By David Smith In “Borderlands 4,” players are introduced to an exciting roster of Vault Hunters, each with unique abilities and playstyles. Determining the best Vault Hunter depends on personal preference and gameplay strategy, making every character a compelling choice for different players.
Best Vault Hunter in Borderlands 4
Borderlands 4 has dropped and it’s packed with some of the coolest characters yet! Each of the Vault Hunters comes loaded with unique skills and trees that totally change how you play. Let’s break down who’s who and what they can do.
Meet the Vault Hunters
1. Rafa: The Exo-Soldier
Rafa is all about that firepower. His Overdrive trait lets him zoom around the battlefield, firing crazy damage. Here’s a quick look at his trees:
- Remote Agent: Focused on guns with boosted crits.
- People Person: Infinite ammo vibe with elemental perks.
- This Year’s Gimmick: Melee focused for those who like getting up close and personal.
2. Harlowe: The Gravitar
Harlowe is the ultimate team player with her Entanglement trait. She can link enemies together for massive damage output. Her trees include:
- Creative Bursts: Debuff enemies with cryo and radiation.
- Seize the Day: Deals tons of damage to grouped foes.
- Cosmic Brilliance: Buffs teammates and debuffs enemies.
3. Vex: The Siren
Vex is a total game-changer, focused on elemental damage. Her Phase Covenant means she can adapt her damage style based on her current weapon’s element. Check out her trees:
- Vexcalation: Ramps up her power with massive damage blasts.
- The Fourth Seal: Powerful minion builds to help take down enemies.
- Here Comes Trouble: Focuses on elemental damage with her buddy “Trouble”.
4. Amon: The Forgeknight
Amon is the tank of the group, utilizing a variety of elemental weapons. His Forgeskill trait provides unique abilities based on his equipped skill. His trees are serious business:
- Calamity: Quick melee strikes that smash foes.
- Vengeance: Heavy defense and brawler style.
- Cybernetics: Heavy action skill use, spawning powerful drones.
Tips & Tricks for Domination
Skill Synergies
Each Vault Hunter thrives when you utilize their strengths. For example, pairing Harlowe’s Cosmic Brilliance with Rafa’s ammo buffs can make a solid team for large mobs.
Skill Allocation
Don’t be afraid to mix and match skill trees! For Rafa, investing in both Remote Agent and People Person can create a super damage dealer that can hold his own.
Play Styles
If you prefer a more supportive role, choose Harlowe, while aggressive players might gravitate towards Amon’s in-your-face combat style.
Cheats & Secrets
- Quick Resets: Borderlands 4 allows you to skip campaigns when trying alternate characters.
- XP Boosts: Try completing side missions to gain extra XP quickly.
- Cheat Codes: Cheat codes and exploits surface frequently; check forums for the latest tricks!
Upcoming DLC
Keep an eye out for C4SH coming in Q1 2026, featuring a uniquely random playstyle.
With all these Vault Hunters at your fingertips and loads of possible playstyles, jump into Borderlands 4 with your friends and wreak some havoc! Whether you prefer sniping, melee, or elemental chaos, there’s a perfect character waiting just for you. Happy looting!
Game Information
Title: Borderlands 4
Developer: Gearbox Software
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Retail Price: $69.99 (estimated)
Release Date: October 15, 2025 (estimated)
Purchase Options: Available for pre-order on Steam, PlayStation Store, and Xbox Store.
Borderlands 4’s Vault Hunters are some of the most unique the series has seen so far, only helped by the fact that each one has three fully-fledged skill trees packed with perks, augments, and capstones that change how your three action skills function. There’s a lot to consider, so deciding which Vault Hunter to pick, or the best characters, is quite the conundrum.
To help you make that all-important decision, I’ll give you an overview of each Vault Hunter and their three broad playstyles. However, I’d be foolish not to note that the ‘meta’ doesn’t really matter in Borderlands, so pick whichever character you think looks the coolest. Plus, Borderlands 4 finally lets you skip the campaign on alternate characters, so it’s easier than ever to try out all the Vault Hunters.
If I had to pick just one, the best character in Borderlands 4 is Rafa, primarily due to his incredible ability to buff his gun damage across both his Remote Agent and People Person skill trees. In fact, if you’re willing to forgo having a capstone perk, you could evenly split your perks down both trees for absurd damage multipliers. It’s perhaps not the most engaging build, but it’s undeniably powerful in all situations.
Harlowe is another great pick, whether you’re playing solo or with friends. Harlowe brings together everything you theoretically need from a single character, being able to dish out high burst damage with her Creative Bursts tree, massive mobbing potential through her Seize the Day tree, and even a more supportive playstyle with Cosmic Brilliance. If you like the Sirens from previous games, then Harlowe’s the Vault Hunter for you.
There are currently four Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4: Vex, Harlowe, Rafa, and Amon, though two more characters are confirmed to arrive in future DLC—the Vault Hunter Pack that’s included with the Super Deluxe edition or that you can buy separately.
Got tips, tricks, or codes you want to share about the game? Drop a comment below and let’s discuss!
