Borderlands 4 launched on September 12, 2025 with four new Vault Hunters set on the planet Kairos. A fifth character, C4$H the Rogue, arrives in the first story DLC “Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned.” Each Vault Hunter has a distinct playstyle, action skill set, and role in co-op play.
Among the Vault Hunters that arrive on Kairos are Rafa the Exo-Soldier, Harlowe the Gravitar, Amon the Forgeknight, and Vex the Siren.
The Story Context
In Borderlands 4, players assume the role of a Vault Hunter who must lead the resistance against a ruthless dictator named the Timekeeper and his army of synthetic followers, while searching for secret alien treasures.
Six years after the Moonfall incident, when Elpis appeared over Kairos due to Lilith, a new generation of Vault Hunters arrives on Kairos to find its Vault. The Timekeeper quickly captures the Vault Hunters and forcibly implants bolt control devices into them before they are rescued by Arjay of the Crimson Resistance.
All 4 Launch Vault Hunters
Rafa the Exo-Soldier
Voiced by: Alejandro Saab Role: Combat specialist, technology-based abilities Playstyle: Rafa is the Vault Hunter built for players who prefer straightforward combat power with a technological edge. The Exo-Soldier kit revolves around powered armor augmentation and combat efficiency rather than elemental manipulation or summoning.
Best for: New players, solo play, frontline combat in co-op
Harlowe the Gravitar
Voiced by: Kimberly Brooks Role: Gravity manipulation, area control Playstyle: Harlowe uses gravity-based abilities to reposition enemies, control space, and create tactical advantages. The Gravitar kit rewards positional thinking and players who want to control the battlefield rather than purely deal damage.
Best for: Players who enjoyed Maya or Gaige from previous games, co-op support/control role, players who enjoy unique traversal
Amon the Forgeknight
Role: Melee/crafting hybrid Playstyle: Amon brings a weapon-crafting and melee focus that is distinct from the ranged emphasis of most Borderlands characters. The Forgeknight kit rewards players who engage at close range and want to directly interact with Borderlands 4’s expanded weapon modification systems.
Best for: Aggressive melee players, players interested in weapon crafting systems, high-risk high-reward playstyle
Vex the Siren
Voiced by: Judy Alice Lee Role: Elemental Siren powers, status effects Playstyle: Vex continues the Siren tradition of elemental manipulation and status effect application. The Siren class in Borderlands has always been a staple of co-op groups for its ability to amplify party damage through status effects and enemy debuffing.
Best for: Experienced Borderlands players, co-op support role, players who enjoy the Siren legacy from Maya and Amara
DLC Vault Hunter: C4$H the Rogue
The first story expansion “Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned” features the addition of a fifth playable Vault Hunter, C4$H the Rogue.
C4$H arrives with the paid DLC expansion alongside new story content featuring returning characters Ellie, Crazy Earl, Mancubus Bloodhound, and Davis Pickle.
Returning Characters (NPCs)
Returning NPCs include Miss Mad Moxxi and Marcus Kincaid, and previous playable Vault Hunters Zane Flynt, Claptrap, Lilith, and Amara.
The game is set far enough after Borderlands 3 that previous playable characters appear as established NPCs. Claptrap specifically plays a significant role as the leader of the Crimson Resistance when players reach its headquarters.
How to Choose Your Vault Hunter
| If You Want | Choose |
|---|---|
| Straightforward combat power | Rafa the Exo-Soldier |
| Battlefield control and unique mechanics | Harlowe the Gravitar |
| Melee and close-range aggression | Amon the Forgeknight |
| Elemental support, co-op utility | Vex the Siren |
| Rogue/stealth style | C4$H (DLC) |
Co-Op Vault Hunter Composition
Borderlands 4 is designed for 1 to 4 players. In a four-player group:
- One player on Rafa covers frontline combat stability
- One player on Harlowe controls enemy positioning for the group
- One player on Amon handles burst melee and weapon synergies
- One player on Vex maintains elemental status effects across all enemy types
This composition covers every role the Timekeeper’s synthetic enemies present without redundancy.
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