Borderlands 4’s second raid boss, Subjugator and Thol the Invincible, is now live as a free endgame encounter that started with the Version 1.7 update. This October 18 source check uses the official reveal, availability announcement, developer explanation and update history. It separates entry requirements from optional UVHM progression and timed reward tiers. This guide is for players who need the unlock path, the kill-order decision, and a farm checklist whether they are unlocking UVHM 7 or farming after it.

Type: Raid boss (tag-team)
Unlock: Complete the main campaign, then check a Raid Board in a major hub
Difficulty: Endgame raid; a UVHM 6 clear unlocks UVHM 7
Rewards: UVHM timed chests have different tiers; Class Mods require Silver or better

Quick answer

  • Where to start: finish the campaign and pick up the raid mission from a Raid Board in one of Kairos’ major hubs.
  • Who you fight: Subjugator, a hovering ranged threat, and Thol, a hulking ground threat.
  • Core decision: the first boss you kill determines which empowered survivor becomes the final phase.
  • Best first clear goal: stay alive, learn the dual attack, and bank the route before chasing speed clears.
  • Farm goal: Jail-Broken Gatling is the headline Pearlescent; Lockjaw, Shammy Kablammy, Flak Cannon and Collector are the confirmed Legendary pool.

Version 1.8 changes that affect this fight

The June 25 Version 1.8 update did not replace Raid Boss 2, but it did make the fight less punishing in a few specific places:

  • Subjugator’s health was reduced.
  • Subjugator’s healing behavior from elemental transfusion shifts was removed.
  • Shield Striker health and shield health were reduced so Second Wind windows are more reliable.
  • Several Subjugator and Thol behavior bugs were cleaned up, including blocked Thol melee paths and Subjugator critical-hit behavior.

If an older video makes the fight look impossible, check whether it was recorded before Version 1.8. The kill order still matters, but current clears should have more reliable recovery windows.

Unlock and entry checklist

Before you queue the fight, confirm these:

  1. Campaign complete. Raid Boss 2 is post-campaign endgame content.
  2. Choose the difficulty for your goal. UVHM 6 is the stated requirement for unlocking UVHM 7, not a claim that the raid can only be entered at UVHM 6.
  3. Raid Board checked. Look in Kairos’ major hubs for the raid mission that sends you after the brothers.
  4. Match the build to the final arena. Review the two branches below before committing your points and gear.
  5. Empty backpack space. The loot table includes weapons, shields, class mods and firmware, so do not enter with a full inventory.

Fight structure and kill-order choice

Subjugator and Thol are two of the Timekeeper’s lackeys. The opening stage is a tag-team raid fight: one boss pressures you while the other sets up the next danger window, then the brothers combine for a dual attack. The fight gets harder after the first kill.

The key mechanic is the second stage. Eliminating one boss empowers the survivor, who retreats to their own domain at full power for a final showdown:

  • Take out Thol first and Subjugator becomes the giant final opponent in the spacious Heaven domain, where gliding helps avoid attacks.
  • Take out Subjugator first and Thol becomes the close-range final opponent in Hell, an enclosed arena surrounded by lava.

So your kill order decides the arena and the final phase. For a first clear, pick the final stage that matches your build:

  • Choose Subjugator final if your build handles vertical movement, aerial weak points and platform repositioning.
  • Choose Thol final if your build is stronger at close-range burst, ground control and panic survivability.
  • In co-op, assign one player to call target swaps. Splitting damage during the opener makes the final transition messier.

First-clear plan

The following is an editorial first-clear checklist based on the documented encounter, not a damage-tested speedrun route.

  1. Open defensively. Learn which brother is active before spending every recovery option.
  2. Mark your kill order early. Once the group picks Thol-first or Subjugator-first, stay committed so damage is not wasted.
  3. Save a panic button for the dual attack. Treat the combined attack as the real gate of the opener.
  4. Reload and reposition before the empowered phase. The survivor retreats to a new domain, and entering that phase low on ammo or cooldowns makes the wipe feel sudden.
  5. Do not judge drops from one run. Treat the first clear as route learning; farm speed matters after the phase order is stable.

Loot table

The confirmed Subjugator and Thol loot pool includes one new Pearlescent, four Legendaries, class mods and firmware:

  • Jail-Broken Gatling — Pearlescent Ripper SMG that gains stacking pressure as you keep hitting enemies.
  • Lockjaw — Torgue assault rifle with bouncing explosive projectiles.
  • Shammy Kablammy — Tediore pistol built around hot Moonshine and reload explosions.
  • Flak Cannon — Vladof heavy weapon / ordnance for bullet-heavy burst.
  • Collector — Order shield with huge capacity, quick recharge rate and a longer recharge delay.
  • Class Mods — hunter-specific drops; the official reward rules require Silver tier or higher in UVHM
  • Firmware — Active Fire (Tier 3 charge-weapon bonus)

Element and card stats scale with your level and roll, so confirm the item card before calling a drop good or bad. The gear database links individual effects and their original sources.

Timed rewards: what a successful clear actually earns

The official developer explanation says the best rewards depend on UVHM and completion time, not only defeating the bosses. Watch the mission tracker’s timer for the next reward tier:

  • Silver or better in UVHM makes the Class Mod drops available.
  • Platinum gives a guaranteed Legendary drop and a higher Pearlescent chance.
  • That Platinum rule does not guarantee Jail-Broken Gatling, and the official article does not publish a numerical chance for each named item.

Before paying for another attempt, inspect the reward chest and tier you earned. Keep the same difficulty and kill order when comparing runs so a different reward condition is not mistaken for a changed drop rate.

How to prepare before farming

  • For the UVHM 7 unlock, clear this mission on UVHM 6. For a learning clear, prioritize a difficulty your build can handle.
  • Bring a movement tool or defensive cooldown for the Subjugator final route.
  • Bring close-range sustain and a fast panic heal for the Thol final route.
  • Keep one flexible weapon slot open until your group decides which final phase is easier.
  • Plan your build at the Build Planner or start from the C4SH builds guide if you are testing the newer Vault Hunter.

FAQ

  • Is Raid Boss 2 live now? Yes. It arrived with Version 1.7 on May 28, 2026 and remains available after Version 1.8.
  • Do I need the paid DLC? No. Subjugator and Thol was added as free endgame content for Borderlands 4 players.
  • Which boss should I kill first? For your first clear, choose based on the final arena you would rather handle: Thol-first leads to Subjugator’s spacious Heaven domain; Subjugator-first leads to Thol’s enclosed Hell domain.
  • What is the main drop to chase? Jail-Broken Gatling is the headline Pearlescent. Lockjaw, Shammy Kablammy, Flak Cannon and Collector are the named Legendary drops.
  • Should solo players farm it? Yes, but expect a slower learning curve. The fight scales with party size and level, but it is still tuned as a serious endgame raid encounter.