Look, Borderlands 2 is a masterpiece. We all know that. Even years after the sequel and the spin-offs, people are still running through Pandora, farming for the perfect Unkempt Harold. But there is one specific mission that sticks in everyone's craw. I'm talking about the Borderlands 2 Lost Treasure quest. It’s a side mission that starts in Sawtooth Cauldron, and honestly? It’s a total headache if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing.
It's one of those quests that makes you feel like a genius when you figure it out and an absolute idiot while you’re stuck in the middle of it.
The Sawtooth Cauldron Nightmare
Sawtooth Cauldron is arguably one of the most annoying maps in the entire game. It's vertical. It’s packed with horizontal loops. It has those God-awful Buzzards that never stop screaming. To trigger the quest, you have to find a random Echo log dropped by a Goliath. Usually, it’s a specific guy—an Overseer or just a lucky loot drop—near the Smoking Guano Grotto.
Once you pick it up, the game tells you to find four switches. Simple, right? Wrong.
Gearbox designed this map to be a labyrinth. The switches aren't just "there." They are tucked away in corners of the map you usually sprint past while trying not to get shredded by a Slab. You’ve got the one under the bridge, the one at the Reservoir, the one in the Cramfist’s Foundry, and the one at the very top.
Finding the Clues (Without Losing Your Mind)
Most players get stuck because the waypoints in Borderlands 2 are... let's say "optimistic." The little blue circle tells you where the switch is, but it doesn't tell you if it's fifty feet above your head or hidden behind a pile of trash in a basement.
The first switch is usually the easiest. It’s near the Main Street Reservoir, tucked under a staircase near the water. You’ll probably have to clear out a wave of Threshers just to touch it. Then there’s the Foundry switch. This one is shoved behind some machinery. It’s easy to miss if you’re playing on a lower brightness setting.
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The third is at the docks. You’ve gotta jump down to a lower ledge that looks like it might be out of bounds, but it isn't. Then there’s the final switch near the top of the elevator.
Here’s the thing about the elevator: it doesn’t work initially. You have to jump down from the top or take the long way around through the Cauldron’s interior. It’s a trek. It’s tedious. But the Borderlands 2 Lost Treasure isn't about the journey; it’s about that red chest at the end.
Getting to Caustic Caverns
Once you flip all four switches in Sawtooth, the quest sends you back to Caustic Caverns. This is where the actual "treasure" part happens. You head to the Varkid-infested area near the back of the map, specifically the Guardian Office.
There’s a massive pillar. You have to pull the levers in the right order. If you mess it up, you just have to keep clicking until the game decides you’ve suffered enough. When you finally get it open, the elevator takes you up to a small room overlooking the acid lake.
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The loot? It's a red chest.
Now, let's be real for a second. Is the loot actually worth it?
Honestly, it depends on your level. If you’re playing on Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode (UVHM), a red chest is always a gamble. You might get a legendary, or you might get four blue-rarity grenades that you’ll sell for pocket change. But for completionists, this mission is a rite of passage. You do it because you can, not because the reward is life-changing.
Why People Search for This Mission Years Later
The SEO data doesn’t lie. People are still googling "Borderlands 2 Lost Treasure" every single month. Why? Because the level design in Sawtooth Cauldron is inherently confusing. Modern games hold your hand. They give you a golden path. Borderlands 2 just drops you in a hole filled with psychos and says, "Good luck, kid."
There’s also the issue of the "missing" Goliath. Sometimes the Echo log doesn't drop. You can spend forty minutes murdering every bandit in the Grotto and see nothing. If that happens, you have to save-quit and reload the map. It's a known bug that was never fully patched out of the Handsome Collection or the PC version.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring the verticality. If the waypoint says you're on top of it but you see nothing, look up. Or down. Usually down.
- Not clearing the Buzzards. Seriously. Take a corrosive sniper and knock them out of the sky first. You cannot hunt for switches while being pelted by explosive rounds.
- Forgetting the Caustic Caverns fast travel. You don’t have to walk back. Just fast travel to the entrance and run past the Varkids.
The "Dahl" Connection
The treasure actually belonged to a Dahl executive. If you listen to the Echo logs, there’s a bit of lore about the abandonment of Pandora. It’s a grim reminder that before the Vault Hunters arrived, this was a corporate mining hellscape. The "treasure" is just the leftovers of a company that decided it was cheaper to leave their gear behind than to ship it home.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
If you're going for the 100% completion mark or just want to see that red chest for yourself, here is the fastest way to handle the Borderlands 2 Lost Treasure quest:
- Check the Grotto first: Don't wander the whole map. Go straight to the Smoking Guano Grotto. If the Goliath with the Echo log doesn't spawn within three minutes, reload.
- Clockwise route: Hit the Reservoir switch, then the Foundry, then the Docks, then the Elevator. It cuts down on backtrack time significantly.
- Bring a Topneaa or Norfleet: If you’re at a high enough level, don’t bother aiming. Just blast the floor to clear the mobs so you can focus on the switches.
- Caustic Caverns Shortcut: When you get to the lever room in Caustic Caverns, the order is usually 4-2-3-1 (if you count from left to right), though it can vary based on your game state. Just spam them; there's no penalty for being wrong.
The quest is a grind. It’s annoying. It’s classic Borderlands. But once you see that "Mission Accomplished" pop up, you’ll be glad you never have to look for those switches again. Or at least not until you start a new character.