Skull Orchid is a story-gated boss tucked inside the Embossed Fault Abandoned Auger Mine. The arena sits in Grindstone of the Worthy (Carcadia Burn) and can be rerun for dedicated legendary gear once you’ve cleared the encounter the first time.

Skull Orchid location (Embossed Fault, Grindstone of the Worthy)

You’ll find the entrance to the Embossed Fault Abandoned Auger Mine on the southern side of Grindstone of the Worthy in Carcadia Burn. Fight through the mine to the end; the boss room is a closed arena.

  • Point of interest: Embossed Fault Abandoned Auger Mine
  • Area: Grindstone of the Worthy
  • Region: Carcadia Burn

Access to Abandoned Auger Mines opens after progressing the main story. If the door is still locked, advance the campaign and return. (Some playthroughs see this open after the “Shadow of the Mountain” milestone.)

How to farm Skull Orchid (Moxxi’s Big Encore)

After your first kill, you can repeatedly refight Skull Orchid without reloading the game.

  • Defeat Skull Orchid and collect the loot.
  • Near the arena entrance, use the Moxxi’s Big Encore machine to pay cash and respawn the boss.
  • Run the arena again, repeat as needed.
Tip: Set your loadout around fire damage and fast mob clear to shorten each loop.

Skull Orchid loot drops (dedicated and reported)

Item Type What it’s good for Notes
Roach Legendary pistol Excellent crowd control against flesh targets; strong add clear in tight arenas. Dedicated drop from Skull Orchid.
Oak-Aged Cask Legendary shield High durability; pairs well with aggressive, close‑range play. Appears in Skull Orchid’s loot pool.
Faulty Detonator Grenade Area control and add cleanup; complements Roach for mobbing. Reported in this boss’s loot pool; drop frequency varies.
Note: Drop rates fluctuate and world drops remain possible. Expect to farm multiple clears for a targeted roll.

Skull Orchid weaknesses and attack pattern

  • Primary weakness: Incendiary. Skull Orchid is a flesh-type target; fire weapons melt its health bar.
  • Critical weak spot: the tendrils/tongue inside its mouth. Shots here deal noticeably higher damage.
  • Summons: Creeps/swarms that will pressure you if ignored. Clear adds quickly to keep sightlines on the boss.
  • Burrow strike: Watch for a flower-shaped marker blooming on the ground, then sprint out to avoid the explosive pop and reposition.
  • Element shifts: In later phases, temporary elemental defenses can appear (e.g., shock/corrosive mitigation). Strip with a non-fire option, then swap back to incendiary.
  • Core damage: An incendiary SMG, AR, or pistol for sustained burn; carry a high-impact secondary for burst during weak‑spot windows.
  • Backup element: Keep a non-fire gun (shock, cryo, or corrosive) to cut through temporary resistances.
  • Grenade: An AoE or chaining grenade to thin adds on spawn; throw as you strafe to keep the boss exposed.
  • Positioning: Strafe laterally around the arena’s midline. When the ground bloom appears, use it as a reset—reload, plate up, and reacquire the mouth weak spot.
  • Pacing: Aim to burn the first health segment fast; clear adds on spawn cycles; finish with burst while the tendrils are exposed.
Tip: If you’re struggling to keep the weak spot in view, use weapons with steady recoil and tight hip‑fire behavior to stay on target while moving.

Quick reference

Field Value
Boss Skull Orchid
Location Embossed Fault Abandoned Auger Mine
Area Grindstone of the Worthy
Region Carcadia Burn
Primary weakness Incendiary
Farm method Moxxi’s Big Encore machine near the arena entrance
Dedicated/Reported drops Roach (pistol), Oak‑Aged Cask (shield), Faulty Detonator (grenade)

If you only need one item, prioritize a fast-fire incendiary weapon and run short loops with Big Encore. For full loot-table farming, rotate your non-fire backup to match the boss’s phase and clear adds on spawn to keep the weak spot open. A few clean runs is often the difference between an average roll and something you’ll build around.