In Borderlands 4, you once again step into the shoes of a Vault Hunter! Those are loot-hungry mercenaries with wild guns, crazy gadgets, and unique Action Skills. Each Vault Hunter has three distinct Action Skills, but you can only equip one at a time. On top of that, you also have branching skill trees full of various augments and capstones to push builds into over-the-top territory.
Here is a quick look at the four new Vault Hunters, what they can do, where they shine (and struggle), and who might be the best fit for you.
Harlowe – The Gravitar
A former Maliwan combat scientist turned gadget-loving fighter. Harlowe mixes Cryo and Radiation damage to control the battlefield, and at the same time keeping teammates alive.
- Vault Hunter Trait: Entanglement – enemies hit by her skills become linked, sharing damage between them.
- Action Skills:
- CHROMA Accelerator – launches an unstable Cryo energy pocket that can explode for massive Radiation damage.
- Zero-Point – traps an enemy in Stasis, then slams them into the ground for bonus damage.
- Flux Generator – deploys a field that freezes enemies and grants allies Overshield.
Amon – The Forgeknight
Raised in a Vault-worshiping cult, Amon now hunts the monsters that destroyed his people. He is a tank with weaponized drones and melee Forge weapons who can swap between offense and defense on the go.
- Vault Hunter Trait: Forgeskill – unique follow-ups tied to his equipped Action Skill (like slamming a molten hammer, throwing twin axes, or setting up a projectile-absorbing firewall).
- Action Skills:
- Onslaughter – overload his Forgefist for mobility, melee rocket punches, and burn damage.
- Scourge – wield a Forgeshield that absorbs damage and launches devastating waves.
- Crucible – summon and throw elemental Forgeaxes that kill enemies for explosive chain reactions.
Rafa – The Exo-Soldier
Born in microgravity, Rafa survives only thanks to his Tediore Deadframe exo-suit. Now AWOL, he uses his suit’s high-tech arsenal to bring the pain before it kills him first.
- Vault Hunter Trait: Overdrive – activating a skill boosts his speed and damage until it ends.
- Action Skills:
- APOPHIS Lance – arm cannon that fires piercing Shock blasts.
- Peacebreaker Cannons – shoulder guns that unleash a ton of bullets and makes the enemy feel like he’s in hell.
- Arc-Knives – melee blades that mark enemies, stacking bonus damage before triggering a devastating Blade Fury finisher.
Vex – The Siren
A strong survivor who hides empathy behind sarcasm, Vex is the latest Siren Vault Hunter. She channels raw phase energy into both minions and destructive blasts.
- Vault Hunter Trait: Phase Covenant – her Action Skill and melee damage take on the element of her currently equipped gun.
- Action Skills:
- Dead Ringer – summon spectral clones (Reaper for melee tanking, or Specter for ranged DPS).
- Incarnate – explode in phase energy, restore health, and unleash Eldritch Blasts.
- Phase Phamiliar – fight alongside her minion Trouble, who can respawn and power up into a Badass form.
So, Who Is the Best Vault Hunter for You?
Based on the official skill, trait descriptions, and everything we know so far about their abilities, skill trees and more, here is a quick pick guide to match each Vault Hunter to common player types.
- Harlowe – Pick if you like support, crowd control and team play.
- Why: Lots of AoE Cryo and Radiation control, enemy Entanglement (share damage) and an Overshield field. Great for players who like to control fights and buff allies.
- Playstyle tags: Support / CC / Mid-range tech.
- Solo vs Team: Better in teams but can work solo with damage-focused builds.
- Complexity: High. Timing and placement of gadgets matter.
- Amon – Pick if you love brawling, tanks, and close-range chaos.
- Why: Forgeskills give big melee and defensive options (hammer slams, axes, front-facing shields). He is built to soak and dish out damage.
- Playstyle tags: Tank / Melee.
- Solo vs Team: Excellent at solo survivability and as a team tank.
- Complexity: Medium. Hold-activated Forgeskills add some nuance but are forgiving.
- Rafa – Pick if you want straight-up ranged DPS and high mobility.
- Why: Exo-suit weapons (APOPHIS Lance, shoulder cannons) and Overdrive make him a strong sustained-damage pick. Great for players who love shooting and high mobility.
- Playstyle tags: Ranged DPS / Run-and-gun / Hybrid melee option.
- Solo vs Team: Strong in both. Easy to pick up and effective right away.
- Complexity: Low. Very accessible.
- Vex – Pick if you like Siren shenanigans, summons, and elemental synergies.
- Why: Attunes to your gun element, spawns clones and minions, and uses phase-energy bursts. Perfect if you enjoy managing pets, minions and weapon-element combos.
- Playstyle tags: Summoner / Elemental caster / Hybrid.
- Solo vs Team: Great solo (minions help) and strong in teams for elemental combos.
- Complexity: Medium-to-high. Managing attunement and minions rewards planning.
In the end, none of these are objectively “best”. They are built for different playstyles. If you want a recommendation for most players or newcomers, Rafa and Amon are the easiest to jump into (Rafa for straightforward ranged DPS, Amon if you like being hard to kill). If you love theorycrafting and team synergy, Harlowe and Vex will give the most juicy options once augments and capstones roll in.
