Things That Make No Sense in Borderlands 4

Borderlands 4 had a compelling story, but players might still have questions about certain plot points, items, or why characters acted the way they did. While the game is enjoyable, some aspects could have benefited from more explanation. We’ve gathered a list of moments and story threads from the main campaign that felt unclear and could have used further development.

Major spoilers ahead for Borderlands 4!

These ideas are for discussing what we’d like to see in Borderlands 4, and aren’t intended to be negative or disrespectful towards the people making the game.

Where’s the Crew of Sanctuary 3?

Sanctuary 3 Had Iconic Characters That Are Just Gone?

Credit: Borderlands 4 Sanctuary 3 Crash

Amara has been stranded on Kairos since the Sanctuary 3 crashed, and while a few familiar faces like Moxxi, Zane, and GenIVIV survived, many other characters from *Borderlands 3* are missing from *Borderlands 4*. We hear mentions of Vault Hunters like Moze, but only through recordings, and Marcus simply narrates events instead of acting as the usual arms dealer. It’s a good thing the game isn’t crowded with too many characters, but it’s odd that we never learn what happened to the rest of the Sanctuary 3 crew. The Crimson Raiders are searching for Lilith across the galaxy, but it’s hard to believe only three people were on board the ship when it crashed.

How Comes The Timekeeper Didn’t Just Use the Bolts to Kill Everyone?

Bolts Are Used to Oppress the People, But Why Bother?

The Timekeeper’s only job is to guard his Vault on the planet Kairos, and he’s built the entire world around this single task. He values the Vault so much that he uses ‘Bolts’ – implants that let him monitor and control everyone – effectively removing their free will. While these Bolts seem like a simple way to maintain order, it’s puzzling why he doesn’t just use them to eliminate the population. Since Kairos was hidden from the rest of the galaxy before the arrival of Elpis, and he doesn’t seem to care about his citizens or act like a true leader, simply wiping out the planet would be an easy way to secure the Vault. He appears more like a controlling observer than someone interested in actually governing.

Would Someone as Smart and Immortal as Zadra Not Make Backups?

The Smartest Woman on Kairos Surely Had a Plan Outside of a Computer Cafe

Zadra was Kairos’s most brilliant mind, but her inventions are now used to control the population. For centuries, she helped the Timekeeper maintain power by designing their soldiers and creating the Bolt. Though she abandoned the Timekeeper years ago and went into hiding, it’s hard to believe she wouldn’t have a solid survival plan. Given her intelligence and access to Fast Travel stations and hidden facilities, why didn’t she create a backup of her mind, like Vile Lictor did? It seems strange that her final act was to reveal a password instead of simply using her technology to save herself.

Arjay’s Evil Motivations & Fate

Will There Be Consequences to Creating a Siren by Manipulating the Phase?

Arjay originally dreamed of being a hero, a Vault Hunter who could liberate Kairos from the Timekeeper. But that changed when a fellow Vault Hunter killed him, and a cruel scientist named Vile Lictor experimented on his body, turning him into a Siren. While Arjay’s backstory and suffering could have made him a compelling villain – especially as an artificially created Siren with unique phasing abilities – he ultimately became just another unstable person with powers. It feels like there was more to Arjay than simply seeking revenge against Vault Hunters. Perhaps his experiences within the Phase revealed something that justified his actions, even if they were violent. His story deserves further exploration, and the universe should face consequences for creating a Siren outside of the natural process.

What Happened to the People of Elpis and the Great Vault?

Can the Destroyer Never Wake Up?

Okay, so things got *crazy*. Callis, totally lost it, tried to destroy everything by crashing Elpis into Kairos – basically, she wanted a final, total wipeout. Thankfully, Lilith showed up just in time and saved Kairos by… destroying the *moon* itself! But now I’m left with so many questions. If Elpis is just… gone, does that mean everyone who lived there is also gone? There were so many amazing people on that moon! And what about Pandora? It’s still got the Destroyer on it, and Elpis was the thing that could *wake* the Destroyer up. So does that mean the Destroyer is permanently stopped, or was it actually killed when it merged with Tyreen back in *Borderlands 3*? It’s a lot to process!

What Are the Vault Hunters Going to Do to Stop the Universe From Dying?

The Great War Has Been Teased Forever, But Can Fists and Guns Win It?

For years, the Borderlands series has hinted at a massive upcoming conflict, starting with The Pre-Sequel. Each game builds the tension, suggesting we’ll need all the Vault Hunters to face a huge threat. But despite all the buildup, we still don’t know who we’ll be fighting, where the war will happen, or exactly what’s at stake – other than the potential end of the universe. It’s hard to see how a Vault Hunter, with abilities like punching or summoning creatures, could possibly make a difference against something that powerful. It’s likely the Sirens will play a crucial role, as their powers are probably what’s needed to face this level of threat.

So… What’s in the Timekeeper’s Vault?

Was the Vault Containing a Future Lilith or a Future Yet Written?

For a thousand years, or even longer, the Timekeeper has guarded the Vault, which raises a question: has the enigmatic Siren within-likely Lilith, given her reference to us as “killer”-been imprisoned there for that same duration? If so, why does she transform into a new star just to allow our escape? Beyond four Red Chests, the Vault holds a curious object with future significance, and hints at an impending Great War. The Vault’s contents are truly bizarre, and only time will reveal their full meaning.

2025-09-20 17:05