Borderlands 4 has launched, and in the nearly two weeks since release players have been uncovering extremely potent vault hunter builds — some so powerful that Gearbox says it will not nerf them right away, opting instead to roll out targeted buffs.
Creative director Graeme Timmins addressed the discussion in a recent post, responding to threads about allegedly “broken” or overpowered builds — from claims that Vex may be the series’ strongest vault hunter to unconventional speedrunning tactics — and confirming the team won’t immediately move to nerf those playstyles.
That doesn’t rule out nerfs down the line. As Timmins noted, those issues “will get addressed,” but Gearbox plans to prioritize improving underperforming gear and skills first — a move that has clearly eased many players’ concerns.
Community reactions were largely positive. One player wrote, “Devs recognizing priorities in a non-competitive PvE game — is this real life?” Another cheerfully asked, “Buffs before nerfs?” and a fan added, “This is the soul of the genre: loot gets broken, and then tougher content and better loot answer it.” Judging by the comments, most players seem to welcome this approach.
The series’ history helps explain that sentiment: nerfs to titles like Borderlands 3 and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands sparked backlash when they arrived early, so avoiding immediate heavy-handed changes is a welcome shift for many. YouTuber Moxsy echoed that approval in a reply to Timmins.
This is such a huge W. Massive nerfs hitting Wonderlands & BL3 on launch caused huge outrage and frustration in the community. Love to see this direction https://t.co/MpyudZUl0aSeptember 23, 2025
Not everyone wants popular builds changed, though. As one commenter put it, “If people are enjoying their broken builds, why take that away? I’m not harming anyone — buff the underused things instead.” That perspective resonates with players who enjoy overpowering their characters, but ultimately Gearbox will adjust systems as it deems appropriate.
Fans will be hoping the upcoming buffs are meaningful and that major nerfs remain off the table for now. Our Borderlands 4 review calls the game “undeniably an excellent looter shooter,” suggesting it could rank among the series’ best entries.
If you’re diving into the new action RPG, check our Borderlands 4 tips for a smoother start in Kairos.
Source: gamesradar.com
