You're running around the red, dusty canyons of Pandora, specifically The Droughts, and you see it. Or maybe you don't. That’s the problem. Dead Claptrap the Droughts isn't just a random piece of level geometry; it’s a specific collectible tied to one of the most tedious, yet weirdly rewarding, crew challenges in Borderlands 3. If you're a completionist, these broken-down husks of everyone's favorite (or most hated) steward robot are the bane of your existence.
Honestly, finding them feels like a chore sometimes. But Gearbox threw us a bone. Every time you scavenge a part from a dead Claptrap unit, you’re helping VR-0N1CA—Claptrap’s "human" project—get one step closer to existing.
It’s weirdly dark if you think about it. You’re literally stripping the corpses of Claptrap’s "siblings" to build him a girlfriend.
The Search for the Dead Claptrap in The Droughts
Most players stumble upon the first one by accident. It’s located near the center of the map, tucked away in a spot that looks like a literal junkyard. Look for the "Salvage and Survival" area. There’s a massive structural ribcage of some long-dead Pandora beast, and nestled right under a makeshift awning, you’ll find the unit.
It’s not just sitting there for decoration. When you approach it, you’ll see the prompt to "Salvage Component." Doing this triggers a bit of dialogue from Claptrap. He’s usually mourning his fallen comrade in the most annoying, high-pitched way possible.
The Droughts is the starting zone, so it serves as a tutorial for how these challenges work. You’ll see the icon—a little Claptrap head with an 'X' over it—appear on your minimap once you get close enough. If you're struggling to find the exact coordinates, head toward the fast travel station near Ellie’s Scrap YARD and move slightly northeast.
Why Bother Scavenging?
Is it worth the walk? Well, yeah.
Every dead Claptrap you find grants you experience points, Eridium, and progress toward a unique legendary weapon. Once you finish the entire "claptrap components" collection across the whole galaxy, Claptrap sends you the Baby Maker (or a similar high-tier reward depending on your level and RNG) via the in-game mail system.
But it’s more about the lore.
Pandora is a graveyard. The Droughts, specifically, is a graveyard for Hyperion technology. Seeing these units scattered around reminds you that Claptrap is the last of his kind—the sole survivor of the "Interplanetary Ninja Assassin" line after Jack had them all scrapped.
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Locating the Second Dead Claptrap in the Area
Wait, did you think there was only one?
Actually, in The Droughts, there are specifically two units you need to find to "clear" the zone's crew challenges. The second one is significantly easier to miss if you aren't hugging the walls of the map.
Drive your Outrunner toward the northern part of the map, heading toward the path that leads to the Ascension Bluff transition. There’s a small, tucked-away nook near a cliffside. If you see a bunch of Varkids spawning out of the ground, you’re in the right neighborhood.
I’ve seen people spend twenty minutes circling the Catch-A-Ride stations looking for this one. Don't do that. Just look for the yellow paint. In Borderlands 3, Gearbox uses yellow paint to indicate interactable ledges or points of interest. If you see a yellow-tinged ledge near the Varkid valley, climb it. The dead unit is slumped against a rock, looking pathetic.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Challenges
A common misconception is that you can "fail" these. You can't.
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Even if you’re playing in a friend's lobby and they pick it up, it counts for you too. This is a shared progress system. However, if you're playing on Mayhem Mode, the rewards from the mail don't always scale perfectly to your Mayhem level unless you're careful about when you "complete" the final part of the quest.
Another thing? People think these are required for the main story. They aren't.
You can beat the entire game, kill Tyreen, and never touch a single dead Claptrap. But you’ll be missing out on a massive chunk of Eridium. And since Eridium is the currency used for the Veteran Rewards machine and the Earl’s Reroll on gear anointments, you’re basically leaving power on the table by ignoring them.
The VR-0N1CA Connection
Once you've grabbed the parts from The Droughts, head back to Sanctuary III. Go to the back of the ship where Claptrap hangs out. You’ll see a weird, skeletal frame of a robot slowly being built.
Every part you scavenge—from the head modules to the weird internal servos—changes her appearance. It’s one of the few dynamic visual changes on the ship that reflects your progress in the open world. It’s a nice touch. It makes the world feel a little less static.
How to Optimize Your Hunt in The Droughts
If you’re trying to 100% the zone, don't just hunt the Claptraps. The Droughts is packed. You’ve got the Legendary Hunt (Lavender Crawley), the Typhon Logs, and the Crimson Radio.
The best route starts at Ellie’s.
- Grab the first Dead Claptrap near the ribcage.
- Swing north for the Typhon Log near the cliff.
- Hit the second Dead Claptrap on the way to Ascension Bluff.
- Loop back around to the Varkid nest for the Legendary Hunt.
Doing it in a circle saves you about ten minutes of driving through the empty wasteland.
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A Word on Technical Glitches
Sometimes, the icon for the Dead Claptrap in The Droughts stays on your map even after you’ve collected it. This is a legacy bug that Gearbox never fully squashed. If your "Zone Progress" sidebar shows 2/2, you’re good. Don't lose sleep over a flickering icon.
Also, if the prompt doesn't appear, try reloading the zone. Occasionally, the interaction "hitbox" for the robot gets buried in the ground texture. It’s annoying, but a quick "Quit to Main Menu" and "Continue" usually fixes the layering issue.
Actionable Steps for Completionists
If you want to finish this challenge today, follow this checklist to ensure you don't have to backtrack to Pandora later in the game:
- Check Your Map: Open the map in The Droughts and toggle the "Challenges" view (usually by clicking the left stick or pressing a specific key on PC). If it says "Dead Claptrap 0/2," you haven't touched this zone yet.
- Focus on the Ribcage: Go to the center of the map first. The "Salvage and Survival" Claptrap is the most common one people miss because it blends into the brown shadows of the camp.
- Listen for the Sparking: Dead Claptraps emit a specific electrical buzzing sound when you are within 10 virtual meters. If your music is too loud, you might miss it. Turn the SFX up.
- Collect the Typhon Logs Simultaneously: In The Droughts, the Typhon Logs are often within spitting distance of the Claptrap units. Grab them both to unlock the Typhon Dead Drop, which usually contains purple or orange tier gear that is extremely helpful for early-game leveling.
- Check Your Mailbox: Once you leave the zone, check your social tab. Often, Hammerlock or Claptrap will send you a small "thank you" gift in the form of cash or a weapon just for starting the challenge.
By systematically clearing these out, you aren't just cleaning up the map; you’re building the "Baby Maker" legendary and unlocking one of the weirdest sub-plots in the Borderlands franchise. Keep an eye on the yellow paint, watch the minimap for the skull-and-gears icon, and don't let the Skags bite you on the way to the salvage.