You’re staring at Doc Mercy. Again. For the fiftieth time this hour, you’ve hit him with everything in your arsenal, watched his body ragdoll into the dust of Three Horns - Valley, and seen nothing but white and green loot burst from his pockets. It’s frustrating. It’s tedious. But you’re doing it because you want that one specific legendary: the infinity pistol borderlands 2 players have been obsessing over since 2012.
The Infinity is a weird gun. Honestly, it’s probably one of the most divisive pieces of gear in the entire Borderlands franchise. Some players swear by it as the ultimate "lazy" weapon, while high-level Raiders often dismiss it as a peashooter that can’t keep up with the scaling of Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode (UVHM).
But here’s the thing. Even if the damage isn't top-tier, the utility is undeniable.
The Gimmick That Changed the Meta
The core hook of the Infinity is simple: it consumes zero ammo. You can tape down your left mouse button or trigger, go make a sandwich, and come back to find your character still firing. It has a magazine size of exactly one, but because of its unique legendary effect, that single bullet never actually leaves the mag.
It’s manufactured by Vladof. This means it carries that signature high fire rate, but with a twist. Instead of a standard recoil pattern, the Infinity fires in a very specific, unchanging "infinity symbol" or figure-eight shape.
This creates a high skill floor. If you’re just spraying at a distance, you’re going to miss half your shots because the bullets are literalizing a math symbol in the air. You’ve got to learn the rhythm. Up, loop, down, loop. Once you master the "sway," it becomes surprisingly viable for mid-range crit-spotting.
Why Does Doc Mercy Hate Us?
If you’re hunting for this gun, you’re likely spending a lot of time in Three Horns. Doc Mercy is the designated loot source, but the drop rate has historically been a point of massive contention. In the early days of the game, the drop rate for the Infinity in True Vault Hunter Mode and beyond was actually bugged, making it nearly impossible to get without a world drop. Gearbox eventually patched this, but the trauma remains for veteran players.
You can also find it in the Treasure Room at the end of the Captain Scarlett DLC, or by farming the Gold Golem in the Tiny Tina DLC. Some people prefer the Golem. Personally? I think Doc Mercy is faster if you use the geyser jump to skip the run up the hill.
The Zer0 and Maya Connection
Not every Vault Hunter handles the Infinity the same way. In fact, if you’re playing Gaige the Mechromancer, you might find yourself physically unable to fire the gun.
This happens because of her "Smaller, Lighter, Faster" skill. It reduces magazine size. Since the Infinity only has one bullet, the math rounds down to zero. You pull the trigger, and nothing happens. It’s hilarious the first time, then immediately annoying. To fix it, you need a specific "Neutral" Necromancer class mod from the Tiny Tina DLC to boost that mag size back up.
Zer0, on the other hand, is a god with this thing.
His "One Shot, One Kill" skill provides a massive damage bonus to the first shot fired from a magazine. Since every single bullet from an Infinity is technically the "first" shot of the mag, he gets that bonus 100% of the time. It turns a low-damage-per-shot pistol into a continuous stream of boosted lethality. Combine that with a Stalker class mod or a Sherriff’s Badge, and you’re looking at a fire rate that sounds like a swarm of angry hornets.
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Maya can make it work too, mostly through "Chain Reaction." While an enemy is Phaselocked, your bullets have a chance to ricochet to other enemies. With an infinite supply of bullets, you can turn a crowded room into a disco of elemental procs without ever worrying about your ammo pool.
The Elemental Variety
Don't settle for the basic non-elemental version. It’s boring.
- Dva Prefix: This is the holy grail. It adds a second projectile. You aren't just firing one infinite stream; you're firing two.
- Rapid/Vengeful: These boost the fire rate, which is usually the best way to scale the Infinity's DPS.
- Elemental Versions: Corrosive is great for Loaders in Opportunity. Fire is essential for the Flesh-heavy areas. Shock is... okay, but usually outperformed by a good Pimpernel or Sand Hawk.
Is It Actually Good in the End Game?
Let’s be real. If you’re pushing OP levels (Overpower levels), the infinity pistol borderlands 2 experience starts to hit a wall.
The base damage on the Infinity is lower than a purple-rarity Vladof Anarchist. That’s the trade-off for the infinite ammo. When enemies have millions of health points and massive health regeneration, you need burst damage. You need "The Bee" shield.
The Infinity and The Bee shield are a classic pairing. Since the Infinity fires so fast and never reloads, you can keep the Bee's amp damage active constantly. But if you take even a sliver of damage, your shield breaks, and your DPS plummet to zero. It’s a "glass cannon" build that feels more like a "glass pea-shooter" build if you aren't careful.
Most "pro" players will tell you to just farm an Unkempt Harold instead. They aren't wrong. The Harold does significantly more damage. But the Harold also chews through your pistol ammo in about thirty seconds. The Infinity is about sustainability. It’s for those long treks through the Sawtooth Cauldron where you don't want to stop and open every single green ammo crate.
Real-World Utility and Farming
The real value of this gun often lies in things other than killing bosses.
- Stacking: If you're playing Gaige (and have the right class mod), you can use the Infinity to build Anarchy stacks against a target dummy or a wall without wasting ammo.
- Money Saving: In the early game, ammo is expensive. Having an Infinity means you can sell every other pistol bullet you find.
- The "Oh Crap" Factor: We’ve all been there. You’re in a heavy fight, you’ve run out of SMG and Shotgun ammo, and your Sniper rifle is empty. Switching to the Infinity is your insurance policy. You are never truly out of the fight.
How to Optimize Your Infinity Build
If you’re determined to make this your primary weapon, you need to build around it. Don't just slap it on and expect miracles.
First, get a Sheriff's Badge. This relic is a drop from the Sheriff of Lynchwood. It increases pistol fire rate and damage. Because the Infinity's DPS is so tied to how many bullets you can spit out per second, this relic is non-negotiable.
Second, look for a Vladof or Jakob's grip. A matching Vladof grip increases magazine size (not helpful here) and reload speed (also not helpful), but it also gives a significant boost to fire rate.
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Third, consider your shield. While The Bee is the obvious choice for damage, a Sham can be better for survivability. If you’re using an Infinity, you’re likely in the thick of it. Absorbing 94% of incoming bullets while you spray back your own infinite supply makes you feel like a tank.
Misconceptions and Errors
A common mistake is thinking the "Purging" prefix is the best because it sounds cool. It increases damage, sure, but the "Vengeful" prefix's fire rate boost almost always results in higher total damage over time.
Also, don't ignore the sights. Since the gun has a fixed recoil pattern, having a clean sight (like the Dahl or Vladof scopes) is crucial. Avoid the heavy zoom scopes; they make tracking the figure-eight pattern a nightmare.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Session
If you want to add this legendary to your collection today, follow this specific loop for the most efficient farm:
- Fast Travel: Go to Three Horns - Valley.
- The Shortcut: Don't drive all the way around. There is a steam geyser right near the entrance to Doc Mercy's area. If you time it right and stand on it, it will launch you directly onto the cliffside where he spawns.
- The Kill: Use a shock weapon to strip his shield quickly. He’s armored, so corrosive works well, but honestly, a high-damage shotgun to the face ends him in seconds.
- The Check: Look for the orange beam. If it's not there, Save and Quit immediately. Don't waste time looking at the blue or green loot.
- The Reset: You’ll spawn right back at the vending machines. Rinse and repeat.
If you’re on PC, you can use the "read-only" farm method if you’re collecting quest rewards, but for Doc Mercy, the standard Save/Quit is the way to go.
The Infinity isn't the "best" gun in Borderlands 2, but it is the most iconic. It represents a specific type of freedom in a game that usually forces you to scrounge for every resource. Whether you're using it to cheese a boss from a safe spot or just clearing out trash mobs without thinking, it deserves a slot in your backpack. Just don't expect it to carry you through the Peak without some serious support gear.