Borderlands 4 Vicious News Cycle: Cannon Fodder Walkthrough
Complete guide to the Vicious News Cycle: Cannon Fodder side mission in Borderlands 4
Table of Contents
How to Unlock Vicious News Cycle: Cannon Fodder Mission
To unlock the Vicious News Cycle: Cannon Fodder side mission in Borderlands 4, you must first meet Penelope Streams during the "Vend of the Line" side mission.
After your initial encounter with Penelope Streams in Vend of the Line, she travels to Carcadia Burn to initiate three related side missions:
- Vicious News Cycle: Cannon Fodder
- Vicious News Cycle: Hot Tag
- Vicious News Cycle: Mine Time Live
These three missions can be completed in any order at your convenience.
To begin Vicious News Cycle: Cannon Fodder, head to the Grindstone of the Worthy area in Carcadia Burn and look for Penelope Streams on an elevated platform.
Borderlands 4 Vicious News Cycle: Cannon Fodder Mission Walkthrough
This walkthrough will guide you through completing the Vicious News Cycle: Cannon Fodder mission with all possible outcomes.
Launch Zink out of the Cannon
Climb to the top of the platform where you'll find Penelope Streams and Zink loaded into a massive cannon. Interact with Penelope to begin the mission.
With Zink inside the cannon, you have two options: charge the cannon further or launch it immediately. You can charge the cannon up to four times until it turns red.
If you launch Zink with minimal charge (green indicator), he'll be launched to a nearby location in the Ruined Sumplands. Follow his marker to find him and open the weapons chest to complete the mission.
Alternatively, if you fully charge the cannon (red indicator), Zink will be launched high into the sky with no return in sight. The mission will end immediately after Penelope's humorous commentary.
Strategy Tips for Cannon Fodder Mission
- Fully charging the cannon provides a quicker mission completion but less reward
- Minimal charge requires you to travel to Zink's landing location but offers better loot
- Before launching Zink, clear the area of enemies to avoid interruptions
- Check around the cannon platform for hidden loot chests before completing the mission
Vicious News Cycle: Cannon Fodder Mission Rewards
Base Mission Rewards
- Cash reward based on character level
- XP reward based on character level
- Increased reputation with Penelope Streams
Additional Rewards (Based on Launch Choice)
Minimal Charge Launch
- Random weapon from chest (blue or higher)
- Additional cash bonus
- Grenade mod (25% chance)
Full Charge Launch
- Unique echo log entry
- Penelope Streams cosmetic item
- Faster mission completion for speed runs
Related Borderlands 4 Guides
Vicious News Cycle: Hot Tag
Complete walkthrough for the second mission in the Vicious News Cycle series
Vicious News Cycle: Mine Time Live
Guide to completing the final mission in the Vicious News Cycle trilogy
All Side Missions in Carcadia Burn
Complete list and guide to all side missions available in Carcadia Burn
Borderlands 4 Character Builds
Optimal character builds for all vault hunters in Borderlands 4
Final Thoughts on Vicious News Cycle: Cannon Fodder
The Vicious News Cycle: Cannon Fodder mission showcases Borderlands 4's signature humor and player choice mechanics. Whether you decide to send Zink on a short trip or blast him into orbit, this side mission offers entertaining gameplay and worthwhile rewards.
Be sure to experiment with both outcomes on different playthroughs to experience all the dialogue options and collect all possible rewards!