Borderlands 3 Mayhem Mode 2.0: Mayhem Mode difficulty and Modifiers list explained
Everything you need to know about Mayhem Mode 2.0 in Borderlands 3.
Mayhem Mode 2.0 is a new Playthrough Mode that you can unlock in Borderlands 3 after you've completed the main story-line.
Unlike True Vault Hunter Mode, Mayhem Mode allows you to apply a selection of random modifiers to your post-end Borderlands 3 save file. These modifiers may make your enemies more dangerous, but they will increase your chances of finding rare loot and the amount of XP you receive.
Below you'll find out how Mayhem Mode 2.0 works, as well as a list of Mayhem Modifiers that can be applied to your game.
On this page:
Mayhem Mode in Borderlands 3 explained
Mayhem Mode is a game mode that you unlock after completing the main story-line of Borderlands 3.
Unlike True Vault Hunter Mode, Mayhem Mode affects your current save file. This means you don't have to start a new game to enjoy Mayhem Mode.
Mayhem Mode will make the Borderlands galaxy a lot more dangerous by giving new effects to both you and your enemies. This can be anything from an increase in enemy health to a higher fire rate.
The levels of enemies you fight will also increases, becoming closer to your own no matter where you are in the galaxy. It also increases your chances of receiving rarer loot, more XP, cash and Eridium.
Thanks to Mayhem Mode 2.0, there are now ten different difficulty levels:
- Mayhem 1
- Mayhem 2
- Mayhem 3
- Mayhem 4
- Mayhem 5
- Mayhem 6
- Mayhem 7
- Mayhem 8
- Mayhem 9
- Mayhem 10
How do you activate Mayhem Mode 2.0 in Borderlands 3?
After watching the credits for Borderlands 3, you'll be able to loot the final Vault and find the Vault Relic, which will unlock Mayhem Mode.
Thanks to Mayhem Mode 2.0, you no longer have to visit the Mayhem Mode terminal in Sanctuary III to change the Mayhem Mode settings. Instead, there is a new Mayhem Mode tab in your main menu, though you can still use the terminal if you prefer.
The Mayhem Mode tab allows you to alter your Mayhem settings and display both the stats and modifiers being applied to your game.
The stat section of this page details the percentage rise of XP, cash, Eridium and rare loot drops, as well as the increase of enemy armor, health and shields. Below the stats you'll find the modifiers, including a short description of what each one does, that are currently being used.
To activate Mayhem Mode you must visit switch it over to 'On' with the top available option on this menu.
Next, you need to decide which level of Mayhem you wish to experience. There are ten levels to choose from, one being the lowest and ten the highest, and, as you change the level, the stats and modifiers will alter in accordance with which level you currently have selected.
If you want to be a specific Mayhem level, such as four, but don't like the current modifiers being used, you can always reroll the mods, until you have some that you do like.
Once you're happy with your level of Mayhem, select 'Apply.'
Just remember, if you're in any location other than Sanctuary III when making these changes, the area will have to reload.
When Mayhem Mode is activated a little red skull will appear beneath your current Level on the main game screen.
Constant Stat increases in Mayhem Mode 2.0 in Borderlands 3 explained
No matter which level of Mayhem you choose in Borderlands 3, each one will always increase five specific stats, which are:
- Loot Quality
- XP
- Eridium / Cash
- Enemy Health, Shields and Armor
These stats increases as you climb through the different levels of Mayhem, with Mayhem 1 being the lowest and Mayhem 10 being the highest.
Below you'll find the set increases for these stats at each level of Mayhem:
Mayhem 1
- Loot Quality - increases by 100%
- XP - increases by 20%
- Eridium / Cash - increases by 20%
- Enemy Health, Shields and Armor - increases by 200%
Mayhem 2
- Loot Quality - increases by 300%
- XP - increases by 40%
- Eridium / Cash - increases by 40%
- Enemy Health, Shields and Armor - increases by 400%
Mayhem 3
- Loot Quality - increases by 500%
- XP - increases by 60%
- Eridium / Cash - increases by 60%
- Enemy Health, Shields and Armor - increases by 600%
Mayhem 4
- Loot Quality - increases by 750%
- XP - increases by 80%
- Eridium / Cash - increases by 80%
- Enemy Health, Shields and Armor - increases by 800%
Mayhem 5
- Loot Quality - increases by 1000%
- XP - increases by 100%
- Eridium / Cash - increases by 100%
- Enemy Health, Shields and Armor - increases by 1,500%
Mayhem 6
- Loot Quality - increases by 1,300%
- XP - increases by 120%
- Eridium / Cash - increases by 120%
- Enemy Health, Shields and Armor - increases by 3,000%
Mayhem 7
- Loot Quality - increases by 1,600%
- XP - increases by 140%
- Eridium / Cash - increases by 140%
- Enemy Health, Shields and Armor - increases by 5,000%
Mayhem 8
- Loot Quality - increases by 1,900%
- XP - increases by 160%
- Eridium / Cash - increases by 160%
- Enemy Health, Shields and Armor - increases by 7,500%
Mayhem 9
- Loot Quality - increases by 2,200%
- XP - increases by 180%
- Eridium / Cash - increases by 180%
- Enemy Health, Shields and Armor - increases by 10,000%
Mayhem 10
- Loot Quality - increases by 2,500%
- XP - increases by 200%
- Eridium / Cash - increases by 200%
- Enemy Health, Shields and Armor - increases by 12,500%
Modifier Difficulty in Borderlands 3 explained
Depending on which Mayhem Level you apply to Borderlands 3, you can have between one to four modifier active at one time. The difficulty level of these modifiers will also be decided by which Mayhem Level you're currently on.
There are four modifier difficulty levels in Borderlands 3 - Easy, Medium, Hard and Very Hard.
The number of mods, and their difficulty level, for each Mayhem Level will always remain the same, no matter how many times you reroll. Below you can find the number of mods applied to each level of Mayhem and the difficulty level those mods have:
| Mayhem Level | Modifier One | Modifier Two | Modifer Three | Modifer Four |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Easy | |||
| 2 | Easy | Medium | ||
| 3 | Easy | Medium | Medium | |
| 4 | Easy | Hard | ||
| 5 | Easy | Medium | Hard | |
| 6 | Easy | Medium | Medium | Hard |
| 7 | Easy | Hard | Hard | |
| 8 | Easy | Very Hard | ||
| 9 | Easy | Medium | Very Hard | |
| 10 | Easy | Medium | Hard | Very Hard |
Borderlands 3 has arrived! Check out our skill tree guides for Amara, Fl4k, Moze and Zane.
If you're looking for more challenges to complete, check out our guides on the Dead Claptraps, Broadcast Towers, Eridian Writing,Hijack Targets, Legendary Hunts and Typhon Logs and Typhon Dead Drops. If you want some easy rewards, consult our Borderlands 3 Shift Codes and VIP Codes page. When you've finished Borderlands 3, visit our guides on Guardian Rank and Rewards, Mayhem Mode and True Vault Hunter mode to learn more about what you unlock in the post-game.
Mayhem Modifier list in Borderlands 3
Below you'll find a list of all the potential Mayhem Modifiers that can be applied to both you and your enemies in Borderlands 3:
| Mayhem Mod | Difficulty | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Acid Reign | Medium | Enemies may be infused with Corrosive, which makes them immune to Corrosive damage and release a Corrosive Nova upon death |
| Big Kick Energy | Easy | Gun Damage increased by 25% Recoil is increased by 100% Weapon Spread is increased 100% |
| Boundary Issues | Hard | At close range, enemies will attach a damaging elemental beam to you |
| Buddy System | Very Hard | Enemies may be supported by a Invulnerability Drone, which grants immunity till its destoryed |
| Chain Gang | Hard | Nearby enemies are attached by a damaging elemental beam |
| Charred Mode | Medium | Enemies may be infused with Incendiary making them immuse to Incendiary damage and will release an Invendiary Nova upon death |
| Chilling Them Softly | Medium | Enemies may be infused with Cryo, which makes them immune to Cryo damage and releases a Cyro Nova when killed |
| Dazed and Infused | Very Hard | Enemies may be infused with a random element, which makes them immune to that type of damage and will release a Nova when killed |
| Drone Ranger | Hard | Enemies may spawn a Healing Drone supporting them If the enemy is killed the drone will find a new target |
| Floor is Lava | Medium | Standing still in combat causes an Invendiary damaging pool will form beneath you |
| Freeze Tag | Medium | Enemies leave a Cryo Orb upon death Cryo Orbs constantly release Cryo Novas and are slowed when damaged |
| Galaxy Brain | Easy | Enemy head size is increased by 100% |
| Healy Avenger | Medium | When enemies die they may drop a powerup that will heal the first enemy it touches or drop health and shield boosters |
| High Voltage | Medium | Enemies may be infused with Shock, which makes them immune to Shock damage and releases a Shock Nova when killed |
| Holy Crit | Very Hard | Critical Hit Damage is increased by 25% Non-Critical Hit Damage is reduced by 50% |
| Laser Fare | Hard | Enemies have a small chance of dropping Spinner traps when damaged Spinners emit rotating elemental laser beams |
| Lootspolosion | Easy | Killing an enemy has a 10% chance of a large loot drop. Critical Kills guarantee this |
| Mob Mentality | Medium | Enemy damage and Fire Rate is increased 30% when near other enemies |
| More Than Okay Boomer | Easy | Grenade Damage increased by 25% Enemies drop grenade ammo when they die, which may be live |
| Not the Face | Very Hard | Critical Hit Damage is reduced by 75% |
| Pain Tolerance | Medium | When damaged, enmies gain 3% Damage Reduction against the type of damage received for 3 seciond Effect can be stacked 20 times |
| Pool Party | Hard | Enemies drop Corrosive, Shock or Incendiary pools when their armor, shields or health are depleted |
| Post Mortem | Very Hard | Killing an enemy released Death, which follow you. If it touches you, you'll enter Fight For Your Life |
| Rogue Lite | Very Hard | Fight For Your Life removed All enemies drop insta-health upon death |
| Slayer | Easy | Non-boss enemies below 15% total armor, shields and health grow blue and explode into shield and health boosters if damaged by melee |
| Speed Demon | Easy | Movement Speed increased by 50% for 10 seconds Effect can stack up to three times |
| Ticked Off | Hard | Status Effect Damage against enemies is reduced by 90% |
| Totally Radical | Medium | Enemies may be infused with Radiation, which makes them immune to Radiation damage and release a Radiation Nova upon death |