to Torgue’s explosive reputation, Kaoson fires sticky grenades that detonate for massive AoE damage. Its Legendary perk also stacks extra damage with every shot, making it ideal for boss fights and mob clearing.

How to farm Kaoson: Collect three vault fragments to unlock the Arch of Origo vault in Terminus Range. Since Origo has strong Shield defenses, bring a Shock weapon to break them quickly.

1) Plasma Coil

• Flavour text: Harness the fourth state of matter
• Effect: Superheated

Arguably the best Legendary SMG in Borderlands 4, the Plasma Coil makes a triumphant return from BL3. With dual elemental damage, high fire rate, and great status chance, it dominates nearly every encounter. It also pairs incredibly well with Rafa’s Apophis Lance tree, making it a go-to choice for endgame builds.

How to farm Plasma Coil: You’ll need to face The Timekeeper, a lengthy multi-phase boss fight with several health bars. The good news: each victory grants two loot drops and bonus chests, so persistence pays off.

The best Legendary SMGs in Borderlands 4 offer something for every playstyle, whether you want explosive chaos, elemental burn, or energy-fueled DPS. Farming them takes time, but with the right strategy, these weapons can completely redefine your builds and help you shred through bosses and mobs alike.

If you’re serious about maximizing your Vault Hunter’s loadout, these are the SMGs worth chasing.