Sanctuary is a city on Pandora. First mentioned in Borderlands, it is the central mission hub in Borderlands 2.
Background
Sanctuary is a city built on top of Dahl's prime mining ship of the same name, sent to Pandora to mine precious minerals from an area now known as the Caustic Caverns. When the Dahl corporation left Pandora after its unsuccessful ventures, they left their prized mining ship behind, still covering up the failed mining site.
In Borderlands, Sanctuary is inaccessible for several reasons. Helena Pierce tells the Vault Hunters that she has cut off access to Sanctuary because of Baron Flynt's presence in The Salt Flats, and that she didn't want innocent people getting killed by his tribe and their "infernal contraption". After Baron Flynt's demise, Crimson Lance forces under Commandant Steele's command fight the bandit inhabitants of the city.
Following the opening of the Vault and the destruction of the Crimson Lance, Sanctuary was soon overrun by a group of bandits known as the Bloodshot gang. Roland later forced them out of the city and claimed Sanctuary as the primary base of operations for the Crimson Raiders, a resistance force comprising of bandits and the remaining Crimson Lance forces. Roland sent out distress signals to the remaining civilian population persuading them to reach Sanctuary before Hyperion killed them. He also ensured the safe arrival of people such as Dr. Zed, Marcus Kincaid and Patricia Tannis. It has since become the last bastion of safety from Handsome Jack and the Hyperion corporation. After yet another attack by Jack, the city was turned airborne and teleported to the Highlands by Lilith. The outer edge of the city is left behind at the mining ship's berth, Sanctuary Hole.
During Commander Lilith & the Fight for Sanctuary, Sanctuary was overrun by Colonel Hector and his New Pandora forces. Lilith was able to teleport many of the town's inhabitants away, but Hector's mutagenic biological agents prevented her from reclaiming it for most of the story. The Vault Hunters and Lilith would eventually assault Sanctuary, but are unable to defeat Hector and his botanical overgrowth. Unwilling to surrender the Vault Key, Lilith is forced to destroy Sanctuary, killing Hector.
Inhabitants
- Claptrap
- Crazy Earl
- Daisy
- Dr. Zed
- Johnny Waffles
- Mad Moxxi
- Marcus Kincaid
- Marshall Friedman
- Michael Mamaril (Random, 10% chance to spawn)
- Patricia Tannis
- Scooter
- Sir Hammerlock
Crimson Raiders
Points of Interest
The Black Market
The Black Market is a store run by Crazy Earl on the east side of Sanctuary. Storage Deck Upgrades can be purchased here using Eridium.
Crimson Raiders HQ
Located on the north side of Sanctuary, the Crimson Raiders HQ contains the bank. Patricia Tannis can be found inside. The town's rooftops are accessible by jumping off the second-floor balcony. The entrance is flanked by a guard and both an Ammo Dump and Gun$ machine. The red Dahl weapons chest is only accessible at the conclusion of the mission Bearer of Bad News.
There is a welder that plays very distorted audio messages on the ground floor.
Dr. Zed's 24/7 Clinic
Sanctuary's medical facility is a small clinic run by Dr. Zed. There are two med vendors here, and Zed himself also buys and sells defensive items, with his inventory being an extension of the med vendor inside the left of the entrance. An Ammo Dump is just outside the door. Inside the Clinic, inside one of the open morgue doors, a QR code is present, that when scanned reveals the message: "Thanks so much for playing our game, now I'm rich with love AND money! !!Nick Wilson!! Ditto!!!"
Marcus Munitions
Marcus Kincaid has a store on the northeast side of Sanctuary. It comes equipped with an Ammo Dump, a shooting range (with a live target), and Marcus himself. Gun purchases and sales are conducted by selecting Marcus directly. There is a Zed's Meds outside the entrance.
Moxxi's
Moxxi's is a bar on the east side of Sanctuary. Mad Moxxi and Sir Hammerlock can be found here. There are two slot machines beside the entrance that provide prizes such as cash, weapons and Eridium (along with the occasional exploding grenade); the cost to play them varies based on the storyline level. Cumulatively large contributions to Moxxi's tip jar will result in gifts to the Vault Hunter. Also, talking with Moxxi will reveal snippets of backstory. A vault symbol can be found just outside of Moxxi's.
This Just In News Stand
A booth carrying ECHOs of "This Just In!" is located in the southwestern corner of the town square, providing the town with Hyperion propaganda news. The recordings are updated after the completion of most story missions.
Pierce Station
Pierce Station is located just east of town square. Both a Quick Change and a Fast Travel station are located here. A Vault Hunter carrying a Golden Key can open the chest here. A Bounty Board is directly to the south of Pierce Station.
Scooter's
Scooter's is located on the west side of Sanctuary and is visible upon first entering the city proper. It is accessed via the vehicle doors or a door at the top of the steps to the right of the vehicle doors. A vault symbol can be found here.
Secret Stash
The Secret Stash is located in the northwestern section of Sanctuary, across from Claptrap's home. It allows players to share up to four items between their characters. It is inaccessible until the mission Claptrap's Secret Stash is completed.
Missions
Story Missions
- Plan B
- Hunting the Firehawk
- A Dam Fine Rescue
- A Train to Catch
- Rising Action
- Bright Lights, Flying City
- Wildlife Preservation
- The Once and Future Slab
- The Man Who Would Be Jack
- Where Angels Fear to Tread
- Where Angels Fear to Tread (Part 2)
- Toil and Trouble
- Data Mining
- The Talon of God
Side Missions
Brick
- Rocko's Modern Strife (Thousand Cuts)
- Capture the Flags (Sawtooth Cauldron)
Claptrap
Dr. Zed
Lilith
- In Memoriam (Three Horns - Divide)
- Cult Following: Eternal Flame (Frostburn Canyon)
- Mine, All Mine (Tundra Express)
- Home Movies (Opportunity)
Marcus
- Rock, Paper, Genocide: Fire Weapons!
- Rock, Paper, Genocide: Shock Weapons!
- Rock, Paper, Genocide: Corrosive Weapons!
- Rock, Paper, Genocide: Slag Weapons!
- Safe and Sound (Caustic Caverns)
- The Chosen One (Sawtooth Cauldron)
Mordecai
- The Good, the Bad, and the Mordecai (The Dust)
- Animal Rights (Wildlife Exploitation Preserve)
- Bearer of Bad News
- This Just In (Arid Nexus - Boneyard)
Moxxi
- Hell Hath No Fury (Opportunity)
Scooter
- The Overlooked: Medicine Man (The Highlands)
- The Cold Shoulder (The Fridge)
- Swallowed Whole (The Fridge)
- Poetic License (Thousand Cuts)
Sir Hammerlock
- The Name Game
- Mighty Morphin'
- Perfectly Peaceful (Caustic Caverns)
- Slap-Happy (The Highlands - Outwash)
Tannis
- Splinter Group (Bloodshot Stronghold)
- Hidden Journals (The Highlands)
- Torture Chairs
- Doctor's Orders (Wildlife Exploitation Preserve)
- You. Will. Die. (Seriously.) (Terramorphous Peak)
Marshall Friedman
Bounty Board
Others
Challenges
- Cult of the Vault
- Rise of the Crimson Raiders (Uncover the history of Crimson Raiders.)
- Jackpot! (Get three Vault Symbols or Triple Eridium Bars on the Lucky Shot slot machine.)
Notes
- Sanctuary appears to have its own level that scales as the storyline missions are completed rather than with the Vault Hunters' current levels. This affects the price of using slot machines and the level of the loot they drop, the level of items which can be found in vending machines, or handed over by NPCs. It also affects the price of ammunition bought from ammo vending machines, with rockets costing over $32,000 at level 50.
- Thanks to a formerly-benign occupation and guardianship by Crimson Lance forces, this city was described as a "Lance fiefdom", according to Helena Pierce.
- After the release of Borderlands, Sanctuary was again mentioned in promotional material specific to the preorder of Borderlands 2.
- Golden Keys can be used to unlock the Golden Chest in Pierce Station.
- In Bright Lights, Flying City, the mining ship Sanctuary is detached from its berth, revealing the Caustic Caverns below.
- When Sanctuary lifts off and is teleported away, Pvt. Jessup is left standing alone outside the city gate which does not lift off with the rest of Sanctuary. Despite this, he can be found at Sanctuary when the new location is accessed.
- (PC) Items/Weapons can be dropped through the floor of Pierce Station if PhysX is set to Medium or High.
- Along with Helios, after the city becomes airborne, it becomes a distinct visual landmark as both are often seen in the distance.
- Scoring a critical hit to the live target in the Marcus shooting range, does not contribute to critical hit infrigement challenges.
Borderlands (film)
In Borderlands movie, Lilith eventually finds Roland, Krieg, and Tiny Tina, and together they narrowly escape the Crimson Lance, Atlas's private army led by Knoxx. They make their way to Sanctuary, where Moxxi points them to the xenoarchaeologist who originally proposed Tina's rescue. This is Tannis, who was given charge of Lilith when her mother died and then handed her over to raiders so she could learn "how to survive."
Towards the end of the movie, fireworks erupt over the city of Sanctuary in celebration. Lilith flies into the air with her magic flaming wings and makes a large firehawk symbol in the sky. Claptrap calls her a show-off and the movie ends.
Media
