Loot Hunter’s Guide: How to Get More SDU Tokens in ‘Borderlands 4’

In the chaotic world of Borderlands 4, where billions of guns are just a single loot drop away, managing your inventory is a constant battle. That’s where SDU Tokens come in. Short for Storage Deck Upgrades, these tokens are the sole currency used to expand your backpack space, ammo capacity for each weapon type, and your shared bank storage. Unlike the previous games where you would buy these upgrades with cash, in Borderlands 4 you earn SDU Tokens by completing specific challenges and activities on the new planet of Kairos. This guide will provide the most efficient methods for farming these crucial tokens, ensuring you never have to leave a legendary weapon behind again.

The new SDU system is designed to reward exploration and completion of side objectives. You can no longer simply grind for cash and buy all your upgrades. Instead, you’ll need to actively engage with the world’s optional content. While some SDU Tokens are granted automatically as you progress through the main story, the vast majority must be earned by going off the beaten path. This makes SDU farming a critical part of the early-game progression and a key to getting a leg up on the competition in the endgame.

Primary Sources of SDU Tokens

The most lucrative and reliable way to earn SDU Tokens is by completing key objectives that are clearly marked on your map. These activities provide a significant number of tokens, making them the most efficient way to quickly upgrade your character.

• Clearing Safehouses and Order Silos: This is by far the best method for a quick influx of SDU Tokens. These locations are scattered throughout Kairos and are easy to spot on your map. By clearing out these enemy-infested strongholds, you are rewarded with a hefty sum of 40 SDU Tokens per location. As an added bonus, these safehouses also become new fast travel points, making it much easier to traverse the massive world. This is the top priority for any player looking to get a lot of upgrades quickly.
• Completing Main and Side Missions: As you would expect, a number of SDU Tokens are awarded for simply completing the game’s campaign. Many side missions, bounties, and optional objectives will also reward you with a set number of tokens. You can easily check if a mission offers SDU Tokens by hovering over its icon on the map or in your quest log.

Secondary Sources and Collectibles

While clearing out Safehouses is the most direct method, there are a number of other activities that can provide you with a steady stream of SDU Tokens as you explore the world. These are often smaller rewards, but they add up over time.

• Evocariums and Vault Symbols: The new Evocariums, which are mini-puzzles that require you to find and activate a set of glowing orbs, are a fantastic source of SDU Tokens. Each Evocarium you complete will grant you tokens, along with some lore. Likewise, finding the classic Vault Symbols, which are often hidden in hard-to-reach places, will also reward you with tokens.
• Survivalist Caches and Propaganda Speakers: These are hidden collectibles that provide smaller but still valuable rewards. Finding Survivalist Caches (hidden supply containers) and destroying Propaganda Speakers can both net you a few SDU Tokens. These are great to look for as you are exploring a new region, as they require little effort and contribute to your overall token count.

Strategic SDU Management

Once you have a stack of SDU Tokens, it’s important to spend them wisely. The cost of each upgrade tier increases exponentially, so you should prioritize the upgrades that will have the biggest impact on your gameplay. The general consensus among players is to prioritize Backpack upgrades first, as this gives you immediate relief from inventory constraints. After that, you should invest in the Lost Loot Machine and your Bank storage, as these provide long-term benefits for hoarding gear. Finally, you can focus on ammo capacity for your favorite weapon types once you have a good handle on your gear and loot management.

By focusing on these activities and strategically managing your spending, you’ll be able to quickly upgrade your character and get the most out of your time on Kairos. The SDU system in Borderlands 4 is a refreshing change, and it successfully encourages players to explore every corner of the world, rewarding their curiosity with meaningful character progression.