Borderlands 4's new free raid boss fight Subjugator and Thol the Invincible and Patch 1.7 are now available

by Mikhail Madnani on 29 May, 2026

2K and Gearbox Software have released the Subjugator and Thol the Invincible Raid Boss encounter in Borderlands 4 alongside the 1.7 update.

Following this update, Borderlands 4 Version 1.8 with the Endgame Raid Takedown and Bounty Pack 3 arrive on June 25. You can read about the different editions across all platforms here and general post-launch support plans here. Borderlands 4 is now available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store). Read my Steam Deck and ROG Ally impressions here and my PS5 Pro impressions here.

You can find additional details about the Raid Boss encounter, the trailer, and more from 2K and Gearbox Software below:

Today, 2K and Gearbox Software released the second free raid boss fight for Borderlands 4, Subjugator and Thol the Invincible, for all players as part of the Version 1.7 update. Endgame Vault Hunters who have completed the main campaign can dive straight into this brutal new challenge.
These nigh-unstoppable brothers live in service to the Timekeeper, isolated on an island off the coast of the Fadefields. Desperately bored of the status quo, they view invading Vault Hunters as a welcome reprieve and are willing to stake everything on a life-or-death battle to feel something again.
The Encounter
Subjugator and Thol the Invincible are a grueling test of mechanical execution and endurance. The battle begins in a tag-team matchup where the brothers take turns before joining up for a deadly dual attack. Once one brother is slain, the survivor assumes an ascended form and regroups in their preferred domain. Players will either face the colossal Subjugator in "Heaven," a spacious arena where they must glide through the air to avoid attacks, or square off against the brutish Thol up close in "Hell," a cramped sumo ring enclosed by lava.
UVHM Timed Runs & Tiered Rewards
For players seeking a greater challenge, Version 1.7 adds Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode (UVHM) Level 7, unlocked by defeating the second raid on UVHM Level 6. Entering the encounter in UVHM adds an active timer to the mission tracker, requiring players to put the Subjugator and Thol in the dirt as quickly as possible to unlock rewards from a final loot chest. Completion time determines whether players receive Silver, Gold, or Platinum-tier rewards, with increasingly powerful loot in higher tiers. Achieving a Silver tier or higher is required to unlock any of Subjugator and Thol's unique Class Mod drops, while a Platinum-tier completion grants a guaranteed Legendary drop alongside an increased chance at a coveted Pearlescent weapon.
Powerful New Rewards

One New Pearlescent Weapon: The Jail-Broken Gatling (Ripper SMG) grants a stacking buff with each hit that increases fire rate, damage, and the chance to fire additional projectiles.

Four New Legendary Items: The Lockjaw (Torgue Assault Rifle), which fires bouncing explosive projectiles; Shammy Kablammy (Tediore Pistol), which douses foes in Moonshine and upon reloading, throws an explosive projectile which burns them; the Flak Cannon (Vladof Heavy Weapon Ordnance), which shreds enemies with a hail of bullets; and the Collector (Order Shield), a high-capacity energy shield with a quick recharge rate offset by a longer recharge delay.

Five New Class Mods: A unique Class Mod is available for each current Vault Hunter, with a sixth unique Class Mod joining this pool in Q3 2026 when the next Vault Hunter arrives in Story Pack 2.

New Firmware: The Active Fire firmware rewards precision timing at Tier 3 by dealing bonus damage if you unleash a charge weapon's full shot the moment it becomes available.
For more information regarding the second raid battle, be sure to check out the recent Gearbox Dev Cast which breaks down the fight and dives into the lore behind the encounter.
Additional Version 1.7 Features
As Ordonite corruption continues to spread across Kairos, Version 1.7 increases the chance to find Pearlescent weapons as random World Drops inside chests, lockers, and even toilets. This update also introduces the community-requested Shared Character Progression toggle, allowing players to turn off shared progress when creating a new character to experience the world with a completely clean slate. Additionally, the team is actively developing a Cross-Platform Saves feature to allow players to seamlessly continue their adventures across different platforms in a future update.
Endgame Raid Takedown and Bounty Pack 3 Arriving June 25
Looking ahead, the free endgame raid, Takedown at the Hadron Abyss, alongside the paid narrative DLC, Bounty Pack 3: A Zane to Kill For, will drop concurrently on June 25 with Version 1.8. Owners of the Borderlands 4 Deluxe or Super Deluxe Editions will automatically receive access to Bounty Pack 3. The Bounty Pack Bundle is available for individual purchase.