Without One Type of Borderlands 4 Vault Hunter, the Series’ Biggest Mystery May Be Dead in the Water

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In the world of Borderlands, while the main attraction is undoubtedly looting and gunfights, the game’s appeal lies deeply in its intricate storyline. Unique and quirky characters like Lilith and Handsome Jack from Borderlands 2 have left lasting impressions due to their captivating narratives and character development. However, the series’ Vault Hunters haven’t been overlooked either, earning recognition for their significance. Now, in Borderlands 4, the new Vault Hunters intend to continue this tradition, though they might do so with a slightly different twist.

The upcoming game, Borderlands 4, unfortunately doesn’t include a Vault Hunter type that could potentially provide insights into the long-standing mystery connecting Zer0 from Borderlands 2 and FL4K from Borderlands 3. This enigma, only labeled as such with the release of Borderlands 3, has sparked fan theories due to the shared traits between these two numerically-named characters. However, since Borderlands 4‘s roster lacks another numbered robot character, it seems that the mystery might not be resolved within the game’s main storyline, unless there’s an undisclosed plot featuring Zer0 or FL4K, or a new numbered robot character is introduced later through DLC.

Borderlands 4’s Missing Vault Hunter Archetype Could Stall a Major Lore Mystery

Zer0 and FL4K’s Unanswered Connection

In the game Borderlands 2, Zer0 stood out among all previous Vault Hunters due to their unique characteristics such as cloaking technology, numerical names, and an air of mystery surrounding them. This enigma continued in Borderlands 3 with FL4K, who shared similar abilities, numeric-named skills, and even similar skill names reminiscent of Zer0’s. Given these striking similarities, it is hard not to suspect that there might be more to their relationship than mere coincidence. This has led to various theories suggesting that the series may eventually unveil a more intricate narrative beneath the surface.

Although both Zer0 and FL4K are widely recognized characters in the Borderlands series, their background stories remain largely unexplored and uncertain. Fans have speculated that they could be creations of a clandestine corporate project or members of a concealed faction, but these theories haven’t been validated or refuted in any main game or spinoff thus far. It is possible that the Timekeeper from Borderlands 4 might offer some insight into them due to his control over an army of robots, however, as it currently stands, there’s no evidence suggesting their backstories will be clarified anytime soon.

Why Borderlands 4 Needs Another Numbered Robot

Introducing another enigmatic numbered robot to Borderlands 4 would be a significant narrative advantage, especially for ardent fans of the series. This new Vault Hunter could serve as a connection between the stories of Zer0 and FL4K, shedding light on their creation, intentions, and whether they are part of an overarching design that extends throughout the games. Moreover, it could provide gameplay elements that the current Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4 may be missing.

It’s possible that Borderlands 4 could delve into or advance this ongoing mystery at some stage in its main story or DLC. In the past, the Borderlands series has expanded its roster of Vault Hunters post-launch, and it’s plausible that the Timekeeper and his Order of machines might play a role in it. Maybe, the Timekeeper is the main villain of the series and we might discover this over the course of the game. Considering how significant this mystery has been, Borderlands likely won’t ignore it for long, so here’s hoping they tackle it sooner rather than later.

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2025-08-17 17:05