Borderlands 2

Gearbox Software Aspyr (Mac)Aspyr (Linux) · 2K

Released: Sep 17, 2012
Platforms
Last updated: 16 Sep 2026, 04:58 GMT

Updates & announcements

20 posts

10 Sep 2026Developer post
Borderlands 4 Free Play Weekend and anniversary sales happening now!
Now's the time to team up with new and veteran Vault Hunters alike for a badass blitz of looter shooter action during the Borderlands 4 Free Play Weekend* and first anniversary sale**, live now! You and your combat-ready compatriots will be able to battle every bandit, monster, a
Now's the time to team up with new and veteran Vault Hunters alike for a badass blitz of looter shooter action during the Borderlands 4 Free Play Weekend* and first anniversary sale**, live now!
You and your combat-ready compatriots will be able to battle every bandit, monster, and wild boss fight included in the base game, including free post-launch additions like Circle of Slaughter mode. If you're joining friends who already own Borderlands 4 and a DLC Vault Hunter (including Loveless the Hacker***), they'll still be able to play as their DLC Vault Hunter, but your party will be limited to missions included in the free-to-play base game content.
If you purchase any edition of Borderlands 4 on the same platform after the Free Play Weekend ends, all your progress and loot will be saved so you can pick up right where you left off. During the Free Play Weekend, you can also take advantage of Cross-Platform Saves, letting you seamlessly continue your Vault Hunters' adventures across the different platforms where you own Borderlands 4 using your free SHiFT Account. Check out the dedicated Cross-Platform Saves Support page for more info.
Here's when you'll have free access to Borderlands 4 on Steam:
Starts: September 10, 2026; 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM BST / Sept 11, 1:00 AM UTC+8 / 3:00 AM AET
Ends: September 14, 2026; 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM BST / Sept 15, 1:00 AM UTC+8 / 3:00 AM AET
Whether you're a newcomer to Kairos looking to test-drive the Action Skills and playstyles that are unique to every Vault Hunter, or an experienced Borderlands 4 player looking to grow your dedicated looter shooter squad, this is the perfect opportunity to take the fight to the oppressive Timekeeper and his Order forces. Borderlands 4 is fully cross-play enabled, so no matter which platforms your friends are playing on, you'll all be able to wreak havoc together.
Borderlands 4 Anniversary Sales**
In addition to the Free Play Weekend, Borderlands 4 is celebrating its first year with a multi-platform, limited-time anniversary sale!
Steam (offers end September 24 at 10:00 AM PT)
50% off Borderlands 4
50% off Borderlands 4 Deluxe Edition
50% off Borderlands 4 Super Deluxe Edition
Steam players eager to experience even more mayhem-fueled looter shooter action can pick up the Mayhem Bundle, which includes Borderlands 1, 2, 3, and 4—plus Borderlands 4 Story Pack 1: Mad Ellie and the Vaulted of the Damned****. For Vault Hunters with a special love of sequels divisible by two, there's also the Borderlands² bundle of Borderlands 2 and Borderlands 4! If you already own one or more of the games in these bundles on Steam, you'll automatically be granted the best available price using Steam's Complete Your Collection pricing.*****
Kairos is calling—will you and your friends answer?
Borderlands Franchise on Steam
Be sure to Follow the Borderlands Franchise page on Steam so you don't miss any Borderlands news or sales! There's always room for more Vault Hunters to join in on the mayhem-fueled looter shooter action.
Borderlands Dead ECHOs
Ever wonder what happens to all those ECHO logs that don't end up in Vault Hunters' hands? Find out in Borderlands: Dead ECHOs, Gearbox’s first scripted narrative podcast, a darkly comedic drama set in the chaotic Borderlands universe. In the crazy, cruel badlands of Pandora, two loners forge a connection based on easy money, tenuous trust, and a love for sticking it to well-financed bullies. But what happens when their silly scams start to uncover a full-tilt corporate coup involving cyborg assassins?
Borderlands: Dead ECHOs follows Watts, a disenchanted DAHL ECHO Operator, who supplements his meager pay by sifting lucrative secrets from undeliverable ECHO logs and selling them to the highest bidder. When Junie, a curious stranger with big ideas, gets him out of a jam, the two strike up an unlikely partnership. As Junie injects a daring Robin Hood twist into Watts’ amateur criminal enterprise, their ECHO-brokering operation draws attention from ruthless mercenaries, violent outlaws, and DAHL’s deadly corporate hit squad lead by power-hungry rogue executive, Vivian Proctor.
Borderlands: Dead ECHOs is available now via YouTube, Spotify, Amazon, Apple, iHeart Radio, and Pandora!
*Free Play Weekend ends on September 14, 2026 at 10:00 AM PT. After the Free Play Weekend ends, the game must be purchased on the same platform to continue playing and using any add-ons purchased for the game. Progress and Achievements carry over to purchased games. Requires Internet connection and platform account. Terms apply.
**Discounts based on 2K’s SRP. Digital Only. Steam offers end on September 24 at 10:00 AM PT. Terms apply.
***Story Pack 2 DLC has two parts: new story content in FL4K and the Last Resort, and a playable Vault Hunter with Loveless the Hacker. Included in the Borderlands 4 Super Deluxe Edition, Vault Hunter Pack, and available for separate purchase. Base game required.
****Story Pack 1 DLC has two parts: new story content in Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned, and a playable Vault Hunter with C4SH the Rogue. Included in the Borderlands 4 Super Deluxe Edition, Vault Hunter Pack, and available for separate purchase. Base game required.
*****Digital Only. Pricing and availability may vary by region and platform. Subscription-based access may not qualify. See platform store for availability, pricing and terms. Terms apply.
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20 Jul 2026Developer post
Introducing the Borderlands: Dead ECHOs narrative podcast
Ever wonder what happens to all those ECHO logs that don't end up in Vault Hunters' hands? Find out in Borderlands: Dead ECHOs , Gearbox’s first scripted narrative podcast, a darkly comedic drama set in the chaotic Borderlands universe. In the crazy, cruel badlands of Pandora, tw
25 Jun 2026Developer post
Time to Play: The 2K Summer Sale is Officially Live on Steam
The 2K Summer Sale is officially live on Steam, and it’s the perfect excuse to find your next great escape. Summer is about having the time to truly immerse yourself, dive deep into a world, and remember exactly why you fell in love with gaming in the first place. Whether you’re
22 May 2026Developer post
The Hunt Community Charity Event is live!
The Hunt is on in Borderlands 4 ! Right now, the Borderlands community is going all-out for The Hunt , the world’s largest gaming scavenger hunt and charity-stream marathon benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ! From now until May 31, you’ll see Vault Hunters racing
19 Mar 2026Developer post
Fresh Deals in Full Bloom: Save Big During the 2K Spring Sale
Save Big During the 2K Spring Sale Shake off the winter frost and grow your library with deep discounts on 2K’s biggest hits. From legendary strategy epics to high-octane shooters, there has never been a better time to jump into a new adventure. The 2K Spring Sale is arriving on
11 Sep 2025Developer post
Borderlands 4 is Out Now!
It's finally time to break free, Vault Hunter, because Borderlands 4 is available now! Borderlands 4 brings intense action, four new Vault Hunters, and billions of wild and deadly weapons to an all-new planet ruled by a ruthless tyrant. Wield powerful Action Skills, customize you
Watch on YouTube
It's finally time to break free, Vault Hunter, because Borderlands 4 is available now! Borderlands 4 brings intense action, four new Vault Hunters, and billions of wild and deadly weapons to an all-new planet ruled by a ruthless tyrant. Wield powerful Action Skills, customize your build with deep skill trees, and dominate enemies with dynamic movement abilities to bring down the oppressive Timekeeper's Order.
Borderlands 4 brings intense action, four new Vault Hunters, and billions of wild and deadly weapons to an all-new planet ruled by a ruthless tyrant. Wield powerful Action Skills, customize your build with deep skill trees, and dominate enemies with dynamic movement abilities to bring down the oppressive Timekeeper's Order.
You can get a sense for what awaits on Kairos over on the Borderlands 4 Game Info page, dive right into theorycrafting the perfect builds for Vex, Rafa, Amon, or Harlowe by perusing their Vault Hunter pages, and meet the talented actors behind each of their English-language voice performances!
If you're already looking ahead to what awaits after the main story campaign, you can also learn more about Borderlands 4's rich endgame content and post-launch roadmap, or just watch the VOD of the Gearbox Main Theater Show at PAX West where we revealed that info!
Get Legendary loot with new Twitch Drops*
Now through September 26, watching any Borderlands 4 livestream in the Borderlands 4 category on the official Borderlands 4 Twitch channel or Gearbox Twitch channel for 20 minutes earns you the "Watch, Drop, and Roll" ECHO-4 Drone Skin for use in-game!
And to celebrate the momentous launch of Borderlands 4, you can earn two Legendary guns from September 11-30 as sweet new additions to your in-game loadout. Note that Twitch Drop rewards in the form of equippable gear will scale to whatever level your Vault Hunter is when you claim the rewards from your Twitch Drops Inventory, with a minimum of level 5.
By watching any Borderlands 4 livestream in the Borderlands 4 category on Twitch for 2 hours from September 11-30, you can claim the Forsaken Chaos Legendary shotgun, which was named by the Borderlands community! This shotgun will scale to whatever level your Vault Hunter is when you claim the drop on Twitch.
In addition, by watching Borderlands 4 livestreams in the Borderlands 4 category on Twitch that are hosted by any of our partnered creators for 2 hours from September 11-30, you can claim the Midnight Defiance Legendary sniper rifle, named by a cohort of Borderlands creators!
Please note that the Forsaken Chaos Legendary shotgun and Midnight Defiance Legendary sniper rifle Twitch Drops rewards cannot be earned simultaneously, so you'll need to watch eligible streams for a combined total of 4 hours to earn both guns for your collection.
Rewards are automatically delivered to your SHiFT Account once redeemed via a linked Twitch Account by clicking "Claim" on your Twitch Drops Inventory page. Once you've logged into your SHiFT Account in Borderlands 4, you can redeem your reward via the Reward Center section of your Inventory screen, under Equipment. Note that Twitch Drop rewards in the form of equippable gear will scale to whatever level your Vault Hunter is when you claim the rewards on your Twitch Drops Inventory, with a minimum level 5.
Make sure to check out the Borderlands 4 Twitch Drops page for full details on these offers, including requirements and how to redeem your earned rewards. Thanks again for tuning in and spending time with us and the rest of the amazing Borderlands community!
Then, if you'd also like to create some Borderlands 4 content yourself, applications for The Vault Network program are still open! This is a collaborative program for creators of all sizes, powered by our partners at Gamesight and supported by us. Our mission is to empower content creators to enjoy Borderlands 4 together through meaningful support, special opportunities, and community celebration.
Get the exclusive "Hazard Pay" Weapon Skin for Borderlands 4!**
Subscribe to receive newsletters and digital marketing with a SHiFT Account. You can create a free SHiFT Account or log in here!
Log in on the SHiFT website, then link your preferred platform accounts under the "Gaming Platforms" tab.
At launch, log in with your SHiFT Account in Borderlands 4 to receive your exclusive "Hazard Pay" Weapon Skin!
Whenever you receive a Borderlands email, check for extra rewards like Golden Keys granted via a SHiFT code, then follow the instructions within to redeem them for your SHiFT Account!
*Requires an internet connection, a Twitch Account linked to your SHiFT Account, and a SHiFT Account linked to the platform account you'll use to play Borderlands 4. Requires Borderlands 4 to redeem rewards. SHiFT Accounts are free. One redemption per SHiFT Account. Rewards will be delivered in-game once Borderlands 4 is launched and linked to the SHiFT Account used to claim the reward via Twitch. Void where prohibited. Terms apply.
**Requires a copy of Borderlands 4. Offer ends at 11:59 PM PT on December 31, 2030. Users must agree to the Terms of Service and opt-in to receive newsletters and digital marketing from 2K and Gearbox via a verified SHiFT Account, then log in to the verified SHiFT Account in the game to receive rewards. For SHiFT code email rewards, offer end dates will be specified in the accompanying email. In-game loot granted by Golden Keys is randomized. Please allow for up to a week to receive your in-game rewards. One redemption per SHiFT account. Void where prohibited. Terms apply. Must be 18 or older to be eligible.
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Original post
08 Sep 2025Developer post
Borderlands 4 Global Launch times
We're mere days away from crash-landing onto Kairos in Borderlands 4 ! Below, check out the full list of rolling launch times across all available platforms and regions: Wellington, New Zealand - Sept 12 at 4:00 AM NZST Sydney, Australia - Sept 12 at 2:00 AM AEST Tokyo, Japan - S
We're mere days away from crash-landing onto Kairos in Borderlands 4! Below, check out the full list of rolling launch times across all available platforms and regions:
Wellington, New Zealand - Sept 12 at 4:00 AM NZST
Sydney, Australia - Sept 12 at 2:00 AM AEST
Tokyo, Japan - Sept 12 at 1:00 AM JST
Singapore - Sept 12 at 12:00 AM SGT
London, UK - Sept 11 at 5:00 PM BST
New York, NY, USA - Sept 11 at 12:00 PM ET
San Francisco, CA, USA - Sept 11 at 9:00 AM PT
If you haven't picked up your copy yet, there's still time before Borderlands 4 launches; those who pre-purchase any edition of the game will receive the Gilded Glory Pack* pre-purchase bonus, which now contains even more loot!
While you wait to start playing, take a look at the Vault Hunter pages for Vex, Rafa, Amon, and Harlowe to begin theorycrafting the perfect builds based on their Action Skills and skill trees. Also be sure to catch up on all of the reveals from PAX West 2025, including details about endgame content and our post-launch roadmap!
*Pre-purchase offer available until launch, after which the Gilded Glory Pack will be available for separate purchase (base game required). Internet connection required to redeem bonus content. Items will be automatically entitled in-game at launch. Terms apply.
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22 Aug 2025Developer post
Harlowe Gameplay Overview
Nothing says "power fantasy" like wiping out waves of enemies with a combination of crowd-control abilities and area-of-effect annihilation—both of which happen to be the specialty of Harlowe the Gravitar, one of the four all-new Vault Hunters wreaking havoc on Kairos in Borderla
Watch on YouTube
Nothing says "power fantasy" like wiping out waves of enemies with a combination of crowd-control abilities and area-of-effect annihilation—both of which happen to be the specialty of Harlowe the Gravitar, one of the four all-new Vault Hunters wreaking havoc on Kairos in Borderlands 4! Using her collection of combat-ready inventions, Harlowe can dominate any space by nuking the battlefield with Cryo and Radiation damage, or protect herself and co-op allies with enhanced shielding and more.
Check out the Harlowe Gameplay Overview video above to see her scientific brilliance applied in the field to deadly effect. Whatever hypotheses and variables she's testing in a given firefight, the results are sure to be joyously bloody.
Check out the full rundown of her abilities and three skill trees on the Harlowe Vault Hunter page nested within the Game Info page. Here's a high-level overview of the core Action Skills that Harlowe has access to:
CHROMA Accelerator: Fire off an Unstable Energy Pocket that creates a sphere of Cryo damage which passes through enemies, then detonate it for an explosive finish of Radiation damage that'll fry any surviving targets. With the Capstone abilities of her Creative Bursts skill tree, Harlowe can engineer the Unstable Energy Pocket to bounce between foes or gain multiple charges.
Zero-Point: Turn aggressive enemies into defenseless targets by isolating them in a zero-gravity Stasis bubble created by Harlowe's HALO Accelerator, which slams them to the ground when the Stasis effect ends. Longtime Borderlands players will recognize this as a spin on an iconic Siren skill, now with added Augments that can cause bullets to ricochet off targets in Stasis, store damage on bubbled enemies to create living Cryo bombs that detonate on impact, and more.
Flux Generator: Drop a repositionable Flux Generator that creates a sizable Energy Field, freezing enemies with constant Cryo damage and empowering nearby allies with Overshield. Through the use of Augments, you can amplify or add to the effects that hinder foes and help allies while they're in the Energy Field.
Harlowe's always-on Trait Entanglement is where her area-of-effect, crowd-decimating strengths really come into focus. Whenever Harlowe uses her Action Skill on enemies, they become Entangled, indicated by a chromatic glow. Entangled enemies share a portion of Gun Damage and Skill Damage, effectively spreading the hurt across multiple targets to make quick work of even the toughest groups.
With the debut of Harlowe's full suite of abilities, you can now browse the skill trees for Borderlands 4's all-new Vault Hunters on the Vex Vault Hunter, Rafa Vault Hunter, Amon Vault Hunter, and Harlowe Vault Hunter pages. Let the theorycrafting commence as you try to decide which of these badasses you'll embody in your fight against the Timekeeper; it's also a very acceptable plan to play as all four because you can't choose just one.
Borderlands 4 is now available for pre-purchase. We're so excited that you'll all be crash-landing on Kairos soon; stay tuned for more reveals ahead of launch!
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18 Aug 2025Developer post
Amon Gameplay Overview
If you love running headfirst into battle, soaking up damage and dishing it out in equal measure, you'd do well to check out Amon the Forgeknight, one of the four all-new Vault Hunters wreaking havoc on Kairos in Borderlands 4 ! In addition to being a resilient frontliner, Amon h
Watch on YouTube
If you love running headfirst into battle, soaking up damage and dishing it out in equal measure, you'd do well to check out Amon the Forgeknight, one of the four all-new Vault Hunters wreaking havoc on Kairos in Borderlands 4! In addition to being a resilient frontliner, Amon has a mechanically complex set of Action Skills with primary and secondary functions that'll tickle the cortexes of even the most experienced players.
Watch the Amon Gameplay Overview video above to watch Amon tear his enemies asunder with an arsenal of Forgeweapons, which take form via the Forgedrones stored within Amon's cybernetic-enhanced beefcake body. Amon can attack or defend as needed, ready to pulverize enemies with a Forgehammer, slice them in twain with Forgeaxes, soak up damage with a Forgeshield, and much, much more.
Check out the full rundown of his abilities and three skill trees on the Amon Vault Hunter page nested within the Game Info page. Here's a high-level overview of the core Action Skills that Amon can unleash:
Crucible: Wield the elemental might of fire and ice with Amon's twin Forgeaxes, which deal Incendiary or Cryo damage by default, have multiple charges, and can be picked up to reduce their cooldown. The Forgeaxes make any damaged target Primed, causing them to explode in a damaging, bloody mess when killed.
Scourge: Charge headlong into the fray as Amon summons his Forgeshield, which will soak up incoming damage and fill up a Vengeance Meter. Once you've absorbed the brunt of the incoming hurt, you can return the favor by firing back a Forgewave that consumes Vengeance to deal freezing Cryo damage.
Onslaughter: Wallop your foes in the face with Amon's Forgefist, which dashes to your target to unleash an explosive Rocket Punch. The force of this Incendiary Melee Damage impact will Stagger most enemies, leaving them dazed so you can finish them off with a flurry of bullets.
Amon's Trait Forgeskill is where things really heat up, as it grants a secondary Action Skill depending on his equipped core Action Skill. Forgeskills have their own cooldown separate from their respective Action Skill, adding an extra layer of complexity to Amon's damage output as you master his cooldown rotations during battle. Here are Amon's Forgeskills, all of which can be transformed by the Capstone abilities at the end of his skill trees:
Double-Edge (Crucible Action Skill equipped): Throw a twinned Forgeaxe, dealing Cryo Damage to enemies it passes through and returning to Amon, dealing Incendiary Melee Damage on the way back.
Firewall (Scourge Action Skill equipped): Deploy a Firewall that absorbs enemy projectiles, and grants friendly projectiles that pass through it increased damage and velocity. Absorbed damage is converted into Vengeance if Scourge is active, and enemies near Firewall get burned with Incendiary damage over time.
Molten Slam (Onslaughter Action Skill equipped): Slam a Molten Forgehammer into the ground, dealing Incendiary damage to enemies in a large area.
If you haven't seen them already, make sure to peruse the Vex Vault Hunter and Rafa Vault Hunter pages with all of their Action Skill and skill tree information, then keep your eyes peeled for the Harlowe Vault Hunter pages in the coming weeks.
Borderlands 4 is now available for pre-purchase! We're so excited that you'll all be crash-landing on Kairos soon; stay tuned for more reveals ahead of launch!
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18 Aug 2025Developer post
Borderlands franchise on NVIDIA GeForce NOW
If you've already pre-purchased Borderlands 4 or plan to get the game on PC, you'll be able to dive into the chaotic world of loot, mayhem, and Vault Hunters via the power of cloud gaming with NVIDIA GeForce NOW on launch day.*** While you wait to experience the next explosive ch
23 Jul 2025Developer post
Rafa Gameplay Overview
Classes based around the 'elite soldier' archetype are a staple of Borderlands , acting as a great gateway for FPS players to acclimate to the unbridled mayhem of the series' frenetic combat. Rafa the Exo-Soldier is here to continue the franchise lineage of the battle-ready comba
Watch on YouTube
Classes based around the 'elite soldier' archetype are a staple of Borderlands, acting as a great gateway for FPS players to acclimate to the unbridled mayhem of the series' frenetic combat. Rafa the Exo-Soldier is here to continue the franchise lineage of the battle-ready combat veteran class, making his debut as one of the all-new Vault Hunters breaking free in Borderlands 4.
Check out the Rafa Gameplay Overview video above to see how he masterfully wields the cutting-edge weaponry stored in his Deadframe exo-suit. This former Tediore trooper is ready for fights at any distance, whether he's slicing through enemies at melee range with his twin Arc-Knives, perforating midrange targets with his Peacebreaker Cannons, or blasting holes through multiple enemies with charged-up rounds from his APOPHIS Lance.
Here's a high-level overview of the core Action Skills that Rafa has at the ready:
Arc-Knives: Cut down anyone stupid enough to stand in your way with these twin energy blades. When activating Rafa's Arc-Knives, your perspective shifts from first-person to third-person, giving you maximum spatial awareness as you slash, dash, and slice your way through hostile crowds. The finishing touch on any melee carnage spree is Rafa's Blade Fury ability, which ends the Action Skill with a Shock Damage-infused whirlwind strike.
Peacebreaker Cannons: Amplify your damage output with an extra gun over each shoulder, as the Peacebreaker Cannons seek and destroy any targets in front of you. You can modify the Peacebreaker Cannons to fire all kinds of ammunition via Rafa's passive skills, and even turn them into a stationary turret via the Insta-Fort Battle System Augment.
APOPHIS Lance: Convert Rafa's arm into a full-blown cannon with the APOPHIS Lance, with a default firing mode that unleashes orbs of pure plasma, piercing through enemies and reducing them to a red paste. You get multiple charges with each activation, so take your pick between firing off a volley of blasts or charging up devastating projectiles depending on the situation.
Rafa's always-on Trait, Overdrive, incentivizes you to keep using your Action Skills on cooldown, buffing your movespeed and damage whenever an Action Skill is active. Once you've found the rhythm of using your favorite Action Skill multiple times in each skirmish, you'll be tearing through the opposition with ease.
In case you missed it, be sure to check out the Vex Vault Hunter page, detailing all of the Siren's supernatural Action Skills and skill trees. Stay tuned for full reveals of the Amon and Harlowe Vault Hunter pages in the coming weeks.
Borderlands 4 is now available for pre-purchase! Ahead of Borderlands 4's launch on September 12, 2025, make sure you're caught up with the latest Story Trailer. Then get behind-the-scenes insights from Gearbox developers with the ongoing Beyond the Borderlands video series, including "Making a Vault Hunter" and "Welcome to Kairos," with more on the way!
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10 Jul 2025Developer post
Vex Spotlight - Gameplay Overview, Character Short
Sirens are one of the most iconic classes in all of Borderlands , with supernatural Phase abilities that augment their run-and-gun expertise. It's high time we formally introduced you to Vex the Siren, one of the four all-new Vault Hunters who are wreaking havoc on Kairos in Bord
Watch on YouTube
Sirens are one of the most iconic classes in all of Borderlands, with supernatural Phase abilities that augment their run-and-gun expertise. It's high time we formally introduced you to Vex the Siren, one of the four all-new Vault Hunters who are wreaking havoc on Kairos in Borderlands 4! In the Vex Gameplay Overview above, you can witness Vex's destructive Phase energy in action, whether she's blasting enemies to bits with elemental orbs, summoning an entourage of aggressive Phase Clones, or letting her adorable (and deadly) feline Phase Phamiliar, aptly named Trouble, tear the opposition limb from limb. If you're generally a fan of companion classes or like to rack up kills with elemental damage, Vex is a great choice.
Here's a high-level overview of the core Action Skill abilities Vex has at her disposal:
Dead Ringer: Use multiple charges to spawn in a posse of Phase Clone Minions, which can be melee-slashing, enemy-taunting Reapers or immobile, turret-style Specters. These Minions aren't long for this world as they continually lose health the moment they spawn in, so enjoy their murderous tendencies while they last.
Incarnate: Unleash devastating area-of-effect damage with Incarnate's initial Phase Explosion, decimating nearby aggressors and fully healing Vex in the process. She then enters a temporary powered-up state (peep that skeletal wingspan) which has faster movement and the ability to fire off blistering Eldritch Blasts.
Phase Phamiliar: Invite Trouble to show off what a good boy he is, particularly when it comes to chomping down on enemies or fatally smacking them to bits with his tail. When it's time to take out a high-priority target, Trouble can teleport on top of them with an instantly damaging blast before taking on an even more Badass form.
Skill tree fundamentals
Every Vault Hunter has access to three unique Action Skills, but only one can be equipped at a time. They also have three distinct skill trees, each stemming from an Action Skill.

By investing points into a skill tree and unlocking its deeper layers, you'll gain access to Augments that provide secondary bonuses to your Action Skills, and Capstones which modify or override specific Action Skill functionalities. Augments and Capstones can only be slotted into the Action Skill for that respective skill tree. Only one Capstone can be equipped at a time, and the same is typically true for Augments.

You can use Action Skills from other skill trees even if you haven't invested any points into them, but you won't be able to equip the powerful Augments or Capstones from one skill tree onto the Action Skill of a different skill tree. Committing Skill Points to the skill tree that will properly synergize with your favorite Action Skill is key!

Each Vault Hunter also has their own Trait: an always-on passive effect that doesn't require any skill points. Vex's Trait is Phase Covenant, which attunes her Action Skill and melee damage to the same Elemental Type as the gun she's currently wielding. Elemental damage types are critical for taking down tougher enemies on higher difficulty levels, so Phase Covenant is a gift that keeps on giving while you level up, incentivizing you to curate a loadout with differing elemental damage guns that ensure you're ready for anything.
Watch on YouTube
Above, you can watch Vex's new Character Short "Purple Friday," featuring Vex's retelling of the events that set her down the path to becoming a Vault Hunter.
More to come
We'll also be rolling out dedicated Vault Hunter pages for the remaining crew members Rafa, Amon, and Harlowe, each with their own Gameplay Overview and Character Short, so stay tuned for those!

Borderlands 4 is now available for pre-purchase! Ahead of Borderlands 4's launch on September 12, 2025, make sure you're caught up with the latest Story Trailer. Then get behind-the-scenes insights from Gearbox developers with the ongoing Beyond the Borderlands video series, including "Making a Vault Hunter" and "Welcome to Kairos" with more on the way!
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26 Jun 2025Developer post
Steam Summer Sale
The 2K Summer Sale! Hot deals on hot games! Cool down with summer savings! Save 15% on Sid Meier's Civilization VII* Save 86% on NBA 2K25 Standard Edition* Save 95% on Borderlands 3* Save 80% on Mafia Trilogy* And more! Don't miss out on incredible deals on 2K titles and DLC duri
The 2K Summer Sale!
Hot deals on hot games! Cool down with summer savings!
Save 15% on Sid Meier's Civilization VII*
Save 86% on NBA 2K25 Standard Edition*
Save 95% on Borderlands 3*
Save 80% on Mafia Trilogy*
And more! Don't miss out on incredible deals on 2K titles and DLC during the 2K Summer Sale!
*Discount based on 2K's SRP. Sale ends 10:00am PST on July 10, 2025. Terms apply.
The 2K Summer Sale!
Original post
05 Jun 2025Developer post
Borderlands Franchise Sale! Claim Borderlands 2 for free now!
Through June 18 at 10AM PT, during our Borderlands Franchise Sale on Steam, browse big discounts on the entire series. Also, make sure you don't miss the Borderlands 2 Giveaway ending June 8 at 10AM PT, letting you grab the classic looter shooter for free. Borderlands Franchise S
14 May 2025Developer post
FundRACING for St. Jude! - A “Borderlands Community Fundraising Team” Event
Vault Hunters, get ready to catch a riiiiiiide and START YOUR ENGINES! The Borderlands Community Fundraising Team - a fan-made, fan-run organization - is beginning sign-ups for their Borderlands 2 charity event, and you're invited to take part. This racing event will take place o
12 May 2025Developer post
Watch the Gearbox Main Theater Show, recorded live at PAX East
Hot off the heels of the Borderlands 4 Gameplay Showcase, the Gearbox team just dove deeper into Borderlands 4 live onstage at PAX East! During the Gearbox Main Theater Show, we heard directly from Gearbox Entertainment Founder and President Randy Pitchford, Global Creative Execu
06 May 2025Developer post
Celebrating an Amazing “Hunt Before the Storm”!
A huge round of applause to everyone who took part in The Hunt 2025 community event , organized by the Borderlands Community Fundraising Team! This bi-annual event is created for fans, by fans, and all of your efforts have created a HUGE positive impact on so many children’s live
30 Apr 2025Developer post
Borderlands 4 Gameplay Showcase
Wreak havoc across the dangerous new planet Kairos when Borderlands 4 launches on September 12, 2025! In today's special Gameplay Showcase presentation, Creative Director Graeme Timmins and Senior Project Producer Anthony Nicholson showed off the deepest ever look at Borderlands
Wreak havoc across the dangerous new planet Kairos when Borderlands 4 launches on September 12, 2025! In today's special Gameplay Showcase presentation, Creative Director Graeme Timmins and Senior Project Producer Anthony Nicholson showed off the deepest ever look at Borderlands 4's explosive, carnage-filled gameplay. Check out two of our four new Vault Hunters, all kinds of new gear, the deadly regions you'll explore on Kairos, and much more!
Following the cataclysm seen in our Teaser trailer and the contentious clash of our First Look trailer, the tyrannical Timekeeper is here to admonish us as we meet our four new Vault Hunters in this pulse-pounding Gameplay Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4qeqPZJTaE
Ever since Gearbox created the looter shooter genre nearly 16 years ago, every Borderlands game has continued to refine the formula, delivering more loot and action with each entry. Borderlands 4 is hands-down the best, most ambitious Borderlands game to date.
This all-new adventure is the perfect entry point for new players—and for existing players, you'll find the awesome gameplay you know and love cranked up to 11, with new movement abilities, the biggest and baddest enemies yet, a vast new planet to explore, and of course, billions of guns to loot. See for yourself in our Gameplay Deep Dive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUNd0bHHWlo
Wreak havoc as a Vault Hunter
The Borderlands games are set in an unforgiving sci-fi universe, where life is cheap and guns are plentiful. You play as a Vault Hunter, a badass mercenary on the hunt for alien Vaults, wielding wild guns and devastating abilities. In the Gameplay Deep Dive, you can get to know two of our four all-new Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren, who uses supernatural phase energy to empower herself and can conjure deadly minions, and Rafa the Exo-Soldier, a former Tediore trooper who wears an experimental exo-suit capable of digistructing an arsenal of weapons. You can check out all four Vault Hunters—Vex, Rafa, Amon, and Harlowe— on our new Borderlands 4 Game Info page.
Each Vault Hunter class in Borderlands 4 offers a unique playstyle that empowers you to choose from three signature abilities that serve as your Action Skills. We're delivering our most advanced skill tree system yet, letting you enhance your Action Skills with special augments and capstone abilities. You can choose from three branching paths of passive abilities that enable an incredibly wide variety of distinctly powerful builds.
Every Vault Hunter also has a unique Trait that shapes their playstyle; for instance, Vex's Trait makes her Action Skills attune to the element of the weapon she currently has equipped, incentivizing an arsenal of elemental weapons to shock, burn, or freeze enemies based on the situation.
Playing as a Vault Hunter should make you feel like an unstoppable force on the battlefield, unleashing Action Skills to control the flow of combat and blasting through enemies with an arsenal of outrageous weaponry. You can also flex even more skill expression during battle with a wide range of new movement abilities, including gliding, dashing, double-jumping, and point-grappling!
Welcome to Kairos
In Borderlands 4, you're dropped into the middle of Kairos, an all-new planet rife with warring factions, deadly fauna, and desperate inhabitants. For thousands of years, the oppressive Timekeeper kept the planet hidden, controlling its inhabitants with cybernetic implants called Bolts and an army of synthetic soldiers known as The Order.
But six years before the events of Borderlands 4, a rogue moon suddenly teleported into Kairos' orbit, shattering the planet's protective veil and plunging the world into chaos. Now the denizens of Kairos have started rising up, with some even ripping their Bolts right out of their skulls. That's the situation our four Vault Hunters have crash-landed into: a planet with a population primed to explode, and you're the spark.
In your quest to ignite a revolution against the Timekeeper, you'll meet unique factions that you'll need to recruit to your cause, including a slew of new characters and some returning faces that'll be instantly familiar to Borderlands fans. Fan-favorite characters like Claptrap, Moxxi, and Zane are returning—but you'll also meet a new cast of charming allies and loathsome adversaries that await you on Kairos. Get a sneak peek of some of the NPCs you'll encounter over on the Borderlands 4 Game Info page!
To help you get around Kairos' sprawling, seamlessly connected spaces, you can now summon a personalized Digirunner vehicle at will and jet-boost your way towards the horizon. Kairos is a world that exudes craftmanship and encourages you to explore it at your own pace—with the option for guidance provided by your ECHO-4 robot buddy—as you take on new enemies, encounter world events, and discover hidden treasures.
From Order patrols to world bosses, there’s always something to shoot and loot as you explore Kairos. You'll also come across short gameplay experiences and new activities that auto-grant a tracked mission whenever you discover them—like Silos, which house old, decommissioned Order tech that you can hijack for the Crimson Resistance with the help of ECHO-4.
Once you've reclaimed a Silo, it will reveal the approximate location of a Vault Key Fragment. Collect enough fragments and you'll unlock a hidden Vault—a high level dungeon with challenging combat and serious loot. Reclaimed Silos release a hacked communications balloon that you can zipline up to start gliding through the air towards your next objective, and they can also be used as Fast Travel points!
Wreaking havoc across Kairos is awesome alone and even better with friends—which is why it's easier than ever to jump into co-op multiplayer via our improved lobby system, with drop-in/drop-out action for up to 4 players online and full crossplay at launch.* Borderlands 4 is designed for co-op from the ground up, with instanced loot for each player, dynamic level scaling, individual difficulty settings, and the option to Fast Travel directly to other players to keep the party together and having fun through the whole campaign.
Gearing up for a fight
In the new gameplay footage, you can watch Vex and Rafa go on the offensive across the Terminus Range, where one of the Timekeeper's generals, Vile Lictor, has been conducting nefarious experiments. You'll need to break into his secret blacksite with the help of Amara, an allied Siren and former Vault Hunter (who you might've played as in Borderlands 3).
You can also see the destructive power of some deadly weapons from Borderlands 4's eight unique manufacturers: Order, Ripper, Daedalus, Tediore, Maliwan, Jakobs, Vladof, and Torgue, each boasting their own devastating strengths. Longtime Borderlands fans will notice that three of these manufacturers are brand new, with fresh characteristics:

Order guns focus on precision with high-powered bursts
Ripper guns charge up to go fully automatic
Daedalus guns are easy-to-use and incorporate multiple ammo types
Tediore guns are reloaded by tossing them as grenades
Maliwan guns specialize in elemental damage to burn, freeze, and shock
Jakobs guns can fire bullets as fast as you can shoot with ricochets on critical hits
Vladof guns have a high rate of fire and huge magazines
Torgue guns have heavy-duty explosive rounds that can switch to sticky projectiles
With the new Licensed Parts system, you can find guns that incorporate the behaviors and abilities from multiple manufacturers into a single weapon, fueling our wildest loot variety yet. In addition, Borderlands 4 reworks the approach to the iconic Legendary guns that have unique effects you won't find on any other piece of gear. In Borderlands 3, Legendaries dropped too often, devaluing them and making other loot feel less special overall. In Borderlands 4's new system, not only do all guns feel great, but now Legendary drops will truly be special events.
Farming coveted gear is much more intuitive now that you can replay entire missions or use Moxxi's Big Encore Machine to fight bosses whenever you'd like. Speaking of bosses, Borderlands 4 makes them bigger and better than ever—like Vile Lictor himself, a monstrosity you can glimpse at the end of the Gameplay Deep Dive. These boss fights will put all your new skills, gear, and abilities to the ultimate test, requiring that you think quickly and adapt to whatever each boss throws at you.
There are also new gear slots to specialize your builds even further:

Ordnance, a shared slot for Grenades and Heavy Weapons like rocket launchers, recharges on a cooldown to keep you locked and loaded during especially tough encounters
Enhancements, which replace the Artifact slot seen in Borderlands 3, augment your weapons based on their manufacturer, rewarding you with extra firepower when you optimize your gear loadout
Repkits add utility by letting you heal yourself or activate temporary buffs to help turn the tide of an intense battle
We're incredibly excited to unveil more Borderlands 4 when we host our first hands-on event this June, with tons to show off ahead of the full launch on September 12, 2025! Wishlist Borderlands 4 now and stay tuned as we reveal more in the coming months!
*Online play requires an Internet connection and a SHiFT Account. Terms apply.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1285190/Borderlands_4/
Original post
27 Mar 2025Developer post
Gearbox Entertainment Sale
Through April 10, during our Gearbox Software Sale on Steam, browse big discounts on a variety of Gearbox titles including the Borderlands series, Risk of Rain 2, Homeworld 3, Blanc, and more —then don't forget to wishlist Borderlands 4 on Steam while you're there! Not sure where
12 Feb 2025Developer post
Borderlands 4 Arrives September 12, 2025
UPDATE April 2025 : After this article was originally published, we revealed that Borderlands 4 is now planned for a new, earlier launch date of September 12, 2025! The article has been updated accordingly. Borderlands 4 is our most ambitious title to date, delivering more looter