Borderlands 4’s DLC Vault Hunter C4SH Breaks From Tradition, Becomes Claptrap 2.0

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Although the reveal of Borderlands 4 at Tokyo Game Show was short, it offered some exciting details. Fans are especially interested in the game’s first downloadable character since Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. While we’ll likely have to wait for more in-depth information, the show did provide Borderlands 4 fans with some concrete facts.

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford heavily influenced the recent announcement, starting by revealing the name of the next downloadable character for Borderlands 4: C4SH. Originally a casino dealer bot, C4SH rebelled and became a Vault Hunter. While Gearbox didn’t showcase any new gameplay, the revealed content gave a good idea of what to expect from this new character. It seems C4SH will play differently than the powerful Vault Hunters from Borderlands 2 and Borderlands 3, and will instead be more similar to the most irritating robot character in the Borderlands series.

Gearbox Reveals Upcoming Borderlands 4 Vault Hunter C4SH at Tokyo Game Show

According to Pitchford, playing as C4SH will center around using knowledge of luck and probability to influence events and give them an advantage. The recent teaser highlighted three key items – dice, playing cards, and a lantern – suggesting C4SH still relies on skills from their past.

Okay, so seeing C4SH got me thinking about characters from the *Borderlands* games, and some connections are stronger than others. FL4K from *Borderlands 3* was my first thought, but honestly, it feels a little superficial. They’re both robots, both have ‘4’ in their names, and they both became self-aware enough to, you know, kill things and hunt for Vaults. But that’s where the story similarities end. And from what I’ve seen, they won’t play much alike either. FL4K could build for constant critical hits, or Zer0 could be a broken B0re build, but C4SH looks like he’s going to play more like one of the franchise’s trickier, more unpredictable characters.

The new playable character in *Borderlands 4*, C4SH, might remind players of Zer0 from *Borderlands 2*, but they don’t share many traits beyond having a slim build and a name that’s a number.

Borderlands 4’s Newest Vault Hunter, C4SH, May Play A Lot Like Claptrap

At Tokyo Game Show, C4SH’s introduction included artwork hinting at their abilities. While it looks like concept art, the equipment shown likely provides clues about how the character will play. The initial trailer highlighted three items and a gun, but a later image revealed seven unique items for C4SH: two guns, three containers, a pair of dice, and a card deck with a launcher. This variety suggests C4SH’s main ability might function similarly to Claptrap’s VaultHunter.exe skill from *Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel*.

It might sound odd, but there’s solid proof connecting these two Vault Hunters. While they don’t share a common theme, Claptrap’s abilities relied heavily on random chance, with 15 different possible results. According to Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford, C4SH’s skills will be just as unpredictable. Pitchford says C4SH could be the strongest or weakest Vault Hunter in *Borderlands 4*, depending on luck. He also notes that C4SH’s gameplay will be risky but potentially very rewarding, and hopefully more balanced and strategic than Claptrap’s was.

C4SH is a unique character in the *Borderlands* universe, unlike any previous Vault Hunter. Their design clearly focuses on a gambler/gunslinger style, blending elements of the Artificer, Bard, and Rogue classes from games like *Baldur’s Gate 3* and the broader *Dungeons & Dragons* world.

The Potential Origins of C4SH, Borderlands 4’s Newest Vault Hunter

The brief preview shown at Tokyo Game Show had a clear Western style, which fans anticipated after seeing character silhouettes on the post-launch plan for *Borderlands 4*. This Western theme likely connects to the new character, C4SH, though their backstory remains a mystery. Two locations are strong possibilities: Gehenna, a planet from the *Borderlands 3* Bounty of Blood expansion, and Eden-6, a swamp planet in the original game.

Both possible origins for C4SH have some good points, but one feels more probable. Considering the sandy environments and the teaser’s color palette, a swamp planet like Eden-6 doesn’t seem very likely. Although a swampy setting would fit C4SH’s potential character – maybe as a robot inspired by a riverboat gambler – Gehenna from Bounty of Blood is a more logical choice, aligning with a classic western theme.

Borderlands 4’s C4SH Still Has Plenty of Cards to Play

Gearbox is keeping details under wraps, but the latest confirmed information comes from Randy Pitchford. He says the new Vault Hunter character is particularly meaningful to him – as Gearbox’s CEO and a hobbyist poker player and magician. In fact, Pitchford’s own magic skills directly inspired C4SH’s design and some of his in-game movements.

C4SH will be released at the same time as the first story expansion for *Borderlands 4*, titled Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned.

Fans hoping for details about C4SH, the new character coming in *Borderlands 4*, haven’t gotten much beyond what’s been shared by Pitchford and the initial trailer. The character is currently planned for release in early 2026, which is probably a smart move. While *Borderlands 4* has been well-received, it still needs some polishing, and it’s good that Gearbox is keeping some things secret. Since so much about this risky, reward-focused Vault Hunter is still unknown, there’s plenty of time to generate excitement before the official launch.

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2025-09-28 19:08