Error during authentication for model o1: Failed to create temporary account. Status: 403, Details: Invalid request. Please try again.

by

Summary

  • Borderlands 4 features new movement tech, loot system, and Licensed Parts for guns.
  • Maya and Amara return in Borderlands 4 through the new character, Harlowe.
  • Harlowe’s skills combine elements of Maya and Amara, potentially making her OP.

Although there have been discussions about the potential cost of Borderlands 4 on social media, as well as disagreements between fans and Gearbox’s Randy Pitchford, it appears that the game is generating a lot of buzz recently. With its innovative movement technology, captivating gameplay, a revamped loot system, and the introduction of the Licensed Parts system for guns, Borderlands 4 promises to be one of the most exciting shooters in the series. The selection of a Vault Hunter is likely to play a significant role in the overall experience, and while initial reactions from fans were not favorable, one of the new VHs draws inspiration from beloved characters Maya and Amara.

In the popular series, Maya is undeniably one of the most recognizable figures. Her demise in Borderlands 3 left numerous fans stunned, and it even ignited debates about whether Ava should have been the one to suffer that fate instead. However, Amara will be back for Borderlands 4, offering delight to those who appreciated her in the previous game as they’ll have her by their side during their adventures. Interestingly, both characters make an unusual presence in the game due to Harlowe’s unique abilities.

Borderlands 4’s Harlowe May Secretly Be OP

In contrast to what one may initially assume, it’s not Vex the Siren who connects Maya and Amara in Borderlands 4; instead, it’s Harlowe, the Gravitar. This is due to Harlowe’s gameplay mechanics reflecting aspects of both Maya and Amara, such as abilities reminiscent of Phaselock (Maya’s skill for creating bubbles to encase enemies and suspend them in mid-air) and Phasegrasp (Amara’s ability to capture enemies in bubbles), along with a potential smashing effect onto the ground. Moreover, Harlowe appears to share characteristics with Amara’s Ties That Bind skill and her elemental focus as well.

At the PAX East exhibition where Gearbox developers presented, players gained additional knowledge about the characters in Borderlands 4, specifically Harlowe’s gameplay style and abilities. While details about her skill trees remain undisclosed, the footage suggests that she possesses two distinct Action Skills, one focusing on gadgets and the other on elemental damage.

  • A cannon-like gadget that shoots what seems like an elemental bubble that passes through enemies and inflicts elemental statuses and/or damage
  • A gadget that behaves exactly like Phaselock and Phasegrasp, grabbing an enemy and wrapping them into a bubble of sorts

In comparison to Maya and Amara from the game Borderlands, Harlowe possesses abilities reminiscent of the Sirens, although she operates as an ordinary Vault Hunter. Notably, her first Action Skill mirrors Amara’s elemental switching ability from Borderlands 3, while her second unnamed Action Skill seems to have a unique feature: it can simultaneously lift several targets and connect them, similar to Amara’s Ties That Bind, ultimately annihilating all linked targets with a devastating strike.

In simpler terms, the connections formed within Borderlands 3 were particularly robust, and if Harlowe can integrate these ties with Phaselock and elemental damage, she might seem overly powerful right from the start.

Borderlands 4’s Harlowe Could Be The Best of Both Worlds For BL2, BL3 Fans

It’s uncertain how this will pan out specifically for the gameplay experience in real-time, but it does exhibit a striking resemblance to Amara’s Phasegrasp build from Borderlands 3, which excels across various types of content due to Ties That Bind. Given that some characters from previous Borderlands games might not survive if history repeats itself, there’s a possibility that Amara could be among them. If so, fans can take solace in the fact that her and Maya’s abilities might still be present through Harlowe’s skills, which could potentially serve as a nod to the enduring popularity of Phaselock and Phasegrasp in their respective games.

Read More

2025-05-25 23:28