Borderlands 4: Everything You Need to Know Before It Drops

A new Borderlands game means one thing: new Vault Hunters to unleash mayhem with! Gearbox has introduced a new crew of heroes, each with unique abilities and playstyles.

Will Borderlands 4 have a siren? Yes, Borderlands 4 will feature a new Siren named Vex. The Sirens are a crucial part of the Borderlands lore, and Vex is the next one to join the playable character roster.

The new roster of playable characters in Borderlands 4 introduces four unique Vault Hunters, each bringing their own abilities and playstyles:

Amon the Forgeknight: A melee-focused, tank-style Vault Hunter, Amon received major buffs in the October 2, 2025 Balance Patch that reshaped his role in the endgame. With over 60 fixes and damage increases, key updates include Primal Surge now properly restoring Shield and Ammo and a 78% damage boost to Onslaughter, elevating him to a top-tier damage dealer and a strong choice for high-level play.

Harlowe the Gravitar: A master of gravity and crowd control, Harlowe uses abilities like Zero-Point to suspend enemies in mid-air or pull them together for devastating group attacks. A critical fix in the October 2 patch resolved a bug where her Flux Generator capstone could heal enemies, and her Gravitar Accretion passive now consistently grants lifesteal to allies in co-op.

Rafa the Exo-Soldier: A high-tech soldier equipped with an exosuit and futuristic gadgets, Rafa can deploy Peacebreaker Cannons and use Arc-Knives for versatile combat. The October 2 patch fixed a key issue with his Blowout passive, ensuring it stacks properly when repeating action skills, greatly boosting his endgame DPS.

Vex the Siren: The newest Siren, Vex wields abilities tied to energy manipulation, summoning a spectral cat companion named Trouble and casting Eldritch Blasts for devastating elemental damage. Her powerful Kinetic Bleed/Phase Dagger builds remained untouched in the latest patch, keeping her firmly in the S-Tier as one of the game’s best boss killers.

Borderlands 4 Gameplay and Mechanics: What Type of Game is it?

For newcomers and veterans alike, it’s important to understand what you’re getting into. Borderlands 4 is a first-person, action role-playing, looter-shooter game. That means you’ll be shooting, looting, and leveling up in a vibrant, cell-shaded world.

New Planet, Kairos Get ready to explore Kairos, a brand-new planet with diverse and dynamic environments. Unlike the desolate wastelands of Pandora, Kairos is a world of advanced technology and sprawling, futuristic cities. This new setting introduces new enemy types and environmental hazards that will challenge you in fresh ways.

Revamped Movement and Gunplay The developers at Gearbox have made some significant updates to the gameplay. Expect a much more fluid and fast-paced experience with new traversal mechanics like:

• Double jumps and gliding: Navigate complex environments with greater ease.
• Grappling: Pull yourself to new heights or close the distance on an enemy.
• DigiRunner hoverbike: A new vehicle that allows you to zip across the planet at high speeds.

The gunplay and loot system have also been overhauled. The game features the return of classic manufacturers alongside new ones like Order, Ripper, and Daedalus, and an all-new “Licensed Parts” system that allows guns to have components and abilities from multiple manufacturers, creating an unprecedented number of unique weapons. The grenade and heavy weapons have also been rebalanced into a single “Ordnance” slot for more impactful gameplay.

Co-op and Multiplayer Co-op has always been the heart of the Borderlands series, and Borderlands 4 takes it to the next level with a new party-forming system, instanced loot so players no longer have to compete for legendary drops, and dynamic level scaling that keeps gameplay balanced no matter your team’s levels. A critical update has also improved endgame rewards: the Weekly Wildcard Mission now guarantees a Legendary item drop upon completion, giving co-op players consistent access to high-value loot.

Note: The October 2, 2025 patch brought important gear changes to keep the Borderlands 4 meta fresh. The iconic Hellwalker Legendary Shotgun now always spawns with the Incendiary element, fixing a previous issue where it could appear as Kinetic. Meanwhile, all Tediore weapons received a global +10% damage boost and +10% magazine size increase, making their signature reload-toss mechanic even more effective for farming legendary loot.

Watch the Borderlands 4 Trailers

Looking for a sneak peek? The trailers for Borderlands 4 are the best way to get a feel for the game’s tone, visuals, and gameplay.

• Official First Look Trailer: This initial trailer gave us our first look at the new Vault Hunters in action, showcasing their unique abilities and the new movement mechanics. It’s a fast-paced, high-energy video that perfectly captures the mayhem of the game.
• Official Story Trailer: The story trailer dove deeper into the narrative, introducing us to The Timekeeper and the high stakes of the new adventure. It hinted at the scale of the game’s plot and the connections to past games.
• Character Spotlight Trailers: Gearbox has released individual trailers for each of the new Vault Hunters, giving us a closer look at their personalities, signature abilities, and skill trees.