‘Borderlands 4’ launch guide: Vault Hunter builds, playthrough tips, and endgame prep

Where to buy ‘Borderlands 4’

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Borderlands 4 is finally here. After six years of waiting, Gearbox has returned with a looter-shooter that reimagines the series while staying true to its chaotic roots. This time, the fight moves to the fractured planet Kairos, where four brand-new Vault Hunters take center stage.

If you’re jumping in today, you’ll want to know which Vault Hunter suits your playstyle, how to make the most of your first playthrough, and how to set yourself up for the grind that comes after the credits roll. This guide covers all of that in detail.

Best Vault Hunter builds at launch

Each of the four new Vault Hunters has distinct strengths, but not all builds are equal at level one. Here’s how to get the most out of each character from the start:

Vex — The Siren (Minion / Elemental Hybrid)

Vex blends classic Siren magic with summonable allies. Her ghost cat Trouble and spectral clones make her a hybrid between DPS and pet class.

Best Early Build:

• Skill Tree: Here Comes Trouble

• Key Skills: Yowl and Bay (buffs Trouble), Grave Command (cooldown reduction), Spectral Bond (clone synergy).

• Weapons: Elemental SMGs (Maliwan, Tediore) and fast-firing pistols.

• Playstyle: Summon Trouble early in fights to tank enemies, then rotate between elemental SMG bursts and melee finishers. Keep cycling summons to stay mobile.

Why play Vex: She’s highly adaptable, great for players who like to experiment with builds, and one of the best solo Hunters thanks to her pets acting as distractions.

Rafa — The Exo-Soldier (Ranged DPS / Melee Hybrid)

Rafa is the easiest Vault Hunter for new players to pick up. His Overdrive boosts speed and damage whenever you trigger a skill, encouraging nonstop aggression.

Best Early Build:

• Skill Tree: Remote Agent

• Key Skills: Critical Matrix (crit bonuses), Cannonade (buffs Peacebreaker cannons), Reload Rush (speed + cooldown resets).

• Weapons: Assault rifles (Dahl, Vladof) and SMGs with crit perks.

• Playstyle: Open fights by deploying cannons, then swap to rapid-fire ARs to shred enemies while Overdrive is active. Use dash skills to close gaps when ammo runs low.

Why play Rafa: Beginner-friendly, fast-paced, and the best raw DPS at launch. He’s ideal for co-op players who want to carry damage output.

Amon — The ForgeKnight (Tank / Crowd Control)

Amon is a bruiser built for players who like to get up close and personal. His Forgeskill changes depending on your active ability, giving him flexible defense and offense.

Best Early Build:

• Skill Tree: Vengeance

• Key Skills: Fuel the Forge (regens armor), Unbreakable Will (damage resistance), Cryo Shatter (enhanced cryo AoE).

• Weapons: Cryo shotguns, rocket launchers, heavy melee weapons.

• Playstyle: Soak damage, build armor, then unleash AoE knockbacks with Cryo skills. His Rocket Punch is great for clearing space in co-op.

Why play Amon: Extremely durable and one of the strongest solo Hunters. Perfect if you want to survive anything and keep the frontline clear.

Harlowe — The Gravitar (Support / AoE Disruptor)

Harlowe manipulates gravity to link enemies and shield allies. She’s the definition of a co-op Vault Hunter but can still hold her own with AoE disruption.

Best Early Build:

• Skill Tree: Cosmic Brilliance

• Key Skills: Entangled Resonance (damage spreads across linked enemies), Flux Generator (overshields + Cryo damage), Zero Point (enemy stasis trap).

• Weapons: Radiation pistols and Cryo SMGs.

• Playstyle: Open with Entanglement, lock down priority targets with Zero Point, and overshield allies with Flux Generator. Keep a Radiation sidearm for AoE synergy.

Why play Harlowe: The ultimate co-op character. She makes every squad better and can completely shut down enemy groups.

Best picks by playstyle

• Solo play: Vex or Amon

• Co-op: Harlowe

• Highest DPS: Rafa

• Most customizable: Vex

Top playthrough tips for Borderlands 4

The first run through Kairos can feel overwhelming, especially with all the new systems. Here are some tips to make your first playthrough smoother:

1. Explore every corner — The open-zone design hides loot caches, dynamic quests, and secret minibosses. Exploring fully pays off with rare drops early.

2. Master new movement — Double-jumps, wall climbs, and grappling hooks are lifesavers in boss fights. Practice chaining them to dodge and reposition.

3. Craft hybrid weapons ASAP — Use the Licensed Parts system early. Even basic weapons become powerful when customized with crit barrels or elemental cores.

4. Farm public events — Dynamic quests like loot caravans and mini-boss invasions drop above-average gear. Great for mid-game power spikes.

5. Balance your squad — In co-op, mix DPS (Rafa), tank (Amon), and support (Harlowe). With instanced loot, everyone gets rewarded.

How to prepare for endgame content

Finishing the story is just the beginning. The endgame in Borderlands 4 is designed around constant loot upgrades and team challenges.

Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode

Unlocked after completing the campaign. Enemies are smarter, tougher, and drop better loot. Builds that rely on survivability (Amon) or scaling damage (Vex) excel here.

Invincible Bosses

Multi-phase raid encounters with exclusive loot. You’ll need a well-geared squad, especially if tackling them on higher difficulty. Solo is possible with Amon or minion-heavy Vex builds, but it’s risky.

Weekly Rotations

Vendors like Maurice’s Black Market rotate rare items weekly, while limited-time bounty events add new loot pools. Keep checking back after resets.

Vault Cards and Seasonal Play

Progression tracks tied to cosmetic rewards, XP boosts, and unique gear. Completing seasonal challenges ensures you stay ahead of the loot curve.

Endgame Prep Tips:

• Don’t hoard legendaries — swap when better rolls drop.

• Farm Cryo and Radiation weapons for endgame synergy.

• Prioritize survivability passives in your first endgame build.

• Join co-op raids early — instanced loot makes group farming efficient.

Where to buy Borderlands 4

If you’re ready to jump in today, Borderlands 4 is available both digitally and physically across all major platforms. As usual, there are multiple editions to choose from depending on how much extra content you want. Just to note, the Switch 2 edition releases October 3:

• Standard Edition — $69.99 (PC) (PlayStation 5) (Xbox) (Switch 2)
  Includes the base game and the preorder bonus Gilded Glory Pack (skins + golden weapon skin).

• Deluxe Edition — $86.99 $99.99 (PC)
  Includes the base game, Gilded Glory Pack, 4 Bounty Packs, and the Firehawk’s Fury weapon skin.

• Super Deluxe Edition — $129.99 (PC) (PlayStation 5) (Xbox)
  Includes everything above plus 2 major story expansions and the Ornate Order cosmetic pack.

If you’re just starting out, the Standard Edition gives you the full experience. The Deluxe and Super Deluxe editions are best if you know you’ll want to keep playing for the long haul, since they include DLC and cosmetic extras.