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Borderlands 4 Buoy Review — Legendary Ordnance

Published: 8/15/2026 · Updated: 11/15/2026 · As of 2026-07

Red Text
No wake zone...

This review was machine-translated from the Japanese original. Numbers are checked against the original; if the wording reads oddly, the Japanese version is authoritative.

When thrown, it floats lightly in the air at the spot and waits, exploding when an enemy approaches – a “Buoy” type grenade. Made by Ripper, it excels as a trap placed on pathways or enemy spawn points rather than a direct‑throw projectile. It automatically detonates after 10 seconds.

🧩 Source of the red text “No wake zone” refers to signage indicating a water area where vessels are required to travel at low speed so as not to create a wake. Combined with the name Buoy (Buoy = floating marker), it forms a boat‑by‑the‑water wordplay that matches the effect “floats in place, unmoving, affecting only those who approach” (i.e., a Buoy grenade). It is not a quote from a specific work but an everyday‑language pun‑style flavor, and the external source is (unverified).

What kind of grenade? (Beginner’s perspective)

• Ripper-made deployable floating grenade. When thrown, it hovers stationary in the air at close range
• It detonates with elemental splash damage when an enemy enters the area or 10 seconds pass
• Not a projectile meant to hit directly, but suited for trap‑style use by pre‑placing it on enemy pathways or spawn points
• Depending on the elemental roll, it can apply status effects (e.g., Cryo for immobilization, etc.)

Unique Effects (Mechanics)

Buoy (Floating Mine): When thrown, it hovers stationary in the air and floats. After 10 seconds, or when an enemy enters the area, it detonates dealing elemental splash damage.

• In‑game: Floats in the air and explodes when an enemy approaches
• Web (Lootlemon): When thrown, it positions itself in the air at close range and detonates after 10 seconds or when an enemy enters the area, dealing elemental splash damage
• Elemental roll is variable (Kinetic/Fire/Shock/Corrosive/Cryo/Radiation)
• Designed for “placement” use, it shines in narrow corridors, spawn points, or in front of doors

Drop Farming

• Boss Voraxis is the primary drop source
• The location is listed as Timid Kyle’s Neglected Opening in the original notes, and as Coastal Bonescape on the web. The discrepancy in place names is (unverified) (possible alternate naming or location for the same boss)
• Since it is also in the general grenade pool, it can be obtained from other sources

Build Compatibility

Summary

• A deployable floating mine‑type grenade that hovers in the air, waiting to detonate on enemy approach or after 10 seconds
• Excels at pre‑placed trap usage in corridors or spawn points
• Can apply status effects via elemental roll
• Obtained from boss Voraxis (≈9%)

Related

• Same manufacturer (Ripper): Jelly
• Same category (Grenade): Blockbuster / Barb’ara
• References: Lootlemon - Buoy / Mobalytics - Buoy