Gearbox finally did it. After years of speculation and that cryptic teaser at Gamescom, we are finally diving into the grit of a brand-new planet. But let’s be real for a second. While the gunplay in Borderlands 4 feels snappier than ever, most of us are already obsessing over the completionist grind. Specifically, everyone is talking about The Howl collectibles.
It’s a massive zone. Dark. Atmospheric. It feels a lot different than the neon-soaked streets of Promethea or the dusty plains of Pandora. If you’ve spent any time wandering the jagged outskirts of this new map, you know exactly how frustrating it is to see that "98% Zone Completion" staring back at you. It’s enough to make any Vault Hunter want to toss their controller into the nearest corrosive pit.
The thing about these specific items is that Gearbox leaned heavily into verticality this time around. You can’t just follow a waypoint and expect to stumble upon a Echo Log or a Dead Drop. You have to look up. You have to slide under rusted pipes. Basically, you have to play like a paranoid scavenger.
Why The Howl Collectibles are Driving Everyone Crazy
The Howl isn't just a clever name. It’s a desolate, wind-swept canyon region that uses sound cues—literally—to hide its secrets. If you’re playing with the volume down or listening to a podcast, you’re honestly shooting yourself in the foot.
A lot of players are reporting that the internal map tracking is a bit buggy right now, which doesn't help. You might pick up a Crimson Radio equivalent, but the checkmark won't appear until you fast travel out and back in. It’s annoying, sure, but the real challenge is the placement. Gearbox hired some devious level designers for this one.
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Take the "Echoes of the Void" logs, for example. In previous games, these were usually sitting on a crate near a combat arena. In Borderlands 4, one of the trickiest ones in The Howl is actually tucked inside a hanging cage that you have to shoot down from a crane located three levels above the actual objective marker. If you’re just running around the ground floor, you’ll never find it.
The Verticality Trap
You’ve probably noticed the new grappling mechanics feel a bit more fluid. That’s because the game expects you to use them for more than just escaping a Badass Psycho.
Most of the missed The Howl collectibles are hidden in what the community is calling "the rafters." There’s a section near the central Hub—the area with all the flickering blue lights—where you can see a collectible icon on your mini-map, but there is no clear path to it. You actually have to climb the ventilation ducts behind the ammo vending machine, jump to a moving platform, and time a crouch-slide through a closing security gate. It feels more like Mirror's Edge than Borderlands at times, but the loot inside those hidden chests is usually worth the headache.
Breaking Down the Specific Finds
Let's get into the weeds of what you're actually looking for. We aren't just talking about one type of item here.
The Shattered Echoes: These serve as the primary lore delivery system. There are seven in total within The Howl. The first three are easy, usually found near the main path during the "Silence the Screams" mission. The fourth one, however, is hidden behind a breakable rock wall that requires explosive damage—specifically cryo-explosive if you want to unlock the hidden achievement.
Vault Hunter Memorials: These are a new addition for the fourth installment. They provide some much-needed backstory on what happened between the end of the last DLC and the start of this game. In The Howl, there is a memorial dedicated to a "fallen friend" (no spoilers here, but bring tissues) located at the very peak of the jagged ridge overlooking the crashed freighter.
Typhon DeLeon’s Legacy?: Not exactly. Without giving away too much of the narrative, there are "Eridian Trace" markers that function similarly to the old Typhon Logs. Finding all of them in this zone unlocks a weapon cache that, in my experience, has a 40% higher chance of dropping a Legendary-tier Sniper Rifle.
The Secret "Glitch" Collectible
There is a weird one. If you head to the southern-most point of the map, near the area where the wind gusts actually push your character back, there’s a small, flickering screen. It doesn't show up on the map. It doesn't give you a prompt. But if you melee it three times in rhythm with the ambient howling sound, it triggers a hidden boss spawn. This boss drops a unique weapon skin that you can't get anywhere else. Is it technically a collectible? The community says yes.
Common Mistakes When Hunting in The Howl
Don't be the person who spends four hours looking for a chest that isn't there.
First off, check your progress in the "Region" tab, not just the "Zone" tab. Sometimes the UI gets confused if you haven't completed the side quest "A Whisper in the Dark." That mission actually opens up a sub-basement in the refinery area where two of the most elusive The Howl collectibles are stored. If you haven't done that quest, those items literally don't exist in the game world yet. They haven't spawned.
Secondly, use your ears. The Eridian Traces emit a low-frequency hum that gets louder the closer you get. If you’re using a headset, you can actually use spatial audio to pinpoint if the item is above or below you. It’s a game-changer.
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Lastly, stop ignoring the trash piles. I know, it's a looter-shooter and you only want the shiny stuff. But in Borderlands 4, the developers hid several "Lost Trinkets" (which contribute to your 100% completion) inside interactable junk heaps. One of them in the Northern Ridge area is tucked inside a pile of scrap metal that looks identical to the background scenery.
The High-Tier Rewards
Why bother? Aside from the dopamine hit of seeing 100%, completing the set in this region grants you the "Apex Predator" class mod.
For those playing the new Siren or the Beastmaster-adjacent class, this mod is massive. It boosts your movement speed every time you pick up an ammo drop, which is essential for the endgame raids we’re seeing pop up. Plus, finishing the Echo logs gives you the full context of why the antagonist chose this specific planet. It makes the final boss fight feel a lot more personal and a lot less "just kill the big bad guy."
The difficulty curve in Borderlands 4 is real. If you skip these items, you're skipping out on easy XP and some of the best world-building Gearbox has ever done. The Howl is a depressing place—it's supposed to be—but finding these hidden gems makes the atmosphere feel earned rather than just edgy for the sake of being edgy.
Actionable Steps for 100% Completion
If you're stuck, stop circling the same three rocks. Follow this workflow to clear the zone efficiently:
- Complete the Main Story Mission for the Zone First: This ensures all doors are unlocked and all script triggers have fired.
- Trigger "A Whisper in the Dark": This side quest is non-negotiable for finding the basement Echo logs.
- Equip a High-Jump Class Mod: If you have gear that boosts jump height or provides a second dash, put it on. You’ll need it for the refinery rafters.
- Check the Map "Z-Axis": Toggle your map view to the 3D mode. If an icon looks like it’s in the middle of a wall, it’s almost certainly in a tunnel beneath you or a ledge above you.
- Listen for the Hum: Turn down the music in your settings to 20% and keep SFX at 100%. This makes finding Eridian Traces significantly faster.
The Howl is just the beginning of the hunt. Once you've cleared this, the next zone's difficulty spikes, so make sure your gear from these caches is leveled up before moving on to the next planetary transition.