Borderlands 3 featured remarkable Vault Hunters, but the potential for future Borderlands games to surpass this exists. A key strategy is to revive some of the most exceptional character classes and archetypes from the Borderlands franchise.
There is a vast pool of possibilities for Borderlands 4, including the return of beloved Vault Hunters from the franchise or incorporating popular character archetypes found in RPGs. The expectations are high, and to meet them, Borderlands 4 should rekindle the most thrilling power fantasies for its playable characters.
Vault Hunter Classes That Borderlands 4 Should Feature
Mech
Moze from Borderlands 3 embodied the ultimate mech power fantasy, surpassing most vehicles in the Borderlands franchise. Moreover, players could transform Moze’s rideable mech into an independent, mobile companion, effectively replacing the older sentry-gun classes with a more potent and versatile action skill. While Moze set a high standard, future Borderlands games should still include Vault Hunters capable of controlling their own formidable walking tank.
Melee
Brick was a remarkably powerful combination of unarmed melee and heavy explosive weapons specialist, yet the Borderlands franchise has not truly featured a dedicated melee character. Despite off-meta melee builds for some characters in Borderlands 3, the absence of proper melee weapons in the franchise necessitates a change. With the inclusion of melee weapons in Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, there is a prime opportunity for the mainline Borderlands series to introduce melee weapons and a designated melee-based Vault Hunter, distinct from Vault Hunters with melee abilities like Krieg and Amara.
Medic
Traditionally, Borderlands Siren characters have consistently served as the primary support/medic character classes, and this archetype should rightfully endure. Few Vault Hunters in the Borderlands games foster cooperative multiplayer experiences as effectively as the Siren characters, given their substantial support capabilities. Whether the Siren class in future Borderlands games retains its role as the designated medic class or evolves into something new, this character archetype should not be overlooked.
Playable Enemy-Character
Krieg from Borderlands 2 and Handsome Jack’s Doppelganger from Borderlands the Pre-Sequel offer an exciting opportunity for franchise veterans to play as powerful Vault Hunters. Playing as enemy characters is consistently enjoyable, regardless of their abilities, making it a tradition that future Borderlands games should embrace.
Randomizer
Claptrap from Borderlands the Pre-Sequel is arguably both the strongest and weakest Vault Hunter in the Borderlands franchise, owing to the unpredictable nature of this character’s action skills. Activating Claptrap’s action skill triggers a random effect, leading to an unexpectedly fresh experience in each playthrough. This character is one of several strong candidates from the Borderlands franchise deserving of being playable in multiple games.
Summoner
The Necromancer class from the Diablo franchise exemplifies a powerful summoner archetype, providing Borderlands with valuable inspiration. While Fl4k from Borderlands 3 touched on this character class, their limited number of minions often paled in comparison, overshadowed by the character’s critical-hit builds. To truly distinguish this archetype in future Borderlands games, the franchise could explore necromancer territory, allowing players to convert fallen enemies into temporary allies.