New to Borderlands 3? Learn everything a beginner must know in this guide! This includes tips for looting, gear, weapons, leveling, combat, and more!!!
Table of Contents
Which Character Should I Choose?
Each of the playable Vault Hunters have their merits when it comes to skills and gameplay. Choosing your Vault Hunter will dictate your general playstyle for the rest of the game.
Check Out Points of No Return HereAmara for Crowd Control, AOE
Check Out the Amara Skills HereMultiple Crowd Control Capabilities
Amara has a multitude of skills that affect multiple enemies at a time. From being able to create a singularity pulse or unleash homing projectiles, she is capable of dishing out enough damage to clear out mobs of enemies.
High Elemental Damage, Effect Chance
No matter which Elemental Damage, Amara has the skills to further raise its damage & increase its elemental status effect chance. There are some passive skills that heal her when she does elemental damage.
Moze to Tank High Amounts of Damage
Check Out the Moze Skills List HereSummon a Tank at Will
Moze's tank is both an offensive and defensive help, allowing players to stay alive while still doing damage. Her skills are pretty easy to get as they're all connected to her mech.
More About Vault Hunters Skill & Traits
| Amara | Zane | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| | ||
| Skill Tree | Builds | Skill Tree | Builds |
| Moze | FL4K | ||
| | ||
| Skill Tree | Builds | Skill Tree | Builds |
Leveling Up & its Benefits
Increasing your level is essential to surviving against battles! From unlocking Skill Points to increasing Weapon stats, leveling up is a must.
How to Level Up Fast
Farm Previously Defeated Bosses
Most bosses will have a checkpoint (the New-U Station) prior to entering their arena. By repeatedly defeating the boss and exiting the game to the menu, you will be able to quickly farm the boss of your choice to rack up some quick XP.
Complete Side Quests
Side Quests are optional quests separate from the Main Story. They give a good chunk of XP as a reward to completing them so try to do as much as you can before progressing the story.
Check Out the Side Mission List HereDefeat All Enemies You Encounter
Whether it's random bandits or beasts you find on the road, take a few seconds to take them down and XP for your troubles. You can make use of your vehicle to defeat them to make it easier for you.
Clear Regional Challenges
Every area has special regional challenges that when cleared will give XP as rewards. Challenges can include going to certain location or discovering special items.
Learn How to Level Up Fast HereWhat Happens When You Level Up?
Unlock Skill Points
Every time you level up, you will receive a Skill Point which you can use to unlock skills. No matter how high your level goes, it will remain 1 Skill Point per new level.
Check Out the Skill Guide & Effects HereStronger Loot Based on Your Level
Loot drops based on your level and the higher a weapon and gear level is, the better its stats will be. You'll notice that a level 10 Assault Rifle of the same brand will have lower stats than an identical Level 12 one.
Progress Through the Story
Once you level up, you'll be able to take on harder story missions. Although you're free to try a mission no matter the level difference, it's recommended to be close to a suggested mission level to make it better.
Check Out the All Story Mission List HereMust Know Combat Tips
Have Different Types of Weapons
Don't limit your loadout to a single weapon type! This will greatly affect your ammo consumption in the long run and be unable to use different weapons during fights.
Check Out All Legendary Weapon List!Crouch and Hide Behind Cover
Take advantage of walls and other structures to save yourself from enemy gunfire. Standing out in the open is a death sentence as multiple enemies can target you all at once.
Learn Elemental Damage & Weaknesses
Elemental Damage does more damage against certain enemies. Besides having an elemental weapon, knowing which enemy to use it for is a great advantage when in battle.
Check Out the Elemental Damage Types HereElemental Strength & Weakness Guide
| Element | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | Flesh | Armor |
| Electricity | Shields | Flesh Armor |
| Corrosive | Armor | Flesh Shields |
| Cryo | Armor | Shields |
| Radiation | Shields | Armor |
What is Fight For Your Life?
Defeat any enemy while you're downed or in "Fight For Your Life" to get a second chance to rejoin the fight! If you fail to do so, you'll die and have to respawn at the nearest New-U Station.
Each Respawn will Cost 7% of Total Money
Every time you respawn after dying, 7% of your total money will be removed as payment by the New-U Station. The amount it takes increases the more money you have.
What to Do When You Can't Beat A Boss
Raise Your Level First
A difference in level makes a lot of difference when it comes to boss fights. Try to get as close to the level of the enemy before fighting it. If it has a skull near its name, its a warning that you're greatly outleveled.
Farm for Better Weapons & Gear
Better weapons and gear can also turn the battle to your favor. Higher capacity shields will raise your survivability while high damage guns will take down the boss' health faster.
Take Advantage of Weaknesses
Every enemy has an elemental weakness to them. Bring a weapon that corresponds to that weakness to deal even more damage to them.
What are Badass Enemies?
Badass Enemies are like mini bosses in Borderlands 3. Although they don't have as much damage or health as bosses, they still pose a great threat to unprepared Vault Hunters.
High Chance of Dropping Good Loot
Taking down Badasses are hard, but they're worth it! Each of them has a chance of dropping great loot, including weapons, shields, and more!
Weapons & Gears Overview
Select From 6 Weapon Types
You're free to choose whatever type of weapon you want with you. Each of them has their pros and cons depending on the type of gameplay you want to do.
Elemental Weapons & Effects
There are some weapons that can deal elemental damage and apply elemental status effects to enemies when used. Some weapons only spawn in one element, while others can spawn as any of them.
Types of Equipment
Protect Yourself with Shields
Shields are a must as its your first line of defense against enemy attacks. A good stat to look out for shields are large shield capacity and low recharge delay.
Make Use of Grenade Mods
Grenade Mods change the way your Grenade works when you use it. Some of them can explode and summon more grenades while others can even create a nova blast around them.
Check Out All Grenade Mod List!Use Class Mods & Artifacts when Available
Upon unlocking Class Mods and Artifacts in game, make sure to use whatever you had immediately. This is not available at the start of the game and requires story progression.
Check Out All Class Mod List!Weapon & Gear Rarities
The Rarity of a weapon determines its stats and drop rate. The higher the rarity, the more powerful it is, but the less likely it is to drop from enemies.
Check Out Rarity Differences Here!Rarity Should Not be a Basis for Loadouts
Don't keep an outleveled weapon even if it's a Legendary one. It will be outdamage and outclassed within 10 levels to it's not worth holding on to.
Special Abilities Depending on Manufacturer
From weapons to equipment, every manufacture have a specialty that it applies to their products. Weapons can sprout legs while shields can multiply health by the thousands!
How to Increase Loadout Slots
You can only unlock more Loadout Slots by getting to certain levels. Besides that, there's no way to increasing the number of Loadout Slots.
What's a Class Mod?
Class Mods are a type of equipment that provides Status Buffs and increases the rank of specific Skill Point.
Unique Type Per Vault Hunter
Each Vault Hunter get their own type of Class Mod which only they can equip. It is possible for players to pick up a Class Mod that's not for their character.
Character Skills & Builds
What are Skills?
Each playable Vault Hunter has a set of skills and skill trees that are unique to every one of them. These provide new abilities, buffs, and more depending on which skills you use in your build.
Choose from Action, Passive, and Augmented Skills
There three types of skills that you can unlock in your skill tree. Action Skill Points are active skills, Passive Abilities are passives, and Augment Skills buffs different skills.
Unlocked with Skill Points
Action Skills and Passive Abilities can be activated by spending Skill Points on them. However, unlocking Skills requires progression through Skill Trees.
Respec at Quick Change Station
Whether you want to change your build or made a wrong decision with Skill Points, you can respec them all through the Quick Change Station. Every respec will cost money though.
Choosing a Character Build
There is no one build for Vault Hunters. You can choose to mix and match skills depending on your playstyle and targeted build. Go tank or pure offense, it's up to you!
Looting Guide
Get Loot from Green-Lighted Storages
Going around different areas you may notice storages with green light on them. This indicates that they can opened to get loot!
Different Chests Give Different Loot
There are chests found in the game that give specific loot. Ammo boxes will only give ammo, while larger chests can give weapons, shields, grenade mods, and more!
Check Out Chest Color Differences!Always Look and Open Red Treasure Chests
Especially after a boss fight, scour the area for any Red Treasure Chests. These chests contain some of the best loot in the game, including Legendary weapons if you're lucky.
Buy Ammo, Gear, and Weapons in Vending Machines
If you're short on any gear, there are Vending Machines found around the worlds for you to buy from. Ammo, health, weapons, and shields are just some items you can purchase from them.
How Do I Drop Items
You can clear your inventory space by holding the [X] when selecting a gear to drop it. If you want to earn some money, you can also sell it instead.
Check Out Controls & Keybinds Here!Golden Keys & SHIFT Codes
Golden Keys and SHIFT Codes can give you loot and golden keys you can use to open the locked Treasure Box in Sanctuary. Redeeming the codes will require a SHIFT Account.
Check Out the SHIFT Code List HereFast Travel & Exploration
Move Areas with Fast Travel Stations
There's at least one Fast Travel Station in every area that you can use as a point to travel to. Fast Travel will only be available upon unlocking Fast Travel Stations.
Click Here For Fast Travel Tips!Can Now Fast Travel from Anywhere
Stuck in the middle of nowhere? You can chose to fast travel to a Fast Travel Station if you want to. This can be done through your Map.
Fast Travel Out Of Combat
Having a hard time fighting your enemies? Regroup and restock by using Fast Travel during a fight. Just open your ECHO menu and select a place where you want to go to and you're out!
Visit New Planets with the Sanctuary III
Going beyond Pandaro, you can visit different planets both for story missions and side missions. Take note that each planet has its own hazards that you may have to face.
Get Around Quicker with Vehicles
If a Fast Travel Station is unavailable, you can digistruct a vehicle to travel across maps. Vehicles are entirely custmozable so you can create one to your liking.
Check Out the Vehicle List HereCapture Vehicles to Add to Vehicle Parts
Unlocking Vehicle Parts will require players to find vehicles with these special parts, stealing them, and taking them to Ellie's Garage! Once a part has been unlocked, it will be permanently available.
Check Out Vehicles & Customization HereBorderlands 3 - Related Articles
Playable Character
| Amara | Zane | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| | ||
| Skill Tree | Builds | Skill Tree | Builds |
| Moze | FL4K | ||
| | ||
| Skill Tree | Builds | Skill Tree | Builds |
