Borderlands 4 is packed with references to pop culture and hidden surprises that are sure to delight players within this action-packed looter-shooter game. Among the numerous side missions available, one particular quest entitled The Wayward Gun features amusing nods to the Pokémon franchise.

In this mission, players embark on a journey to locate and capture rogue sentient turrets that have strayed from their programming. They will encounter various Pokémon-themed Easter eggs throughout this adventure, adding an extra layer of fun as they try to «catch ’em all!»

How to Initiate the «Wayward Gun» Side Quest in Borderlands 4

To unlock the Wayward Gun side quest, players must complete A Lot to Process, the fourth main mission of Borderlands 4. Following the mission’s conclusion, players can head over to the Terminus Range region and make their way to the Cuspid Climb area.

Upon arriving at a small settlement known as Dusk’s Advent, players will overhear an NPC named Emile declaring, «I choose you, to save our A-.» This is the first reference to Pokémon that players will notice upon entering the locale. Engaging in conversation with Emile will allow them to commence the Wayward Gun quest in Borderlands 4.

Once the quest is accepted, an ambush by the sentient turret guns will occur, and players must eliminate them to proceed with the mission. When the turrets have been dealt with, Emile will request that players consult the quartermaster named Bash (a playful nod to Pokémon’s Ash).

Meeting Bash & Obtaining the Catch-tainers

After meeting Bash in his office, players are directed to the nearby Ammo Dump, which houses a special item essential for capturing the rogue walking turrets. Continue toward the Ammo Shed to advance the quest.

Upon arrival at the Ammo Shed, Bash will inform players that the building is locked and that they need to dismantle the generators powering the barriers to gain access.

Some turrets will also be present that players should take down before continuing. The first generator is situated atop the Ammo Shed. Simply shoot it down from the ground to destroy it.

For the second generator, players need to climb the building across from the Ammo Shed.

After scaling the building, the second generator will be found inside. Shoot it to disable the barrier to the Ammo Shed.

Now, utilize the zipline to access the ammo shed and retrieve the Catch-tainers stored inside.

Capturing Tediore Offsprings & Confronting the Bomb Squad

Once the Catch-tainers have been collected, head to the designated location marked on your quest tracker. Here, players will need to place the Catch-tainers in the specified area and pick one up to start catching the Tediore Offsprings (the walking turrets). By throwing the Catch-tainers at the turrets, they will be captured, an amusing reference to how Poké Balls function!

After capturing five of the turrets, players will encounter the Bomb Squad, reminiscent of Team Rocket. Following a nostalgic speech, Bomb Squad members named Jake and Josey will emerge from the ground and initiate an attack on the players.

Once defeated, players will have the option to either capture six additional Tediore Offsprings or head to Rock Bottom to progress through the Wayward Gun side mission in Borderlands 4.

Taking Down PEWPEW & His Minions

After arriving at Rock Bottom, players must eliminate various walking turrets in the vicinity. Once they have dispatched a sufficient number of turrets, the objective will shift to «Battle PEWPEW and his army.»

Players will need to scale the Grey Havenage Safehouse, where they’ll face off against a mini-boss named Pew, who will spawn from the container. Players must defeat Pew and his minions to continue with the Wayward Gun quest.

Next, players will receive a transmission from the main turret boss, known as PEWPEW, who will be located in the GIM high above the area. To reach the GIM, players must return to the Grey Havenage Safehouse and use the container to ascend to the upper floor. From there, perform a double-jump and hover to bridge the gap and reach the GIM.

Upon reaching the GIM, players will confront PEWPEW and his associated turrets. This area can become quite chaotic as players fend off attacks from multiple angles. Be sure to find shelter from which to shoot as you eliminate all of the walking turrets in the area first.

After defeating the PEWPEW boss, he will ask players to erase his memory so he can live without worry. Consequently, players will need to hack the terminal and reset the GIM core. Completing this task will wrap up the Wayward Gun side quest and conclude the delightful Pokémon references within Borderlands 4.

Players will earn several rewards, including a new assault rifle with rarity ranging from green to purple upon finishing this side quest, along with the «Loyal Customer» paint job for Echo-4.