borderlands the pre sequel classes Every Class Ranked and Best Builds
Choosing the perfect Vault Hunter in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel alters how you navigate the low-gravity environments of Elpis. Each character introduces unique mechanical interactions that influence both solo survivability and cooperative team synergy. Understanding how these classes stack against one another allows players to maximize their combat efficiency during intense encounters.
Top Tier Elpis Gladiators
Nisha the Lawbringer and Athena the Gladiator stand firmly at the peak of the character rankings. Nisha utilizes an automatic aiming skill that scales exceptionally well with high fire-rate weapons. Her pistol-focused setups can dismantle entire groups of enemies within seconds by maximizing critical damage modifiers.
Athena provides unmatched defensive capabilities by absorbing incoming damage with her Kinetic Aspis shield. This energetic shield can then be thrown to deal devastating elemental burst damage across the battlefield. Players who enjoy elemental status effects will find her Maelstrom skill tree incredibly rewarding during late-game challenges.
Versatile Mid Tier Challengers
Jack the Doppelganger and Wilhelm the Enforcer offer balanced playstyles that rely heavily on summoning external battlefield support. Jack can project multiple digital clones that draw enemy attention while triggering powerful combat bonuses upon their destruction. This unique mechanic makes his setups exceptionally resilient during difficult solo boss encounters.
Wilhelm relies on his loyal cybernetic drones, Wolf and Saint, to handle offensive targeting and structural health regeneration simultaneously. As players progress through his cybernetic augmentation paths, Wilhelm physically transforms to gain permanent defensive enhancements. This steady mechanical progression ensures a highly reliable experience for players exploring the dangerous frontier.
Specialized Strategic Contenders
Claptrap the Fragtrap and Aurelia the Baroness occupy unique niche roles that require distinct strategic approaches. Claptrap introduces chaotic randomness to the battlefield by utilizing an unpredictable action skill that alters team mechanics on the fly. While highly explosive, his explosive build setups require players to adapt constantly to changing combat conditions.
Aurelia excels at long-range engagement by dominating the battlefield with powerful cryogenic sniper configurations. Her specialized skill trees allow her to freeze entire waves of targets before they can threaten the party. She also features a unique contract system that grants significant cooperative bonuses when paired with a dedicated teammate.
Optimizing Your Vault Hunter Setup
Building the ultimate character requires balancing specific skill point allocations with corresponding weapon manufacturers. Matching the right class archetype with high-tier gear options determines your ultimate effectiveness against raid bosses. Experimenting with different mechanical configurations allows players to find a comfortable balance between raw damage output and personal survival.