Borderlands 3 Mind Sweeper Moze Build Guide: Drops, Stats & Synergy

by.
Anand Shah
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Minimalism & Simplicity
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Jun 11, 2025
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The Mind Sweeper is one of Moze’s most powerful and explosive class mods in Borderlands 3, offering massive DPS potential through crit-triggered micro-grenades and splash synergy. With the right skills, weapons, and gear, you can build a devastating Moze that excels in mobbing, bossing, and endgame content. In this guide, we’ll cover where to find the Mind Sweeper, how it works, and how to optimize your build for max effectiveness.

Core Mechanics and Features

Explosive Micro-Grens

One of the defining mechanics of the Mind Sweeper class mod is its unique ability to spawn Micro-Grenades upon critical hits. When Moze lands a critical hit while this mod is equipped, there is a chance to spawn a Micro-Grenade that explodes shortly after. These grenades deal splash damage and scale with grenade damage bonuses, making them a strong source of additional DPS in critical-hit-focused builds.

This mechanic synergizes particularly well with weapons that have high critical hit frequency, such as automatic weapons and shotguns, allowing Moze to trigger multiple Micro-Grenades rapidly in combat.

Skill Bonuses

Mind Sweeper grants bonus points to three specific Moze skills from the Demolition Woman and Bottomless Mags skill trees. The three skills affected can vary depending on the roll of the class mod, but commonly boosted skills include:

  • Pull the Holy Pin – Increases the chance for grenades to score critical hits.
  • Fire in the Skag Den – Adds bonus incendiary damage to all splash damage.
  • Some for the Road – Grants infinite ammo for a short time after exiting Iron Bear.

The number of bonus points varies by the rarity and quality of the Mind Sweeper mod, with up to +5 points in a single skill at higher item levels. These bonuses can significantly enhance Moze’s overall performance and synergize with grenade-focused or splash-damage builds.

Synergy with Moze’s Skills

Mind Sweeper has exceptional synergy with Moze’s Demolition Woman skill tree. The mod enhances the impact of splash and grenade damage effects, which are central to many of Moze’s most powerful builds. Notably:

  • Torgue Cross-Promotion doubles splash damage output.
  • Short Fuse, her capstone skill in the Bottomless Mags tree, has a chance to trigger an extra explosion on hit, which stacks effectively with Mind Sweeper’s Micro-Grenades.
  • Means of Destruction replenishes grenades and ammo from splash damage, further enabling a continuous loop of explosive effects.

This synergy makes Mind Sweeper a top-tier class mod for players who want to build Moze around explosive, high-damage output.

Class Mod Variants and Stats

Mind Sweeper can roll with different passive stat bonuses, such as:

  • Increased splash damage
  • Grenade radius
  • Weapon critical hit damage
  • Area-of-effect damage

These stats further complement the core mechanics of the mod, enhancing both the damage and utility of Micro-Grenades and splash-based attacks. Players often seek variants that maximize splash and crit damage to fully exploit the mod’s potential.

Playstyle Impact

Mind Sweeper encourages a dynamic, high-risk, high-reward playstyle. The mod rewards precision with its critical-hit-triggered explosions but also thrives in chaotic, rapid-fire environments where splash damage and area effects can dominate. It’s particularly effective in mobbing scenarios and synergizes with gear like the Ogre, Flipper, or any Torgue weapon that deals splash damage.

Due to its reliance on crits and splash, players are encouraged to aim carefully while also utilizing weapons and gear that maximize AoE and elemental damage output. The result is a versatile build path that remains viable across Mayhem levels and endgame content.

Obtaining Mind Sweeper

Drop Locations

The Mind Sweeper class mod for Moze is a Legendary-tier item in Borderlands 3, and it can be obtained as a world drop in the game. However, it is also part of the loot pool for specific sources, making targeted farming more efficient. Mind Sweeper is part of the DLC 1 content from the Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot expansion, which means players must own this DLC to have access to the item.

One of the most reliable dedicated sources for farming the Mind Sweeper is the enemy Agonizer 9000, located in the Guts of Carnivora on Pandora. However, because this item is primarily associated with the DLC, it also has a higher chance to drop from enemies and loot sources within the Handsome Jackpot areas.

Farming Methods

To effectively farm the Mind Sweeper, players should focus on high-efficiency loot runs and boss encounters that have enhanced drop chances for class mods. The best strategies include:

  • Farming loot-heavy areas in the Handsome Jackpot DLC, especially in zones like The Spendopticon and Jack’s Secret.
  • Utilizing Mayhem Mode (especially Mayhem 4 and above) to increase the drop rate and quality of legendary items.
  • Resetting instances by quitting and reloading, or using Fast Travel to quickly return to key farming locations.

Another effective method involves using the Grinder in Concordia if playing on platforms where Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel content is tied into loot systems; however, for Borderlands 3 specifically, world drops and targeted farming remain the primary means.

Best Sources for Obtaining

While Mind Sweeper can technically drop from any loot source, including chests, vending machines, and random enemy drops, certain enemies and bosses within Moxxi’s Heist DLC content are more likely to drop it. Key enemies to farm include:

  • Freddie the Traitor
  • Jackpot enemies in the VIP Tower
  • Scraptrap Prime and Scraptrap Nest
  • Any DLC-specific boss with a class mod drop pool

Loot enemies such as Loot Tinks, Badass enemies, and dedicated class mod vending machines (in Mayhem Mode) also provide a chance at acquiring the Mind Sweeper.

Drop Rates and Variations

The exact drop rate of the Mind Sweeper is not explicitly stated by Gearbox Software, but like most legendary class mods, drop chances are relatively low—typically estimated at around 5-10% from dedicated sources and significantly lower from world drops.

The Mind Sweeper also comes with randomized stat rolls, which means players may need to farm multiple copies to find one with ideal bonuses that align with their build. Key variables include:

  • Bonus skill points (up to +3 in one skill and lesser bonuses in others)
  • Passive stat boosts (such as weapon damage, splash damage, or critical hit damage)
  • Class-specific synergy, particularly enhancing Moze’s Demolition Woman skill tree

For best results, players should aim for a Mind Sweeper with bonuses to skills like "Explosive Punctuation," "Means of Destruction," or "Torgue Cross-Promotion," depending on the build path.

With patience and focused farming in the DLC areas, players can consistently obtain and optimize their Mind Sweeper class mod to enhance their Moze builds.

Build Optimization

Optimizing a build around the Mind Sweeper class mod in Borderlands 3 requires precise synergy between Moze’s skill tree, weapon selection, and supporting gear. This section outlines how to maximize damage output, survivability, and utility by leveraging the unique capabilities of Mind Sweeper.

Skill Tree Optimization

Mind Sweeper significantly enhances Moze's critical hit-based damage potential by creating micro-grenades on crits. To fully leverage this mechanic, players should invest heavily into the Demolition Woman and Bottomless Mags skill trees.

Key Skills to Prioritize:

  • Short Fuse (Demolition Woman - Capstone): This skill pairs exceptionally with Mind Sweeper, as both deal explosive damage, often triggering each other in a loop for massive burst potential.
  • Pull the Holy Pin (Demolition Woman): Increases the chance for grenades to crit, which amplifies Mind Sweeper’s micro-grenades. This creates a chain reaction of crit-triggered explosions.
  • Some for the Road (Bottomless Mags): Grants infinite ammo for a short duration after exiting Iron Bear, allowing uninterrupted fire that synergizes with crit-based procs.
  • Fire in the Skag Den (Demolition Woman): Adds bonus incendiary damage on explosions, further enhancing the damage of micro-grenades.

Weapon Synergy

Weapons that have high fire rates and large magazine sizes are ideal for triggering critical hits frequently. Mind Sweeper builds benefit from weapons that can score multiple hits in rapid succession.

Recommended Weapon Types:

  • SMGs and Assault Rifles: These weapon classes offer sustained DPS, ideal for continuously triggering Mind Sweeper’s micro-grenade effect.
  • Crit-focused weapons: Guns like the Monarch, Kaoson, and Light Show are excellent choices due to their high crit potential and synergy with Moze’s crit-based mechanics.

Gear and Equipment Pairings

To support the explosive output from Mind Sweeper, players should use gear that complements Moze’s grenade and splash damage builds.

Best-in-Slot Gear:

  • Artifacts:
    • Victory Rush: Boosts overall damage and movement speed after killing a badass enemy—ideal for fast-paced crit builds.
    • Otto Idol: Provides health regeneration on kill, helping with sustain during chaotic fights.
  • Shields:
    • Transformer: Grants immunity to shock and converts shock damage into shield restoration—critical for surviving self-damage from explosions.
    • Old God: Increases elemental damage and reduces incoming damage, making it ideal for offensive builds.

Playstyle Tips

  • Positioning: Stay mobile and at mid-range to maximize crit opportunities while avoiding splash damage from your own micro-grenades.
  • Iron Bear Usage: Use Iron Bear as a utility tool to activate skills like Some for the Road or to reposition during intense fights. Avoid long Iron Bear sessions, as the build focuses on Moze’s on-foot crit potential.
  • Ammo Management: Pairing Mind Sweeper with Bottomless Mags helps mitigate the high ammo usage from full-auto weapons. Skills like Redistribution and Forge can further support sustained fire.

Build Variations

While the core of a Mind Sweeper build revolves around crits and micro-grenades, players can tailor their approach based on playstyle or team composition. Some variations include:

  • Boss Melter: Focus on maximizing single-target DPS with high-crit weapons like the Crit or Hellshock.
  • Mob Clearer: Use splash-heavy weapons like the Flipper or Plasma Coil to clear groups while triggering grenade chains.
  • Survivability Hybrid: Incorporate points into Shield of Retribution for additional defense if playing solo or in higher difficulty levels.

By fine-tuning skills, weapons, and gear around Mind Sweeper’s explosive crit mechanic, players can create a devastatingly effective Moze build capable of handling the toughest content in Borderlands 3.

Strategic Applications

Explosive Critical Builds

The Mind Sweeper class mod is a centerpiece for builds that focus on maximizing explosive damage through critical hits. Its unique effect — a chance to spawn a micro grenade upon critical hits — significantly enhances Moze’s damage output, particularly when paired with weapons that have high fire rates and large magazine sizes. This makes it ideal for crit-focused builds where consistent bullet output and precision are key.

Players often combine the Mind Sweeper with Moze’s Bottomless Mags and Demolition Woman skill trees to maximize both ammo sustainability and explosive damage. Skills like “Some for the Road” and “Pull the Holy Pin” substantially increase the benefit of the micro grenade effect, as they boost grenade damage and allow critical hits to deal even more explosive damage.

Crowd Control and Area Denial

In addition to single-target damage, the Mind Sweeper is highly effective for crowd control. The spawned micro grenades detonate shortly after appearing, creating chain reactions in enemy-dense environments. This makes the mod particularly potent in mobbing scenarios such as Proving Grounds, Circle of Slaughter, and Mayhem Mode events where enemies spawn in large numbers.

Strategically, players can use weapons with splash damage and high crit potential — like the Monarch, Lucian's Call, or the Flipper — to consistently trigger micro grenades across groups of enemies, creating effective area denial zones.

Boss Melting Potential

While Mind Sweeper excels in mobbing, it can also be deadly against bosses when paired with specific loadouts. For instance, using a high-fire-rate weapon like the Light Show or the Crit with Moze’s ammo-regenerating skills allows players to land a barrage of critical hits, each with a chance to spawn a micro grenade. These grenades stack explosive damage rapidly, making short work of many bosses, especially when combined with grenade-boosting gear like the Blast Master mod or a Mag Size-boosting artifact.

However, it's important to note that RNG plays a role in how frequently grenades spawn, so consistency might vary. Still, in optimal conditions, the Mind Sweeper can rival or even surpass other class mods in terms of burst damage output.

Mayhem and Endgame Viability

The Mind Sweeper remains a top-tier choice for Mayhem 10/11 and endgame content due to its explosive synergy and scaling damage. When paired with Mayhem modifiers that enhance splash or elemental damage, its effectiveness increases even further. For instance, combining the Mind Sweeper with the “More Than Okay Boomer” modifier can result in devastating explosive chains that clear rooms quickly.

Additionally, the mod scales well into True Vault Hunter Mode and Guardian Rank bonuses, making it a long-term investment for players looking to min-max their Moze builds.

Tactical Considerations

To use the Mind Sweeper effectively, players must consider a few tactical elements:

  • Positioning: Because the micro grenades can damage Moze herself, maintaining distance from enemies and avoiding close-quarters combat is often necessary.
  • Weapon Selection: Guns with high crit potential and sustained fire (e.g., SMGs and assault rifles) are more likely to trigger the mod’s effect.
  • Survivability: Since the Mind Sweeper does not inherently provide defensive bonuses, pairing it with health-regenerating gear or shields like the Transformer is recommended to counterbalance its offensive focus.

Synergy with Other Gear

The Mind Sweeper shines brightest when used in a well-rounded build that enhances its strengths. Artifacts that boost magazine size, crit damage, or splash radius — such as the Pearl of Ineffable Knowledge or the Victory Rush — can amplify its effects. Shields like the Old God or the Re-Volter provide elemental boosts that further scale the grenade damage output.

Ultimately, the strategic application of the Mind Sweeper lies in understanding how to generate as many critical hits as possible while staying alive. With the right combination of gear, skills, and tactics, it becomes one of the most explosive and satisfying class mods in Borderlands 3.

Advanced Tips and Alternatives

Maximizing Mind Sweeper’s Potential

To fully exploit the power of the Mind Sweeper class mod, players should understand the nuances of its mechanics. Mind Sweeper has a chance to spawn a micro grenade upon critical hits, dealing splash damage. This effect scales with Moze’s splash damage bonuses, making synergy with her Demolition Woman skill tree particularly potent.

To maximize effectiveness:

  • Invest heavily in skills like “Short Fuse” and “Torgue Cross-Promotion” to significantly boost splash damage and increase the chance of secondary explosions.
  • Equip weapons with high crit potential and multiple projectiles, such as the Monarch or the Hellwalker, to increase grenade spawn frequency.
  • Pair Mind Sweeper with class mod-specific bonuses like +Splash Damage Radius or +Grenade Damage, which can scale the micro grenade’s output dramatically.

Timing and positioning are key. Since micro grenades can damage Moze with friendly fire in Mayhem Mode, players should maintain distance from enemies and use cover effectively.

Min-Maxing Stats and Rolls

Like all legendary class mods, each Mind Sweeper drop can feature varying stat rolls. Prioritize:

  • +Weapon Critical Damage
  • +Splash Damage
  • +Grenade Damage
  • +Vladof Weapon Accuracy or Handling (if using Vladof weapons)

The ideal combination enhances both the frequency and damage potential of the micro grenades. Consider farming for multiple versions to adapt to different builds or gear sets.

Alternative Class Mods for Moze

While Mind Sweeper is one of the most explosive options for crit-based Moze builds, alternative class mods can offer different advantages based on playstyle and mission context:

  • Blast Master: Perfect for sustained splash damage. It increases splash damage the longer Moze avoids reloading, making it ideal for ammo-regenerating weapons like the Flipper or weapons paired with the Forge skill.
  • Bloodletter: Suited for shield-based builds. It converts healing into shield regeneration, synergizing well with the Deathless artifact and the Stop-Gap shield.
  • Green Monster: Focuses on corrosive damage and automatic weapons. Best used in scenarios with armored enemies, especially in Maliwan Takedown or Arms Race.
  • Rocketeer: Removes the need to fuel Iron Bear, allowing it to remain active indefinitely. This mod is excellent for Iron Bear-centric builds with constant damage output.

Choosing the Right Build for the Situation

Mind Sweeper excels in mobbing scenarios, where frequent crits and grenade chains can wipe out groups quickly. However, for boss fights with fewer crit opportunities, Blast Master often outperforms due to its consistent splash damage bonus.

In high Mayhem levels or True Vault Hunter Mode, consider hybrid builds that combine Mind Sweeper’s explosive power with survivability skills from the Bottomless Mags or Shield of Retribution trees.

Community-Created Build Variants

The Borderlands 3 community has developed several popular Mind Sweeper builds:

  • Crit Sweeper Moze: Focused on crit-chaining using the Flipper or Light Show. Includes “The Iron Bank” and “Redistribution” for ammo sustain.
  • Boom Sweeper: Emphasizes high splash damage with skills like “Fire in the Skag Den” and “Why Can’t I Carry All These Grenades?” for an explosion-heavy playstyle.
  • Mind Sweeper Mayhem: Uses Mayhem modifiers like “Splash Damage Increase” to further scale grenade effects, often paired with Guardian Rank perks for survivability.

Useful Tools and Resources

  • Lootlemon and BL3ItemCalc: For checking roll stats and comparing class mod variations.
  • Borderlands Discord Servers: Active communities often share optimized builds and farming locations.
  • YouTube Channels like Joltzdude139 and Ki11erSix provide in-depth guides and showcase Mind Sweeper builds in action.

By combining these advanced strategies and staying flexible with class mod options, players can adapt Moze to handle nearly any challenge in Borderlands 3.

Whether you're looking to dominate mob waves or melt bosses, Mind Sweeper is one of Moze’s most exciting and skill-intensive class mods. Its fusion of critical hit playstyle and explosive payoff creates unique opportunities for high-level content clearing—especially when paired with the right skill trees, weapons, and modifiers. Start farming, build smart, and unleash the chaos that only Mind Sweeper Moze can bring. Need help optimizing your loadout? Explore community builds or use BL3 calculators to fine-tune your perfect setup.