Borderlands 4 Horace Boss Guide: Attacks, Phases, and Legendary Drops

During the Down and Outbound mission in Borderlands 4, you’ll face off against Horace, the Spymaster. While not the final boss of the mission, Horace is one of the most dangerous enemies in the game. This fight features two phases, plenty of minions, and some heavy-hitting attacks that can catch you off guard if you’re not prepared.

Here’s a full breakdown of where to find him, what his abilities are, and the best strategies to take him down — along with the possible Legendary drops Horace offers in BL4.

Also Check: All Order Silo Locations in Borderlands 4: Complete Guide to Unlock Fast Travel & SDU Tokens

Also Check: Borderlands 4 Moxxi’s Encore Guide: How to Farm Bosses and Legendary Gear Fast

Where to Find Horace in Borderlands 4

You’ll encounter Horace at the end of the Order Surveillance Center, a long but linear dungeon that’s part of the Down and Outbound mission. There’s no way to skip him — once you drop into his arena, the fight begins immediately.

While exploring the dungeon, the only optional activity is collecting Contraband, but if you’re only focused on the boss fight, just keep pushing forward until you reach his chamber.

Also Check: How to Level Up Fast in Borderlands 4: Best XP Farming Tips

Borderlands 4 Horace Boss Attacks

Horace has two distinct combat phases. Phase 1 focuses on shielded ranged attacks, while Phase 2 shifts to an aggressive melee-heavy style.

Phase 1 Attacks (Shields Active)

• Homing Projectiles: Slowly track you, easy to dodge with strafing or cover.
• Linear Projectile Fire: Sends waves of projectiles directly at you.
• Spear Throw: After twirling his spear, Horace launches multiple projectiles.
• Elemental Dash: Flies in a straight line, dropping puddles of elemental damage.
• Triangle Marker Attack: Fires mechanical projectiles that can be shot down.

Pro Tip: Use Shock weapons to quickly strip his shields.

Phase 2 Attacks (Melee-Oriented)

Once his shields break, Horace shifts into Phase 2, becoming much more dangerous up close.

• Missile Swarm: Fires a barrage of yellow projectiles — crouch or take cover when he hunches down.
• Scythe Combos: Several close-range swings followed by a jumping scythe strike.
• Scythe Throw (AOE): Throws his scythe to create an area-of-effect blast.

Pro Tip: Ignite weapons work great in this phase. Stay mobile and maintain distance to avoid melee damage.

Tips to Defeat Horace in Borderlands 4

• Use Cover in Phase 1: Crates and boxes in the arena block most of his projectile attacks.
• Avoid Bouncy Grenades: Since he floats in Phase 1, use sticky grenades or heavy ordnance instead.
• Strafe Smartly: Homing projectiles can be dodged by changing direction mid-strafe.
• Maintain Distance in Phase 2: Characters like Vex can use minions to distract him, while others like Amon might excel in close combat.
• Watch for Scythe Throws: If he winds up, move immediately to avoid AOE damage.

Legendary Drops from Horace in Borderlands 4

Defeating Horace may reward you with one of several Legendary items, including:

• Aegon’s Dream
• Peacemaker
• Lucky Clover

These rare drops make the fight well worth the effort, in addition to the XP and loot gained from the encounter.

The Horace boss fight in Borderlands 4 can be intense, but with the right strategy and awareness of his attack phases, he’s very manageable. Focus on Shock damage for Phase 1, switch to Ignite for Phase 2, and you’ll take him down in no time. With a bit of luck, you’ll also walk away with one of his coveted Legendary drops.