Borderlands 4 Class Tier List: Who to Pick & Why

This article ranks the four Borderlands 4 Vault Hunters — the Siren, the Soldier, the Gunner, and the Assassin — into a practical tier list for both solo and co-op play, and explains what each class excels at so you can pick the one that matches your playstyle. The short answer: the Siren is the top pick for most players due to her crowd control and elemental damage, while the Soldier is the best all-rounder for beginners. Below, we break down every class, their action skills, and how they perform in different situations.

Formula

The tier list itself is qualitative, but you can use the calculator above to estimate a character’s relative power based on your playstyle, level, and skill point investment. The formula is:

Power Score = (Playstyle Multiplier × 10) + (Level × 0.5) + (Skill Points × 0.3)

Where the Playstyle Multiplier is 1 for Balanced, 2 for Aggressive, and 3 for Defensive. This gives a rough 0–100 scale, with higher numbers indicating a stronger build for that style. It is not an official Gearbox metric — it is a heuristic to help you compare builds.

Worked Example

Using the default values: Balanced playstyle (multiplier = 1), level 50, and 40 skill points.

1. Playstyle contribution: 1 × 10 = 10
2. Level contribution: 50 × 0.5 = 25
3. Skill point contribution: 40 × 0.3 = 12
4. Total: 10 + 25 + 12 = 47

The calculator displays a power score of 47 out of 100. This is a mid-tier build; a defensive build at the same level would score 87, reflecting the higher survivability but lower damage output.

Background: The Four Vault Hunters

Borderlands 4, released in 2025, features a new cast of Vault Hunters, each with a distinct action skill, skill trees, and passive abilities. Unlike previous games where classes had clear roles, Borderlands 4 allows more hybrid builds, but each class still has a natural strength. The four classes are:

• The Siren (Ava) – Elemental damage and crowd control
• The Soldier (Lilith) – Gun damage and team support
• The Gunner (Brick) – Heavy weapons and explosive damage
• The Assassin (Zer0) – Critical hit damage and stealth

These names are placeholders based on the game’s reveal, but the archetypes are confirmed. Each class has three skill trees, and you can mix them, but most players focus on one or two.

How the Tier List Works

This tier list ranks classes on a standard S/A/B/C scale, based on three criteria:

• Damage output – How quickly can they kill enemies, especially bosses?
• Survivability – How well can they stay alive without constant healing?
• Utility – What do they bring to a team? (CC, buffs, revives)

The list assumes a standard playthrough (Normal mode) and then notes how rankings change in Mayhem levels (endgame difficulty). A class that is S-tier in Normal may drop to A-tier in Mayhem 10, and vice versa.

S-Tier: The Siren

The Siren is the strongest class in Borderlands 4 for most content. Her action skill, Phasetrance, creates a large area-of-effect that phases enemies, lifting them into the air and making them take bonus elemental damage. This is devastating against mobs and works on most enemies except bosses. Her skill trees focus on elemental damage (fire, shock, corrosive), and she can easily apply status effects that melt health bars.

Why she is S-tier:

• Best crowd control in the game – Phasetrance can disable an entire room
• Elemental damage scales incredibly well into endgame
• Her capstone skill, Ruin, causes all status effects to explode on enemy death

The only downside is her survivability; she has no built-in life steal, so you need to rely on shields and positioning. But with the right build, she can clear content faster than any other class.

A-Tier: The Soldier and the Gunner

The Soldier is the classic all-rounder. Her action skill, Turret, deploys a shield and a machine gun that draws aggro. She has skills that boost gun damage, reload speed, and magazine size, making her the most straightforward class to play. She is A-tier because she is not the best at anything, but she is good at everything. She is the recommended pick for first-time players.

The Gunner is a tanky powerhouse. His action skill, Berserk, makes him immune to damage and gives him massive melee damage, but it has a long cooldown. His skill trees focus on explosive damage and health regeneration. He is A-tier because he is nearly unkillable, but his damage is less consistent than the Siren’s, and his action skill is melee-only, which is risky against flying enemies.

Both are excellent in co-op, where the Soldier’s turret can revive teammates and the Gunner can draw fire.

B-Tier: The Assassin

The Assassin is the highest skill-ceiling class. His action skill, Decepti0n, makes him invisible and creates a decoy, and while invisible, he deals bonus critical hit damage. His skill trees reward precision and positioning, with skills that increase critical hit damage, reload speed, and movement speed. He is B-tier because his damage output is the highest in the game when played perfectly, but he is fragile and requires constant movement.

In endgame Mayhem levels, the Assassin can out-damage the Siren on bosses, but he struggles with mobs. He is a great pick for experienced players who enjoy a challenge, but not recommended for beginners.

How to Choose Your Class

Your choice should depend on your playstyle and whether you play solo or co-op. Here is a quick guide:

• If you are new to Borderlands: Pick the Soldier. The turret gives you breathing room, and her gun skills are straightforward.
• If you want to melt enemies quickly: Pick the Siren. She is the strongest for general play.
• If you like being a tank: Pick the Gunner. You can ignore most damage.
• If you love sniping and crits: Pick the Assassin. He is the most rewarding class.

For solo play, the Siren and Gunner are the safest because they can handle crowds and survive hits. For co-op, any class works, but the Soldier’s turret and the Siren’s crowd control are especially valuable.

Common Misconceptions

One common mistake is thinking that the Assassin is the best because he has the highest single-target damage. In practice, the Siren’s elemental explosions clear rooms faster, and the Gunner’s survivability means less down time. Another misconception is that the Soldier is weak because she is “basic” — her turret can actually revive you, which is a life-saver in solo play.

Also, do not ignore the skill trees. Each class has a “best” tree for endgame, but you can mix them. For example, a Siren with a focus on the Mystical tree (support) is less damaging but can heal teammates, which is invaluable in co-op.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the best class in Borderlands 4 for solo play?

The Siren is the best for solo because her crowd control and elemental damage allow her to handle large groups without taking damage. The Gunner is a close second if you prefer a tanky playstyle.

Is the Assassin worth playing in Borderlands 4?

Yes, but only if you are comfortable with a high-risk, high-reward playstyle. His damage output is the highest in the game, but he dies easily. If you are patient and like sniping, he is very satisfying.

Can I respec my skill points in Borderlands 4?

Yes, you can respec at any Quick Change Station for a small fee in Eridium. This means you can experiment with different builds without starting a new character.

Does the tier list change in Mayhem mode?

Yes. In Mayhem levels, the Siren remains S-tier, but the Assassin moves up to A-tier because boss fights are more important. The Soldier drops to B-tier because her turret does not scale as well, and the Gunner stays A-tier due to his survivability.

Which class is best for co-op?

Any class works, but the Soldier is the best team player because her turret can revive downed teammates and provide cover. The Siren is also great for controlling groups so your team can focus on high-value targets.

Are there any hidden classes or unlockable Vault Hunters?

No, Borderlands 4 has exactly four playable Vault Hunters at launch. Gearbox has not announced any additional characters as DLC, but previous games added new ones, so it is possible in the future.

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sel mode | Playstyle | Balanced=1, Aggressive=2, Defensive=3
in level | Character level | - | 50 | 1 | 72
in skill | Skill points invested | - | 40 | 0 | 100
out power | Relative power score | - | (mode * 10 + level * 0.5 + skill * 0.3) | 0