When Should You Dive Into the Borderlands 3 DLC? A Vault Hunter’s Guide
So, you’ve been tearing through Borderlands 3, blasting baddies and looting like a maniac. You’re probably wondering, “When the heck should I actually do the DLC?” The short answer? After you finish the main story, but before you jump into True Vault Hunter Mode (TVHM). This allows you to experience the DLC content at a challenging but manageable level, without being woefully overleveled for the main campaign. Then, get ready to do it all again in TVHM!
Why This Timing Works Best
Here’s a breakdown of why tackling the DLC after the main story and before TVHM is the optimal strategy:
- Level Scaling: The DLC scales to your level, meaning the enemies and loot within will adjust to match your current power. If you dive into the DLC before finishing the main story, you’ll likely become significantly overleveled for the remaining campaign missions, turning what should be epic battles into cakewalks. This can seriously diminish your enjoyment of the main storyline’s climax.
- Gear Acquisition: DLCs offer some of the best gear in the game. Completing them after the main story ensures you’re ready to tackle the challenges with your current equipment, and you’ll have a higher chance of getting high-level rewards.
- TVHM Readiness: Doing the DLCs before starting TVHM allows you to amass a powerful arsenal and hone your skills, giving you a significant advantage when you dive into the tougher difficulty. This also allows you to level up higher before starting TVHM.
- Story Integration: While the DLC stories aren’t directly tied to the main campaign, they do offer valuable lore and character development. Completing the main story first ensures you have the proper context to fully appreciate these additions. The DLC are side stories that enhance the main game, so it is best to know the main plot before diving into the side plots.
- Fresh Content: After completing the main game, diving into new and exciting DLCs will give you more game play to experience.
The Case for Release Order
While there’s no strict chronological order you must follow, playing the DLCs in their release order can enhance your overall experience. Here’s the order I recommend:
- Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot: A fun and frantic adventure with classic Borderlands humor.
- Guns, Love, and Tentacles: The Marriage of Wainwright & Hammerlock: A spooky and stylish romp perfect for fans of cosmic horror.
- Bounty of Blood: A Western-themed tale with a unique visual style and compelling narrative.
- Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck: A deeply psychological and visually stunning journey into the mind of Krieg.
Understanding Playthroughs
Borderlands 3 offers a New Game Plus mode called True Vault Hunter Mode (TVHM). Once you complete the main story on Normal mode, you unlock TVHM. In TVHM, the game’s difficulty is increased, and you can play through the entire story again with your existing character and gear. You can also reset your TVHM progress to replay the entire story again, if desired!
True Vault Hunter Mode (TVHM) is the most challenging difficulty setting in the game. It allows you to replay the whole story again with boosted difficulty while retaining all your progress and upgrades from the previous playthrough.
Can I do the DLCs in True Vault Hunter Mode (TVHM)?
Absolutely! In fact, it’s encouraged. You’ll get even better loot and a tougher challenge in TVHM. The DLCs in TVHM scale to your level. In addition to TVHM, you can also select Mayhem mode to increase difficulty and loot drops.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Should I finish Borderlands 3 before doing DLC?
Yes, generally. Finishing the main story first ensures you’re not overleveled for the campaign and allows you to appreciate the DLC’s story and characters with the proper context.
2. Can I play Borderlands 3 DLC at any time?
Yes, you technically can, but it’s generally not recommended to do so before finishing the main story, as it can disrupt the game’s balance and pacing. You can do it after the main story and then again after finishing the second playthrough (TVHM).
3. Is there a chronological order to the Borderlands 3 DLC?
Not really. The DLCs are mostly self-contained stories that don’t significantly impact each other. Release order is a good guideline, but feel free to jump around based on your personal preferences.
4. Will the Borderlands 3 DLC spoil the main story?
No, the DLCs generally won’t spoil the main story. They are designed as side stories that enhance the overall Borderlands 3 experience.
5. What is the best Borderlands 3 DLC to start with?
Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot is a great starting point due to its familiar Borderlands humor and relatively straightforward gameplay.
6. Do Borderlands 3 DLC scale with level?
Yes, all the DLCs scale to your level, making them accessible at any point after completing the main story.
7. What is True Vault Hunter Mode (TVHM) in Borderlands 3?
TVHM is a New Game Plus mode that unlocks after you beat the main story. It offers a tougher challenge and better loot, allowing you to replay the campaign with your existing character and gear.
8. What level should I be to start True Vault Hunter Mode?
Level 33-36 is a good starting point for TVHM. It’s best to finish all your side quests to maximize your level before jumping in.
9. What is the max level in Borderlands 3?
The max level in Borderlands 3 is 72, achievable without needing any DLCs.
10. Should I play Borderlands 2 before Borderlands 3?
While not essential, playing Borderlands 2 will give you a better understanding of the characters and lore in Borderlands 3, enriching your overall experience.
11. How long does it take to beat Borderlands 3 DLC?
Each DLC varies in length, but most take around 8-10 hours to complete, depending on your play style and completionist tendencies.
12. Can I play Borderlands 3 DLC on a second playthrough?
Yes! You can play them again after starting TVHM.
13. Why is the max level in Borderlands 3 capped at 72?
The level cap is designed to align with the game’s difficulty progression and loot scaling, ensuring a consistent and rewarding experience across multiple playthroughs. A lower level would not have the same effect.
14. How many Overpower (OP) levels are there in Borderlands 3?
While Borderlands 2 featured Overpower levels, Borderlands 3 does not have an equivalent system. Instead, it utilizes Mayhem Mode to increase difficulty and loot rewards.
15. Are there more skill trees in Borderlands 3 DLC?
Yes, some DLCs introduce new skill trees for existing Vault Hunters, expanding their abilities and playstyles. Moze got a fourth skill tree in a DLC called Bear Mother.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the best time to play the Borderlands 3 DLC is after you’ve experienced the main story, but before you dive into the challenges of True Vault Hunter Mode. This allows you to enjoy the content at a balanced level, acquire valuable gear, and prepare yourself for the even tougher battles ahead. So grab your best guns, gather your friends, and get ready to plunder the riches that the DLCs have to offer, Vault Hunter! Remember that a good understanding of video games can be applied to education – learn more at the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Good luck and have fun.