Destroy The Destroyer

Destroy The Destroyer
Location	[[The Vault]]
Given By	Guardian Angel
Level	32
Rewards	28560 XP, $9395
Playthrough 2
Level	50
Rewards	52416 XP, $72250
Previous	Find Steele
Next	Bring The Vault Key To Tannis
Game	Borderlands
Mission Type	Story mission

[[Category:The Vault missions]]

When Commandant Steele unlocks the Vault, she and the Crimson Lance get more than they bargain for as the Destroyer emerges.

Walkthrough

thumb|300px|right|Video walkthrough

Objectives

Defeat the Destroyer.

• Destroyer defeated: 0/1

"Do you feel that I betrayed you? Do not. I am possessed of a sight that allows me to look forward and backward along the timeline, and the release of this creature was inevitable. There was only one chance for this dimension's continued existence. A hero. Someone who was at the right place, at the right time, and strong enough to push back. I have given you the unique opportunity to defend the existence of all that you know. Go! Fight! Be that hero! I will help you however I can."

Preparation

This fight can be one of the hardest in the game if the appropriate preparations are not made. It is advisable to have at least one powerful, reasonably accurate weapon for each weapon class.

The next issue is ammunition. The Destroyer can take hundreds of hits before dying, so ensure that all ammunition is well stocked before the fight. Ammo Regeneration weapons or class mods work well when combined with lower-level SDU's.

Eridian weapons can also be used to help alleviate the ammunition depletion, but due to their slow recharge times they should be considered to be an occasional sidearm at best.

The levels of the attacking characters can also be taken into consideration. By levelling characters several levels above the level of the Destroyer, any attackers will inflict more damage, and sustain less throughout the course of the fight. In Playthrough 2 the upgraded next playthrough-like setting becomes accessible as soon as the mission Find Steele is completed, so characters can exit the Vault and proceed to farm even higher level creatures for experience and maximum damage weapons before returning to finish off the Destroyer.

Killing The Destroyer

The first priority is to take cover and destroy the purple tentacles that sprout from the Destroyer's back. These launch large purple needles that explode upon hitting the ground, dealing significant damage. The needles often arc over the available cover, so they cannot simply be ignored. Accurate weapons of any type work well here. The glowing purple orbs near the middle of the tentacles can be destroyed to score critical hits.

When the tentacles have been dealt with, firing on the eye with powerful rapid-fire weapons yields a string of critical hits that quickly whittle down the Destroyer's life. Shooting the tongue when it attacks also yields a critical hit, which can be useful for shotgun users.

Another tactic which can make this fight trivial is to run behind the top right pillar. Provided that the character's shield is strong enough, or the character has transfusion grenades etc. the visible tentacle can be shot at without the character getting hit by the eye beam or the shock wave. The flying spikes will still hit, but shields can effectively absorb their damage.

Also a good strategy is to hide behind the rocks to the right and shoot the large purple tentacles which come out after The Destroyer's health is low . This method takes a while, but is safe. A powerful weapon is recommended, for example a Matador or Anarchy .

Using a Bouncing Bettie grenade mod and throwing all your grenades in its mouth at the start of the battle is also a fast and easy way to deal great amounts of damage.

The Fight Continues

Once roughly one third of The Destroyer's health is gone, it will edge out of the Vault a bit more and latch on to two pillars on the side of the arena. These anchoring tentacles are vulnerable to melee attacks, with the pillar shielding the melee attacker from many of The Destroyer's own attacks. The Destroyer will also sprout four more purple tentacles and start periodically firing a dangerous eye beam.

Take out the purple tentacles and watch out for an aura around The Destroyer’s eye. When it changes, take cover behind the pillar to avoid the thin blue beam that will be sustained for several seconds. Though it may appear as though the beam is passing directly through the pillar, it will not damage any concealed character. To be safe, pop out for a second and look directly at the eye. Open fire when the beam abates.

Once the Destroyer's health is reduced enough for it to grab the outermost pillars, characters can be positioned behind the pillars where the spikes and the eye beam can't reach.

Completion

"You did it! You won. I'm sorry I couldn't warn you, but for you to be there, it couldn't have unfolded any other way. You were brilliant, and your actions will not go unrewarded."