Borderlands 4 May Be The Last Game With an Entirely New Siren

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Excluding Claptrap, there’s arguably no more recognizable feature in the Borderlands franchise than the Sirens. Their roles as non-player characters (NPCs) and playable Vault Hunters have significantly influenced the series’ narrative and gameplay, with each installment delving deeper into their immense power. With the arrival of Vex, the latest Siren in the series, Borderlands 4 could potentially expand upon this legacy even more.

Over time, players have become acquainted with six primary Siren abilities: Phasewalk, Phasetrance, Phaseleech, Phaselock, Phaseshift, and a new one, which appears to be called Phase Covenant. In the universe of this game, the Eridians have set a rule that only seven Sirens can exist simultaneously. As we approach the release of Borderlands 4, it’s worth pondering an intriguing possibility: the next installment in the series might be the final one to introduce a completely new Siren ability.

The Seven Sirens and the Rules of Borderlands Lore

In Borderlands 2, the lore surrounding the Sirens became clearer compared to their vague portrayal in the first game. Previously, they were somewhat mysterious elements within the initial game. Through Echo logs, it was revealed by Handsome Jack that only six Sirens could exist at a time simultaneously. He named Lilith, Maya, Angel, and the late Commandant Steele as known examples of these powerful beings.

In simpler terms, the game Borderlands 3 introduced new characters Amara and Tyreen as Sirens, with Tannis replacing the departed character Angel. Notably, it altered the game’s backstory to suggest that there might be a previously unseen seventh Siren in Borderlands 3. This hidden Siren could significantly change our understanding of the Siren lore, paving the way for more intricate storylines in the future.

At present, the characters from the Borderlands series known as Sirens are in these positions: Lilith, the franchise’s most well-known Siren, predominantly uses Phasewalk; Angel, and later Tannis, utilize Phaseshift to interact directly with technology; Maya and her successor Ava possess Phaselock, a power that seems to be used by the late Queen Dido of Athenas as well; in Borderlands 3, the playable Siren Amara introduced Phasetrance, while Tyreen and Troy possess Nyriad’s destructive Phaseleech.

In the game Borderlands 4, the latest Siren character appears to be equipped with a power, often referred to as the Phase Agreement – this being the sixth known ability of hers.

Commandant Steele: Borderlands’ (Other) Original Siren

In the rich tapestry of Borderlands lore, there’s one character whose abilities remain a mystery – Commandant Steele. Though we know she’s a Siren, like the other playable characters in the first game, her unique power was never shown. It’s intriguing because all the other Sirens – Lilith, Angel, Maya, and Amara – had already manifested their abilities before Steele’s time. So, it seems she didn’t possess any of their powers. Furthermore, Phaseleech, a power that Nyriad kept hidden until Tyreen Calypso in Borderlands 3, is also unlikely to be Steele’s ability, given that Nyriad prioritized secrecy around this power.

In the annals of the Borderlands series, Steele remains one of its most intriguing enigmas. If the lore stays consistent, her unidentified power is the strongest contender for the next Siren ability. If Vex doesn’t claim it, a potential Borderlands 5 might finally shed light on Steele’s powers, thereby resolving one of the franchise’s longest-standing narrative voids.

Vex, Commandant Steele, and Borderlands’ Seventh Siren

Another unusual aspect of the Borderlands franchise is the enigma surrounding the seventh Siren. In her final messages, Nyriad vaguely warned about the peril posed by this mysterious entity. If Nyriad was merely talking about her own choice to imprison Phaseleech, then the set of powers might already be complete. However, if there genuinely exists another unidentified Siren, then Borderlands 4 could present the last original Siren power.

It appears that Vex’s Phase Covenant doesn’t seem connected at all to Nyriad’s Phaseleech or Steele’s unknown power, according to the established lore. This leaves only two unidentified Sirens and one unexplained ability. These are: who acquired Tyreen Calypso’s Phaseleech, and the Siren who possesses Steele’s unknown power. In other words, Gearbox might soon disclose the identity of an additional Siren, and maybe reintroduce old abilities as a result.

Vex’s Role in Borderlands 4 and the Siren Canon

The initial play of Borderlands 4 hints that Vex’s talents are derived mainly from her passive skill called Phase Covenant. This seemingly novel ability could potentially have roots in Steele’s legacy, given the storyline of Borderlands 4 is set around 18 to 19 years after the initial game. Thus, Vex being at an age where she might inherit these abilities is not entirely implausible. Consequently, there remains one ability yet to be revealed, implying that it may not be as fresh and new as it appears.

If Phase Covenant is a completely fresh power, it appears that Vex could be the final Siren with a truly unique skillset. Assuming the lore remains constant, the Siren in Borderlands 5 would have two potential paths: one being the intriguing yet predictable revival of Tyreen Calypso’s Phaseleech ability. Given that players are not fully aware of her abilities, the other option could be Steele’s skill, which is technically new as it’s the only one left after Borderlands 4.

The Future of Sirens Beyond Borderlands 4

It’s thrilling to speculate about what powers Steele possessed, but it’s clear that Gearbox has constrained the Sirens in Borderlands by setting such tight restrictions on their existence. If Vex doesn’t inherit Steele’s abilities and the Siren lore remains the same in Borderlands 4, it could theoretically signify the exhaustion of ‘new’ Siren powers altogether.

As a dedicated gamer diving back into this beloved series, I can’t help but ponder about the potential trajectory of the franchise moving forward. It seems that with all seven powers now in the limelight, future installments may find themselves in a predicament where they either revisit and reuse familiar abilities, passing them on to new characters, or perhaps even rewrite established rules entirely – aka, pulling off some major retcons!

For devoted fans of the Borderlands series, this development could be a mixed blessing. While some might find it dull that Sirens are left in this particular state, others might view it as an opportunity for Gearbox to delve deeper into existing lore and generate fresh, engaging storylines. Whether Borderlands 4 successfully navigates the Siren mythos and sets up intriguing plot points is yet to be seen.

In simpler terms, if the power succession leads to a Borderlands 4 game being developed, it should conclusively answer a decade’s worth of speculation about the series, resolving mysteries that were first introduced in the original Borderlands. If executed well, incorporating old Siren powers could be effective. Regardless of how things unfold, it seems that the lore surrounding the Sirens in Borderlands 4 is gearing up for its most significant revelation yet based on the number of characters involved.

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2025-08-19 03:05