The Crawlcroft Walkthrough – Borderlands 4 Guide

Borderlands 4 takes the series' trademark humor, looting, and explosive gunplay to new heights. Among the game's standout locations is The Crawlcroft, a twisted underground stronghold teeming with monstrous creatures, challenging puzzles, and a trove of loot waiting to be uncovered.

This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough of The Crawlcroft, covering how to enter the area, tips for combat and exploration, boss strategies, and how to claim all the Borderlands 4 Items hidden deep in its depths.

Overview of The Crawlcroft

The Crawlcroft is a mid-game dungeon located beneath the icy wastes of the planet Verrathis Prime. Players often encounter it after completing the main story mission “Through the Frozen Veil.”

Key details:

Recommended Level: 22–28

Location: Southeast quadrant of Verrathis Prime

Main Objective: Defeat the Crawlcroft Warden and secure the Artifact of Breach

Notable Features: Labyrinthine tunnels, environmental traps, and rare Eridian loot

How to Access The Crawlcroft

Before diving into the dungeon, you’ll need to meet certain prerequisites.

1. Complete “Through the Frozen Veil”

This main quest unlocks access to Verrathis Prime’s southern region. The quest culminates with the defeat of the Ice Revenant, after which the frozen gate leading to the Crawlcroft will thaw.

2. Acquire the Resonant Key

After finishing the quest, speak to NPC Lyra Voss, the Eridian researcher in Glacier’s Rest Outpost.

She will provide you with the Resonant Key, an ancient device required to open the Crawlcroft’s main gate.

3. Travel to the Crawlcroft Entrance

Fast-travel to Frozen Breach Waypoint.

Head south along the fractured ice canyon.

Avoid ambushes by packs of Frostbiters, as they can drain your shields quickly.

4. Unlock the Gate

At the gate to the Crawlcroft:

Interact with the Eridian console using the Resonant Key.

Prepare for an ambush by Crawlers as the gate slowly opens.

Crawlcroft Environment and Layout

The Crawlcroft is divided into four main sections, each with unique environmental hazards and enemy types.

1. The Infested Tunnels

Enemies: Crawlers, Burrowbeasts

Hazards: Collapsing tunnels, acid pools

Tips: Keep moving and watch for floor cracks that signal incoming Burrowbeasts.

The Infested Tunnels serve as the introductory area, teaching you the importance of mobility and positioning against hordes of small but fast-moving creatures.

2. The Crystal Caverns

Enemies: Shardspawns, Frozen Wraiths

Hazards: Crystal spikes that explode when shot

Tips: Lure enemies near unstable crystals and use their explosions for area damage.

Hidden behind a glowing crystal wall is a Loot Chest containing rare SMGs and sniper rifles. To reach it, shoot the glowing Eridian node above the wall to break it.

3. The Forgotten Warrens

Enemies: Crawler Alphas, Hivekeepers

Hazards: Poison gas vents

Tips: Use elemental weapons—especially fire or corrosive—to counter the tough carapaces of Alphas.

This section is a maze-like network of tunnels. Look for Eridian glyphs on walls to avoid getting lost—glyphs with three marks typically point toward the main objective.

4. The Warden’s Hollow

Enemies: Crawlcroft Warden (boss), Endless Swarms

Hazards: Periodic acid floods

Tips: Keep an eye on the environment, as the arena’s layout changes during the fight.

Enemy Types and Combat Tips

The Crawlcroft features a mix of melee swarms and ranged attackers. Understanding their behavior is key to survival.

Crawlers

Weak but appear in large numbers.

Aim for their glowing abdominal sacs for instant kills.

Burrowbeasts

Tunnel underground to ambush players.

Use shock grenades to force them out of hiding.

Shardspawns

Ranged attackers that hurl crystal shards.

Destroy their crystal growths to reduce their damage output.

Hivekeepers

Summon small insectoid swarms to overwhelm you.

Prioritize taking them down before dealing with the swarm.

Crawler Alphas

Heavily armored mini-bosses.

Use corrosive weapons to strip armor quickly.

Boss Fight: Crawlcroft Warden

The highlight of this dungeon is the showdown against the Crawlcroft Warden, a colossal insectoid overlord with devastating abilities.

Recommended Loadout

Weapons: Corrosive Shotguns or ARs, Shock SMGs for shields

Grenades: Cryo grenades to slow minions

Shield: Adaptive shield for resistance to both acid and melee

Class Mod: Choose one that enhances elemental damage or crowd control

Boss Abilities

Acid Wave: Periodic waves of acid flood the arena—jump onto higher platforms to avoid damage.

Summon Swarm: Calls Crawlers and Hivekeepers to distract you.

Carapace Armor: Reduces incoming damage until its crystalized plates are destroyed.

Leap Slam: The Warden leaps to crush players; watch for red warning circles.

Strategy

Phase 1 (100–70% HP): Focus on breaking the Warden’s carapace armor with corrosive weapons while managing summoned Crawlers.

Phase 2 (70–30% HP): Watch for acid floods and maintain high ground; eliminate Hivekeepers as soon as they spawn.

Phase 3 (30–0% HP): The Warden becomes enraged, attacking faster. Use Cryo grenades to slow it down and focus fire on its exposed abdomen.

Rewards

Defeating the Crawlcroft Warden rewards players with:

Legendary Weapon: “Hivebreaker” (Corrosive SMG with bonus damage to insectoid enemies)

Artifact of Breach: Required for progressing the main story

High-value Eridium and loot chests

Hidden Secrets and Collectibles

The Crawlcroft is packed with secrets that can be missed if you rush through.

1. Eridian Lore Tablets

There are three tablets scattered throughout the dungeon:

Tablet 1: In the Infested Tunnels, behind a collapsed wall—use a grenade to clear rubble.

Tablet 2: In the Crystal Caverns, on a ledge above the second crystal explosion trap.

Tablet 3: Near the boss arena, hidden behind a cluster of glowing eggs.

Collecting all three unlocks the achievement “Secrets Beneath the Frost” and grants 5,000 XP.

2. Legendary Chest

In the Forgotten Warrens, look for a narrow crawlspace hidden behind hanging vines. Inside is a legendary chest containing random high-tier gear.

3. Rare Spawn: Broodmother Zyrix

A rare miniboss with a chance to drop the Venomfang Shotgun. Zyrix has a 10% spawn chance in the Crystal Caverns and uses poison attacks.

Tips for Co-op Play

The Crawlcroft is significantly easier (and more fun) with friends.

Here’s how to coordinate effectively:

Designate Roles: Have one player focus on clearing swarms while another targets mini-bosses.

Share Ammo and Loot: Certain ammo types, like shotgun shells, can deplete fast in prolonged fights.

Revive Quickly: Crawlers can swarm downed players—use crowd control skills to keep them at bay during revives.

Farming the Crawlcroft

Once cleared, the Crawlcroft can be reset for farming:

Reset Method: Select “Replay Mission” from the quest log after returning to the outpost.

Target Items: Hivebreaker SMG and Eridian crystals for crafting.

Best Drop Rates: Boss drops are guaranteed at Mayhem Level 2 and above.

Final Thoughts

The Crawlcroft in Borderlands 4 is a thrilling dungeon that tests your combat skills, resource management, and teamwork. With its sprawling tunnels, devious enemies, and a formidable boss, it stands out as one of the most memorable mid-game challenges to buy Borderlands 4 Weapons.

Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, this guide ensures you’ll conquer the Crawlcroft efficiently, uncover its hidden treasures, and come out stronger for the battles ahead.