Summary

    • Learn the main types of Ordnance in Borderlands 4, from grenades to heavy launchers, and how their effects affect combat.
    • See the best Ordnance picks and tips to use cooldowns, ammo, and elemental perks for maximum damage.

In Borderlands 4, Ordnance weapons refers to the Grenades and Heavy Weapons such as rocket-launchers, cannons, etc. that occupy a special slot. Unlike the regular guns you can own, Borderlands 4 Ordnance weapons often have cooldowns or special refill rules. In essence, they let you pack massive burst damage, or utility in fights. With that, Here’s how Ordnance works, the types you’ll find, what effects they have, and which ones are especially strong.

How Borderlands 4 Ordnance Weapons Works

The Ordnance items recharge on cooldown rather than using regular ammo, which means the timing usage matters. Furthermore, Heavy Ordnance items have an ammo count when firing, so if you stop firing early, that can affect your cooldown. Additionally, Grenades can have multiple charges. Some powerful Grenade Ordnance have traits like homing, sticky damage, element effects, etc. 

Borderlands 4 Ordnance Weapons: Types & Key Effects

For your reference, below are some major types of Ordnance and what special effects to watch out for.

Type of Ordnance

Key Effects & Traits

Grenade Ordnance

Explosive burst, area damage. Some bounce, while some stick. This can have elemental afflictions. 

Heavy Weapons

Includes rocket launchers, energy cannons, etc. It has very high damage potential. This Ordnance is often well suited for boss fights or crowd control. 

Cooldown / Multi-use

Grenades with multiple charges; Heavy Ordnance with ammo are counted but refill on cooldown depends on the usage. 

Elemental Effects

Ordnances can include fire, shock, cryo damage etc., sometimes status effects. This is great against enemies weak to certain elements. 

In essence, each Ordnance has their strengths and weaknesses. For example, some grenades will stick to the enemy, but some won’t. Meanwhile, some heavy weapons usually have larger ammo, but they have longer cooldown. Essentially, it depends on the situation on which Ordnance type you will use. Knowing their utility and features let you incorporate these into your strategy as a player. 

Best Picks & Recommendations of Borderlands 4 Ordnance Weapons

After you learn about the different Ordnance types, you may pick which Borderlands 4 Ordnance Weapons you want to use. With that, here are some Ordnance weapons and traits players can use.

Ordnance Name / Trait

Details

Best Use 

“Buzz Axe” (Grenade Ordnance)

Legendary grade grenade Ordnance with strong AoE, used for crowd clearing. 

Use in groups or when overwhelmed by many enemies.

“EMP” Grenade Ordnance

Has a large Shock Nova upon explosion; extra novae from shielded enemies. It has strong elemental interaction. 

Use against shield-heavy enemies or mixed groups.

Heavy Ordnance with Ammo Count

These have high sustained DPS potential, especially when ammo allows long bursts. You just have to  manage the cooldown well. 

You can use this weapon in Boss fights, long corridors, or multi-wave encounters.

Manufacturer Traits

Ordnance items made by certain manufacturers often have added buffs (element, bounce, stickiness). 

Build to favor a manufacturer’s traits when combining guns + Ordnance.

Buzz Axe dominates in close-quarters battles, while EMP grenades excel against shields. Heavy Ordnance weapons are best in boss fights, and brand perks reward players who invest in matching their Ordnance to a manufacturer set. If you choose your weapon based on your target and playstyle, it maximizes damage and efficiency.

Tips for Using Ordnance Weapons Efficiently

As interesting as it sounds, you have to plan and strategize carefully when using Ordnance Weapons. Especially if you want to use them efficiently to maximize your damage output. In relation, here are tips you can do in using Borderlands 4 Ordnance Weapons:

    • Use your Ordnance weapon whenever it’s not on cooldown. Fireworks help in tight fights, it can be one of your burst damage tools. 
    • Combine Ordnance with character skills that boost Ordnance damage, cooldown reduction, or ammo regeneration. Usually, some skill trees include these bonuses. 
    • Match elemental damage from Ordnance to enemy weaknesses. For example, hit a shielded group with Shock Ordnance to break shields effectively. 
    • Be aware of cooldowns and ammo mechanics. Heavy Ordnance may require sustained firing, but if you stop too early, you may lose control. 

What to Watch Out For

To avoid mistakes or losses, you should consider the situations that may affect the utility of Borderlands 4 Ordnance weapons. This includes:  

    • Some Ordnance weapons are still in testing or in database previews. That means, performance might shift after balancing patches.
    • Abilities and firmware that affect Ordnance cooldown or damage might overlap or conflict, so choose your weapons wisely.
    • In higher difficulties (like UVHM), enemy resistances may reduce some Ordnance effectiveness, so bring backups.

Final Thoughts

Borderlands 4 Ordnance Weapons offers powerful tools for huge damage, crowd control, and area effects. The best ones usually use good manufacturer traits, elemental effects and cooldown or ammo mechanics. These features help you survive each situation and maximize impact in battles. For instance, if you pick a solid grenade or heavy Ordnance, and support it well with your build, it will help you progress and do well in fights. 

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