A core element of the Borderlands series has always been its cooperative play, with the original game even being one of the first shooters to feature drop-in/drop-out multiplayer within an open-world RPG structure. Solo play has continued to be perfectly viable throughout the series, but its cooperative mode certainly takes the excitement of looting and shooting up a few notches, especially for those playing with friends. Even so, the desire for rich single-player experiences has increased over the last few years, which means it's likely Borderlands 4, despite its value as a cooperative game, will see many solo players joining the fray.
That doesn't necessarily mean that solo players will be at a disadvantage, however, as one of Borderlands 4's Vault Hunters is actually perfectly tuned for solo play. Vex, the Siren, with her ability to summon minions and always have a companion at her side, almost turns the single-player experience into a cooperative one that doesn't require matchmaking. Add to that Vex's skill tree, which emphasizes survivability and sustain, and Borderlands 4's new Siren is a solo player's best friend.
One Borderlands 4 Vault Hunter May Be For Everyone
Choosing which Vault Hunter to pick ahead of Borderlands 4's release is not easy, but one of them might just be for everyone.
Borderlands 4's Vex Is Perfectly Tuned for Solo Play
Trouble Makes Every Encounter Feel Like Co-Op Anyway
There is more than one reason why Borderlands 4's Vex is perfect for solo play, but one of her most distinctive features sees her summoning a minion to her side to assist her in battle. Trouble — Vex's purple spectral cat companion shown in various trailers — doesn't just help her passively during combat encounters, but he can also be commanded to perform specific actions that increase both his and Vex's effectiveness on the battlefield.
Having Trouble along for the ride essentially makes Borderlands 4 feel like co-op anyway, as it means that players can always have a companion at their side, even if they don't have any real people to play with. But perhaps even more than that, Trouble increases Vex's survivability and therefore her viability as a solo character. Trouble can help draw enemy aggro, for one thing, potentially splitting large groups of enemies in two by giving them an additional target to pursue. She's the only one of Borderlands 4's new Vault Hunters who has a companion, and while it might still not feel like playing with friends, it's certainly better than actually going it alone.
Her Skill Trees Emphasize Survivability and Sustain
And Trouble is far from the only thing that contributes to Vex's survivability, as the Siren's skill trees seem to have been built around the idea of Vex being a great choice for solo players, with skills that aim to keep her alive and active on the battlefield. In fact, Vex may very well be one of the most solo-friendly Vault Hunters the Borderlands series has ever seen.
Her most notable skills for solo play in Borderlands 4 are Overprotective, Yowl and Bay, Blood is Magic, Blood is Power, and Overheal. With Overprotective, Vex and her minions gain an overshield with each kill. Yowl and Bay sees Vex's minions gaining max health, and commanding Trouble boosts Vex's gun damage for a few seconds. Blood is Magic and Blood is Power stack lifesteal and damage based on shields and kill streaks. Finally, Overheal allows both Vex and her minions to passively regenerate health when they are overshielded.
Again, there's no denying that Borderlands 4, like every Borderlands game before it, has left plenty of space for those who wish to play it cooperatively. However, it seems that those who intend on playing it solo should look no further than Vex as their main Vault Hunter, thanks to her ability to summon minions to her side and skill trees that prioritize survivability and sustain.
Borderlands 4
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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
