Randy Chandler
Cheesing Katagawa Ball, a notorious boss fight in *Borderlands 3*, involves exploiting game mechanics to defeat the formidable enemy with minimal effort. Players often utilize strategies like positioning themselves in hard-to-reach areas, such as the vents or corners of the arena, to avoid damage while attacking Katagawa Jr. Additionally, equipping weapons with high damage output, like the Unkempt Harold or Flakker, can significantly speed up the fight. Another popular tactic is to use the Melee + Slide glitch to deal massive damage while remaining invulnerable. These methods, while not intended by the developers, offer a creative and efficient way to overcome one of the game’s most challenging encounters.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Boss | Katagawa Ball (Borderlands 3) |
| Cheese Strategy | Exploit the arena's pillars for cover and damage reflection |
| Recommended Level | Matched to player level (Mayhem Mode affects difficulty) |
| Recommended Weapons | High damage weapons (shotguns, explosives, splash damage) |
| Recommended Gear | Shield with high reflect damage, health regeneration, and mobility skills |
| Arena Layout | Circular room with pillars and a central platform |
| Katagawa Ball Attacks | Laser beams, missile barrages, drones, and a charging attack |
| Cheese Method | 1. Stay behind pillars to avoid direct damage. 2. Bait Katagawa Ball into firing lasers at pillars, reflecting damage back. 3. Focus fire during vulnerable phases (after reflected damage or when stunned). |
| Vulnerable Phases | After taking reflected damage or being stunned by attacks |
| Key to Success | Patience, positioning, and exploiting the arena's design |
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What You'll Learn
- Exploit Cryo Damage: Freeze Katagawa Ball with cryo weapons to slow its movement and attacks
- Use Maya’s Phaselock: Phaselock the Ball to stun it, creating openings for damage
- Abuse Red Chest Spawns: Farm red chests for legendary gear to overpower the boss
- Exploit Terrain Glitches: Use map geometry to trap the Ball in corners for easy hits
- Stack Splash Damage: Equip weapons with high splash damage to bypass its shields quickly
Exploit Cryo Damage: Freeze Katagawa Ball with cryo weapons to slow its movement and attacks
Cryo damage isn't just a flashy element in your arsenal—it's a tactical cornerstone for neutralizing the Katagawa Ball's relentless aggression. By leveraging cryo weapons, you can freeze the boss, drastically reducing its movement speed and attack frequency. This effect buys you precious seconds to reposition, heal, or unleash high-damage abilities without fear of retaliation. The key lies in understanding cryo's unique debuff: frozen enemies move at a fraction of their normal speed and are temporarily stunned, effectively turning a chaotic fight into a controlled dismantling.
To execute this strategy, prioritize cryo weapons with high elemental damage and fast projectile speed, such as the *Taser Shock* or *Shredifier*. Aim for the Katagawa Ball's core or its exposed weak points during its attack animations. A single well-placed cryo shot can freeze it for 3–5 seconds, depending on your weapon's elemental potency and the boss's resistance. For maximum efficiency, pair cryo weapons with anointments that boost cryo damage or trigger bonuses when enemies are frozen, amplifying your control over the encounter.
However, cryo's effectiveness isn't without limitations. The Katagawa Ball's immunity phases can render cryo useless temporarily, so monitor its status indicators to avoid wasting ammo. Additionally, cryo's slow application rate means you'll need consistent hits to maintain the freeze effect. To counter this, use cryo grenades or splash damage weapons to blanket the arena with cryo, increasing the likelihood of a freeze. Coordination with teammates, if applicable, can also ensure a steady stream of cryo damage, keeping the boss immobilized for extended periods.
The takeaway? Cryo damage transforms the Katagawa Ball fight from a test of reflexes into a methodical exercise in crowd control. By freezing the boss, you dictate the pace of the battle, minimizing its ability to overwhelm you with rapid-fire attacks or erratic movements. While cryo alone won't guarantee victory, it provides a critical edge, allowing you to focus on dealing damage or managing other threats like its drones. Master this exploit, and the once-intimidating Katagawa Ball becomes a predictable, manageable target.
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Use Maya’s Phaselock: Phaselock the Ball to stun it, creating openings for damage
Maya's Phaselock ability is a game-changer when it comes to cheesing the Katagawa Ball. By Phaselocking the Ball, you effectively stun it, rendering it immobile and vulnerable to damage. This tactic is particularly useful during the fight's chaotic phases, where the Ball's erratic movement and powerful attacks can quickly overwhelm even the most seasoned players. To execute this strategy, ensure Maya is equipped with a high cooldown rate build, allowing her to Phaselock the Ball multiple times throughout the battle.
The key to success with this approach lies in timing and positioning. Wait for the Ball to initiate its charge or spin attack, as these movements leave it momentarily exposed. As soon as the attack begins, activate Phaselock, targeting the Ball's core. A successful Phaselock will freeze the Ball in place for approximately 5-6 seconds, providing a crucial window for your team to unleash high-damage attacks. Coordinate with your teammates to maximize damage output during this period, focusing on elemental weaknesses or using splash damage weapons for optimal results.
One of the most significant advantages of using Maya's Phaselock is its ability to disrupt the Ball's attack patterns. By stunning the Ball at critical moments, you can prevent it from executing devastating area-of-effect attacks or summoning additional enemies. This not only reduces the overall damage your team takes but also minimizes the risk of being overwhelmed by multiple threats simultaneously. However, be cautious not to overuse Phaselock, as the Ball will eventually develop temporary immunity to the effect if stunned too frequently.
To further enhance the effectiveness of this strategy, consider pairing Maya with characters that excel in dealing sustained damage, such as Moze or FL4K. Moze's high splash damage and FL4K's pet-based attacks can quickly whittle down the Ball's health during the Phaselock window. Additionally, ensure your team has a dedicated healer or shield support to mitigate any damage taken during the fight. By combining Maya's Phaselock with complementary character abilities and strategic teamwork, you can significantly reduce the difficulty of the Katagawa Ball encounter.
In practice, mastering this technique requires patience and repetition. Experiment with different Phaselock timings and team compositions to find the most efficient approach for your playstyle. Remember that the Ball's behavior can vary slightly between attempts, so adaptability is crucial. With consistent execution and coordination, Maya's Phaselock can become a cornerstone of your cheesing strategy, turning one of the game's most challenging encounters into a manageable, even enjoyable, experience.
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Abuse Red Chest Spawns: Farm red chests for legendary gear to overpower the boss
Red chests in Borderlands 3 are treasure troves of high-tier loot, including legendary gear that can drastically shift the tide of battle against formidable foes like the Katagawa Ball. By exploiting their spawn mechanics, players can amass a formidable arsenal before confronting the boss. The key lies in understanding that red chests respawn upon quitting and reloading the game, allowing for repeated farming in specific areas. This method is particularly effective in zones with multiple red chests, such as Athenas or Sanctuary, where players can quickly cycle through saves to reset chest contents.
To execute this strategy, start by locating a red chest in a convenient area. Open it, collect the loot, and then manually save the game. Quit to the main menu and reload the save to find the chest reset. Repeat this process until you acquire the desired legendary weapons or gear. Focus on farming for items that synergize with your build, such as high-damage weapons or shields with beneficial effects. For instance, a weapon like the "Unforgiven" or a shield like "Transformer" can significantly enhance your survivability and damage output against the Katagawa Ball.
While this method is effective, it requires patience and a strategic approach. Avoid wasting time on subpar loot by quickly assessing the chest’s contents and resetting if necessary. Additionally, ensure your inventory has sufficient space to hold the farmed gear. Overloading your inventory will force you to discard items, potentially losing valuable loot. Pair this farming strategy with character-specific skills or mods that boost loot drops, such as Moze’s "Torgue Cross-Promotion" or Zane’s "Money is Power," to maximize efficiency.
The payoff for this grind is immense. Equipping yourself with top-tier legendary gear turns the Katagawa Ball fight from a daunting challenge into a manageable encounter. High-damage weapons can shred the boss’s shields and health pools, while powerful shields and grenades mitigate incoming damage. This approach not only makes the fight easier but also allows players to experiment with different builds and strategies, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. By abusing red chest spawns, you’re not just cheesing the boss—you’re optimizing your preparation to dominate it.
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Exploit Terrain Glitches: Use map geometry to trap the Ball in corners for easy hits
The Katagawa Ball's erratic movement patterns can be its downfall when you manipulate the environment to your advantage. Certain maps in Borderlands 3 feature tight corners, narrow passages, or elevated platforms that can effectively trap the Ball, rendering it nearly stationary and vulnerable to sustained fire. This terrain glitch exploit requires keen observation and precise positioning, but the payoff is immense: a predictable target that can be systematically dismantled.
To execute this strategy, scout the arena for geometric anomalies—sharp 90-degree corners, narrow corridors, or elevated ledges that the Ball struggles to navigate. Position yourself at a safe distance, preferably with cover nearby, and lure the Ball toward the identified trap. Once the Ball enters the confined space, its AI will often glitch, causing it to bounce in place or move sluggishly. This immobilization window is your opportunity to unleash high-damage weapons like the Flakker or a splash-damage build, maximizing DPS without risking counterattacks.
However, this tactic is not without risks. The Ball's erratic behavior may occasionally allow it to escape the trap, especially if the geometry is not perfectly suited. Additionally, prolonged engagement in one area can expose you to environmental hazards or enemy spawns. To mitigate these risks, prioritize traps near cover and maintain mobility to reposition if the Ball breaks free. Combining this exploit with elemental weaknesses (e.g., cryo to slow movement) further enhances its effectiveness.
Comparatively, while direct combat strategies rely on player skill and gear, terrain glitch exploits emphasize environmental awareness and adaptability. This approach is particularly beneficial for players with suboptimal builds or those seeking a more methodical playstyle. By turning the map itself into a weapon, you neutralize the Ball's greatest strength—its unpredictability—and transform the fight into a controlled demolition. Master this technique, and the once-intimidating Katagawa Ball becomes a cornered prey, helpless against your strategic onslaught.
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Stack Splash Damage: Equip weapons with high splash damage to bypass its shields quickly
Splash damage is your secret weapon against the Katagawa Ball's relentless shields. While conventional attacks chip away ineffectively, weapons with high splash damage ignore the need for precision, dealing area-of-effect devastation that tears through shields regardless of where you aim. This strategy leverages the Ball's size and proximity, turning its own bulk into a liability as every explosion ripples across its surface.
To execute this tactic, prioritize weapons like the Torgue grenade launchers or the Unkempt Harold, whose projectiles splinter into multiple explosions on impact. Pair these with splash damage boosts from artifacts or class mods (e.g., Moze's Splash Damage skill in her Red Fang tree). Position yourself at medium range—close enough to ensure splash overlap but far enough to avoid self-damage. Focus fire on the Ball's center mass, letting the splash radius handle shield depletion while minimizing wasted shots.
The math is straightforward: a weapon with 50% splash damage and 1000 base damage effectively deals 500 area damage per hit, bypassing the need to strike weak points. Stacking 2-3 splash-focused weapons (e.g., a grenade launcher, a shotgun like the Conference Call, and a splash-enhanced pistol) creates a near-constant explosion cycle, overwhelming the Ball's shield regeneration. Use FFYL (Fight For Your Life) windows strategically—if downed, deploy a splash weapon to re-engage shields while reviving.
Beware of overcommitting to splash builds. While effective, they drain ammo rapidly, so carry ammo regeneration relics or reserve a non-splash weapon for mob control. Additionally, splash damage scales poorly against single targets post-shield, so switch to critical-hit weapons (e.g., snipers) once the Ball’s armor phase begins. Master this balance, and the Katagawa Ball’s shields become a formality, not a barrier.
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Frequently asked questions
The Katagawa Ball is a boss in *Borderlands 3* found in the "Kill Killavolt" mission. It’s challenging due to its high health, multiple phases, and constant spawning of enemies. Cheesing it involves exploiting strategies to bypass its mechanics.
The most common method is to use the "ledge glitch" where you position yourself on a specific ledge near the arena entrance. This allows you to shoot the boss while avoiding its attacks and the enemies it spawns.
High-damage weapons like sniper rifles or splash damage weapons (e.g., grenade launchers) work well. Builds that focus on critical hits, elemental damage, or sustained fire are also effective for quickly depleting its health.
Yes, the ledge glitch can be used in co-op, but coordination is key. One player can distract the boss while others attack from the ledge. Ensure all players are on the same phase of the fight to avoid complications.
