Borderlands 3 features a level cap, after which your vault hunter will no longer gain experience points. While you can still grind the game for new legendary gear, your character will not earn any more skill points to spend in a skill tree.

Hence, the level cap means you have a pre-determined number of skill points for your character builds. Knowing how many level-ups you can farm helps set an end-game goal in BL3.

You start leveling up your Guardian Rank after hitting the level cap in BL3. Guardian Ranks become available after completing the main storyline and are an end-game progression system to improve your passive stats. They are similar to the old Badass Ranks from Borderlands 2.

Borderlands 3 - Flipper SMG
Borderlands 3: How to Get the Flipper SMG

Looking for an SMG that is both ammo-efficient and powerful? Here's how to get your hands on the legendary Flipper in Borderlands 3.

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What’s the Max Level Cap in Borderlands 3?

Borderlands 3 character aiming a gun
Borderlands 3 does not force you to purchase DLC to increase your level cap. 

Your character's maximum level is capped at 72 in Borderlands 3. This is without any of the expansions or add-on packs. Unlike in previous Borderlands games, you do not have to purchase any DLC to increase your level cap in BL3. They are part of the base game, so you only need to play the latest patch to max out your vault hunter.

That, however, is not to say the BL3 DLCs are not worth buying. Their storylines are arguably better than the main campaign, with several powerful legendary weapons for the picking. In addition, the add-on missions make it easier to farm experience points for level-ups instead of grinding the base end-game content over and over again.

Borderlands 2 received a surprising fifth campaign DLC pack after five years to increase its level cap from 72 to 80. If Borderlands 3 follows a similar timeline, its level cap might be increased in the coming year before the release of the new Borderlands 4. However, no hints or announcements exist at the time of writing.

Can You Max All Skill Trees in Borderlands 3?

No, you cannot earn enough skill points to max out all the skill trees in BL3. However, you will have enough points to unlock the final capstone skills (bottom-most skills) for your two skill trees because the game's progression system does not require you to unlock every single node while making your way down.

You only need to spend a specific number of skill points per row. Hence, you cannot max out different skills in each tree in Borderlands 3. Your character's build, gameplay style, and preferred weapons ultimately determine where you must spend skill points on which skill tree.

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Borderlands 3 Tag Page Cover Art
Borderlands 3
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8 /10
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Released
September 13, 2019
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
Developer(s)
Gearbox Software
Publisher(s)
2K Games
Engine
Unreal Engine 4
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play
PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
Cross Save
yes
Franchise
Borderlands
Number of Players
1-4
Split Screen Orientation
Vertical or Horizontal
Steam Deck Compatibility
yes
Genre(s)
First-Person Shooter, Action, RPG
How Long To Beat
25 Hours
PS Plus Availability
N/A
Local Co-Op Support
1-4 Players