Summary
- Borderlands 4's trailer reveals new Vault Hunters with possible defined gameplay roles.
- Vault Hunters face backlash for bland design, leaving fans to speculate on their abilities.
- New characters may follow recognizable archetypes, like the Assassin, the Siren, the Soldier, and the Mechromancer.
In the days leading up to The Game Awards, Gearbox Software's own Randy Pitchford started hyping up a new Borderlands 4 trailer that would be huge and have gameplay in it, eventually confirming that TGA was where it would be shown. One of the key parts of the Borderlands 4 trailer is the reveal of what is seemingly the new big bad of the game in the form of The Timekeeper, an entity previously mentioned in Borderlands 3. Though the general gameplay clips in the trailer hyped up some fans, one of the most anticipated bits of the trailer was the reveal of the new Vault Hunters.
Borderlands 4's Vault Hunters faced backlash quite quickly after the release of the new trailer for being too "bland" in terms of design and appearance, something that is possibly exacerbated by the fact that they all can seem like regular humans. Very little is known about the characters, with major details like their abilities, specializations, and even names being left in the dark. It's likely that more will be revealed with a dedicated Vault Hunter trailer in the future, but for now, there are some clues that may play into the roles and archetypes of these characters within the franchise.
Borderlands 4 Villain Revealed
Players are getting their first look at the terrifying new villain set to appear in Borderlands 4 when it arrives for PC and console in 2025.
Why Borderlands 4's Vault Hunters May Already Have Defined Gameplay Roles
Borderlands 4's Vault Hunters - The Assassin Archetype
Starting from left to right, the first Vault Hunter is seemingly wearing very little armor, a sign that they may be more of an agile combatant. This perfectly fits within the Assassin archetype, like Zer0. This theory seems corroborated by the fact that they are shown using what seem like energy blades and a visor possibly tied to an exoskeleton of sorts. With abilities that may be focused around air dodges and melee combat, it seems quite plausible that this character will play like Borderlands 2's Zer0 more than any other archetype. Another possible similarity is with Athena from Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, though it seems more unlikely given her elemental approach to combat.
Borderlands 4's Vault Hunters - The Siren Archetype
There is not much guessing what the second Vault Hunter from the left may be, as their tattoos indicate they are a Siren. Given the color of the tattoos, they may be related to the scrapped Slag damage type in Borderlands 2 that didn't carry over into Borderlands 3. That makes more sense if Borderlands 4 is following the trend of "elemental tattoos" for the Siren, much like Amara in Borderlands 3 or Lilith from the first game.
This may not be the case, however, and instead, the new Siren's powers are unrelated to Slag or existing elements in the franchise. There is a chance that the Siren's powers have something to do with mobility, however, as they are seen running slightly faster than another Vault Hunter in the trailer. Still, this may be something for the trailer exclusively and not actual abilities that Borderlands 4's gameplay will include.
Borderlands 4's Vault Hunters - The Soldier or Mercenary Archetype
The tall and bulky Vault Hunter, third from the left, clearly has some robotic parts, like their left arm and possibly even their legs. This is not something new for the franchise, as shown with Wilhelm as a boss in Borderlands 2 and then as a playable Vault Hunter in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. This character is seen using a grappling hook ability in the game, though it remains to be seen if this is an exclusive skill for this Vault Hunter.
More importantly, this character is shown transforming drones into elemental axes thrown at enemies, which means that the associated class for the Vault Hunter may be the Soldier Archetype, possibly that of the Brawler or even the Mercenary. This means that they are sitting somewhere on the spectrum between characters like Roland, Brick, and Zane.
It's worth noting that this Vault Hunter may have robotic upgrades for their skills and body, as Wilhelm did in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel.
Borderlands 4's Vault Hunters - The Gunner or Mechromancer Archetype
Lastly, the fourth Vault Hunter from the left is shown for the least amount of time in the trailer, and unlike the Siren, whose powers and abilities one can assume based on the series' approach, this remains a lingering mystery. Based on the appearance alone, this Vault Hunter may be similar to either Borderlands 3's Moze or Borderlands 2's Gaige, with the archetypes in question being the Gunner and the Mechromancer.
There is also the option that this vault hunter is more focused on guns as a whole, much like Nisha from Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel or Salvador from Borderlands 2. However, the character is shown using what looks like a jetpack in the trailer, and their pants have what seem like tubes containing some liquid. This may be related to Borderlands games' elements, possibly Cryo given the design, making this Vault Hunter more of an inventor and gadget-user than the Gunner or Mechromancer the series has shown so far.
When to Expect More Borderlands 4 News
Overall, it remains to be seen whether Borderlands 4's Vault Hunters will reinvent the wheel in terms of gameplay, but it seems likely that they will all have some familiar elements but still have a defined personal identity. With the game coming out in 2025, it seems logical that a new trailer will appear soon, possibly sometime in Q1 of next year, with the game dropping in the fall - if past releases are anything to go by.
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
WHERE TO PLAY
Borderlands 4 brings intense action, badass Vault Hunters, and billions of wild and deadly weapons to an all-new planet ruled by a ruthless tyrant.
Crash into Kairos as one of four new Vault Hunters seeking wealth and glory. Wield powerful Action Skills, customize your build with deep skill trees, and dominate enemies with dynamic movement abilities.
Break free from the oppressive Timekeeper, a ruthless dictator who dominates the masses from on high. Now a world-altering catastrophe threatens his perfect Order, unleashing Mayhem across the planet.
- Franchise
- Borderlands
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
