The Best Vault Hunters Protagonists You Can Play As In The Borderlands Series

It was quite a shock to those on Pandora that there wasn’t just one great vault. Though that did mean there was a sudden surge in other Vault Hunters coming forth to travel across the galaxy, in search of loot and alien monsters to fight.

We have been lucky to play as some of those Vault Hunters. As the Borderlands series continues, we’ve gotten to see more and more interesting people from across the galaxy who have dropped everything to search for everything the vaults have to offer. But that raises the question: which ones are the best in the series?

Krieg

All Aboard

The psycho that became a Vault Hunter. Some people in the Borderlands series were slow to trust Krieg with his mask and giant buzzaxe, but others saw him as the friendly companion he truly is.

His wild dialogue, interesting backstory, and later connection with Maya made him a surprisingly well-rounded character as the series grew. So much so that he got a DLC all about him and the weird ways his mind works. It was a welcome addition to Borderlands 2, with some interesting and explosive abilities too.

Lilith

The Firehawk

One of the original four Vault Hunters, Lilith has been a cornerstone throughout the series. She’s been through a lot, which made how her story ended in Borderlands 3 that much more heart-rending.

Seeing her grow from fledgling hunter to cult leader, and then hero of the galaxy, was something quite unexpected from a series with so many toilet-based jokes. Her death was definitely one of the heaviest-hitting in the games, not only as the loss of a powerful siren, but a foundational piece of what Borderlands is.

Zer0

Swordsman Of Legend

A man of few words, but often poetic ones, Zer0 adds some grace to the roster of Vault Hunters. His skills weren’t for every player, focusing more on stealth and well-aimed strikes, but his popularity grew in Borderlands 3 as his character developed and became a bit more talkative as a bodyguard for Atlas.

His unique personality stands out from the rest of the Borderlands’ universe for not being so brash, which, combined with his ability to cut through walls later on, makes him an amazing addition to the series as a whole.

Fl4k

The various beasts of Pandora and the surrounding planets are one of the many facets that keep the Borderlands series interesting. Knowing that, it was only a matter of time before a Vault Hunter took the beasts of the galaxy and used them for their own benefit. Sure, Mordecai had Bloodwing (RIP), but Fl4k and their pack are something else entirely.

No matter the playstyle, Fl4k has a pet to aid them in their adventures. Their straight and often confused dialogue was always tempered by the jokes of the game, which just made them that much more funny.

Brick

A Fist For Every Situation

Another of the first four Borderlands Vault Hunters. Brick is just like his namesake, dense, strong, and deadly. Brick is fine with using the various guns found in the universe, but prefers to let his fists do most of the hard work.

He has built up his share of scars, stories, and friends over the years and is actually quite jovial to those he holds close. It’s a surprising amount of depth in a character that seemed like a one-off bruiser, which makes him such an interesting figure for the series, and one of the greats.

Maya

Time To Phaselock

Another of the infamous sirens of the galaxy. Maya and her phaselock abilities made dealing with tougher enemies all that much easier by nullifying them for a few moments and dealing extra damage to them.

Even outside of her own game, she was a vital part of the Vault Hunter team, even until her untimely death. It was a great passing of the torch moment, though, to see her protégé learn from her and take on the mantle of one of the next sirens. Maybe one day we’ll get to play as Ava with her own take on the siren’s abilities.

Roland

Rest In Peace

A foundational member of not only the vault hunters of Borderlands, but of the playstyles that followed. Roland was an ex-Crimson Lance soldier, a name that has faded into the background since more exciting armies and cults have graced the planets.

Using his turret, he was able to take out multiple enemies and protect his friends, something he did quite well. He was always methodical in his approaches and kept a cool head, something that served him and the rest of the Crimson Raiders up until the very end.

Claptrap

An Unlikely Hero

No matter your thoughts on the Pre-Sequel, you have to admit Claptrap is technically a Vault Hunter. Albeit one used by a maniacal CEO of a bloodthirsty weapons company, but a hunter nonetheless.

It was a surprise to many to see the comic relief character of all the comic relief characters grab a rifle and join the fight. He had some wacky abilities, which make more sense now that other claptraps have been enemies in later games. Even though he has hung up the hat of a frontline soldier and maybe even a general, he is still a major part of the vault hunting crew.

Moze

The Mech Pilot

A newer addition to the series’ Vault Hunters. Moze is an ex-soldier for a special unit of the Vladof corporation. She and her giant mech stride into battle either as one unit or side by side and wreak a lot of havoc.

Moze was a great addition for players who wanted to see all the Borderlands mayhem with flamethrowers, rockets, and heavy machine guns galore. Hopefully, she will be a recurring character who helps the next set of hunters along their way, too.

Gaige

And Deathtrap Of Course

Fans of RPGs will appreciate the fun twist that the Borderlands games had on the necromancer class archetype that most games have. Gaige is the “mechromancer” of Borderlands 2, who showed up as a DLC character.

She and her companion, Deathtrap, brought some fun skills and plenty of lasers to the party. Seeing her a bit more in the Pre-Sequel and in the Guns, Love, and Tentacles DLC for Borderlands 3 added a bit more humanity to her character, making her a fun addition to the universe.