Borderlands: Who Are the Eridians?

Borderlands: Who Are the Eridians?

As a seasoned Vault Hunter with countless hours spent traversing the chaotic landscapes of Pandora, I can confidently say that the Eridians are the unsung heroes of the Borderlands universe. Their advanced technology and mysterious origins have left an indelible mark on every corner of this galaxy, shaping its history and dictating its future.


Gearbox Software’s Borderlands universe teems with wild chaos, menacing beasts, and adventurers wielding an assortment of weapons, all in pursuit of endless treasures. Known for its witty humor and engaging gameplay, Borderlands also showcases a deeply developed backstory centered around an enigmatic alien race known as the Eridians.

Players uncover various clues related to the Eridian race throughout gameplay, a race whose power stretches deep into cosmic history. Though hinted at being crucial to the main Borderlands narrative, many aspects of the Eridians are still veiled in secrecy. With the upcoming release of Borderlands 4 next year, it’s essential to brush up on the facts about the Eridians’ formative impact to be fully prepared for Gearbox as they move forward to a new storyline.

Eridians are Borderlands’ Ancient Architects Of Power

The Eridians were an old, powerful alien species who possessed advanced technology. Though they no longer exist, their impact is still evident throughout Pandora and other planets within the Borderlands universe. They’re known for crafting significant energy weapons and, crucially, the Vaults – the focus of much of the game’s narrative. These Vaults are special chambers designed to hold precious artifacts and remnants of their civilization. Notably, they built robot guards – Guardians – to safeguard their riches even after they were gone.

Among all the planets where they established colonies, Pandora seems to hold the greatest number of Eridian relics, with remnants of their ruins found in various parts of the planet. The Eridians were a highly advanced civilization, known for their sophisticated weaponry and class-based society, which they used for self-defense. Most of our knowledge about the Eridians comes from stone tablets inscribed with notes left by a Siren who lived among them, as well as other artifacts they’ve left behind.

It’s evident that they had once ruled over numerous worlds due to their exceptional intelligence. Initially thought to be indigenous to Nekrotafeyo, it was found later on that this planet was merely a point of initial contact and subsequent colony for them, after they traveled from an unknown origin to the Six Galaxies.

The Truth Behind The Eridians’ Vaults And How It Might Have Brought About Their Extinction

As a dedicated fan, I’ve come to realize that the Vaults weren’t just storage spaces for valuable treasures as we initially thought. Instead, they were constructed by the enigmatic Eridians to contain terrifying eldritch beings that continue to menace our world. In the first Borderlands game, players battle the Destroyer, a formidable monster serving as the final boss in the Vault of Pandora. This was only one of many monsters kept within these vaults. The shocking revelation in Borderlands 3 was that Pandora itself is a Great Vault, designed to imprison the Destroyer, and its moon, Elpis, holds the key to unlocking this cosmic prison.

The Destroyer’s intergalactic threat was so grave that they had to enlist the help of the ancient Siren Nyriad as a last resort to seal him in the vault. This was a pyrrhic victory, however, costing the lives of Nekrotafeyo’s entire Eridian populace via self-sacrifice. Since the Borderlands universe has many more Vaults containing similarly nefarious creatures like The Destroyer, it stands to reason that similar heroic exploits resulted in the collapse and eventual extinction of the Eridian race’s population.

The Ruins Of Eridian Civilization And Their Technology Form The Base Of Borderlands’ Setting

After their extinction, remnants of the Eridian race were initially found on Eridanus and numerous other planets. The hunt for their sophisticated technology served as a primary cause for much of the conflict among Corporate Manufacturers, who were willing to go to great lengths to secure potent weaponry. Atlas Corporation, the dominant corporation in the galaxy, achieved its influential status by being the first to acquire Pandora and reverse-engineer Eridian technology, leading to significant technological leaps that would have taken a long time to develop through regular progression.

In contrast, the frenzy to capture Eridian technology has shown more destructive effects than benefits. The pursuit of this tech by Vault Hunters across the cosmos seems only to release the malevolence that the Eridians had securely confined for a purpose – an aspect of lore in Borderlands 4 that could be further explored in future developments.

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2024-10-14 01:06