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The Fadefields Vault Walkthrough in Borderlands 4

By Paulo Kawanishi Published Sep 12, 2025
Inceptus, the boss of a primordial Vault in Borderlands 4

Credit: Image: Gearbox Software/2K Games via Polygon

Table of Contents

Getting Started

  • Borderlands 4 Beginner Tips
  • How to Pick the Best Class
  • Specializations Explained
  • All Shift Codes for Borderlands 4

Vault Walkthroughs

  • Fadefields Vault Key Fragment Locations
  • Fadefields Vault Door Location
  • How to Defeat Primordial Guardian Inceptus

The first primordial Vault you can explore in Borderlands 4 is the Fadefields Vault a.k.a. Vault of Inceptus. Primordial Vaults are small dungeons where you find many treasures for you to claim if you have the skills — and the guns — to defeat the final boss.

Unlocking a Vault requires you to find three key fragments and then locate the entrance. The process is considerably long, but completing Vaults is the only way to gain upgrades for your glide pack.

To help you out, in this Borderlands 4 guide, we explain where you can find the three Vault key fragments in the Fadefields region, where the Vault door is located, and all you need to know to defeat Primordial Guardian Inceptus.

Fadefields Vault Key Fragment Locations

You need to find three Vault key fragments in the Fadefields region. To find them by yourself, you can unlock the Silos in The Howl, Coastal Bonescape, and Dissected Plateau for them to pinpoint the areas where you need to look for the fragments.

Fragment #1 Location

You find this fragment northeast of The Launchpad, the home to the Outbounders in The Howl area. You need to climb some rocks to find a small cave where the fragment is located.

Location of the first Vault key fragment in the Fadefield region

Credit: Graphic: Paulo Kawanishi/Polygon | Source images: Gearbox Software/2K Games via Polygon

Fragment #2 Location

This second fragment is in the Idolator's Noose region, southeast of the Someday Rise Safehouse. There are many enemies in the area, and you will need to use the grappling hook to access the room where the fragment is located.

Location of the second Vault key fragment in the Fadefields region

Credit: Graphic: Paulo Kawanishi/Polygon | Source images: Gearbox Software/2K Games via Polygon

Fragment #3 Location

The last fragment is on the southwest side of Coastal Bonescape. Go to the Abandoned Post Safehouse and head southwest to find the Stillshore village. To find this fragment, you need to follow the main corridor heading northwest and then turn left. You will need to glide to a small corridor behind one of the houses. The Vault key fragment is on top of a box.

Location of the third Vault key fragment in the Fadefields region

Credit: Graphic: Paulo Kawanishi/Polygon | Source images: Gearbox Software/2K Games via Polygon

Fadefields Vault Door Location

Once you have the three Vault key fragments, you can go after the Vault door, which is hidden in the Dissected Plateau region.

Location of the Fadefield Vault door in Borderlands 4

Credit: Graphic: Paulo Kawanishi/Polygon | Source images: Gearbox Software/2K Games via Polygon

You will find the debris of the Arch of Inceptus and the console where you need to place the fragments at the top of the highest area southwest of the "Zadra's Backup Plan" fast travel station.

Inside the Vault, there isn't much you can do besides move forward and defeat all the enemies to unlock the next section. There are a few vending machines between the areas so you can replenish ammo and sell your loot.

How to Defeat the Primordial Guardian Inceptus

The big baddie monster awaiting you at the end of the Fadefields Vault is called Primordial Guardian Inceptus. This fight is considerably more difficult than the previous boss fights the game had thrown at you early on, because you will need to depend on using the grappling hook and your glide pack to survive.

Primordial Guardian Inceptus Main Phase

The main phase is basically when Inceptus uses its primary attack rotation at you. It mostly tries to hit you with sweep tail attacks, which are well-telegraphed, so you can see when it is about to do it. To avoid most of them, use your glide pack to dodge by sidestepping or jumping and gliding above the area it is aiming at.

Inceptus boss shooting spores from its back

Credit: Image: Gearbox Software/2K Games via Polygon

Smaller enemies spawn on the arena mostly to give you a chance to get a second wind if you fall, so don't worry too much about them. You should, on the other hand, destroy the spores Inceptus releases, which will explode when closer to you.

Armor pieces you can remove from Inceptus with your grappling hook

Credit: Graphic: Paulo Kawanishi/Polygon | Source images: Gearbox Software/2K Games via Polygon

During the main phase, you want to use your grappling hook to remove parts of the Inceptus' armor. This will expose weak spots that you should focus on to deal more damage to it.

Primordial Guardian Inceptus Cocoon Phase

We don't know whether this phase is triggered because of specific conditions or if it is scripted. In our experience, we experienced it twice during the fight, and it's a bit tricky.

Inceptus with its two tails stuck on the ceiling

Credit: Image: Gearbox Software/2K Games via Polygon

The phase starts when Inceptus uses both of their tails to lift to the ceiling and becomes a giant cocoon. At the same time, the ground will be covered with a poisonous green liquid. To escape from it, you need to use the plants that are hanging from the ceiling.

Plants you need to jump on during the Inceptus fight

Credit: Graphic: Paulo Kawanishi/Polygon | Source images: Gearbox Software/2K Games via Polygon

Use your grappling hook to pull yourself up to one of the plants, which will momentarily work as a platform. The plant starts to get loose after you land on it and eventually falls, so you need to always change plants to stay safe from the poisonous goo.

Survive the encounter and beat the boss to complete the Vault and receive cash, Eridium, and an upgrade to your glide pack, reducing the time it takes to regenerate its bar. If you want, you can repeat the fight like other boss fights in the game. At level 34, we had to pay $27,200 cash to enter the arena again.

Top of the cocoon in the Inceptus fight

Credit: Image: Gearbox Software/2K Games via Polygon

Borderlands 4 Fadefields Vault Gameplay Video

Video: Gearbox Software/2K Games via YouTube

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