Discover all returning characters in Borderlands 4! Complete guide to classic favorites, their new roles, and story connections across the franchise.
⚠️ MAJOR SPOILER WARNING ⚠️
This guide contains significant story spoilers for Borderlands 4. If you want to experience the story fresh, bookmark this page and return after completing the campaign.
The Borderlands Legacy Continues on Kairos
Borderlands 4 strikes an interesting balance between honoring its roots and charting new territory. While the game introduces a fresh cast of Vault Hunters and ventures to the alien world of Kairos, it doesn’t forget where it came from. The returning characters serve as bridges between the series’ past and future, each bringing their own evolved storylines and motivations to this new chapter.
What’s particularly fascinating is how Borderlands 4 handles these returns – some characters take center stage in major story roles, while others appear in more subtle ways that reward longtime fans without overwhelming newcomers. Let’s explore who made the journey to Kairos and what they’ve been up to.
The Core Franchise Veterans
Claptrap: Still the Self-Appointed Hero
First Appearance: Borderlands (2009) Role in Borderlands 4: “Leader of the Crimson Resistance” Character Evolution: Maximum Claptrap with zero self-awareness
Claptrap remains gloriously, frustratingly unchanged. His self-proclaimed leadership of the Crimson Resistance showcases the same delusional confidence that’s made him simultaneously beloved and irritating for over a decade. What’s interesting about his Borderlands 4 appearance is how his recruitment demands immediately establish the tone – this is still the chaotic, well-meaning disaster we know and love.
For New Players: Claptrap represents Borderlands’ signature blend of humor and chaos. His missions often lead to spectacular disasters, but somehow things usually work out in the end.
For Veterans: The fact that his “leadership” has gotten people killed adds a darker edge to his usual incompetence, suggesting the stakes on Kairos are higher than ever.
Dr. Zed: The Voice of Questionable Medicine
First Appearance: Borderlands (2009) Role in Borderlands 4: Vending machine narrator and gear vendor Character Evolution: Still unlicensed, still comforting
Dr. Zed’s absence from Borderlands 3 was keenly felt by fans, so his return – even in vending machine form – provides welcome continuity. His “charming voice” offering comfort in the “oppressive Kairos” suggests the planet itself is more hostile than previous Borderlands settings.
Practical Impact: Dr. Zed’s vending machines sell shields, rep-kits, and gear, making him functionally important for inventory management and equipment upgrades.
Marcus: From Arms Dealer to Storyteller
First Appearance: Borderlands (2009) Role in Borderlands 4: Primary narrator for main story Character Evolution: Less direct involvement, more mythic presence
Marcus taking over main narration duties represents a significant shift from his traditional arms dealer role. The absence of his gun-worshipping cults and signature vending machines suggests Borderlands 4 is moving away from some of the series’ more commercial elements in favor of storytelling focus.
Narrative Significance: Having Marcus tell the story implies he’s recounting events after they’ve happened, which could suggest interesting meta-narrative elements about how the Borderlands universe processes its own legends.
Moxxi: Bottoms Up on Kairos
First Appearance: Borderlands (2009) Role in Borderlands 4: Bar owner and boss farming facilitator Character Evolution: Franchise expansion with quality-of-life improvements
Moxxi’s “franchise expansion” to Kairos brings her signature flirtation and tip-based weapon rewards, but more importantly introduces Moxxi’s Big Encore – a major improvement over previous games’ save-scumming boss farm methods.
Gameplay Integration: Her bar serves as a central hub for endgame activities, making her more functionally important than in previous entries.
The Borderlands 3 Vault Hunter Alumni
Amara: The Evolved Siren
First Appearance: Borderlands 3 (2019) Role in Borderlands 4: Major story character and Lilith’s student Character Evolution: From brash fighter to disciplined student
Amara’s character development represents one of Borderlands 4’s most significant character evolutions. Her meditation practice and growth under Lilith’s tutelage suggests a maturation that mirrors the series’ own evolution. The mention of her “anger management” issues indicates she’s still the passionate fighter from Borderlands 3, but with added depth.
Hermes Update: Her pet’s growth from adorable companion to “all grown up” provides a tangible timeline marker, suggesting significant time has passed since Borderlands 3.
Story Significance: As one of the few returning Vault Hunters with a “prominent role,” Amara likely serves as a bridge between the old guard and new characters.
Zane: From Vault Hunter to… Flirtatious Vendor?
First Appearance: Borderlands 3 (2019)
Role in Borderlands 4: Moxxi’s bouncer, vendor, and story character Character Evolution: Mercenary seeking purpose in retirement
Zane’s transition from active Vault Hunter to “man without purpose” creates an interesting character study. His role managing vendor machines suggests he’s found a way to stay connected to the Vault Hunting lifestyle without the physical demands. The emphasis on his flirtation and reminiscing about “glory days” paints him as someone struggling with relevance in a changing world.
Practical Role: His vending machines replacing Marcus’s business suggests he’s found entrepreneurial success, even if he’s not entirely satisfied with it.
Maurice: The Mysterious Black Market
First Appearance: Borderlands 3 (2019) Role in Borderlands 4: Weekly legendary vendor Character Evolution: From crew member to mysterious entrepreneur
Maurice’s transformation from Sanctuary III crew member to mysterious black market operator raises questions about what happened after the ship crashed on Kairos. His “threatening yet peaceful” dialogue maintaining its brevity suggests he’s operating under different constraints than before.
Gameplay Impact: His weekly legendary rotation creates endgame farming objectives and encourages exploration through rotating locations.
The Deeper Lore Characters
GenIVIV: From AI Overlord to… Toilet
First Appearance: Borderlands 3 (2019) Role in Borderlands 4: Side quest character in toilet form Character Evolution: Ultimate degradation with maintained personality
GenIVIV’s transformation from murderous AI to sentient toilet represents Borderlands humor at its most absurd. The quest involving “love, murder, and robots” with Claptrap suggests the series hasn’t lost its taste for bizarre romantic subplots.
Thematic Significance: Her desperate desire for “freedom through a new and more powerful body” could mirror themes about identity and transformation that run throughout Borderlands 4.
Nyriad: The Eternal Storyteller
First Appearance: Borderlands 3 (2019) (mentioned/referenced) Role in Borderlands 4: Evocariums narrator Character Evolution: Continued posthumous wisdom sharing
Nyriad’s return through Evocariums maintains her role as the series’ deep lore keeper. Her presence in world exploration content rewards dedicated fans while providing optional story depth for newcomers.
World Building: Her continued storytelling suggests the Eridian mysteries remain central to Borderlands’ overarching mythology.
The Watcher: Finally Delivering on Pre-Sequel Promises?
First Appearance: Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014) Role in Borderlands 4: Vault guide and side quest character Character Evolution: From mysterious prophet to active participant
The Watcher’s return is particularly significant given their absence from Borderlands 3 despite The Pre-Sequel’s setup. Their role in Primordial Vaults suggests they’re finally becoming the important character they were always meant to be.
“Watching Gee” Quest: The side mission featuring a “Phase-hopping kitty cat” sounds like peak Borderlands absurdity while potentially exploring serious themes about interdimensional travel.
The Climactic Return: Lilith
Lilith: The Firehawk’s Rescue
First Appearance: Borderlands (2009) Role in Borderlands 4: Major story focus and rescue target Character Evolution: From playable character to mythic figure in need
Lilith’s situation – trapped in “the Phase” experiencing “endless stream of past, present, and future” – positions her rescue as a central story goal. Her role as Amara’s teacher and “symbol of hope against the dying light” suggests Borderlands 4 is building toward epic stakes.
Narrative Weight: As the “protagonist of the Borderlands series,” her rescue likely represents the climax of both personal character arcs and the broader series mythology.
Phase Mechanics: Her entrapment in the Phase could introduce new gameplay mechanics or story elements related to Siren powers and interdimensional travel.
Notable Absences and What They Mean
The guide notably doesn’t mention several major characters:
- Roland (deceased, but often referenced)
- Maya (deceased in Borderlands 3)
- FL4K and Moze (Borderlands 3 Vault Hunters)
- Handsome Jack (though he tends to return in various forms)
These absences suggest Borderlands 4 is committed to moving forward rather than retreading familiar ground, while still honoring the series’ legacy through carefully chosen returning characters.
Character Integration with New Systems
The returning characters aren’t just nostalgia bait – they’re integrated with Borderlands 4’s new systems:
Endgame Integration
- Moxxi: Boss farming through Big Encore
- Maurice: Weekly legendary farming
- Zane: Equipment vendor and firmware transfer facilitator
Story Progression
- Amara: Bridge between old and new Vault Hunters
- Lilith: Central rescue mission driving main plot
- The Watcher: Vault exploration guide
What This Means for New Players
If you’re jumping into Borderlands 4 as your first game in the series, don’t worry about missing context. The returning characters are written to be accessible:
- Claptrap: Just accept the chaos
- Moxxi: Flirtatious bartender with useful services
- Amara/Zane: Experienced fighters with their own agendas
- Lilith: Important person who needs rescuing
The game provides enough context for newcomers while rewarding longtime fans with deeper character development and references.
The Balance of Old and New
Borderlands 4’s approach to returning characters feels more thoughtful than simple fan service. Each return serves a specific purpose:
- Functional: Characters like Moxxi and Zane provide essential services
- Narrative: Amara and Lilith drive major story beats
- Atmospheric: Dr. Zed and Marcus maintain series tone
- Humorous: Claptrap and GenIVIV provide classic Borderlands absurdity
This careful curation suggests the developers understand that too many returning characters can overshadow new content, while too few can make a sequel feel disconnected from its roots.
Looking Forward
The returning characters in Borderlands 4 serve as bridges between the series’ past and its future on Kairos. Whether you’re a longtime fan eager to see how your favorites have evolved or a newcomer curious about the series’ rich history, these characters provide continuity while allowing room for new stories to flourish.
As you explore Kairos and uncover each character’s role in this new adventure, you’ll discover that Borderlands 4 respects its legacy while boldly moving forward into uncharted territory.
Ready to reunite with old friends and make new ones? Grab Borderlands 4 on Steam, PlayStation, or check the official website to begin your journey to Kairos!
