The Ultimate Guide to Borderlands 4

Borderlands 4 is Gearbox Software's latest looter-shooter, set on the previously hidden planet Kairos. Players take control of four new Vault Hunters and join a revolution against the planet's dictator, the Timekeeper. The game launched on September 12, 2025.

🌎 Story / Overview

Borderlands 4 begins after a catastrophic event known as Moonfall exposes Kairos to the wider universe.

The planet has been controlled for thousands of years by the Timekeeper, who uses cybernetic Bolts and his synthetic army, the Order, to control its population.

The four Vault Hunters arrive during a growing rebellion and become involved in the fight against his regime.

🪐 Kairos and Planetary Travel

Kairos is the largest and most interconnected world in the Borderlands series.

Players can move between different regions with fewer traditional boundaries, discover side activities and events, and explore the world using the Digirunner hover vehicle.

New traversal abilities also include double-jumping, gliding, dodging and grappling, giving exploration and combat a greater vertical element.

🔥 Four New Vault Hunters

Borderlands 4 introduces four playable Vault Hunters:

• Vex the Siren: Uses Phase abilities and supernatural powers.
• Rafa the Exo-Soldier: Uses an experimental exo-suit and specialized weapons.
• Harlowe the Gravitar: Focuses on Cryo, Radiation and area control.
• Amon the Forgeknight: Uses heavy armor and powerful close-range combat abilities.

Each character has three Action Skills, a unique Trait and branching skill trees for deeper build customization.

⚡ Elemental Combat

Borderlands 4 continues the series' elemental weapon system with Incendiary, Shock, Corrosive, Cryo and Radiation damage alongside kinetic weapons.

The effectiveness of elements depends on enemy health types, allowing players to build weapons and skills around specific combat situations.

The game's official materials do not confirm a return of Slag as a major element overhaul, so claims about a new Slag system should be treated as unconfirmed.

🧰 Weapons and Gear

Borderlands 4 features billions of weapons from eight manufacturers, including returning brands such as Maliwan, Jakobs, Vladof and Torgue alongside new manufacturers.

The game also introduces Licensed Parts, allowing weapons to combine behaviors and characteristics from different manufacturers.

New equipment slots include Ordnance, Enhancements and Repkits.

🎯 Endgame and Post-Launch Content

The campaign is only part of Borderlands 4.

The endgame includes weekly challenges, Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode, special boss encounters and additional loot-focused activities.

Post-launch content also expands Kairos through Story Packs and Bounty Packs. The first Story Pack, Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned, adds a new region, missions, bosses and the playable Vault Hunter C4SH.

💡 Why It Matters

Borderlands 4 expands the series beyond its familiar Pandora-focused formula with a larger interconnected world, deeper character builds and significantly more movement freedom.

Kairos also gives Gearbox a new setting that can continue expanding through post-launch content.

What to Know at a Glance

🎮 The Bottom Line

Borderlands 4 pushes the series into a more connected and mobile world with Kairos, four new Vault Hunters and deeper build customization.

While an "Eridian War" storyline and major Slag overhaul are not officially confirmed, the game's actual systems already represent a significant evolution of the Borderlands formula.