Borderlands: The Secret Armory of General Knoxx is add-on content for the first Borderlands, developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K. This guide is for the Knoxx DLC itself: T-Bone Junction, Atlas and Crimson Lance pressure, new vehicles, Armory loot, the raised level ceiling, and Crawmerax. It is not a full base-game Borderlands guide or a guide for the other DLC packs.
Content warning: Borderlands is rated Mature for blood and gore, intense violence, language, and mature humor. This guide keeps the discussion non-graphic and focused on play.
The Knoxx DLC is tougher and more travel-heavy than a normal early Borderlands area. Treat it as a late-game add-on where preparation, inventory space, vehicle control, and patience matter as much as gun damage.
Essential Tips
1. Confirm You Are Starting the Knoxx DLC
Fast travel to T-Bone Junction when you are ready for this add-on. That starting hub is your entry into the General Knoxx storyline, not just another stop in the base campaign. Keep the scope clear: you are dealing with Atlas, Crimson Lance forces, Athena, General Knoxx, highway routes, and the Armory.
2. Enter With a Finished-Game Mindset
Knoxx follows the original story arc and raises the level ceiling, so do not treat it like a low-pressure side detour. Bring a character with stable weapons, useful skills, enough cash, and a backup plan for enemies that hit harder than the bandits and skags you handled earlier.
3. Make Space Before You Travel
The DLC is built around new gear, larger Crimson Lance chests, and rare loot chasing. Empty your backpack before serious pushes, sell old guns, and keep only tools you will actually use. A full inventory turns a good Armory run into a messy sorting chore.
4. Respect the Highway Layout
T-Bone Junction is the friendly anchor, but much of the DLC sends you along long roads. Plan each trip as a loop: accept missions, buy ammo, clear space, drive out, finish objectives, then return to cash out and restock. Random road fights can drain supplies before the real objective begins.
5. Use the Right Vehicle for the Job
The Monster, Racer, and Lancer exist because Knoxx leans harder on travel and vehicle combat. The Racer is about speed, the Monster gives heavy two-seat firepower, and the Lancer supports a full co-op squad. Swap vehicles when the route, party size, or enemy pressure changes.
6. Do Not Ignore Lance Assassins
The Crimson Lance is not just normal soldiers with new colors. Fast assassins, drones, roadblocks, and vehicle threats make careless travel expensive. Keep a reliable close-range answer, watch your shield, and avoid standing in the open while sorting loot or checking the map.
7. Compare Gear, Not Just Rarity
Pearlescent items are exciting, but most of your progress still comes from practical weapons, shields, class mods, and grenade mods. Read item cards, test accuracy and reload speed, and keep elemental coverage. A rare gun that misses, empties ammo, or fights your build is still a bad fit.
8. Treat the Armory as a Reward, Not a Plan
The Armory is the headline, but reaching and looting it comfortably depends on the rest of your habits. Bring inventory room, finish the mission flow cleanly, and do not assume every visit will hand you a perfect upgrade. Take useful upgrades, sell the rest, and keep moving.
9. Save Crawmerax for True Endgame
Crawmerax the Invincible is not a normal story boss. Expect a fight tuned above the host, with adds, weak-point pressure, and a high gear check. Go in high-level, stocked, and preferably with a coordinated group unless you are intentionally practicing solo endgame tactics.
10. Keep Co-op Roles Practical
The Lancer can carry four players, and the DLC rewards teams that split jobs cleanly. One player drives, one handles navigation, others clear threats or call loot. In fights, revive safely, cover different ranges, and avoid everyone chasing the same drop while enemies are still active.
Level and Route Prep
Before entering, finish enough base-game work that your character no longer depends on one lucky weapon. Carry a long-range option, a close-range panic weapon, a shield you trust, grenades that solve groups, and enough ammunition for a full route. If your build only works when every shot lands perfectly, the highway and assassins will expose it quickly.
Keep T-Bone Junction as your reset point. Because the DLC routes branch through long roads, each departure should have a purpose. Stack nearby tasks when you can, but return before your backpack is packed with junk or your ammo is low. The best rhythm is simple: prepare, drive, clear, loot, sell, and repeat.
Vehicles and Road Combat
Driving is not filler here. The highways connect the DLC’s major spaces, and hostile vehicles or drones can turn travel into repeated damage checks. Do not stop in the middle of exposed roads to compare guns. Pull to safer ground, clear nearby threats, then handle menus.
The Racer is useful when speed matters, but speed does not replace awareness. The Monster’s heavier firepower helps when road pressure piles up. The Lancer is strongest with a group that actually uses its seats. If your vehicle is damaged, change it at a station instead of dragging a smoking wreck into the next fight.
Loot and Endgame Habits
Knoxx is famous for loot, but loot greed is the easiest way to waste time. Mark obvious keeps, sell weak items, and keep space for high-value drops. Do not keep every class mod for characters you are not playing. Do not hold five similar weapons just because they look rare.
For Crawmerax, separate curiosity from commitment. A quick look at the arena is fine, but repeated attempts without level, ammo, and equipment will burn time. If the fight feels impossible, leave, improve your kit, and come back when your damage, shield, and team coordination are ready.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Do not treat Knoxx like the base game’s next town - It is a DLC route with its own hub, roads, enemies, vehicles, and difficulty curve.
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Do not enter with a full backpack - You will lose time comparing loot while the DLC is trying to reward you.
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Do not drive everywhere in the same vehicle - Pick the Racer, Monster, or Lancer based on speed, firepower, and party size.
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Do not stop on dangerous highways to manage items - Clear threats or return to town before sorting gear.
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Do not ignore fast assassins and drones - They punish distracted play and weak close-range planning.
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Do not chase pearlescent gear before your basics work - Strong ordinary gear and good elemental coverage carry more runs than wishful farming.
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Do not expect Crawmerax to behave like a story boss - Prepare for an optional endgame fight built around level, gear, weak points, and teamwork.
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Do not confuse this with the other Borderlands DLC packs - Zombie Island, Underdome, and Claptrap content have different structures and priorities.
Summary
| Category | Top Tip |
|---|---|
| Scope | Play this as the General Knoxx DLC, not a generic Borderlands guide |
| Start | Use T-Bone Junction as your DLC hub |
| Prep | Bring strong gear, ammo, cash, and backpack space |
| Travel | Treat highways as combat routes, not empty roads |
| Vehicles | Match Racer, Monster, or Lancer to the route and party |
| Loot | Compare item performance before chasing rarity color |
| Armory | Arrive with space and realistic expectations |
| Crawmerax | Save the raid-style boss for high-level endgame attempts |
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8 checked for this guideEvery factual claim in this guide was checked against at least two independent sources before publication. These are the references used for Borderlands: The Secret Armory of General Knoxx.
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