Borderlands 4 marks the next major installment in Gearbox’s long-running looter-shooter series. Amid a ton of new additions and changes, the game aims to refine its tone while retaining the eccentricity and energy that define the franchise. A big part of that tonal shift is Borderlands 4's new roster of Vault Hunters, and Amon, the latest of the four to be revealed, may be the most striking addition yet.
Borderlands 4's Amon the Forgeknight is a hulking, battle-scarred brute of a Vault Hunter. Reminiscent of Krieg the Psycho from Borderlands 2, Amon’s backstory shows he’s walked the line between ally and enemy. What’s most interesting about Amon, however, is that his former life would have made him an even better fit for a different chapter in the series, particularly Borderlands 3.
Amon’s Borderlands 4 Character Short Reveals Cult Survivor Past
Raised within a Vault monster-worshipping cult, Amon devoted his life to the group until the monster turned on his people, destroying everything he loved. As the only survivor, Amon vowed to hunt down these otherworldly beasts across the galaxy. Despite his imposing build and hunger for battle, he’s also shown to have a bit of a poetic soul, with the new Borderlands 4 short framed as a wordy, introspective story told by firelight to the Vault Hunters.
This lore immediately sets him apart, but it also highlights a curious narrative mismatch. The main enemy faction of Borderlands 3, the Calypsos’ Children of the Vault cult, embodied a similar brand of fanaticism, making that entry a natural thematic fit for Amon’s experience within a cult. By contrast, Borderlands 4 pits him against the Timekeeper’s militaristic Order, where his personal vendetta feels less directly tied to the antagonists’ ideology.
Borderlands 4’s Amon Would Fit Perfectly Into Borderlands 3
The inclusion of a character like Amon in Borderlands 3 could have heightened the emotional impact of a narrative that really could've used a leg up. His ability to demolish cult propaganda or predict some of the Calypso Twins' moves would have made him a natural fit for that game. Amon's placement in Borderlands 4 still seems compelling, but he resonates more as an addition than as an organic extension of the main conflict.
As it stands, Amon is in a very different context. Borderlands 4's antagonist, the Timekeeper, and his militaristic order offer little in common with the chaotic zealotry of the COV, meaning his motivations are left to feel more personal. That said, there’s still plenty of room to tie him into the story of Borderlands 4.
How Amon the Forgeknight Could Influence Borderlands 4’s Story
Of course, Amon could still be meaningfully involved in Borderlands 4’s narrative. For example, the game could leverage his giant monster-slaying status to position him as a voice for the little guy and a guide for characters struggling under the thumb of the Timekeeper. Amon could also be used to draw parallels between cult mind control and the tyranny of Borderlands 4’s Timekeeper. Given the themes of Amon’s backstory, there are multiple compelling reasons for him to push back against a system that demands undivided loyalty.
Amon is a Welcome Addition, Even If He’s Better Suited to Borderlands 3
While Amon’s vendetta against Vault monsters would have meshed perfectly with Borderlands 3’s cult-centric narrative, he’s certainly a welcome inclusion in Borderlands 4’s Vault Hunter roster. Like Krieg before him, Amon diversifies the scope of Borderlands' playable characters by including ones with spotty, unexpected, and decidedly violent walks of life. His abilities also look diverse and impactful, and given the end of the short, he looks like he’ll be a big hit with the rest of the cast, too.
No matter how he involves himself in the narrative, Amon is shaping up to be another memorable figure in the world of Borderlands 4. He may have been a better fit for the previous game, thematically, but he’s certainly better late than never.
Borderlands 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 88%
- Released
- September 12, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Publisher(s)
- 2K
