The Ultimate Vault Hunter’s Guide: Picking Your Borderlands 1 Champion

So, you’re ready to dive headfirst into the lawless wastes of Pandora in Borderlands 1. Excellent choice, Vault Hunter! But before you start blasting Psychos and looting everything that isn’t nailed down, you’ve got a crucial decision to make: which character should you choose?

The short, honest answer is: There isn’t a single “best” character in Borderlands 1. Each of the four playable characters – Roland the Soldier, Lilith the Siren, Mordecai the Hunter, and Brick the Berserker – brings a unique playstyle to the table. The ideal character for you depends entirely on your preferred way to play the game.

However, if pressed for a general recommendation, I’d nudge most newcomers towards Roland the Soldier. He’s arguably the most versatile and beginner-friendly character, offering a blend of survivability, damage output, and team support. His Scorpio Turret provides invaluable cover and distraction, while his skill trees offer flexible options for gunplay, healing, and grenade-focused builds. He’s a solid choice for solo players and cooperative teams alike.

Diving Deeper: Character Breakdowns

Let’s take a closer look at each Vault Hunter to help you make a more informed decision:

Roland the Soldier: The All-Rounder

• Action Skill: Scorpio Turret (Automatic turret deployment that attacks enemies.)
• Strengths: Excellent survivability, versatile skill trees focusing on weapon proficiency, healing, and support. The turret provides consistent damage and distraction.
• Weaknesses: Lacks the burst damage potential of some other characters. His skill trees don’t heavily favor a single weapon type, requiring broader investment.
• Playstyle: A balanced approach, effective with most weapons and playstyles. Ideal for players who prefer a tactical approach and enjoy supporting their team.

Lilith the Siren: The Phasing Assassin

• Action Skill: Phase Walk (Short period of invisibility and increased speed. Damages enemies upon entry and exit.)
• Strengths: High mobility and evasion, strong elemental damage output, and excellent crowd control through her elemental skills. Phase Walk allows for quick escapes and strategic repositioning.
• Weaknesses: Can be fragile if caught out of position. Requires careful management of Phase Walk cooldown. Her effectiveness relies heavily on elemental weapons.
• Playstyle: Hit-and-run tactics, emphasizing speed and elemental damage. Excellent for solo play due to her survivability and damage potential.

Mordecai the Hunter: The Sniper Specialist

• Action Skill: Bloodwing (Releases a bird of prey to attack enemies.)
• Strengths: Exceptional long-range damage with sniper rifles, high critical hit damage potential, and the ability to heal through kills. Bloodwing can target specific enemies and provides valuable scouting information.
• Weaknesses: Vulnerable in close combat, reliant on critical hits for optimal damage. Requires good aim and understanding of enemy weak points.
• Playstyle: Long-range engagement, focusing on precision and tactical positioning. Rewarding for skilled players who can consistently land critical hits.

Brick the Berserker: The Unstoppable Tank

• Action Skill: Berserk (Enters a melee-focused rage, gaining increased health regeneration and damage resistance.)
• Strengths: Incredible survivability and melee damage, capable of absorbing massive amounts of punishment. Berserk allows for aggressive close-quarters combat.
• Weaknesses: Limited range and vulnerability to ranged attacks when not in Berserk mode. Requires a specific playstyle focused on melee combat.
• Playstyle: Aggressive close-quarters combat, prioritizing melee attacks and tanking damage. A good choice for players who enjoy a more visceral and chaotic experience.

Making Your Choice: Considerations Beyond the Basics

While the descriptions above provide a good starting point, several other factors can influence your decision:

• Cooperative Play: Consider how your character will synergize with your friends’ choices. A balanced team with diverse skillsets is often the most effective.
• Personal Preferences: Do you prefer long-range sniping, close-quarters brawling, or a more balanced approach? Choose a character that aligns with your preferred playstyle.
• Weapon Specialization: Each character excels with certain weapon types. Roland is proficient with shotguns and assault rifles, Lilith with elemental SMGs, Mordecai with sniper rifles, and Brick with rocket launchers and explosives.
• Challenge Runs: Once you’ve mastered the game, consider trying a challenge run with a character you haven’t played before. This can add a new layer of depth and replayability.
• The Joy of Experimentation: Don’t be afraid to try out different characters and see which one clicks with you. Borderlands 1 is all about experimentation and finding your own unique playstyle.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to help you further understand the character selection process in Borderlands 1:

1. Which character is the easiest to level up?

Generally, Roland is considered the easiest to level up, thanks to his versatile skill trees and the utility of his Scorpio Turret, which provides consistent damage and distraction.

2. Which character is the best for solo play?

While all characters are viable solo, Lilith and Roland are often cited as the best for solo play. Lilith’s Phase Walk provides excellent survivability and damage, while Roland’s turret offers consistent support.

3. Which character is the best for cooperative play?

Roland is an excellent choice for cooperative play, offering healing, support, and damage buffs to his teammates. Lilith’s elemental damage can also be very effective in a team setting.

4. Which character deals the most damage?

Mordecai, with a properly built sniper rifle build, can potentially deal the most damage, due to his high critical hit potential. However, this requires skill and precision.

5. Which character is the tankiest?

Brick is undoubtedly the tankiest character, thanks to his Berserk ability and skills that increase his health and damage resistance.

6. What are the best weapons for each character?

• Roland: Shotguns, Assault Rifles, Combat Rifles
• Lilith: SMGs (especially elemental), Pistols
• Mordecai: Sniper Rifles, Revolvers
• Brick: Rocket Launchers, Explosives, Melee weapons

7. Can I respec my character’s skill points?

Yes, you can respec your character’s skill points at Marcus Kincaid’s shop in New Haven for a fee. The cost increases each time you respec.

8. Is it possible to max out all three skill trees?

No, you cannot max out all three skill trees in a single playthrough. You’ll need to focus on one or two skill trees to maximize your character’s potential.

9. Which character is the most difficult to play?

Many players find Mordecai the most challenging to master, as he requires precise aiming and strategic positioning to be effective.

10. Does the character I choose affect the story?

No, the character you choose does not significantly alter the main storyline. However, each character has unique dialogue and perspectives on events.

11. Can I change my character’s appearance?

You can change your character’s head and skin by finding or purchasing cosmetic items throughout the game.

12. Are there any character-specific side quests?

No, there are no character-specific side quests in Borderlands 1. All quests are available regardless of your chosen character.

13. Which character is the fastest?

Lilith is the fastest character, thanks to her Phase Walk ability and skills that increase her movement speed.

14. Does character selection impact loot drops?

No, character selection does not influence loot drops. The loot system is random and not tied to your character’s skills or abilities.

15. Where can I learn more about Borderlands game design and educational implications?

For more insights into the design and educational aspects of games like Borderlands, visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. This organization explores the intersection of games and learning. You can also check GamesLearningSociety.org for new articles and useful resources.

The Pandora Awaits!

Ultimately, the “best” character in Borderlands 1 is the one you enjoy playing the most. So, experiment, explore, and find the Vault Hunter that suits your style. Pandora is waiting, and the loot is calling! Good luck, and happy hunting!