Honestly, if you haven't heard a guitar riff explode in your ears while a muscular man screams about explosions, have you even played Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage? It's the second major expansion for Borderlands 2. Most people just call it Borderlands 2 DLC 2, but that feels a bit too formal for something this chaotic. Back in 2012, Gearbox was on a roll. They had just released Captain Scarlett, which was fine, but we needed something with more... punch. We got it.
The Badass Crater of Badassitude. That is a real place name.
It's ridiculous. It's loud. It's basically a love letter to 80s action movies and professional wrestling. You aren't just hunting a vault; you're competing in a gladiatorial tournament to see who is the number one badass in Pandora. Piston, the main "antagonist," is a total jerk, but he's the kind of jerk you love to hate because his betrayal is so telegraphed it becomes a comedy bit.
What Actually Happens in Borderlands 2 DLC 2
You arrive at the Crater. You meet Mr. Torgue High-Five Flexington. He is the CEO of the Torgue Corporation, and he might be the best character Gearbox ever wrote. He doesn't just talk; he bellows. He has a censor grid in his throat that bleeps out his swearing because his legal team told him to.
The plot is simple: A new Vault has been found. It only opens when "the champion of Pandora feeds it the blood of the coward." Torgue decides the best way to find this champion is a sponsored deathmatch.
The Characters That Make This Work
Mad Moxxi returns as your sponsor/manager, because of course she does. She’s looking for a way to stick it to Piston. Then there's Tiny Tina. She shows up to help you "train" by having you blow up a bunch of people who "look like they have bad breath." It’s peak Tina.
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But the real star is the loot. This DLC introduced Torgue Tokens.
I remember spending hours farming the Bar Room Brawl in Pyro Pete’s Bar just to get enough tokens for an Unkempt Harold. If you know, you know. The Unkempt Harold is arguably the most broken pistol in the history of the franchise. Being able to buy a guaranteed Legendary from a vending machine changed the endgame loop of Borderlands 2 forever.
The Bosses and the Infamous Raid
Let's talk about Pyro Pete the Ultra Invincible.
He is the raid boss of this DLC. For a long time, he was the "easy" farm for Seraph Crystals. If you were playing a Gunzerker (Salvador), you could basically melt him. If you were playing Zer0, you had to be a bit more tactical, but Pete was always the most accessible raid boss for solo players.
The encounter is a bit of a gear check. You need a way to wash off his DoT (Damage over Time) effects using the water valves in the arena. But wait—every time you turn the valve, the enemies that spawn get stronger. It’s a delicate balance.
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Then there’s the Badassasaurus. A giant, metal, fire-breathing dinosaur tank.
It is a nightmare.
Most players end up cheesing this fight by hiding behind the concrete barrier at the entrance because the Badassasaurus has a nasty habit of reflecting bullets directly back into your face. It's one of those bosses that feels a bit unfair until you realize you can just use a corrosive weapon and a lot of patience.
Why This DLC Still Holds Up in 2026
You might wonder why we’re still talking about Borderlands 2 DLC 2 over a decade later. It's the vibe. Borderlands 3 had better gunplay, and Wonderlands had the magic, but the writing in Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage has a specific kind of soul. It’s a satire of hyper-masculinity that somehow remains endearing.
The Torgue Economy
- Torgue Vending Machines: These only accept Torgue Tokens.
- The Legendaries: You can find the Flakker, the Rolling Thunder, and the Bonus Package here.
- The Farm: The "Tier 3 Rematch" missions are the gold standard for leveling up a new character quickly.
The DLC doesn't overstay its welcome. You can blast through the main story in about three to four hours. But if you want to complete all the side quests—like the one where you have to take pictures of Moxxi’s "fans"—you’re looking at a solid ten hours of content.
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There's a specific nuance to the level design here too. The Crater is vast and brown, which some people hated, but it feels like a wasteland arena. The Forge is a claustrophobic mess of pipes and lava that forces you into close-quarters combat. It switches things up just when you're starting to get bored.
Common Misconceptions About the Torgue DLC
People often think you have to be max level to start it. You don't. In Normal Mode, the DLC scales from level 15 to 30. If you’re struggling with the main story, jumping into the DLC to grab a Ravager or a Spitter (blue and purple Torgue shotguns/rifles) can give you the edge you need to finish the base game.
Another mistake? Ignoring the side missions. "Everybody Wants to be Wanted" and "Gaslighting" are hilarious. They provide the context for why Torgue is the way he is. He’s a guy who was bullied and now owns a company that makes things explode. It’s a classic underdog story, just with more C4.
The Best Way to Approach Your Playthrough
If you are booting up the Handsome Collection or the standalone version today, do yourself a favor. Don't rush.
- Get to Pyro Pete’s Bar quickly. This is the best place to farm XP and tokens simultaneously.
- Check every Torgue Vending Machine. The "Item of the Day" is always a Legendary. If you have 613 tokens, you can get a Double Penetrating Unkempt Harold (DPUH). That gun will carry you for ten levels easily.
- Listen to the ECHO logs. There is some genuinely funny world-building about the corporate side of Pandora that you’ll miss if you just run and gun.
The Borderlands 2 DLC 2 experience is about leaning into the absurdity. Don't try to play it like a tactical shooter. Play it like a chaotic brawler. Use the explosive weapons. Spec into skills that increase splash damage.
Next Steps for Your Vault Hunter:
Go to the nearest Fast Travel station and select "The Badass Crater of Badassitude." If you’re under level 15, wait a bit. If you’re level 30 or higher in True Vault Hunter Mode, make sure you have a decent slag weapon before you enter. Your first priority should be completing the "Tier 2" battle missions to start stockpiling those Torgue Tokens for the vending machines.