We’ve updated this guide since the original date of publishing, as the Rainbow Rarity is now officially available as part of the Commander Lilith and the Fight for Sanctuary DLC for Borderlands 2.
Everything You Need to Know About Rainbow Rarity (Effervescent) in Borderlands 2
As part of the Borderlands resurgence the last couple of weeks, developer Gearbox released an update for Borderlands 2 just a couple of days ago. Thanks to the modding community, it was uncovered that a new ‘rainbow rarity’ had been added into the game. That’s got plenty of players wondering how you get it, what it means, and just about any other tidbit of information they can get their hands on about it.
What Is Rainbow Rarity?
Update: The Effervescent rarity in Borderlands 2 essentially gives weapons that rainbow-style look that cycles through the various colors of the rainbow. Additionally, they’re incredibly powerful weapons in general, with stats that laugh in the face of your past legendary weapons that you thought were good. Just check out the stats of the Retainer below.
Original: Long story short, the Rainbow rarity uncovered over the weekend doesn’t actually add a whole lot into Borderlands 2 from what can be gathered so far. Simply put, this is just a cosmetic change to the weapons that it is assigned to, and it doesn’t grant any additional or bonus effect. Sorry to be the bearers of bad news there.
Thanks to CaptainKoby_, the creator of the Borderlands 2 Reborn mod, we at least know what this looks like in-game. You can check it out in the tweet down below:
https://twitter.com/CaptainKoby_/status/1114406336488443904
Koby is quick to point out in the thread of this tweet that these are modded weapons, but that the rarity itself does nothing to alter or buff the stats. He also gives another look at how rainbow rarity weapons look within your inventory screens and slots, which is always nice.
How to Get Rainbow Rarity Weapons and Effervescent Gear in Borderlands 2 Commander Lilith
Update: Like most other rarity weapons in the game, effervescent rarity weapons will drop randomly from enemies. The best way you can keep an eye out for one dropping is its longer (higher) light beam that emanates from the weapon on the ground. It’s a pretty rainbow color and stands far taller than any other rarity in the game.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that despite these rainbow rarity weapons dealing out damage and having better effects than pearlescent weapons in Borderlands 2, they’re not quite as rare, so you should find these dropping more frequently.
We’ve listed down below the best enemies to farm for every effervescent weapon in Borderlands 2, as well as including their special effects so you know which rainbow rarity weapons will best suit your playstyle:
| Name | Gear Type | How to Get the Effervescent Weapon | Effect |
| Toothpick | Effervescent Assault Rifle | Sand Worm Queens are best for this, but Sand Worms will also drop this rainbow rarity weapon. These can be farmed easily in Vaughn’s ‘The Hunt is Vaughn’ quest. Check our guide for more details on how to farm it here. | Incendiary Damage |
| Retainer | Effervescent Shield | Similar to the Toothpick, Sand Worm Queens and standard Sand Worms will drop this. They can be farmed within the ‘The Hunt is Vaughn’ quest once again, which takes place within the Burrows area. | When in Writhing Deep with the Toothpick equipped, your movement speed and jump height are increased. |
| Mouthwash | Effervescent Relic | Obtained from the Paradise Found mission located in the Paradise Sanctum. | Gargle and Spit effect increases Toothpick damage. |
| Hard Carry | Effervescent Relic | This is a rare drop from Haderax the Invincible. We’ve got a guide on how to take down this boss in Borderlands 2’s Commander Lilith DLC here. | Increases Fight for Your Life Time and health while on Digistruct Peak with the Easy Mode effervescent shield equipped. |
| Easy Mode | Effervescent Shield | A drop from the chests that spawn once Haderax the Invincible is defeated. | Increases capacity and nova damage, reduced nova radius. Also increases Peak Opener damage in Digistruct Peak, and increases Fight for Your Life Time and health while on Digistruct Peak with Hard Carry equipped. |
| Peak Opener | Effervescent Assault Rifle | Drops from the chests that spawn after beating Haderax. | Shock Damage. Also fires rockets that drop three child grenades on impact. Peak Opener also has increased fire rate when aiming down the scope and consumes four ammo per shot. |
| Nirvana | Effervescent SMG | Infected Badass Saplings. Can also be obtained from any loot source within the Commander Lilith DLC. | Incendiary Damage. Reduced bullet damage and accuracy, increased magazine size, elemental damage and elemental chance. 50% splash damage. |
| Hot Mama | Effervescent Sniper Rifle | Dropped by Lt. Hoffman in the Mt. Scarab Research Center. | Incendiary Damage. Increased damage, accuracy, reload speed, and magazine size. Projectiles have a trail of purple hearts on either side of bullet path… just to make it pretty. |
| World Burn | Effervescent Rocket Launcher | Dropped by Lt. Bolson in Dahl Abandon. | Incendiary Damage. Rockets always fly in an arc and explode in a mushroom cloude. Increased damage and magazine size, but reduced reload speed. |
| The Electric Chair | Effervescent Grenade | Dropped by Uranus. Check out our guide on how to beat this boss and where to find them here. | Launchers eight child Tesla grenades with smaller range around the initial deployment point of The Electric Chair. Basically, a cluster bomb of shock damage. |
| Infection Cleaner | Effervescent SMG | Can be dropped from any common enemies within the Commander Lilith DLC. | Incenidary Damage. Regenerates SMG ammo when equipped. |
| Antifection | Effervescent Grenade | Dropped by Cassius Leclemaine in the Commander Lilith DLC. | Deploys like a Tesla grenade which sends out tiny grenades exploding when hitting the ground. |
| Unicornsplosion | Effervescent Shotgun | During the ‘My Brittle Pony’ quest, feed Butt Stallion while wearing the Mysterious Amulet relic item that can be purchased from Mr. Miz during the ‘The Amulet’ quest. | Fires a mini Butt Stallion which explodes upon impact and spawns three smaller projectiles, which again explode on impact. Each shot consumes 2 ammo. |
Original: Unfortunately, at this moment in time, it does not appear to be possible to just get rainbow rarity loot drops in Borderlands 2 normally. Referring to Koby again, the modder states that “it’s a rather complicated process, requires actual modding (not just Gibbed) and it’s very inconsistent.”
Others believe that this may have just been an accidental glitch that Gearbox didn’t snuff out in time before the update released. Either way, at this moment in time, there doesn’t appear to be a surefire way to get this rarity in-game.
Some players over on Reddit have claimed that previously white weapons randomly received the rainbow rarity, and others wonder if using mods alongside this latest update may be causing game instability.
All we know is it’s all a bit of a mystery right now, and chances are it could even be patched out of the game when Gearbox catches wind and figures the whole thing out.
Farming Rainbow Rarity Weapons in Borderlands 2
In particular, a number of players have found that the new enemy ‘Uranus‘ in Commander Lilith and the Fight for Sanctuary is a great place to farm for effervescent weapons in Borderlands 2. He can be found in the ‘Helios Fallen’ area, and you’ll be able to find an orange travel point right before the boss room.
Go in, clear the boss, gather yourself a bunch of effervescent weapons, and then leave the area. Wait a little while and the game will reset, enabling you to head back in and farm Uranus all over again for those sweet rainbow rarity weapons like the Retainer, Toothpick, and more.
Is This a Clue For What’s to Come?
Update: We now know that yes, the Rainbow Rarity weapons that were found by modders were simply game files that were a part of the Commander Lilith and the Fight for Sanctuary DLC that’s just dropped. This DLC is now free and provides players with some additional context to what’s been going on in Pandora prior to the events of the upcoming Borderlands 3.
Original: Some players believe that Gearbox may have intentionally dropped the rarity into the game to hint at what’s to come in Borderlands 3, while others believe it may have something to do with an upcoming expansion for Borderlands 2, though this seems unlikely with the sequel just five months out.
Some even think that upcoming SHiFT codes for Borderlands 2 may grant rainbow rarity weapons as a means of building hype.
Exactly whether or not the rainbow rarity would come with buffs or abilities in Borderlands 3 remains to be seen, and ultimately, this is just a lot of speculation right now.
As soon as we’ve got a clearer idea on what’s going on with this rainbow rarity in Borderlands 2, we’ll be sure to update this post and let you know. For more tips, tricks, and guides, be sure to search for Twinfinite.
