Borderlands Mobile Character Twists the Knife for Vex Mains

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Zynga and NaturalMotion recently launched a new Borderlands game on mobile, developed with help from Gearbox Software, and it’s full of surprises! Many players are saying it has a more complete endgame than even what’s expected for Borderlands 4. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that this is currently a limited test for iPhone users only, and the game isn’t even officially called Borderlands Mobile. While most of these surprises are exciting for fans, one is disappointing for players who favor the Vex character.

Borderlands Mobile is a free-to-play shooter for iPhones (and soon Androids) that lets you experience the fast-paced gunplay and unique art style the Borderlands series is known for. The game is designed for quick play sessions and features cooperative gameplay with other players. You can customize your character, complete missions, and collect lots of loot. While still in testing, the game offers a glimpse of what’s to come, with some features currently unavailable.

Borderlands Mobile Classes

I’m really excited about Borderlands Mobile! Right now, the Summoner is the first class available, but they’ve teased that the Exo-Tank, Outrider, and Assassin are on their way soon! What’s cool is you can already check out what each of those classes can do. The Exo-Tank basically rockets forward and creates a shockwave, which looks awesome. The Assassin is all about close combat, pulling out dual blades and dashing around like crazy. And the Outrider? It feels a lot like the Vex builds we loved in Borderlands 4, which is a huge plus for me!

Okay, so the Outrider’s action skill, Seeker Talons, is pretty cool. It basically gives you enhanced targeting and lets you see enemies even when they’re hiding. Plus, you throw a homing knife for a little while. Honestly, playing as the Outrider with that knife… it really makes me think of Vex from Borderlands 2. It’s a similar vibe, even though the skills work a bit differently.

Vex, a character in Borderlands 4, quickly became overpowered not because of her abilities with summons, but due to a specific combination of items and skills. Players discovered that by finding a Throwing Knife with the Penetrator Augment and building around it, they could easily defeat any boss. Now, with the Outrider, the gameplay is shaping up to be similarly focused – finding an enemy, hitting them with a knife, and then finishing them off with gunfire. It’s still unclear how powerful this new combination will be, but the basic gameplay loop promises to feel familiar.

The Basic Requirements of the Old Infinite Bleed Builds for Vex

  • Find Throwing Knives with the Penetrator Augment
  • Find a strong weapon that deals a lot of damage at once
  • Amp Repkits and Shields make it even stronger
  • Max out the Bloodletter Skill + Increase it through Class Mods
  • The Contamination Specialization is highly recommended
  • The Result: amp up, throw a knife, shoot, watch the light go out of their eyes.

I Miss My Throwing Knife

I used to be a big fan of the Vex class and strongly defended the Penetrator Knife when people wanted it weakened. It was a completely optional choice for players, and using it didn’t negatively impact anyone else’s experience. While it did make bosses easier to defeat, that wasn’t the only way to play the game – other characters were still effective, and it was just a really enjoyable playstyle. Throwing knives are fun in general, and I always enjoy using them. The combination of throwing knives and shooting was just a simple formula for fun. Eventually, though, Gearbox decided to adjust the knife, even though they initially didn’t think it was a major issue.

I eventually stopped playing Vex. I probably would have moved on anyway, so it’s not entirely Gearbox’s fault, but they didn’t do much to keep me engaged with my character. I mostly enjoyed the character build I had created. I was fine with them adjusting it since it was a bit of an unexpected advantage, but they weakened it too much. To make things worse, another overpowered build was discovered for a different character, and a new downloadable character, C4SH, launched with a flawed build as well. It’s strange – a game where players are encouraged to find powerful combinations shouldn’t punish those who do, but that’s another issue.

The Outrider Will Be My Class of Choice…Wistfully

My colleague Rick has an iPhone and I don’t, so I’m enjoying Borderlands Mobile through his experience right now. It’s only available for a short time, and I’m hoping the full release or next version will include Android compatibility and unlock all the character classes. I’m especially excited to play as the Outrider and use the Throwing Knife, and I’m looking forward to revisiting the fun I had with Vex’s Infinite Bleed Build. Still, I’m a little sad that my favorite Knife was weakened.

I’m not sure what to make of this recent development, or if it was meant to happen. I’m likely overthinking things, but I doubt I’ll ever hear the name “Throwing Knife” and think of a Borderlands game without feeling a little sad. For those of us who loved playing as Vex and enjoyed the gameplay – spotting an enemy, throwing a knife, and dealing damage – the similarities are hard to ignore.

It’s a bittersweet feeling – remembering how powerful Vex used to be, but also being frustrated that those days are gone. The changes to her build took away a really promising way to play. Now, the updated Outrider feels like a reminder of what we lost, even though it’s trying to be something new. While the gameplay is different now, the core idea of the character remains the same. It’s also notable that this is just the beginning; the developers could significantly alter The Outrider’s abilities, perhaps making them similar to the old Penetrator Throwing Knife, or completely different. For now, we can only see what happens next, but I really miss the original knife-focused playstyle. I miss it a lot.

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2026-04-11 15:35