Borderlands 3 makes a return to planet Pandora and introduces players to four new Vault Hunters: FL4K, Amara, Zane, and Moze. Taking place several years after Handsome Jack's death, The Crimson Raiders reach out and ask for help as they face off against a set of new enemies -- The Calypso Twins and the Children of the Vault.
Borderlands 3 is filled with tons of loot and plenty of opportunities to customize your character's loadout, skills, and gear. With our Borderlands 3 beginner's guide, you'll have everything you need to be the best Vault Hunter this side of Pandora has ever seen.
What Should I Do First in Borderlands 3?
Borderlands 3 is similar to the previous games but with some newness sprinkled in. This means whether you're familiar with the series or completely new to it, there's something for you to learn. On top of all the chaotic firefights, inventory management, and character-building, there are some additional things to keep in mind.
When first starting out, you won't have access to all of your weapon, mod, or artifact slots. You start off with only two weapon slots and the rest unlock after completing specific missions in the main campaign. See our guide on how to unlock weapon and item slots for a more in-depth explanation.
This doesn't mean you can't carry more than two guns with you. You can keep a stash of guns in your inventory and swap between them as you see fit. You'll also be able to unlock more inventory slots as you make progress in the game, particularly when you meet Marcus on Sanctuary 3.
Regions are level locked so make sure to do as much as you can within each area. This includes opening chests. Returning to open chests later will only result in weapons at a level tied to that region.
Check out some of our guides that cover more tips like this and in more detail in the following Borderlands 3 guides:
- Borderlands 3 tips for beginners
- Borderlands 3 tips and tricks for combat
- How to play co-op in Borderlands 3
- How to fast travel in Borderlands 3
- How to get a vehicle in Borderlands 3
Borderlands 3 Character Builds and Skill Trees
FL4K the Beastmaster
If you're into having a partner in crime, FL4K the Beastmaster brings one of three pets into combat: the Spiderant, Skag, or Jabber. FL4K is another character that is great at attacking enemies from a distance, which is great for landing critical hits and regenerating the health of your fellow mates.
Amara the Siren
The Siren class returns in Borderlands 3 with Amara. Great for keeping enemies at arm's length, dealing critical and elemental damage, and playing support, Amara is a dynamic character that gives players freedom on the battlefield with her mystical abilities.
Zane the Operative
The operative is a new class to the Borderlands series. Bringing the SNTL or Digi-Clone to the battlefield, players that enjoyed the utility of the turret from the Commando and Soldier class will likely find Zane right up their alley.
Moze the Gunner
Perfect for beginners or veterans that enjoy the satisfaction of being the heavy artillery, Moze the Gunner is a powerful, health bar melter fit with plenty of ammo and damage invulnerability if you upgrade your skill tree right.
The Best Guns and Legendary Weapons in Borderlands 3
Guns are a dime a dozen in Borderlands 3. You'll frequently pick up a gun that seems great at the time you find it, and it'll quickly be replaced with another one with slightly higher stats or cool elemental properties or characteristics.
Still, there are things you can do to ensure you're getting the best weapons possible. From inventory management and leveling to saving money and duplicating guns, check out our weapon guides for how to get your hands on the best weapons in Borderlands 3.
- How to get the best guns in Borderlands 3
- All the legendary guns in Borderlands 3
- Red Text Weapons and Effects
Borderlands 3 Challenges and Collectibles
In Borderlands 3, there are two types of challenges: Crew Challenges and regular challenges. Challenges reward you with Eridium and the amount you get is dependent on your challenge rank. You can also get rewards from Earl on the Sanctuary. For detailed information about challenges, check out our challenge and collectibles guides.
- Every Borderlands 3 crew challenge
- How to find the challenges tab
- Holotape locations
- Red Chest locations
- Eridian Writing locations
- Borderlands 3 location maps
That should be everything you need to get started in Borderlands 3. For more guides and tips, take a look at our walkthrough and Borderlands 3 wiki for more.
