Can You Keep the Vault Hunting Going? Exploring Borderlands After the Credits Roll
Absolutely! Once you beat a Borderlands game, the adventure doesn’t have to end. In fact, for many players, that’s just the beginning. Each game in the series offers various ways to continue playing, whether it’s through New Game+ modes, challenging difficulty settings, or extensive post-game content. Borderlands rewards dedication, and there’s plenty to keep you occupied long after the final boss falls.
Unlocking the Post-Game Playground: What Awaits You
The specific post-game options vary slightly between entries in the series, but here’s a general overview of what you can expect:
New Game+ Modes: Reliving the Adventure with a Twist
Most Borderlands games feature a New Game+ mode, typically called True Vault Hunter Mode (TVHM). This allows you to replay the entire campaign from the beginning, but with the following changes:
- Increased Difficulty: Enemies are tougher, hit harder, and often have altered elemental resistances. This forces you to adapt your strategies and gear choices.
- Retained Progress: You keep your character’s level, skills, weapons, equipment, and cosmetic items. This allows you to experiment with different builds and continue improving your character.
- Better Loot: TVHM typically offers increased drop rates for rare and legendary items, making it a great way to farm for specific gear pieces.
- Quest Reset: All story and side quests are reset, allowing you to experience the narrative again and earn rewards from quests you may have skipped on your first playthrough.
Mayhem Mode: Crank Up the Chaos (Borderlands 3)
Borderlands 3 introduces Mayhem Mode, a system that allows you to drastically alter the game’s difficulty and gameplay mechanics after completing the main story. This can be activated on your ship, Sanctuary III, after a brief introduction from Tannis.
- Tiered Difficulty: Mayhem Mode has multiple levels, each increasing the difficulty and enemy health pools.
- Gameplay Modifiers: Each Mayhem level introduces random modifiers that affect both you and the enemies. These can range from increased weapon damage for certain weapon types to enemies reflecting projectiles or dealing bonus elemental damage.
- Increased Loot: Higher Mayhem levels offer increased drop rates for legendary items and exclusive Mayhem Mode gear.
Side Quests and Challenges: Completionist’s Paradise
Even if you focused primarily on the main story during your initial playthrough, there are likely numerous side quests and challenges waiting to be discovered. Completing these can provide valuable rewards, unique gear, and further insights into the world of Pandora and its inhabitants.
- Exploring Hidden Areas: Many side quests lead you to previously unexplored areas, revealing secrets and lore that you might have missed.
- Unique Rewards: Side quests often offer unique weapons, shields, class mods, and other items that can significantly enhance your character’s build.
- Completionist Pride: Completing all side quests and challenges offers a sense of accomplishment and allows you to fully experience everything the game has to offer.
DLC Content: Expanding the Adventure
Borderlands games are known for their extensive DLC (Downloadable Content), which typically includes new story campaigns, characters, weapons, and challenges. These DLC packs often offer a significant amount of post-game content and can greatly extend the lifespan of the game.
- New Story Arcs: DLCs often introduce new storylines that expand upon the lore of the Borderlands universe and introduce new characters and villains.
- New Playable Characters: Some DLCs add entirely new Vault Hunters with unique skill trees and playstyles, providing fresh ways to experience the game.
- New Gear and Weapons: DLCs are a great source of powerful new weapons, shields, and class mods, allowing you to further customize your character’s build.
Leveling Up and Character Builds: Mastering Your Vault Hunter
Even after completing the main story, there’s still plenty of room to level up your character and refine your build. Experimenting with different skill trees, weapons, and equipment can lead to new and exciting playstyles.
- Skill Tree Optimization: Respec your skill points to try out different builds and find the most effective combination of skills for your playstyle.
- Gear Optimization: Farm for specific weapons, shields, and class mods that synergize with your chosen build.
- Testing Your Limits: Challenge yourself to solo difficult content or take on challenging boss fights to test the limits of your character’s build.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about playing Borderlands after beating the game:
1. What exactly is True Vault Hunter Mode (TVHM) in Borderlands 2?
TVHM is basically New Game+ in Borderlands 2. You restart the story with your existing character and gear, but the enemies are tougher, and the loot is better.
2. How does Mayhem Mode in Borderlands 3 work?
Mayhem Mode is a difficulty system that you activate after completing the main story of Borderlands 3. It has multiple levels, each increasing the difficulty and adding random modifiers to gameplay.
3. Do I keep my weapons when I start a New Game+ mode?
Yes, you keep all your weapons, gear, and character progress when you start a New Game+ mode like TVHM.
4. What happens if I beat all the DLC?
Once you beat all the DLC in a Borderlands game, you’ll still have plenty to do! You can focus on optimizing your character build, farming for specific loot, or tackling higher difficulty levels.
5. Can I play Borderlands games in any order?
While you can play them in any order, it’s generally recommended to play them in release order for the best understanding of the story and character development.
6. Is Borderlands 2 repetitive?
Some players find Borderlands 2 repetitive due to the repetitive enemy encounters and reliance on grinding. However, the engaging gameplay and rewarding loot system often outweigh this issue. The Games Learning Society offers interesting perspectives on how game mechanics can influence player engagement and perception of repetition; visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.
7. What level should I be when I finish Borderlands 1?
You’ll likely be around level 38-42 when you finish Borderlands 1, depending on how many side quests you complete.
8. How many hours does it take to beat Borderlands 2?
It takes approximately 30 hours to beat the main story of Borderlands 2, or around 54 hours if you engage in side content.
9. What is the maximum level in Borderlands 2?
The maximum level in Borderlands 2 is 72, and even beyond, with Overpower levels!
10. How many years are there between Borderlands 2 and Borderlands 3?
The events of Borderlands 3 take place seven years after the events of Borderlands 2 and Tales from the Borderlands.
11. Is Borderlands 2 better than Borderlands 3?
Whether Borderlands 2 is “better” than Borderlands 3 is subjective and depends on individual preferences. Borderlands 2 is praised for its story and characters, while Borderlands 3 is known for its improved gunplay and graphics.
12. How many endings does New Tales from the Borderlands have?
New Tales from the Borderlands has five different endings.
13. Why is Borderlands 2 so addictive?
Borderlands 2 is addictive because of its tightly wound feedback loop of loot and reward, engaging RPG elements, and meticulously crafted visual style.
14. What is the best Borderlands game to start with?
Borderlands 1 is often recommended as the best starting point, as it introduces the story, characters, and world of the series.
15. What makes Borderlands 3 the longest game in the series?
Borderlands 3 has more content for players to explore than previous installments, making it the longest game in the series.
Conclusion: The Adventure Never Truly Ends
Beating a Borderlands game is a significant achievement, but it’s far from the end of the road. With New Game+ modes, Mayhem Mode, side quests, DLC content, and character customization options, there’s always something new to discover and experience in the world of Pandora. So, grab your favorite Vault Hunter, load up your best gear, and get ready to keep the adventure going!