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Which Borderlands Character Should You Pick? A Vault Hunter’s Guide to the Galaxy

Choosing your character in any Borderlands game is a crucial decision. It dictates your playstyle, strengths, and weaknesses throughout your entire adventure. While individual preferences matter, some characters are arguably more beginner-friendly or excel in specific areas. So, which character should you pick? The answer, naturally, depends on the specific Borderlands game and your preferred playstyle. However, for newcomers, Moze the Gunner in Borderlands 3 is often recommended for her survivability and overwhelming firepower, while Axton the Commando in Borderlands 2 offers a great balance of offense and defense thanks to his turret. In the original Borderlands, Roland the Soldier provides a solid foundation for any player. Ultimately, experimentation is key, but these are excellent starting points.

Delving Deeper: Character Choices Across the Borderlands Universe

Each Borderlands game features unique characters (Vault Hunters) with distinct skill trees and Action Skills that dramatically alter the way you experience the game. Let’s break down some popular choices across the franchise:

Borderlands 1: The Original Crew

Roland the Soldier: A well-rounded character specializing in combat rifles and providing support with his Scorpio Turret. Ideal for beginners. He’s your classic soldier archetype; reliable and consistent damage output.
Lilith the Siren: A powerful character specializing in SMGs and elemental damage, with the ability to Phase Walk, becoming temporarily invisible and dealing elemental damage to enemies. If you enjoy a fast-paced, almost “mage-like” playstyle, Lilith is your go-to.
Mordecai the Hunter: Excels at sniping and dealing critical damage with his companion, Bloodwing. A high-skill character, rewarding accurate shots and strategic positioning.
Brick the Berserker: A tank character focusing on melee combat and high survivability. Brick enters a Berserk mode, gaining increased melee damage and health regeneration. If you enjoy getting up close and personal, Brick offers a unique and brutal playstyle.

Borderlands 2: The Expanded Roster

Axton the Commando: Similar to Roland, Axton utilizes a Sabre Turret for support and damage. His skill trees allow for customization focused on turret upgrades, grenade enhancements, or weapon damage. A beginner-friendly choice.
Maya the Siren: Offers powerful crowd control and elemental damage with her Phaselock ability, which suspends enemies in the air. A strong support character that can also deal significant damage.
Salvador the Gunzerker: Can Gunzerk, dual-wielding any two weapons in the game. With the right skills and equipment, Salvador becomes an absolute powerhouse, capable of insane damage output. He can be considered overpowered at times, but it is also very fun to play with this character.
Zer0 the Assassin: A high-skill character focused on dealing massive damage with his Deception ability, turning invisible and increasing critical hit damage. Mastering Zer0 requires precise timing and strategic positioning.
Gaige the Mechromancer: Summons a robot companion, Deathtrap, to assist in combat. Her skill trees encourage unconventional playstyles, with skills like Anarchy that increase damage at the cost of accuracy.
Krieg the Psycho: A melee-focused character with a high-risk, high-reward playstyle. His Buzz Axe Rampage ability allows him to enter a frenzy, dealing massive melee damage and healing on kills. He can turn into an unkillable machine with the right build.

Borderlands 3: The New Generation

Moze the Gunner: Summons a powerful mech suit called Iron Bear. Moze excels at dealing massive explosive damage and can customize Iron Bear with a variety of weapons and abilities. A great choice for beginners due to her survivability.
Amara the Siren: Uses her Phaseslam, Phasegrasp, or Phasecast Action Skills to manipulate enemies and deal elemental damage. Amara is a versatile character capable of dealing high damage and providing support.
Zane the Operative: Can equip two Action Skills at once, making him highly adaptable. He relies on gadgets and deception to outmaneuver his enemies. Zane is a good choice for experienced players who enjoy a more strategic playstyle.
FL4K the Beastmaster: Commands a variety of pets to assist in combat. FL4K can specialize in dealing critical damage, buffing their pets, or becoming a stealthy sniper.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Character

Playstyle: Do you prefer ranged combat, melee combat, or a mix of both? Do you enjoy supporting your teammates or dealing massive damage?
Difficulty: Some characters are easier to learn and play than others. If you are new to the Borderlands series, consider choosing a character like Roland, Axton, or Moze.
Team Composition: If you are playing with friends, consider choosing a character that complements their playstyles and fills a specific role in the team.
Personal Preference: Ultimately, the best character for you is the one that you find the most fun to play. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try out different characters until you find one that clicks with you.

The Importance of Skills and Builds

Regardless of the character you choose, understanding their skill trees and building a synergistic build is essential for maximizing their potential. Experiment with different skill combinations and equipment to find a build that suits your playstyle and allows you to overcome the challenges of the game.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which is the best character to solo in Borderlands 2?

Gaige the Mechromancer is often considered the best solo character in Borderlands 2 due to her ability to summon Deathtrap and the Anarchy skill tree. Deathtrap can tank damage and deal significant damage, while Anarchy allows Gaige to increase her damage output as she stacks Anarchy stacks.

2. Who is the easiest character to play in Borderlands 3?

Moze the Gunner is widely regarded as the easiest character to play in Borderlands 3 due to her survivability provided by Iron Bear and her focus on explosive damage. Iron Bear can easily clear out groups of enemies, making her a great choice for beginners.

3. Is it okay to play Borderlands alone?

Absolutely! The Borderlands series is designed to be enjoyable both solo and cooperatively. The game scales the difficulty based on the number of players, so playing solo is a perfectly viable option. In fact, some players prefer to play solo to fully experience the story and lore.

4. Which Borderlands game is the easiest?

Many players consider Borderlands 3 to be the easiest entry in the series due to its more forgiving difficulty curve and the power of certain characters like Moze.

5. Who is the most powerful character in Borderlands 2?

Salvador the Gunzerker is often considered the most powerful character in Borderlands 2 due to his ability to dual-wield weapons and his skill tree which provides incredible damage output and survivability.

6. Do choices matter in Borderlands?

In some Borderlands games, particularly in the Tales from the Borderlands series, choices significantly impact the story and character relationships. In the mainline games, choices have less impact on the overall narrative but can influence dialogue and minor quest outcomes.

7. Which is the best Borderlands game for story?

Borderlands 2 is widely regarded as having the best story in the series, thanks to its compelling villain, Handsome Jack, and the engaging narrative that unfolds as you attempt to stop him.

8. Who is the most liked character in Borderlands?

Characters like Krieg the Psycho, Mr. Torgue, and Handsome Jack are fan favorites due to their unique personalities and memorable dialogue.

9. What is the best class in Borderlands?

There is no single “best” class in Borderlands, as each character has their own strengths and weaknesses. The best class for you depends on your preferred playstyle.

10. Which Borderlands has romance?

Tales from the Borderlands features romantic elements and player choices that can influence relationships between characters, particularly between Rhys and Sasha.

11. Is Borderlands beginner-friendly?

Yes, Borderlands is generally considered beginner-friendly, especially Borderlands 3 with characters like Moze. The gameplay is easy to pick up, and the skill trees offer enough customization without being overly complicated.

12. Who are the bad guys in Borderlands 1?

The primary antagonists in Borderlands 1 are the Crimson Lance, a division of Atlas Corp., and Commandant Steele.

13. Which character should I be in Borderlands 3 for solo play?

Moze the Gunner is an excellent choice for solo play in Borderlands 3 due to her survivability and ability to deal massive damage with Iron Bear.

14. Who is the strongest Vault Hunter in Borderlands 1?

Lilith the Siren is often considered the strongest Vault Hunter in Borderlands 1 due to her Phasewalk ability and elemental damage output.

15. What makes Borderlands a good learning game?

The Borderlands series can subtly enhance problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and teamwork (when played cooperatively). The character builds and skill trees offer opportunities to experiment and optimize strategies, fostering a deeper understanding of game mechanics. For more on how games can be used for learning, visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Ultimately, the most important thing is to choose a character that you find fun and engaging. Experiment with different characters, builds, and playstyles to discover what works best for you and enjoy the unique and chaotic world of the Borderlands. Happy Vault Hunting!

Which character to pick Borderlands?