Summary
- Corrosive, Incendiary, and Shock damage are S-Tier elements that Borderlands players should always have equipped for versatility.
- Radiation damage is powerful when paired with other elements and can shred powerful enemies quickly.
- Cryo damage is effective in freezing enemies, increasing damage from melee and critical hits.
Between the mainline Borderlands games and the spin-off series, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, players have access to several unique Elemental damage types. When combined with a specialized skill build, some of these Elements from the Borderlands franchise can be extremely powerful, although some of them are relatively strong even without any investment.
Looking at the Elements throughout the Borderlands franchise reveals just how much the franchise has changed and adapted over the years. With the recent games introducing new Elements, and some being reworked or retired along the way, a few Elements have stood out above the rest.
S-Tier
Corrosive/Poison, Incendiary/Fire, Shock/Lightning
Unless players are going for a highly specialized build, it’s arguably an unwritten rule in Tiny Tina's Wonderlands and the Borderlands franchise to have at least one source of each of these three Elements equipped at all times throughout endgame content. This trio of Elemental damage melts through armor, flesh, and shields, respectively, so having all three on hand will help players to be universally prepared for any encounter.
Radiation
On its own, Radiation damage is a relatively powerful Element because it can spread to nearby targets throughout a fight, but what makes it so strong is how it can be paired with other Elements and damage types to significantly improve its effectiveness. Pairing Radiation damage with splash damage is a highly effective combo for crowd control. On the other hand, since Radiation damage applies a DoT status effect, pairing it with other Elements that have DoT status effects can shred powerful enemies like Borderlands’ Raid bosses in record time.
A-Tier
Cryo
The Cryo Element’s ability to freeze targets is extremely powerful, considering that frozen enemies will receive greatly increased damage from melee and critical hits. While boss-type enemies are often immune to being frozen, Cryo will still slow them down and make them an easier target to hit.
Dark Magic
This Element from Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is functionally the same as the Transfusion damage type from the Borderlands franchise, which will heal players upon dealing damage. While Dark Magic damage lacks a DoT status effect, it provides a highly useful utility. Of all the ideas and features that future Borderlands games should learn from Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, making Transfusion damage its own Element could be a game-changer for endgame buildcrafting.
B-Tier
Slag
This Element is exclusive to Borderlands 2, seemingly due to the community’s criticisms of it. While it’s not so prevalent on the normal and Ultimate Vault Hunter difficulties, the Overpowered Level difficulties in Borderlands 2 arguably require players to apply this Element’s debuff on every enemy constantly in order to defeat them. Limiting players to using a specific type of gear isn’t good for a looter-shooter, especially considering the sheer variety of weapons in the Borderlands franchise. The Slag Element has a lot of potential in theory, but how it was implemented in Borderlands 2 is generally considered problematic.
C-Tier
Explosive
Unfortunately, Explosive damage being considered its own Element in the early Borderlands games meant that most weapons with Explosive damage couldn’t also utilize other Elements. There are a few special exceptions, but otherwise, up until Borderlands 3, the majority of rocket launchers and Torgue weapons in the Borderlands franchise weren’t naturally capable of having another Elemental damage type besides Explosive damage. Given that Explosive damage transitioned into ‘splash’ damage in Borderlands 3, which could then be commonly paired with other Elements, Explosive damage is an outdated and underwhelming Element.
Non-Elemental
On a technicality, Non-Elemental damage can be considered its own Element. While Non-Elemental damage is universally effective against any enemy, other Elements tend to consistently outperform Non-Elemental damage through their unique status effects, utility, and synergies.
Borderlands 3
- Released
- September 13, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- 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
- Franchise
- Borderlands
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical or Horizontal
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- How Long To Beat
- 25 Hours
- Metascore
- 91
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-4 Players
