Borderlands 4 Boosts Builds with BG3, PoE-Inspired Skills

Borderlands 4's approach to build diversity draws inspiration from Baldur’s Gate 3 and Path of Exile. Discover how its passive skill system has been refined and how the development team has sharpened the game's RPG mechanics.

Borderlands 4's Expanded Passives and Build Variety

More Passive Skills Than Every Previous Borderlands Title Combined

Borderlands 4 is placing a major emphasis on passive skills, offering more than all prior Borderlands games put together. In a recent August 15 interview with Polygon, Lead Character Designer Nick Thurston discussed the newly unveiled Vault Hunter, Amon the Forge Knight, and how the game strengthens its RPG components.

Amon initially comes across as a classic tank or brawler, likely to crush anything in his way based on his imposing build and look. Yet his actual gameplay centers on crafting weapons with his cybernetic drones—a concept Thurston calls a "sci-fi viking."

This unique fusion of high-tech tools and raw power reflects the team’s broader design philosophy, where they blend a "melting pot of ideas" into the whole experience. This is most apparent in the game's extensive skill trees, providing greater flexibility to test out multiple character builds.

According to Thurston, "The Augment and Capstone systems require you to make meaningful decisions—each one significantly alters a player’s abilities. That alone results in more build diversity than we’ve ever offered. Plus, we’ve included more passive skills than every earlier Borderlands title combined. Amon alone has about 87 passives, while most Vault Hunters have around 80."

Stacking perks and experimenting with inventive builds has always been central to the Borderlands experience. Combined with an upgraded weapon system boasting "billions of guns and attachments," fans can tailor their ideal setup for their preferred Vault Hunter and playstyle.

Learning from Baldur’s Gate 3 and Path of Exile

Beyond its shooter-looter roots, Borderlands 4 elevates its RPG systems with a more robust and ever-expanding skill framework. Thurston, an avid fan of RPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Path of Exile, has incorporated ideas from these titles.

He describes himself as a "min-maxer" who enjoys dealing huge damage in his own preferred style. He explained, "Characters in earlier installments were often narrowly focused on one role. To me, it's essential that if you have an awesome character, you should be able to use them in many different ways."

For Borderlands 4, the team aimed to amplify the differences between each character configuration. Thurston noted that players will face tough choices to craft specialized builds, making every playthrough distinct.

"In past Borderlands games, if you and I both played Zer0, we’d probably end up with similar builds. That might be fun for some, but I want four players all running Amon—each with a totally different setup," he said.

With major upgrades like a seamless open world and compelling end-game content, Borderlands 4 is shaping up to be the franchise's most ambitious entry. It launches on September 12, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Keep up with the latest news by reading our article below!