This brief guide is specifically geared towards players that are new to the Borderlands games. It will give a leg up on getting started in the chaotic world that is Borderlands 4. There are a few minor spoilers, but overall should prepare you for the first few hours of mayhem. Good luck!
Borderlands 4 kicks off with a cinematic introduction to the chaotic world of Kairos, a new planet riddled with warring factions, mutated wildlife, and vault secrets. After choosing your Vault Hunter—Vex (Siren), Rafa (melee brawler), Amon (tank), or Harlowe (tech specialist)—you’re dropped into the outskirts of Faction Town, a hub for early quests and gear.
Your first objective is to clear out a bandit outpost and retrieve a stolen Echo device. Use this mission to familiarize yourself with your character’s unique skill tree. Vex’s bleed effects and elemental stacking are powerful early on, while Rafa’s melee combos can delete mobs if timed correctly. Loot every chest—early weapons scale quickly, and elemental damage types (shock, fire, corrosive) are key to surviving tougher enemies.
Progression Tips
After completing the first few missions, you’ll unlock Moxxi’s Big Encore, a boss respawn system that lets you farm specific loot drops. Use this to target legendary weapons early—especially if you’re building around crit damage or cooldown resets. Be aware: Gearbox recently patched several overpowered builds, including the infamous “Crit Knife,” so some guides may be outdated.
As you level up, invest in SDU upgrades to expand your ammo and inventory capacity. These are now cheaper (1,500 Eridium vs. 5,000), so prioritize them over cosmetics. Also, fast travel points and Faction Towns are unlocked for new characters post-campaign, streamlining alt builds.
Combat & Builds
Combat in Borderlands 4 is fast, flashy, and build-dependent. Vex’s bleed loop was nerfed, but her elemental synergy still excels. Amon’s “Seeing Red” passive now has reduced uptime, so focus on cooldown gear to maintain his tankiness. Harlowe’s Neutron Capture was adjusted to only boost gun damage—not all damage types—but remains one of the top DPS options.
Use the Lost Loot machine in Faction Town to recover missed legendaries. It now prioritizes high-value gear, making it a reliable backup after boss runs.
Seasonal Events & Endgame
The current Horrors of Kairos mini-event (Oct 23–Nov 6) introduces new cosmetics, bosses, and loot tables. Participate to earn exclusive skins and test your builds against the upcoming “Invincible” boss—a challenge designed to push gear diversity and discourage one-shot builds.
Endgame revolves around farming, build optimization, and co-op synergy. While Borderlands 4 remains PvE-focused, Gearbox emphasizes challenge and variety over pure damage stacking. Expect future patches to continue balancing builds and expanding content.
