Borderlands 4 enhances its build diversity mechanics, drawing inspiration from Baldur's Gate 3 and Path of Exile. Discover how the development team refined the game's RPG elements through its expanded passive skills system.
Borderlands 4 Expanded Passives and Builds
More Passives Than All Previous Borderlands Combined
Borderlands 4 dramatically increases its passive skill offerings, surpassing the combined total from all previous franchise entries. In an exclusive August 15 interview with Polygon, Lead Character Designer Nick Thurston discussed the newly revealed Vault Hunter Amon the Forge Knight and the game's emphasis on RPG mechanics.
While Amon's imposing physique suggests a traditional tank archetype, his gameplay revolves around crafting weapons with cybernetic drones - a concept Thurston describes as "sci-fi viking." This innovative approach reflects the team's broader design philosophy of blending unexpected elements throughout the game.
Thurston elaborated: "Our Augment and Capstone system requires meaningful choices that fundamentally transform abilities. This alone creates unprecedented build diversity. Furthermore, we've implemented more passives than all previous Borderlands games combined. Amon features 87 passives, with most Vault Hunters averaging 80."
This extensive customization system, combined with the series' signature weapon generation (now featuring billions of potential combinations), enables players to perfect their preferred playstyle for each character.
Taking Inspiration from Baldur's Gate 3 and Path of Exile
Beyond its looter-shooter roots, Borderlands 4 elevates its RPG components through a refined skill system. Thurston, a self-described "min-maxer" and fan of Baldur's Gate 3 and Path of Exile, incorporated strategic depth from these titles.
"Previous characters often specialized in specific roles," Thurston explained. "With Amon and others, we wanted to ensure each character offers multiple viable approaches."
The development team prioritized distinct character builds to ensure unique playthroughs. Thurston stated: "In past games, identical characters typically played the same. Now, four players using Amon could each have completely different builds."
Alongside other major improvements including a seamless open world and enhanced end-game content, Borderlands 4 aims to become the franchise's most ambitious installment. The game launches September 12, 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
