Every Borderlands Vault Hunter’s Status Ahead of BL4

Summary

• Some Borderlands Vault Hunters won’t return in BL4, with deaths and short-lived appearances.
• Popular past characters like Lilith and Zer0 are confirmed alive for Borderlands 4.
• The series has accumulated 20 playable Vault Hunters across the main games, though it’s unclear which will return besides Zane.

One could argue that Borderlands games live and die by their roster of playable Vault Hunters and the quality of the loot, as those can be the most appealing bits of new games and what drives the hype – and Borderlands 4 is likely to be no different. In fact, Borderlands 4‘s Vault Hunters already received backlash for what some fans described as “bland design,” further showing how iconic the four playable characters (not counting DLC Vault Hunters) can be for the series. With four main games preceding Borderlands 4, now is a good time to look back and see where each of these playable characters is.

Not all Borderlands Vault Hunters survived the events of the series, and those who didn’t are extremely unlikely to return in Borderlands 4, if not in flashbacks or maybe even lookalike NPCs. Borderlands can be a whacky series when it comes to its story and humor, so it’s not impossible to see familiar faces in some shape or form in Borderlands 4 – and some of them have already been confirmed by the recent trailer. So far, the series has amassed a total of 20 playable Vault Hunters divided as follows:

• 4 in Borderlands
• 6 in Borderlands 2
• 6 in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
• 4 in Borderlands 3

The Whereabouts of Every Playable Borderlands Vault Hunter Explained

Roland

Roland is one of the various playable Vault Hunters in Borderlands games that died. Shot by Handsome Jack in Borderlands 2, Roland’s death was the catalyst for some key events in the series, but he is unlikely to be seen again in the future.

Brick

Alongside other recurring characters within the series, Brick is in Borderlands 3, albeit in a small role mainly dedicated to one story mission and some side quests. Still, he is currently alive and presumably spends time with Mordecai and Tiny Tina.

Mordecai

Similar to Brick, Mordecai returned in Borderlands 3 for a short time. He tragically lost his trusted companion, Bloodwing, in the events of Borderlands 2, and then came back in BL3 with a new pet of the same species called Talon. Both Mordecai and Talon are alive.

Lilith

Initially presumed dead after the events of Borderlands 3, Lilith is alive ahead of Borderlands 4 and will likely still play a huge part in the events of the game. It’s unclear if her human form has been changed after the end of BL3, but she is bound to make an appearance in the sequel.

The Whereabouts of Every Playable Borderlands 2 Vault Hunter Explained

Axton

Not much is known about Axton after the events of Borderlands 2, but he does come back in Borderlands 3‘s Arms Race DLC as a commentator for the reality show-like game mode. He is alive ahead of Borderlands 4.

Salvador

In the same spot as Axton is Borderlands 2‘s Salvador. Another of the main four Vault Hunters in the game, Salvador shares the stage with Axton in Borderlands 3 as an ECHO caster in the Arms Race DLC, and is currently alive.

Zer0

Zer0’s role in Borderlands 3 is not as small as other recurring characters, and he is involved with the Maliwan vs. Atlas plotline. Despite the boss fight eerily resembling Zer0 in BL3, he is alive and still serves under Atlas.

Maya

Maya died in Borderlands 3 in what some fans label as Ava’s fault. Ava is a Siren in training in Borderlands 3, and she inherits Maya’s powers after the Calipso Twins are defeated. Since Maya met her demise, she most likely won’t be seen in Borderlands 4.

Gaige

The first DLC Vault Hunter in Borderlands games alongside Krieg, Gaige came back in Borderlands 3 for the Guns, Love, and Tentacles DLC. Like most past Vault Hunters who came back in BL3, she is alive at the end of the DLC.

Krieg

The playable Psycho Krieg got his own DLC in Borderlands 3, which is dedicated to him dealing with the aftermath of Maya’s death. With the sad and yet humorous nature of the DLC, Krieg is still alive at the end of it.

The Whereabouts of Every Playable Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Vault Hunter Explained

Athena

Though Athena is tied to Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel‘s infamous The Watcher’s war, she is never seen again in mainline games. If spin-offs are anything to go by, Athena is a CEO in New Tales From The Borderlands, and she is presumably alive.

Wilhelm

It may not come as a surprise to fans that Wilhelm died in Borderlands 2, with Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel explaining his rise to power within Hyperion as a Handsome Jack loyalist. As such, he is likely not returning in the next game.

Nisha

In the same vein as Wilhelm, Nisha is one of Borderlands 2‘s bosses, and she can be killed in an optional mission. As such, her status as a playable Vault Hunter in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel was always meant to be short-lived.

Claptrap

Perhaps the most notorious Borderlands character is Claptrap, who to many fans’ joy became playable in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. Much like the cover Psycho, Claptrap is Borderlands‘ mascot and is very much alive.

Timothy

Known as Jack’s Doppelganger in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Timothy returns in Borderlands 3‘s DLC Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot. He is a supportive character in the DLC, and is still alive when it concludes.

Aurelia

Sister to Borderlands‘ Sir Hammerlock, Aurelia Hammerlock meets her demise in a boss fight in Borderlands 3 after siding with the Calispo Twins. She is dead before the events of BL4 and won’t likely return.

The Whereabouts of Every Playable Borderlands 3 Vault Hunter Explained

Zane

Zane is confirmed to be back in Borderlands 4, as he is shown in the recent trailer alive and well, albeit aged up a little. It’s unclear what role he will play in the story, though.

Amara

Not much is known about Amara after the events of Borderlands 3, and it’s currently impossible to tell if she will be back in Borderlands 4. However, she was alive by the end of BL3.

FL4K

One of the most beloved Vault Hunters in the series, FL4K is the robot beastmaster from Borderlands 3. Much like Amara, their whereabouts between the events of BL3 and BL4 are unknown, but they are presumed alive.

Moze

Last but not least, Moze shares the same fate as Amara and FL4K, as she was playable in Borderlands 3 and her current status is unknown. She is presumably alive, though that doesn’t necessarily mean she will be back for the sequel.