Look, if you’ve been spending any time in the Dominion lately, you’ve probably heard people losing their minds over one specific drop. I’m talking about The Bod. This thing isn't just another orange beam on the ground; it’s basically a cheat code disguised as a Daedalus shotgun. Honestly, I haven't seen the Borderlands community this obsessed with a single weapon since the Unkempt Harold days.
It’s weird. It’s broken. You need it.
The reason everyone is scrambling to farm Axemaul is pretty simple: The Bod doesn't care about the rules of weapon types. In a game where your build usually forces you to pick a "main" category—like boosting SMG damage or Sniper crits—this gun just says "yes" to everything.
What is The Bod Shotgun?
Basically, it’s a Legendary Daedalus shotgun with a unique perk called All-Rounder. This is the secret sauce. While it technically sits in your shotgun slot, the game’s code treats it as a Shotgun, Assault Rifle, Sniper Rifle, Pistol, and SMG simultaneously.
Think about that for a second.
If you have an enhancement that gives you +20% SMG damage and another part of your kit that buffs Assault Rifles, The Bod shotgun gets both. They stack. It’s a literal multiplier magnet. Because it counts as every weapon type, any "passive weapon type stat boosts" on your gear apply to it. If you're running a build like Ranger Rafa or some high-tier Harlowe setup, the math gets stupidly high, very fast.
The Ammo Trick
Since it's a Daedalus weapon, it has a secondary fire mode. Here's where it gets even weirder. You can roll variants that use SMG, AR, or Sniper ammo instead of shells.
I’ve found that switching to the SMG alt-fire is usually the play. Why? Because you get the high fire rate of an SMG but the raw, unadulterated stopping power of a legendary shotgun. Plus, SMG ammo pools are massive compared to shotgun reserves. You basically never run out of bullets while hitting like a freight train.
How to Get The Bod Shotgun in Borderlands 4
You can’t just find this in a dumpster. Well, technically you could get a world drop, but if you want to actually see one before 2027, you have to go to the source.
Axemaul is the guy you’re looking for.
He’s tucked away in the Dominion region, specifically in a place called the Toil of Spoiling Vis (which is inside the Abandoned Auger Mine).
- Get yourself to the Final Defiance Fast Travel point.
- Look for the hole in the Dominion wall and head into the plaza.
- Find the smaller hole that leads into the Abandoned Auger Mine.
- Push through the tunnel to the big room with the Ripper drill.
- Grapple through the Phase portal to reach Axemaul’s boss room.
Fair warning: the drop rate is roughly 3%.
I’ve talked to players who got it on their third try, and others who are currently on run #150 with nothing to show for it but some purple trash and a headache. Gearbox did just increase dedicated drop rates in the January 2026 update, though, so the grind shouldn't be as soul-crushing as it was at launch.
Best Rolls and Variants
Not all Bods are created equal. Since the recent updates, you'll see "middle names" or secondary prefixes like Pre-emptive or Bellicose. These usually tie into the elemental damage or specific manufacturer parts.
If you really want the "God Roll," you’re looking for the Ceramic Bod.
- The Ceramic Prefix: This means it has Torgue-licensed parts.
- Sticky vs. Impact: Most people want the "Sticky" variant. The stickies latch on and explode for massive bonus damage, especially on bosses.
- Shields: It usually comes with a Hyperion-licensed shield. An Amp shield or an Absorb shield are the top picks here for extra survivability or even more damage.
The "Ballistic Bod" with the Ripper mag is also decent if you like a full-auto feel, but the Torgue Ceramic version is the undisputed king for DPS.
Why It’s Better Than Everything Else
Is it bugged? Maybe. There’s a lot of chatter on Reddit that the way Daedalus ammo switching interacts with pellet counts is broken. Normally, switching to a different ammo type should lower your pellet count to balance the damage.
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The Bod shotgun doesn’t seem to care. It keeps all its pellets and still gets the damage boost from the ammo switch. Switching to Sniper ammo, for example, can give you a roughly 2.5x base damage multiplier without losing a single projectile. It's absolute carnage.
Beyond the raw damage, it’s just a "lazy" gun in the best way possible. You don't have to swap weapons to complete different weapon-type challenges. It checks every box. It’s the ultimate utility tool for endgame farming.
Actionable Tips for the Farm:
- Level 50 First: Don't waste your life farming Axemaul at level 35. You'll just outgrow the gun in three hours. Wait until you hit the cap.
- Check the Elements: A Radiation or Corrosive Ceramic Bod will carry you through the toughest True Vault Hunter Mode (TVHM) content without breaking a sweat.
- Moxxi’s Big Encore: If you're tired of Axemaul, keep an eye on the Big Encore machine rotations, though the dedicated boss farm is still more reliable.
- Phosphene Skins: Don't forget that if you find a "Phosphene" variant, it’s just a cosmetic skin. It looks cool, but it won't kill enemies any faster.
Once you land a decent roll, head over to the training dummy and check your damage numbers with different enhancements. You'll likely see that those "useless" AR or Pistol damage buffs on your class mod are suddenly making your shotgun hit like a tactical nuke. Take advantage of it before Gearbox decides it's too much fun and brings out the nerf bat.