Borderlands 4will be dropping in just a few short months, on September 12. For the fourth main entry, Gearbox will be overhauling a number of the series' longstanding components, bringing them into the modern era while leaving behind some of the elements that weren’t quite up to par in the previous release.Borderlands 4will see players explore a “semi-seamless” open world that removes the standard mini-map and highlights more vehicle and vertical exploration. The story and general tone are also shifting away from some of the more egregious juvenile-laden humor, but still seeking to capture the mood that definesBorderlands' settings and characters.
With the new adventure comes a new assortment of Vault Hunters, andBorderlands 4’s roster of Huntershas been the focus of good portions of the marketing material so far. Among the latest batch, Vex is confirmed to be the upcoming title’s Siren, a position and class that has been included since the start. But this time around, Vex’s personality and life before becoming a Hunter trapped on the mysterious planet of Kairos is a far cry from the cloth most Hunters are usually cut from.
Borderlands 4’s Vex Is a Big Departure From Standard Vault Hunter Fare
Borderlands' Vault Hunters Are Usually Hardened Professionals
Borderlandshas featured a variety of Vault Hunters, most of whom were or are members of a profession that predisposes them to being elite survivors and warriors. Most previous Hunters came from backgrounds that clearly made them capable of tackling the harshest of conditions and taking on the most dangerous enemies. Some of the more well-known examples ofBorderlands' Vault Hunter archetypesinclude:
Various post-launch DLCs brought in additional veteran Hunters, like Aurelia Hammerlock. There were some notable exceptions, of course, with a few of these being the lovable and clumsyrobot scamp Claptrapand Handsome Jack’s bumbling body double, Timothy, both featured inBorderlands: The Pre-Sequel. For the most part, though, every Hunter already had a resume that made sense for their role. Vex, however, seems to be bucking this trend, and this could make her one ofBorderlands 4’s most intriguing figures and representative of the changes it’s looking to incorporate.
Vex Marks a New Kind of Siren and Vault Hunter for Borderlands 4
In one of the latestBorderlands 4trailersdedicated to her, Gearbox showcased Vex’s story before joining the other Hunters on Kairos. Coming from a situation that might be more relatable to audiences, Vex was working what seemed to be an unfulfilling, dead-end job at a small-time retail merchant until an inciting incident awoke her powers. The video, titled “Purple Friday,” is an obvious take on Black Friday, and depicts Vex at her job when Mercenary Day apparently arrived early. Naturally, this results in a riotous run on the shop where Vex is employed. As customers callously trample over each other, grabbing items and violently demanding to be served, it’s all too much for Vex. Her Siren powers flair up for the first time, and she subsequently slaughters the entire store before walking out its doors.
Vex’s goth witch-influenced design, coupled with her dry and sarcastic demeanor, likely due to boredom and disillusionment with her former job, seem to be her central traits, and herSiren abilitiesclosely reflect her personality and sense of style. Players will be able to summon ghostly Reapers and Specters to deal a variety of elemental damage, along with being able to wield soul/life-stealing powers. One of Vex’s action skills, “Phase Phamiliar,” will allow her to call forth a phantasmal tiger named Trouble to join in battle, making her a character suited to those who enjoy having a pet companion at their side.
Combined with her radically different occupation compared to many previous Hunters, it should make for some interesting and amusing scenarios in the latest installment. Through the eyes of Vex,Borderlands 4promises to explore a whole new sideof the setting and world, and finding out how she fits into these and its overall tale will be exciting for fans to see.
