Borderlands 4 Shouldn’t Have a ‘Best’ Vault Hunter, But Gearbox Might Not See It That Way

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In the world of Borderlands, the Vault Hunters have significantly contributed to gameplay, yet they may not have been quite as prominent as the guns. Typically, these characters have seemed somewhat interchangeable, serving mainly as distinct faces for gun-wielding protagonists, with exceptions like Zer0, Salvador, and Claptrap. However, it seems that Borderlands 4 is shifting this pattern by introducing playable characters who appear to be more distinctive and powerful compared to their predecessors. This shift seems to focus on deeper RPG-style character development and intricate character building, featuring multi-faceted advancement unlike ever before.

In the stage before its official launch, Borderlands 4 has unveiled three of its Vault Hunters through various gameplay and story presentations. These characters are Vex, Rafa, and Amon, presented successively, and each one is generating a lot of interest among potential players. Now that we’ve had a look at three of Borderlands 4’s Vault Hunters, it seems there’s one left: Harlowe, the Gravitar. What makes this rollout unique is the order in which they are being revealed, suggesting that Harlowe might be the standout character. Although no Vault Hunter in Borderlands 4 can objectively be considered the best, Gearbox Software may have special feelings about Harlowe.

Borderlands 4’s Harlowe Might Be Its Best Vault Hunter

Gearbox’s Randy Pitchford Hinted at Harlowe’s Intentional Positioning in Borderlands 4’s Marketing

In essence, whether Harlowe emerges as the most formidable Vault Hunter in Borderlands 4 largely depends on how Gearbox has crafted her performance in combat. If she’s been deliberately designed to excel, then no player effort can change that outcome. However, if she appears too powerful compared to the other characters, it would be a balancing issue for Gearbox to handle, potentially inviting criticism. Nevertheless, it doesn’t negate the possibility that she might indeed be the strongest Vault Hunter in the ensemble.

In a recent interview at Gamescom, Randy Pitchford from Gearbox subtly suggested that the order in which characters were revealed for Borderlands 4 might have been intentional. He admitted to having a strong affinity for Vex but seemed to favor Harlowe now. Earlier in development, he was certain Vex would be his character, but things appear to have changed since then.

Harlowe’s Crowd Control Abilities Do Make Her a Compelling Choice

In Borderlands 4, it’s quite plausible that Harlowe could be Pitchford’s preferred Vault Hunter due to her area-of-effect abilities being ideal for both single player and multiplayer scenarios. Given that Borderlands 4, although playable solo, was primarily designed for cooperative gameplay, this makes Harlowe a strong contender. Her Entanglement mechanic, which causes damage to spread among entangled enemies, certainly supports this theory.

It appears that Gearbox may be saving the most intriguing reveals for their Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4, as character Harlowe seems uniquely remarkable compared to other playable characters in the game. Randy Pitchford’s comments hint at the developer knowing something that the Borderlands community is not yet privy to, even with the information available on her skills. However, this intrigue will only be confirmed when Borderlands 4 launches and players can test out Harlowe in combat, dubbed as the Gravitar.

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2025-08-21 21:05