What Level Do You Finish Borderlands 3 Story?
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The question of what level you’ll be when finishing the main story of Borderlands 3 is a common one for new and returning Vault Hunters alike. The short answer is: most players will be around level 30 when they complete the main campaign, assuming they’ve focused primarily on the story missions and haven’t gotten bogged down in every side quest and optional encounter along the way. However, this can vary depending on your playstyle and how much side content you engage with. Reaching level 30 is important because it is the point where Mayhem Mode unlocks, significantly changing the gameplay and loot experience for the endgame.
Leveling Up in Borderlands 3
The level you reach in Borderlands 3 isn’t solely dictated by completing the main story. It’s influenced by several factors including:
Engaging with Side Content
Borderlands 3 is packed with side quests, crew challenges, and optional exploration. Each of these activities contributes to your experience points (XP) total. Completionist players who pursue every side mission might find themselves well above level 30 by the time they face the final boss, Tyreen the Destroyer. Conversely, players who largely ignore the optional content can finish the main quest in the high 20s.
Difficulty Settings and Enemy Scaling
Borderlands 3 features level scaling, meaning enemies adapt to your character level. This ensures that you’re always facing a challenging, yet surmountable, threat. However, this level scaling also influences how much XP you gain. Higher-level enemies generally give more experience. Consequently, a player that struggles with combat will spend longer fighting each enemy, resulting in more experience earned for that effort.
Player Choice
The game is designed to be flexible, allowing players to progress at their own pace. You’re not forced to do side content, or to ignore it. The story is paced in such a way that there is ample opportunity to explore, and that the game’s main objectives can be completed at level 30 or higher. This is an intentional choice on the developers’ part to prepare you for the endgame.
Why Level 30 Matters
Reaching level 30 in Borderlands 3 is significant because it unlocks Mayhem Mode. This feature radically alters the game’s difficulty and reward system. Mayhem Mode is essentially an endgame difficulty setting that adds modifiers to the game, increasing enemy health, shield, and damage, while also providing better loot and more experience. It comes in 11 levels of difficulty and is a core part of what makes the endgame so engaging. Finishing the story while at or near level 30 ensures you’re optimally prepared for this major shift in gameplay.
The Importance of Endgame
Borderlands 3’s endgame is where the true loot chase begins. Once you beat Tyreen the Destroyer, the whole game opens up with increased rewards, repeatable bosses, and even more challenging content. Clearing this content before beating the game will leave you underwhelmed. With Mayhem Mode, True Vault Hunter Mode, the Proving Grounds and Circle of Slaughter, the post-game content offers endless replayability for any Vault Hunter. The level you are when you finish the story directly impacts your effectiveness during these endgame challenges.
Maximizing Your Borderlands 3 Experience
While hitting level 30 is a good target before facing the final boss, it isn’t a strict requirement. The level scaling will ensure you’re not at an insurmountable disadvantage if you are slightly higher or lower. Ultimately, the game allows you to complete the main story at your own pace. However, to have a better endgame experience, focus on the main missions and then clear the side content afterward. This ensures that the endgame rewards are actually useful.
Borderlands 3 FAQs
1. What is the maximum level in Borderlands 3?
The maximum level in Borderlands 3 is level 72, mirroring the level cap of Borderlands 2. This is the level cap for your Vault Hunter, allowing them to become extremely powerful and efficient.
2. How long does it take to beat the main story of Borderlands 3?
Focusing purely on the main objectives, the Borderlands 3 main story takes approximately 23 hours to complete.
3. How long does it take to 100% Borderlands 3?
For players aiming for complete 100% completion, including side quests and other aspects of the game, Borderlands 3 requires around 76½ to 77 hours of playtime.
4. What is True Vault Hunter Mode?
True Vault Hunter Mode (TVHM) is Borderlands 3’s version of New Game+, allowing players to restart the story with all of their level progress and gear. The game gets significantly harder, but the rewards are substantially greater, allowing for even better gear.
5. What is Mayhem Mode?
Mayhem Mode is an endgame feature that increases the game’s difficulty with modifiers and provides increased rewards, including better loot and more XP. It has multiple levels, allowing players to scale the difficulty to their skill level.
6. Does Borderlands 3 have an endgame?
Yes, Borderlands 3 features a robust endgame that becomes available after completing the main story. It includes activities like Mayhem Mode, True Vault Hunter Mode, Circle of Slaughter, and the Proving Grounds.
7. Who is the final boss in Borderlands 3?
The final boss of Borderlands 3 is Tyreen the Destroyer.
8. What should I do after beating Borderlands 3’s story?
After beating the story, you can engage in a number of things: do side missions, start True Vault Hunter Mode, take on the Circle of Slaughter, activate Mayhem Mode, take on the Proving Grounds, make the perfect build, start a new character, or listen to audio logs.
9. How many vaults are in Borderlands 3?
There are four Vaults featured in Borderlands 3’s main campaign.
10. Is Borderlands 3 solo-friendly?
Absolutely. Borderlands 3 can be played solo with any of the vault hunters. It will likely be harder, but dying only results in respawning at a checkpoint and a small monetary loss.
11. Is Borderlands 3 bigger than Borderlands 2?
Yes, Borderlands 3 is much bigger than Borderlands 2, featuring a wider variety of side missions and a much more robust world.
12. What are the different endings in Borderlands 3?
Technically speaking, there is only one ending to the story of Borderlands 3, but the game is open-ended to allow for infinite replayability and additional content.
13. How many chapters are in Borderlands 3’s story?
The Borderlands 3 main story consists of 23 chapters that you need to complete.
14. Is level scaling a feature in Borderlands 3?
Yes, level scaling is a fundamental aspect of Borderlands 3. Enemies scale with the player’s level, ensuring the game is engaging.
15. Which character is best for solo play?
While any character is capable of solo play, Moze is considered one of the best Vault Hunters for solo play thanks to her powerful mech, Iron Bear.