“Means of Ascent” is Mission 18 in Borderlands 4 and the point where Dominion’s defenses finally push back. Your goal is simple: reach Ascension Tower in the Terminus District, survive the plaza gauntlet, and disable the tower’s kill-zone with an Ordonite Capacitor from the nearby rail depot. Expect a sharper difficulty curve than the missions before it.

Mission overview (requirements, level, rewards)

Item Details
Mission number 18 (Main story)
Where it starts Dominion — approach the Terminus District on the city’s east side
Quest giver Zadra
Unlock requirement Complete “The Falling Wall” (Mission 17)
Recommended level 30
Primary rewards Rare or Epic SMG, XP, cash, Eridium
Next mission Plan Z

Reach Ascension Tower (Terminus District)

Head east through Dominion toward the Terminus District; Ascension Tower comes into view along a narrow approach patrolled by Order forces. Push forward and you’ll hit the tower’s automated perimeter: a red “Return to Bounds” warning pulses on-screen and forces a retreat. You can’t brute force this zone. You need an Ordonite Capacitor to bypass the tower’s defenses.

Tip: Don’t sprint into the final walkway during this first approach. The path is tight, enemy spawn points are close, and there’s no cover when the warning triggers.

Go to the rail depot and open the blast doors

From the tower, head south toward the rail depot. As you reach the locked entrance, look left for a glowing triangular power pylon you can grab. Throw it into the matching slot above the door to reroute power and open the depot.

  • If a small skirmish spawns at the gate, clear it first. You want time to line up the throw.
  • The pylon color and the receiver color match — aim high; the snap-in range is generous.

Clear the depot and power the holding bay (four slots)

Inside the depot, eliminate the Order squad in the first chamber. With the room secure, use the pylon station in the center (inside an open container) to pick up more pylons and power four marked slots around the room’s perimeter. Each successful throw lights its station.

  • Waves return quickly after the first clear. If enemies re-engage, focus on thinning the wave before attempting the remaining throws.
  • Use corrosive damage against robotic targets to speed the clears.

When all four slots are powered, interact with the nearby door control (switch/terminal) to lift the holding bay gate.

Retrieve the Ordonite Capacitor

Enter the holding bay and loot the Ordonite Capacitor from the open crate area by the rail cars. There’s no puzzle here — grab it and backtrack out of the depot.

Note: If a cleanup pack spawns on exit, keep your distance, clear line-of-sight shooters first, then move. You don’t need to linger in the depot once you have the device.

Return to Ascension Tower and survive the plaza fight

Make your way back to the tower’s approach. Order units spawn directly in the choke between the plaza and the walkway, including Badasses. Hold the lane and kite around cover rather than overcommitting into the open plaza.

  • Priority target: Badass Domination Engines and other heavy units. Corrosive damage shreds their armor.
  • Use vertical cover and railings to break sightlines with snipers and drones.
  • Conserve ordnance for the second wave; don’t burn every cooldown cleaning up grunts.

When the red perimeter warning reappears, approach the marked spot and place the Ordonite Capacitor. This disables the kill-zone and triggers a cutscene. The mission completes immediately after.

What you get — and what’s next

Reward Notes
SMG (Rare/Epic) Solid midrange workhorse for Dominion fights; look for rolls that complement your build.
XP, cash, Eridium Enough XP to nudge your level if you arrived at ~30; stock cash before the next story beat.

“Plan Z” begins right after this mission. If the plaza encounter felt overtuned, spend time on nearby side missions to bring your level and gear up; Means of Ascent marks a noticeable spike compared to earlier Dominion quests.

Quick checklist (objectives at a glance)

  • Go to Ascension Tower (Terminus District)
  • Reach the rail depot and power the blast door control (throw pylon into slot)
  • Clear enemies in the depot
  • Place pylons in four marked slots around the room
  • Open the rail door (door control)
  • Collect the Ordonite Capacitor
  • Return to Ascension Tower
  • Clear enemies in the plaza (watch for Badasses)
  • Place the Ordonite Capacitor at the marked point

Key takeaway: the mission hinges on two throws at the depot and discipline in the plaza. Handle the pylon placements between waves, prioritize heavy targets with corrosive damage, and don’t rush the final approach. With the capacitor down, Dominion finally opens up for the push to Plan Z.