Who are the 4 New Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4?

Every mainline Borderlands entry has introduced a fresh squad of Vault Hunters, and they always become the heartbeat of the game. The choice of which character to play shapes not only combat but also how the story feels, how co-op strategies unfold, and what kind of humor and personality carry you through the chaos. From Lilith and Brick in the first game to Maya and Salvador in Borderlands 2, and Amara and FL4K in Borderlands 3, these characters are more than just avatars. They are the anchors of the Borderlands experience.

With Borderlands 4, Gearbox has introduced four new Vault Hunters: Vex, Rafa, Harlowe, and Amon. Each comes with unique lore, a distinct combat style, and a personality that stands out. The roster feels intentionally designed to cover a broad range of playstyles while introducing mechanics the series has never fully explored. Whether you lean toward chaotic elemental magic, heavy military firepower, experimental gravity manipulation, or hybrid melee-and-gunplay, this cast has you covered.

Let’s take a closer look at who these four new Vault Hunters are, what makes them unique, and how they stack up against the long tradition of Vault Hunters that came before them.

Vex: The Siren

Siren characters are synonymous with Borderlands. From Lilith’s fiery Phasewalk to Maya’s crowd-controlling Phaselock and Amara’s devastating fists, each has left a mark. Vex, the Siren of Borderlands 4, continues this tradition but adds a twist. Instead of channeling stable Eridian energy, her powers manifest as unstable crystalline shards.

Vex’s abilities allow her to conjure shards of Eridian energy that can be shaped into offensive barrages, protective barriers, or debilitating traps. This versatility makes her one of the most flexible Sirens to date. One skill tree specializes in ranged burst damage, another in shielding herself and allies, and a third in manipulating enemies with traps that pin them in place or amplify damage.

• Playstyle: High-damage elemental caster with flexible options.
• Strengths: Strong crowd control, excellent in co-op, visually spectacular.
• Weaknesses: Long cooldowns on her best skills, fragile defenses without proper investment.

What makes Vex stand out is her personality. She is restless, driven by both curiosity and a hunger for control. Unlike previous Sirens who fully embraced their gifts, Vex struggles with the instability of her power, giving her story an emotional weight that fans may not expect. Players who loved the spectacle of Amara but wanted more tactical variety will find Vex a natural fit.

Rafa: The Exo-Soldier

Borderlands always includes a soldier archetype, from Roland’s turrets to Axton’s combat skills and Moze’s mech Iron Bear. Rafa, the Exo-Soldier, carries that tradition forward but introduces modularity that sets him apart.

A former Atlas operator, Rafa now fights as a rogue mercenary with access to advanced Exo-Suit technology. His action skill revolves around equipping different Exo-Suit modules, allowing him to shift between tanking damage, unleashing heavy firepower, or boosting allies. His three trees align with defense, offense, and support, ensuring that Rafa can fit any squad composition.

• Playstyle: A tanky heavy gunner who adapts through suit modules.
• Strengths: Reliable survivability, devastating rockets and ordnance, valuable co-op buffs.
• Weaknesses: Slower movement, less flashy compared to other Hunters.

Rafa’s grounded, military-hardened personality balances the wild energy of the rest of the cast. He cracks dry jokes, remains pragmatic in combat, and feels like the dependable veteran of the team. Players who prefer a straightforward approach will feel right at home with Rafa, while co-op groups will appreciate his ability to cover weaknesses in almost any lineup.

Harlowe: The Gravitar

Borderlands 4 introduces one of its most experimental Vault Hunters with Harlowe, the Gravitar. She wields a mysterious device that allows her to manipulate gravitational fields, making her combat style all about movement, disorientation, and crowd control.

Her skill trees reflect her versatility. One tree emphasizes vertical play, allowing her to launch herself into the air and slam down on enemies. Another tree focuses on localized gravity wells, pulling groups of enemies together for devastating area damage. A third tree provides team-oriented buffs, accelerating allies’ movement or sending enemies tumbling into vulnerable positions.

• Playstyle: Mobility-focused disruptor with control over positioning.
• Strengths: Excellent at setting up combos, highly mobile, disruptive to enemy formations.
• Weaknesses: Requires precision and timing, less resilient in direct brawls.

Harlowe’s personality fits her experimental style. She is eccentric, curious, and often reckless, approaching combat like a scientist testing a dangerous hypothesis. She thrives on chaos, both narratively and mechanically, making her the perfect choice for players who enjoy pushing the game’s systems in creative ways.

Amon: The Forgeknight

Amon, the Forgeknight, is the hybrid of the group. He draws from the imagery of a wandering knight while wielding technologically forged Eridian weaponry. This combination gives him a unique place in the roster, blending melee combat with ranged versatility.

His action skills allow him to summon forged armaments. One tree emphasizes heavy melee strikes infused with energy, another enhances ranged weapon synergy by summoning spectral weapons, and the third bolsters his defenses with shield-based abilities. Amon can specialize in one approach or balance multiple trees for flexibility.

• Playstyle: Balanced hybrid of melee and ranged combat.
• Strengths: Strong solo potential, adaptable for different encounters, durable defense options.
• Weaknesses: Not as specialized as others, requires careful build planning to shine.

Amon’s personality reinforces his archetype. He speaks with honor, references ideals of duty, and grounds the chaos of his teammates with a steadier presence. Yet his humor comes through in dry, knowing remarks, reminding players that even knights in Borderlands are not above sarcasm. He will appeal to those who enjoy versatility and the fantasy of mixing sword and gun combat.

Final Thoughts

So who are the new Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4? They are Vex, the restless Siren wielding fractured Eridian shards; Rafa, the exo-soldier who balances firepower, defense, and support; Harlowe, the eccentric Gravitar who bends gravity to her will; and Amon, the Forgeknight who bridges melee and ranged combat.

Together, they form one of the most balanced rosters the series has ever seen. Where Borderlands 2 offered larger-than-life archetypes and Borderlands 3 leaned heavily on spectacle, Borderlands 4 strikes a middle ground. Each Vault Hunter has a clear niche, minimal overlap with the others, and enough depth in their trees to support replayability.

What makes this cast so strong is not just their mechanics but also their personalities. Vex’s inner conflict, Rafa’s pragmatism, Harlowe’s reckless experimentation, and Amon’s stoic honor ensure that every cutscene and interaction feels distinct. This is crucial in a series where humor and character banter play as large a role as shooting and looting.

From a gameplay perspective, the new Vault Hunters promise a wide spectrum of playstyles:

• Solo players will appreciate Amon’s balanced kit or Rafa’s durability.
• Co-op squads can build devastating combos by pairing Harlowe’s gravity wells with Vex’s elemental barrages.
• Experimenters will love Vex and Harlowe for their unpredictable mechanics, while traditionalists will find comfort in Rafa’s soldier archetype.

Replayability is another factor. With such different archetypes, Borderlands 4 almost demands multiple playthroughs. Players who begin with Rafa may find a second run as Vex feels completely different, while Harlowe and Amon encourage experimentation with builds that can change the flow of combat entirely.

In short, the Vault Hunter lineup in Borderlands 4 is both a nod to tradition and a step forward. It respects the franchise’s roots while pushing into new mechanics that keep the formula fresh.