Borderlands 3 features a new selection of vault hunters keen to take on the next challenge in the Borderlands franchise. While you will see lots of familiar faces, there is something unique about the four characters. They play differently from the previous Vault Hunters we've seen in the last few games and here is the breakdown of the players you should play based on their abilities and preferred playstyle.
Vault Hunter playstyle in Borderlands 3
Amara "the mermaid"
One type of character unique to the Borderlands universe is the mermaid. There can only be six mermaids in the universe. They are a group of women adorned with colorful, showy tattoos and full of strange powers. Every Borderlands Mermaid has been played so far in the game, and Amara is potentially the toughest of them. Previously, mermaids were associated with the role of support or healing. Now, however, Amara is set to change that previous dynamic.
It won't serve well for anyone interested in playing the game at long range. She wants to do everything in front of an enemy and fight him as close as possible. Several of his Siren abilities are aimed at enhancing his melee attacks and giving him the knack for dealing damage up close. Amara summons six magical arms that surround her, fighting their enemies with them. Amara's skills have a basic advantage. However, she can change the element with which she attacks, meaning she can optimize her combat to take on any enemy, no matter how weak. If you are looking for a short range power plant, Amara is your perfect choice.
FL4K
Want to play the game on your own, but still want to take a friend with you to watch your back while you deal damage from a safe distance? FL4K, the adorable robot does just that. The FL4K is the hunter class, with a series of pistols that it shoots from afar, with the usual choice of sniper rifle as well. What makes FL4K unique are the three different animals it can summon to aid it in battle. These change depending on the skill tree you are using. There is the Centurion Spiderant for the Strictly Hunter tree, the Guard Skag for the Master tree, and the Jabber Sidekick for the Stalker. Each has a different playstyle, which allows FL4K to access different skills in order to synergize with the pet from the separate tree.
He specializes in landing critical hits and focuses on a single target. The animal he summons provides sufficient support as he tears at individual enemies, taking them at a steady pace. For those who feel like tackling the game on their own, you'll feel right at home with FL4K. You're going to have to balance the pets he summons, learning which one you'll need for a given combat situation.
It can
Do you want to get the maximum hits in the team and stand in front of the fire to deal with all the enemies on the battlefield? Moze can adapt to your playstyle if you take on the role of a tank. She's the Gunner class, which means she's built to have the biggest and most dangerous weapons in the bunch. Like its previous iterations in the game, it has a turret. But Moze's turret, the Iron Bear, is slightly different in that instead of relying on a stationary unit, this massive cannon comes with a pair of legs. It is a mobile weapon that Moze can add specific weapons through its various skill trees.
The weapons you can equip in Iron Bear are as numerous as the number of weapons you can loot in the game. You can install firearms, miniguns, grenade launchers, flamethrowers, gunshots. Deadly fists and rocket launchers to reflect your arsenal of insane and mad weapons. Moze will suit players who want to witness plenty of explosions, while still having the ability to climb into the Iron Bear and smash enemies in front of you while your team follows you.
Zane
For those who like to stay in the shadows and have a sneaky edge in their game, Zane's stealth and smart technology gives you the exact playstyle you want to engage. For those who have played Borderlands 2 and fallen in love with the silent assassin, Zer0, you are going to feel right at home with Zane. Not only does he prefer the same weapons, but he also summons a holographic projection in order to attract aggression from his enemies while sneaking aside to perform a counterattack. The two look the same when you compare the smallest details about them.
However, unlike Zer0, you can remove your grenade use for any of the other abilities in your skill tree. Now you are not limited to the single hologram to distract enemies. You can use the hologram to distract your enemies and summon a force field to protect your new position when your enemies try to shoot you. Or, instead of the force field, you take out a drone to cause even more disruption in combat, giving Zane a bigger advantage. He's going to play a squishy character. Those who choose this character might want to go with a friend, as you might be up against more powerful bosses if Zane can't reposition himself properly during a fight.
Borderlands 3 releases for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on the Epic Games Store on September 13.
