Borderlands 4 brings back some classic characters featured in the previous games. Whether they’re more obscure or major players, some of the features might be surprising, but not as surprising as the number of characters from previous games that have not returned. Listed below are all the returning characters in Borderlands 4 across the main story and side missions, along with what they’ve been up to and what their motivations are this time around for the latest Vault Hunting adventure.
MAJOR spoilers for Borderlands 4 are listed below, so if you want to keep the story a surprise, it’s best to come back to this article at a later date.
Claptrap
Everyone’s (Least) Favorite Robot
- First Appearance: Borderlands
- Last Appearance: Borderlands 3
Claptrap has featured in every Borderlands game, and Borderlands 4 doesn’t break the tradition. Players will first meet the self-established “Leader of the Crimson Resistance” after the first mission, and he makes quite the alarming first impression by demanding you become his recruit. Claptrap is just as loud and self-centered as ever, and his self-proposed importance has gotten many killed in the process, but will this new batch of Vault Hunters be more victims of Claptrap’s own goals?
Dr. Zed
An Unlicensed Medical Professional
- First Appearance: Borderlands
- Last Appearance: Borderlands 2
Unfortunately, Dr. Zed still doesn’t return in the flesh. Dr. Zed was completely absent from Borderlands 3, and while it’s nice to see the character return somewhat in Borderlands 4, it’s not a major role by any means. Dr. Zed features with his classic vending mending machines, allowing players to purchase shields, repkits, and other pieces of gear. Dr. Zed’s charming voice is a comfort in the oppressive Kairos, and while it’s a shame players can never help Zed complete some nasty medical procedures, it’s still great to hear his voice.
Marcus
A Greedy Arms Dealer and a Great Story Teller
- First Appearance: Borderlands
- Last Appearance: Borderlands 3
Another of Borderlands‘ stellar characters returns, but again, not in the flesh. Marcus is the narrator for the story of Borderlands 4, and there are no gun-worshiping cults or vending machines that have Marcus plastered across them. Marcus narrates the animated cutscenes found within the game’s main story, and while there are no selfish or greedy comments from him, this is still his story to tell.
Moxxi
The Exceptional Bar Owner of Bottoms Up
- First Appearance: Borderlands
- Last Appearance: Borderlands 3
Moxxi has franchised to Kairo, where she now owns Moxxi’s Bottoms Up bar. Moxxi plays a small role in the main story, but it’s always great to see her pop up, especially when she offers flirtatious remarks, guns for a tip, and genuinely good vibes. Moxxi’s importance also comes from her mechanic, Moxxi’s Big Encore, which allows players to pay a fee in Cash to redo boss fights without the need to restart like previous games.
Amara & Hermes
The Heroic Siren of Partali and Her Pet
- First Appearance: Borderlands 3
- Last Appearance: Borderlands 3
Amara is one of the few returning Vault Hunters to have a prominent role in Borderlands 4. Amara is once again joined by her adorable pet, Hermes, who is now all grown up. It’s been years since Amara was last seen, and she’s been meditating, growing in strength, and becoming a Siren worthy enough to become a student of Lilith. That is, if Lilith is ever found. Amara is headstrong as ever and extremely passionate about protecting the lives of the innocent, even if that comes at a price of her own anger management.
Zane
Moxxi’s Bouncer and the Somewhat Retired Vault Hunter
- First Appearance: Borderlands 3
- Last Appearance: Borderlands 3
A mercenary and celebrated Vault Hunter, Zane finds himself on Kairos as a man without purpose. That’s not entirely true, since it seems Zane’s purpose is to flirt with anyone that moves, look back to the glory days of Vault Hunting, and sell as much loot as he can with his own vending machines that have replaced Marcus’s business venture. Zane is another returning Vault Hunter and an integral piece of the story for Borderlands 4. He’s as cocky and Irish as ever, and if there’s anything he loves more than not doing his job at Moxxi’s bar, it’s reminiscing on the glory days.
Maurice
The Threatening Yet Peaceful Saurian Runs a Black Market
- First Appearance: Borderlands 3
- Last Appearance: Borderlands 3
Maurice is one of the members of Sanctuary III in Borderlands 3, and while the ship may have crashed on Kairos, Maurice’s whereabouts are completely unknown. Maurice returns as just a single vending machine to promote his black market wares, in which players can purchase random legendary weapons and items each week within a different location. Maurice’s dialogue is still just as threatening, but it’s brief and not an important factor in the story missions or side missions.
GenIVIV
An Extremely Murderous AI Turned Toilet
- First Appearance: Borderlands 3
- Last Appearance: Borderlands 3
GenIVIV was defeated by the Vault Hunters in Borderlands 3, and players can find her in a rather dire situation in Borderlands 4. Deep in Carcadia Burn, the new Vault Hunters can stumble upon a sentient toilet that longs for freedom. through a new and more powerful body. GenIVIV has a fun quest involving Claptrap, which delves deep into love, murder, and robots, but it’s just for a side mission and nothing more.
Nyriad
A Deceased Siren Who Lived with the Eridian People
- First Appearance: Borderlands 3
- Last Appearance: Borderlands 3
Nyriad once again doesn’t return in the flesh, and her appearance in Borderlands 3 was merely as audio logs and written text to tell her story. Nyriad is a long-dead Siren, and someone whose story could be remembered if they dared to discover it. The same goes for Borderlands 4, as players can stumble upon Evocariums, in which solving them in the open world will invite more dialogue from Nyriad to tell her story as a Siren in these strange times.
The Watcher
An Eridian Guardian Who Merely Watches and Basks in Mystery
- First Appearance: Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
- Last Appearance: Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
The Watcher first appeared in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, promising to be a major character in the war to come. However, the Watcher and that alleged war were all but absent in Borderlands 3. The Watcher makes their return here, as a voice in the Vault Hunter’s ear as they traverse through Primordial Vaults in search of powerful monsters to slay and loot to take. The Watcher holds quite a strong philosophy and reinforces their principle that they are there simply to watch. The Watcher even appears in the flesh during It’s a Whole Phase Situation, a side mission that sees the Watcher appear as Watching Gee with a request to save their Phase-hopping kitty cat.
Final spoiler warning for Borderlands 4!
Lilith
The Firehawk Returns
- First Appearance: Borderlands
- Last Appearance: Borderlands 3
Lilith is the protagonist of the Borderlands series, and while her debut as a Vault Hunter in Borderlands was just that of a playable character, she’s grown as both a character and a Siren since then. Lilith was last seen with her Siren powers reinstated after the defeat of the power-leeching Tyreen, and in an attempt to save Pandora and Elpis, she transported Pandora’s moon far across the galaxies. Lilith has been waiting in the Phase for a hero to rescue her, to bring her out of the endless stream of past, present, and future that she’s endured for years on end. Will the Vault Hunters rescue Lilith and bring the Firehawk to Kairos as a symbol of hope against the dying light?
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