The fastest way to repeat quest rewards is to save before turning in the quest, then reload if you don't like the item

Borderlands 2 quest rewards are fixed to each character and playthrough, but the item parts and stats roll randomly every time you turn in the quest. This means you can reload your save file before accepting the reward, turn it in again, and get a different version of the same weapon or shield. On PC, this is straightforward because the game saves to a local file you control.

The method works because Borderlands 2 generates item stats at the moment you accept the reward, not when the quest completes. If you save right before talking to the quest-giver, you can reload that save as many times as you want and keep rolling for better parts—higher damage, better accuracy, useful prefixes, or the exact element type you need.

Key Takeaways

  • Save your game when ready before turning in a quest, then reload and turn it in again to reroll the item's parts and stats.
  • The quest reward itself never changes—only the weapon or shield's damage, accuracy, element type, and other random properties shift with each reload.
  • Some quests reward weapons that are rare or powerful enough to be worth farming for perfect rolls, like the Bane or Lyuda.
  • Reloading takes seconds on PC because save files are stored locally, making this much faster than restarting the quest.
  • You can farm the same quest multiple times across different playthroughs (Normal, True Vault Hunter Mode, and Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode) for different character levels.

Which quests are worth farming for rewards

Not every quest reward justifies the time spent rerolling. The most-farmed quests offer weapons or shields that are either rare, powerful, or useful for specific builds. The Bane (a Torgue assault rifle from "Cult Following: The Enkindling") is one of the most-farmed because it has high damage and a unique firing pattern, but the recoil is brutal—getting the right parts helps. The Lyuda (a Dahl sniper rifle from "A Train to Catch") is another popular farm because it's a strong weapon that scales well into late-game.

The Unkempt Harold (from "Rocko's Modern Strife") is a Torgue pistol that many players farm because it deals massive damage and is useful for multiple character builds. The Fibber (from "A Dam Fine Rescue") is a Hyperion pistol with a unique ricochet mechanic that rewards good parts rolls. Shields like the Rough Rider (from "Positive Self Image") are also worth farming because shield capacity and recharge rate vary.

Before you spend time rerolling, check whether the quest reward is something you'll actually use. If you're farming a weapon for a character level 30 and you're already level 40, the time spent rerolling might not pay off. Reddit threads on r/Borderlands2 often discuss which rewards are worth the effort in each playthrough.

How to set up and execute the save-reload method

First, complete the quest but do not turn it in yet. Travel to the quest-giver's location and save your game manually. On PC, you can use the in-game save option (usually by pausing and selecting Save), or the game autosaves at certain points—but manual saves are more reliable for this method because you control exactly when the save happens.

Once you've saved, talk to the quest-giver and accept the reward. Look at the item's stats: damage, accuracy, element type, and any prefixes. If the roll is not what you want, do not pick it up yet. Instead, reload your save file. On PC, pause the game, select Load Game, and choose the save you just made. You'll be back at the quest-giver with the quest still ready to turn in.

Turn in the quest again. The reward will be a different roll of the same item. Repeat this process until you get the parts and stats you're looking for. Most players consider a "good" roll to be one with high damage, useful accuracy, and the right element (fire, shock, corrosive, or slag depending on your build). Once you're happy with the roll, pick it up and move on.

Where Borderlands 2 saves files on your PC

Borderlands 2 stores save files in your user folder, not in the game's installation directory. On Windows, saves are typically located at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\My Games\Borderlands 2\WillowGame\SaveData. Each character has its own save file, named with the character's name and a number.

You can back up these files if you want extra security, but for farming quests you don't need to touch the files directly—the in-game load function is all you need. If you ever want to restore a save from an earlier point (for example, if you accidentally sold a good weapon), you can copy a backup file back into this folder, but the game will overwrite it the next time you save, so be careful.

Some players use cloud saves through Steam, which can complicate manual reloading because Steam may sync your saves automatically. If you're using Steam, you can disable cloud saves for Borderlands 2 in the game's properties to have full control over when saves are written.

Why some quest rewards are harder to farm than others

A few quest rewards have fixed parts that don't change, which means rerolling won't help. These quests are not worth farming. The game's wiki or Reddit threads will tell you which ones—for example, some unique weapons have predetermined stats that roll the same way every time.

Other quests reward items with so many possible part combinations that you might spend an hour rerolling and still not get the exact roll you want. In those cases, many players set a threshold: "I'll reload 10 times, and if I don't get something good, I'll take it and move on." This prevents farming from becoming a time sink that's no longer fun.

The level of the reward also matters. Quest rewards scale to your character's level at the time you turn in the quest. If you're level 20 and farm a perfect weapon, it will be level 20—useful now, but obsolete by level 30. Many players wait until they're near the level cap of their current playthrough before farming quest rewards, so the weapon stays useful longer.

Farming the same quest across different playthroughs

Borderlands 2 has three playthroughs: Normal Mode, True Vault Hunter Mode (TVHM), and Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode (UXHM). Each playthrough is separate, and you can turn in the same quest on each one to get the reward at different character levels. This is useful if you want a low-level version of a weapon for a new character and a high-level version for your main character.

For example, you might farm the Bane in Normal Mode when you're level 30, then farm it again in TVHM when you're level 50, and again in UXHM when you're level 72. Each version will have different base damage because the game scales rewards to your level. This also spreads out the farming across multiple playthroughs, so you're not spending three hours rerolling the same quest in one sitting.

Keep in mind that TVHM and UXHM require you to complete the story again, so you're not just farming—you're also progressing through the game. Many players combine farming with story progression, turning in quests for rewards as they go rather than rushing through and farming at the end.

Common mistakes that waste time when farming quests

The biggest mistake is farming a quest reward that has fixed parts. Before you spend 20 minutes rerolling, check the Borderlands wiki or search Reddit to confirm the reward actually has random parts. Some unique weapons are designed to always roll the same way, and reloading won't change them.

Another mistake is farming a low-level reward when you're already much higher level. If you're level 50 and farm a level 30 weapon, it will be weak by the time you use it. Wait until you're close to the level cap of your current playthrough, or farm in a later playthrough where the reward will scale higher.

Some players also forget to save before turning in the quest, then realize they've already accepted a bad roll and have to restart the entire quest. Always save when ready before talking to the quest-giver. A few seconds of preparation saves you from redoing 10 minutes of gameplay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I farm quest rewards on console versions of Borderlands 2?

Yes, the save-reload method works on console, but it's slower because console save files are stored on the system's hard drive or cloud storage. The process is the same—save before turning in, reload if you don't like the roll—but each reload takes longer. PC is faster because local saves load almost when ready.

Do quest rewards ever reset if I don't pick them up?

No. If you reload your save without picking up the reward, the quest stays turned in and the reward stays on the ground. You can reload as many times as you want without losing the quest. The reward only disappears if you leave the area and come back later, so stay at the quest-giver's location while you're rerolling.

What's the difference between a "good" and "bad" roll on a quest weapon?

A good roll usually means high damage, useful accuracy, and the element type your build needs. A bad roll might have low damage, terrible accuracy, or an element that doesn't fit your character. For example, a corrosive Bane is useful against armored enemies, but a slag Bane is more useful for setting up critical hits. The "best" roll depends on your build and playstyle.

Can I farm quest rewards multiple times on the same character?

No. Once you turn in a quest on a character, it's complete. You can only turn it in once per playthrough. To farm the same quest reward again, you need to either start a new character or progress to a different playthrough (TVHM or UXHM).

How long does it usually take to get a good roll?

It varies widely. Some players get a good roll in 2 or 3 tries, while others reload 20 or 30 times. If you're looking for a very specific combination of parts and stats, it could take an hour or more. Most players set a limit—like 10 or 15 reloads—and accept whatever they get after that to avoid spending too much time on one quest.