With Borderlands 3 launching in a few short weeks, 2K Games and its developer Gearbox Software shared new information on the endgame and post-launch content for Borderlands 3.
During the Gearbox Main Theater Show at PAX West earlier today, Gearbox provided new insights into the Borderlands 3’s endgame, including the return of the True Vault Hunter mode, an evolution of Borderlands 2’s Badass Rank mechanic called Guardian Rank, and the introduction of the all-new gameplay-changing Mayhem mode.
Here are more details, via 2K Games:
GUARDIAN RANK
If you’re familiar with previous Borderlands’ Badass Rank system, the basic idea is the same: you can unlock incremental stat improvements that apply to all your Vault Hunters. As you gain experience, you fill a special Guardian Rank XP bar. Every bar you fill unlocks a Guardian Token, which you can spend to unlock bonus stats across three distinct trees. The further you progress, the better the rewards available to you.TRUE VAULT HUNTER MODE
This is Borderlands 3’s take on New Game+. The enemies will be tougher and the loot will be better compared to your Normal mode conquests. Whether you select Normal or True Vault Hunter when starting up a new campaign, your character’s mission progress is unique to each playthrough. However, your Vault Hunters’ stats and equipment are shared across both modes.MAYHEM MODE
After completing the campaign, you’ll activate a mysterious terminal aboard Sanctuary III that offers three Mayhem Mode difficulty levels. Enabling one of these Mayhem Modes ups the ante on risks and rewards across all worlds: enemies get increased health, shields, and armor, while you get bonus cash, Eridium, experience gains, and chances for better loot (including “Anointed” gear).Mayhem Mode also applies a random selection of modifiers called Mayhem Mods to every planet you visit. For instance, you might get a Mayhem Mod like “You’re a Wizard,” which reduces the damage players do with normal bullets but increases their elemental damage.
In addition to the new modes that are available in Borderlands 3, there are still plenty more Borderlands 3 content to come. From Seasonal Events to Takedowns to new missions and cosmetics – and of course, full-fledged Campaign DLC – here’s just a taste on what’s to come:
