TL;DR: Borderlands 4 offers four distinct Vault Hunters – Rafa (versatile soldier), Amon (tanky melee fighter), Vex (minion-focused Siren), and Harlowe (crowd control specialist). New players should start with Rafa or Vex for easier gameplay, while experienced looter-shooter fans can dive into any character that appeals to them.
Choosing your first character in Borderlands 4 can feel overwhelming when you’re staring at four completely different Vault Hunters. Each one brings a unique flavor to the classic “shoot and loot” formula, and honestly, there’s no wrong choice here. But understanding what makes each character tick will help you pick someone who matches how you like to play games.
After spending time with each Vault Hunter, I can say that Gearbox has done something special with this roster – every character feels genuinely different, not just cosmetically but in how they approach combat situations.
Meet Your Vault Hunter Options
Rafa: The Ultimate Multi-Tool Soldier
Think of Rafa as the Swiss Army knife of Borderlands characters. He combines the best parts of every military-style character from previous games but cranks everything up to eleven. What makes him special is his Overdrive trait – he gets stat bonuses whenever any of his action skills are running, plus a brief window after they end.
Combat Style: Jack-of-all-trades with serious firepower
- Peacebreaker Cannons: Shoulder-mounted turrets that auto-target enemies
- APOPHIS Lance: Off-hand energy weapon with multiple firing modes
- Arc Knives: Brutal melee blades for close-quarters carnage
Why Choose Rafa: Perfect for players who want flexibility. You can hang back with turrets, get up close with energy weapons, or go full berserker with the knives. He’s forgiving for newcomers but has enough depth to keep veterans engaged.
Pro Tip: Start with either the cannons or lance – save the arc knives until you’ve got better gear and survivability skills unlocked.
Amon: The Gentleman Berserker
Don’t let his refined demeanor fool you – Amon is a walking tank who happens to have excellent manners. His Forgeskill trait gives him secondary abilities tied to each action skill, essentially doubling his toolkit.
Combat Style: Tanky melee specialist with elemental weapons
- Onslaughter: Become a rocket-powered battering ram with constant shield regen
- Scourge: Deploy a damage-absorbing shield that builds up explosive revenge
- Crucible: Throw elemental axes that prime enemies to explode
Why Choose Amon: If you love getting in enemies’ faces but want more strategy than mindless button mashing, Amon’s your guy. His Forgeskills add a tactical layer that rewards timing and positioning.
My Take: Amon feels like what would happen if a Dark Souls boss became a playable character. The Onslaughter tree is pure adrenaline, while Scourge offers a more measured, defensive approach.
Vex: The Minion Master Siren
Vex breaks the traditional Siren mold by focusing on allies rather than direct elemental manipulation. Her Phase Covenant trait adapts her abilities to match whatever elemental weapon she’s using, creating interesting build synergies.
Combat Style: Pet/minion management with self-transformation options
- Incarnate: Transform into a magical powerhouse with healing and energy blasts
- Phase Phamiliar: Summon Trouble, a spectral tiger companion
- Dead Ringer: Create ranged Specter or melee Reaper clones of yourself
Why Choose Vex: Perfect for players who enjoy managing multiple moving pieces on the battlefield. Her minions can handle aggro while you focus on positioning and support.
Strategy Insight: The clone builds are incredibly powerful during the campaign because they essentially give you extra party members. Trouble the tiger is surprisingly effective at drawing enemy fire away from you.
Harlowe: The Physics-Defying Controller
Harlowe brings serious crowd control to the table with her gravity-manipulation abilities. Her Entanglement trait creates a damage-sharing network between affected enemies – hit one, hurt them all.
Combat Style: Area denial and battlefield manipulation
- CHROMA Accelerator: Fire slow-moving projectiles that explode on command
- Flux Generator: Create protective energy fields for allies while damaging enemies
- Zero-Point: Suspend enemies helplessly in mid-air before slamming them down
Why Choose Harlowe: Ideal for tactical players who love setting up devastating combos. Her abilities shine brightest when facing large groups of enemies.
Personal Favorite: The CHROMA Accelerator feels incredibly satisfying – there’s something deeply enjoyable about timing that second trigger pull to detonate your projectile right in the middle of an enemy cluster.
Quick Decision Guide
Brand New to Borderlands? → Rafa or Vex Both characters are forgiving and powerful without requiring complex strategies.
Love Getting Up Close? → Amon or Rafa Amon for pure melee focus, Rafa for versatile close-range options.
Prefer Supporting Your Team? → Vex or Harlowe Vex with minions, Harlowe with battlefield control.
Want Maximum Destruction? → Harlowe or Rafa Harlowe for crowd control explosions, Rafa for sustained firepower.
Essential Starting Tips
Early Game Survival: Don’t feel pressured to use every ability immediately. Master one action skill before experimenting with others.
Skill Point Strategy: Focus on one skill tree initially rather than spreading points across multiple trees. Depth beats breadth in the early game.
Weapon Synergy: Pay attention to how your character’s traits interact with different weapon types. Vex’s Phase Covenant makes elemental weapons significantly more valuable for her.
Co-op Considerations: If you’re playing with friends, coordinate your character choices. A balanced team with different roles will have an easier time than four people playing the same style.
The Bottom Line
Every Vault Hunter in Borderlands 4 offers a genuinely different experience, which is rare in looter shooters where characters often feel like minor variations on the same theme. The key is picking someone whose fantasy appeals to you – whether that’s being a high-tech soldier, an elemental knight, a mystical summoner, or a gravity-wielding scientist.
My personal recommendation? If you’re torn between options, go with your gut reaction to the character designs and descriptions. Borderlands is about having fun above all else, and you’ll have the most fun playing someone who genuinely excites you from the moment you see them in action.
The beauty of Borderlands has always been that you can replay the entire game with different characters, so your first choice isn’t permanent. Pick someone, dive in, and start collecting that sweet, sweet loot.
Ready to jump in? Check out Borderlands 4 on Steam, PlayStation, or visit the official Borderlands 4 website for the latest updates and release information.
