Vend of the Line is a short scavenger hunt with a big payoff: a one-time chance to buy a Legendary weapon for $1. It’s also non‑replayable and easy to fumble in co‑op, so it pays to do it right the first time.

How to start the quest and what to bring

Pick up the quest in Carcadia from Penelope Streams near a lone vending machine on the main drag. After early story progress in Carcadia, you’ll find her interviewing a Vault Gatherer by that machine.

Bring a spread of gear in your inventory so you’re not stuck mid‑puzzle:

  • At least two green (uncommon), two blue (rare), two purple (epic), and one orange (legendary) items.
  • Enough cash to use Buyback without stress.
Tip: You never permanently lose items during the puzzles if you buy them back immediately.

How the vending machine codes work

Each target machine has a code painted on its back using dollar-sign icons colored by rarity:

  • Green = uncommon, Blue = rare, Purple = epic, Orange = legendary.
  • Icons with a slash mean sell that rarity in that order.
  • Icons without a slash mean buy — the intended solution is to sell the items first, then buy them back in the order shown.

After solving the first machine, the rest are marked on your map.

Every machine, location, code, and action

# Spot Setup Code (rarities in order) What to do
1 Carcadia main street (quest start) Walk behind the machine to see the paint marks. Green, Green, Blue, Blue Sell two greens, then two blues.
2 Southwest rooftop near Carcadia (island with a pool) Flip the nearby jukebox power to “wake” the machine. Peek through the slit behind it to read the code. Green, Purple, Blue, Green Sell one of each in any order, then Buyback in the exact listed order.
3 Crumblehall (southwest of Carcadia) Machine is tipped onto a Vault Gatherer. Follow the painted arrows up and around to a window to see the code. Purple, Purple, Orange, Orange You don’t pay the cost here — the trapped Gatherer inputs it for you.
4 Embracer’s Bluff in Lopside (east of Makeshift Chalet) Melee or ground‑slam the machine to shoo the Gatherer. Crawl in from the left side of the shack to view the back. Green, Purple, Blue, Purple Sell items in that order (buy back if needed).
5 The Dusty Dangler (east of Carcadia) On a porch; jump behind it to read the code. Green, Blue, Purple, Orange Sell in that order, then follow the powered cable to a hidden door.

Following the wire to the Legendary Vending Machine

The wired door opens at the base of the cliffs by the water in Dusty Dangler. Head inside, drop into the arena, and approach the Legendary Vending Machine — it springs to life as the boss Vend Zane.

  • Damage types: Corrosive or Cryo chew through its armor quickly.
  • Avoidance: Watch for small bomb‑drones it spits out and clear them fast.

Once Vend Zane breaks, it becomes an interactable vendor stocked entirely with Legendaries for $1 each. You can only purchase one item; the machine shuts down permanently after your pick. Its stock cycles on a timer, so you can wait for a new selection before buying if nothing fits your build yet.

Co‑op and progression caveats

  • Only one player can claim a $1 Legendary. When anyone buys, the machine powers down for the party.
  • The mission is non‑replayable. If you’re helping a friend, consider having each player complete the finale in their own session.

Common pitfalls that end the finale early

  • Always interact with the Legendary Vending Machine directly before selling anything. Avoid using any “sell junk” quick prompts from outside the vendor UI.
  • Do not sell a Legendary into the final porch machine (the fifth clue) without buying it back — you need that orange item again.
  • Don’t leave the arena before you’ve made your $1 purchase if you plan to claim it now; the machine is one‑and‑done once used.

How to unlock the missable “All Things Vend” trophy/achievement

There’s a simple sequence at the Legendary Vending Machine that awards a photo item; turning it in unlocks the achievement. The required steps are easy to skip:

  1. Look down at the wooden board on the floor near where Vend Zane sat. It depicts three green icons and one orange.
  1. Use the Legendary Vending Machine.
  1. Sell three green items to the machine (one at a time via the vendor UI).
  1. Buy one orange (Legendary) item for $1.

After that, pick up the picture that appears and deliver it to Zane at Moxxi’s Bottoms Up.

Note: If the photo doesn’t appear, quit to the main menu and reload — it can pop in on reload if you followed the steps above.

Route notes and small navigation helps

  • Southwest rooftop machine: the jukebox powering it sits near an electrified pool — don’t slide into Shock damage while flipping the lever.
  • Crumblehall: the arrows were painted while the machine was upright; “up” is literal — climb stairs, ladder, and check the high window.
  • Embracer’s Bluff: if the Gatherer won’t budge, melee the machine or the NPC to kick the scene forward.
  • Dusty Dangler: when in doubt, trace the cable from the porch machine — it leads straight to the hidden entrance.

Quick reference: color codes at a glance

Machine Code Action
Carcadia start Green, Green, Blue, Blue Sell
Southwest rooftop (jukebox) Green, Purple, Blue, Green Buy back in that order after selling
Crumblehall Purple, Purple, Orange, Orange Auto‑completed by NPC
Embracer’s Bluff Green, Purple, Blue, Purple Sell
Dusty Dangler (porch) Green, Blue, Purple, Orange Sell, then follow the powered wire

Handled cleanly, Vend of the Line takes about a single session and yields a hand‑picked Legendary for pocket change. If you care about rolls, wait until you’re happy with your level and let the final machine’s stock rotate before you commit to your $1 buy.