Borderlands 4 Grappling Hook Has Unexpected Use

A Twitch streamer stumbled upon a hidden feature of the new grappling hook in Borderlands 4: fishing. Introduced as a new movement tool for Borderlands 4, the grappling hook allows the game's four new Vault Hunters to not only swing and rappel to hard-to-reach areas but also pull in environmental objects like explosive containers for flinging at hapless enemies. While the grappling hook is just one of many new gameplay mechanics added to Borderlands 4, it's certainly one that players will want to become familiar with very quickly.

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By Josh Cotts

Twitch streamer TweetyExpert discovered the new grappling hook's fishing ability during the Borderlands Fan Fest event on June 21, which also saw the debut of the first Borderlands 4 story trailer. It should come as no surprise that fishing in Borderlands 4 serves one major function the franchise has been known for from the start: looting. Judging from TweetyExpert's gameplay footage, fishable bodies of water display a ripple effect on the water's surface when there's something deep down that can be grappled. When grappled, a number of lootable items shoot out from underneath the surface and linger in the air for a bit to be grappled and pulled in before falling back into the water, although not all items found this way will be useful.

The Grappling Hook Brings Fishing to Borderlands 4

This is technically not the first time players have been able to fish in a Borderlands game. In the optional mission "Wanted: Fresh Fish" from the first Borderlands, players are tasked with tossing grenades into the sludgy waters around the docks at Treacher's Landing and returning to the bounty board with the fish that float to the surface. Players who return 20 fish to the bounty board are rewarded with the Leviathan rocket launcher, which is just one of many unique weapons that can be found in Borderlands.

While the addition of fishing may seem trivial to some, its inclusion is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to new content and features added to Borderlands 4. In a Twitter thread posted on June 19, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford revealed the addition of an optional combat radar for Borderlands 4. Although the radar was not included in the hands-on preview version of the game, Pitchford confirmed that the feature will be available upon release in September.

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 88%

Released: September 12, 2025
ESRB: Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
Developer(s): Gearbox Software
Publisher(s): 2K

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Borderlands 4 brings intense action, badass Vault Hunters, and billions of wild and deadly weapons to an all-new planet ruled by a ruthless tyrant.

Crash into Kairos as one of four new Vault Hunters seeking wealth and glory. Wield powerful Action Skills, customize your build with deep skill trees, and dominate enemies with dynamic movement abilities.

Break free from the oppressive Timekeeper, a ruthless dictator who dominates the masses from on high. Now a world-altering catastrophe threatens his perfect Order, unleashing Mayhem across the planet.

BE A BADASS
Become an unstoppable force of battle, blasting through enemies with an all-new arsenal of outrageous weaponry. Move across the Borderlands like never before—double jumping, gliding, dodging, grappling, and more—dealing death from every direction. Explode each encounter with devastating Action Skills that unleash your Vault Hunter's unique abilities. Craft your perfect build with branching skill trees and a deep, rewarding loot chase full of wild weapons and powerful gear.

FIGHT SOLO OR CO-OP
Wreaking havoc across Kairos is awesome alone and even better with friends in 4-player online co-op.* Borderlands 4 is designed for co-op from the ground up; whether you're hunting for loot, tackling missions, or wandering freely, level scaling and individual difficulty keeps the party together and having fun.

LESS BORDERS, MORE LANDS
Freely explore a vast and dangerous world rife with warring factions. Hop on your hover bike and ride through lush fields, towering peaks, and deadly deserts full of fearsome enemies, dynamic events, and engaging quests with unforgettable characters. Unite the people of Kairos and ignite a revolution, tackling this adventure however you see fit in a seamless Borderlands experience.