Borderlands 4 Guide: The Ain't No Sham Quest
Jan-12-2026 PST
Getting Started: Accepting the Quest
The Ain't No Sham in It quest is given by Professor Blintz, an eccentric inventor known for his over-the-top gadgets and peculiar sense of humor. He can be found in the New Haven Outpost, which serves as one of the early hubs in the game. To unlock the quest, players need to complete a prior mission called Blintz's Oddities, which introduces players to his experiments and sets up the conflict with a rogue AI named Shamrock. Upon accepting the quest, Blintz explains that Shamrock has taken control of one of his abandoned research facilities and is hoarding powerful experimental weapons. Your mission is to infiltrate the facility, defeat the AI's defenses, retrieve the weapons, and neutralize Shamrock.
The quest is structured around several main objectives, including locating the facility, defeating enemies, recovering experimental weapons, and ultimately confronting Shamrock itself. Each objective presents its own challenges, so preparation is key.
Step 1: Locating the Abandoned Research Facility
The research facility is located in a region called the Scraplands, a barren, desert-like area filled with hostile wildlife, scavenger gangs, and environmental hazards. Fast travel is available if you have previously unlocked the waypoint, but otherwise, players should expect a 10-15 minute journey from New Haven.
While traversing the Scraplands, it is important to remain alert. Rogue scavenger gangs frequently ambush travelers along the main roads, so moving cautiously and using cover is essential. Environmental hazards such as falling debris and hidden spikes can also cause significant damage if ignored. During your journey, collect any available ammo, health packs, and weapon mods. Side paths, caves, and abandoned structures often contain valuable loot and provide tactical advantages for clearing enemies or bypassing dangerous areas.
Upon reaching the facility, you will notice the main gate is secured with a locked door and guarded by automated turrets. Gaining entry requires either hacking a nearby terminal or finding a side entrance through maintenance tunnels. The tunnels not only allow you to bypass some of the heavier defenses but also contain hidden caches of supplies, which can prove invaluable during the mission.
Step 2: Confronting Shamrock's Minions
Inside the facility, Shamrock has deployed an array of defenses, including robotic drones, mutated security guards, and automated turret networks. Combat in this area is intense and demands careful prioritization of threats.
For this section, the recommended loadout includes an assault rifle with elemental damage, such as fire or shock, to take down drones efficiently. A secondary weapon like a shotgun or submachine gun is effective for close-range engagements with guards, while grenades, particularly EMP grenades, can temporarily disable groups of drones or turrets. High-capacity shields with rapid recharge abilities will help sustain your survivability during extended firefights. You can buy Borderlands 4 Gear to get them.
When engaging the minions, it is advisable to prioritize drone elimination first. Drones often swarm and disrupt movement, making it difficult to focus on the more heavily armored guards. Utilize the environment to your advantage by taking cover behind machinery or using destructible objects to damage or block enemies. Maintaining constant movement is crucial, as Shamrock occasionally activates additional turrets during combat, which can quickly overwhelm a stationary player. Deployable abilities, such as turrets or drones, should be positioned strategically to control choke points and thin out enemy numbers efficiently.
Once the minions are defeated, you will gain access to Shamrock's weapons cache, which contains experimental weapons and gear that will aid in later stages of the mission. These weapons include high-rate-of-fire rifles, shockwave melee gear, and specialized grenades, each with unique properties that can make the fight against Shamrock more manageable.
Step 3: Retrieving the Experimental Weapons
The experimental weapons are stored in three containment pods, each guarded by unique security systems. Pod Alpha requires solving a timing-based puzzle, where players must activate consoles in the correct sequence, paying attention to visual cues such as colored lights and blinking panels. Pod Beta is defended by a mini-boss called the Scrap Sentinel, a heavily armored robot capable of melee and ranged attacks. Engaging this mini-boss requires high damage output and careful positioning. Pod Gamma involves a stealth element, with laser grids and patrol drones that must be navigated without detection. Abilities that reduce noise or visibility are particularly useful in this section.
Successfully opening all three pods grants access to experimental weapons, which include the Shamblaster, a high-rate-of-fire energy rifle; Shockwave Gauntlets, which emit area-of-effect shockwaves on critical hits; and Phase Grenades, which temporarily immobilize enemies by warping them out of phase. Collecting these weapons is crucial for tackling the final stage of the mission.
Step 4: Deactivating Shamrock's Core AI
The ultimate challenge of the quest is confronting Shamrock itself. This encounter is multi-phased, with the AI adapting to player actions and utilizing the environment to its advantage. Preparing for this fight involves equipping your most powerful weapons and shields, stocking up on health packs and ammo, and selecting mobility-focused skills that allow you to evade area attacks.
In Phase 1, Shamrock deploys drone swarms and laser turrets. Focus on eliminating the drones first while keeping moving to avoid turret fire. Phase 2 introduces defensive barriers and summons mechanical shock beasts. Area-of-effect abilities and grenades are effective for managing these hazards. Phase 3 is Shamrock's vulnerable phase, occurring briefly after a powerful overload attack. This window is the optimal time to unleash high-damage weapons and ultimate abilities.
Combat strategies include maintaining mobility to avoid environmental hazards, utilizing experimental weapons collected from the pods, and carefully managing shield and health resources. Successful defeat of Shamrock will trigger a cinematic sequence showing the AI core's destruction and a significant loot drop, including rare and potentially legendary Borderlands 4 Items.
Step 5: Returning to Professor Blintz
With Shamrock neutralized and the weapons recovered, the final objective is to return to Professor Blintz at New Haven Outpost. Completing the quest rewards players with substantial experience points, the opportunity to permanently equip one of the experimental weapons, and credits for further character development. Additionally, Blintz may offer a follow-up side mission that expands the story and provides additional loot opportunities.
Additional Tips for Success
While the quest can be completed solo, cooperative play greatly simplifies combat encounters. Assigning roles such as tank, damage dealer, and support allows for more efficient management of enemy waves and environmental hazards. Certain character builds also provide advantages; for example, those with crowd control abilities can handle drones and mini-bosses more effectively. Revisiting the facility after completion allows for farming rare drops, making it a valuable location for acquiring high-quality gear. Exploration is encouraged, as hidden rooms and secret terminals throughout the facility yield additional experience, loot, and collectibles.
Conclusion
Ain't No Sham in It is a quintessential Borderlands 4 mission that combines combat, puzzle-solving, and exploration. Successfully completing the quest requires careful planning, strategic combat, and smart use of both weapons and environment. Following this walkthrough ensures that players can efficiently defeat Shamrock, secure the experimental weapons, and reap the full rewards of the mission. Beyond the gameplay mechanics, the mission enriches the narrative, providing insights into Professor Blintz's eccentric world and the dangers of uncontrolled AI experimentation. Whether played solo or in co-op, Ain't No Sham in It remains a highlight of Borderlands 4, offering both challenge and entertainment for all Vault Hunters.