Every new Borderlands game lives or dies by its Vault Hunters, and Borderlands 4 doesn’t hold back. This time we’re getting four wildly different characters, each with gear and abilities designed to unleash chaos in their own signature way.
Vex—The Techno-Trickster
When we think of Vex, we think about speed and deception. Spawned with a bunch of gadgets, Vex sprays darts across the battlefield with Arc-Knives that mark enemies’ positions and disarm them. Once they get marked, they get torn up in pieces. Vex also uses Shock Drones to create an electric rain, forcing enemies to split up their formations. The ultimate move of his is the Holo-Clone, a clone that brings out fire while he adjusts his move for the kill. Vex’s kit proposes agility and trickery—perfect for players who desire to outplay enemies.
Build Concept: “The Elemental Predator”
- Core Skill Use: Arc-Knives + Attunement Cycling.
- Legendary Class Mods (speculative but logical):
- Elementalist → Each attunement swap gives stacking gun damage.
- Catalyst → Marked enemies explode with their elemental weakness when killed.
- Blinkstrike → Every dash extends Action Skill duration, making Vex feel endless.
- Firmware Synergy: Equip a set that adds bonus elemental DoT, splash, or crit burn.
- Weapons to Pair: Maliwan elemental guns (synergize perfectly) and Jakobs for crit chaining.
Playstyle Feel: Vex is for players who like swinging between elements like a DJ switching tracks mid-song. You’re always adapting—break a shield, disarm armor, freeze bosses. He’s quick, elegant, and honors creativity.
Rafa—Heavy Firepower on the Move
Rafa is a live-like arsenal, created for players who want to use sheer force to get full control of the battlefield. His Peacebreaker Cannons extend into auto-firing towers, creating zones of kill that take down enemies. While the cannons keep firing bullets, Rafa storms forward with a Bulwark Shield that neutralizes damage. His most catastrophic utility? The APOPHIS Lance, a cannon in his shoulder that showers piercing shock rounds like thunderbolts from the Gods. Rafa doesn’t just battle—he’s the orchestrator of the tempo of battle.
Build Concept: “The Overdrive Warlord”
- Core Skill Use: Rotate turrets + Overdrive uptime.
- Legendary Class Mods (confirmed):
- Dancer → Double the effect of Overdrive bonuses.
- Instigator → Gun Damage stacking from Peacebreaker Cannons.
- Filantropo → Free grenades on reactivating Action Skill.
- Esgrimidor → Melee crits restore Action Skill time.
- Firmware Synergy: Stack Overshield bonuses + turret enhancements.
- Weapons to Pair: Vladof LMGs, Torgue stickies, and Atlas trackers.
Playstyle Feel: Rafa is a controller. You don’t just fight—you’re the conductor of the battle. His cannons generate pressure, his spear penetrates lines, and his grenades keep the chaos coming. Perfect for players who love to conduct the tempo.
Harlowe—The Occult Gunslinger
Harlowe comes with the arcane touch to Pandora’s wastelands. She draws on dark energy to punish enemies, hindering their defenses before unpacking a rain of bullets. The spotlight, though, is Soul Reaver, a jinxed revolver that becomes stronger and stronger with every enemy she takes down. Harlowe feels like a frontliner who made a deal with something best left anonymous.
Build Concept: “The Status Reaper”
This setup thrives on stacking damage-over-time effects and locking down entire zones with area control. It’s not about quick bursts—it’s about watching enemies melt while the battlefield bends to your rhythm.
Legendary Class Mods (thematic ideas):
- Hemorrhage – Bleeding enemies take increased damage from every source. Once they’re cut, they’re basically walking dead.
- Contagion—When you kill a foe, their suffering spreads to the ones around them, like a plague that doesn’t stop moving.
- High Stakes – The lower your shields get, the sharper your critical hits land. Living on the edge has its rewards.
Playstyle Feel: Harlowe is high-stacked and high-mechanic. You play on the edge, watching red numbers pop up as you’re unrolling chaos across the battlefield. She’s perfect for players who like betting with existence to deal unbelievable DPS.
Amon—The Elemental Conduit
This character will help many players; he is special. The energy and the way of combat feel like one step forward. During the battle, Amon could use and maintain the weapons properly; his body could cover some damage within special items. Amon could spread fire and ice into wide areas during fighting. He also has some modern combat methods, which combine weapons and explosions.
- Firmware Synergy: Elemental infusion boosters (ammo regen when using infused weapons, overshield on kill, etc.).
- Weapons to Pair: Jakobs for crit, Torgue for elemental splash, and Vladof melee-friendly hybrids.
Playstyle Feel: Amon feels like a mashupof a warrior and a blacksmith. You switch your weapons mid-fight, adjusting your build based on the enemy in front of you. If you love elemental, comprehensive, and short-ranged weapon combos, Amon is your match made in heaven.
Each of these Vault Hunters feels like variations of playstyle brought to life—speed, brutality, dark accuracy, and elemental madness. Their gear isn’t just for flex; it’s an add-on from their personalities, a reminder that Borderlands is at its peak when your character’s utility feels as chaotic as the world you’re breaking through.
