Borderlands 4 Best Solo Class; What You Need to Know

What to know

• Vex stands out as the top choice for solo play, thanks to her summonable companions that handle aggro and provide extra damage output.
• Rafa offers strong ranged DPS options, making him a reliable pick for beginners focusing on turret support without constant micromanagement.
• Harlowe excels in crowd control with gravity-based skills, allowing you to manage groups effectively while sustaining through buffs.
• Amon brings tanky melee prowess but requires precise timing, which can feel riskier alone compared to more versatile classes.

When you dive into Borderlands 4's chaotic world on the planet Kairos, selecting the right Vault Hunter for solo play becomes crucial, as it shapes your entire campaign without the option to switch mid-run. Released just days ago on September 12, 2025, the game introduces four fresh characters, each with three action skills and branching trees that emphasize unique playstyles. While co-op shines in this looter-shooter, solo runs demand self-sufficiency, balancing damage, survivability, and crowd control. Based on recent hands-on analyses and early player feedback, Vex emerges as the consensus favorite for flying solo, but each class has nuances that might suit your approach better.

Unlocking Vex's summon-based dominance for effortless solo clears

You start by choosing Vex, the Siren class, right at the character selection screen after launching a new campaign. Her kit revolves around manifesting ethereal allies, which is perfect if you want backup without relying on teammates. Head into the skill menu—accessible via the pause screen—and prioritize her Phase Phamiliar tree first for summoning Trouble, a durable pet that tanks hits and deals consistent kinetic damage.

To build her optimally for solo:

1. Allocate your initial skill points into the Incarnate tree for lifesteal on Eldritch Blasts, ensuring you recover health mid-fight without second winds.
2. Unlock augments like Spectral Bond in the Dead Ringer tree around level 10, allowing you to spawn up to three spirits that draw enemy fire and revive you during Fight for Your Life moments.
3. By level 20, invest in capstones such as Phantom Feast for enhanced minion durability, turning prolonged encounters into manageable skirmishes.
4. Equip class mods that boost summon duration, like the Phantasm Relic, to keep your allies active longer during boss fights.

This setup lets you focus on gunplay while your summons handle distractions, making Vex ideal for exploring Kairos' open zones without feeling overwhelmed.

Rafa's turret-focused firepower keeps you safe at a distance

If summons aren't your style, pick Rafa, the Exo-Soldier, for a more gadget-oriented solo experience reminiscent of past soldier classes but with a robotic twist. His passive trait enhances Tediore weapons, turning thrown guns into homing projectiles, which amps up your ranged sustainability. Access his skill trees via the same menu and start with the Remote Agent branch to deploy autonomous turrets early on.

Follow these steps to gear him for independent runs:

1. Spend early points in Peacebreaker Cannons for explosive turret barrages that clear mobs without you entering the fray.
2. At level 8, grab the Double-Ought Autoshot augment to make turret shots ricochet with crit guarantees, multiplying your DPS against clustered foes.
3. Progress to the People Person tree by level 15 for gun damage buffs, ensuring your arsenal scales well into mid-game zones.
4. Cap it off with Volatile Hull around level 25, converting cannons into rocket launchers for boss-melting potential.

Rafa's builds emphasize steady, hands-off damage, letting you position safely while turrets do the heavy lifting—great if you prefer a calculated, explosive playstyle over direct confrontation.

Harlowe's gravity gadgets turn chaos into controlled takedowns

Opt for Harlowe, the Gravitar, if crowd control appeals to you in solo play, as her Entanglement trait shares damage across linked enemies for efficient group clears. She's a genius inventor type, using gravity tech to manipulate battles. Open her skill menu and begin in the Momentum tree to activate her gadgets swiftly.

Build her step by step for solo viability:

1. Prioritize Pencils Down in the early tiers for fire rate and radiation buffs, helping you shred entangled packs from afar.
2. Unlock Entanglement upgrades like Gravitic Pull at level 12 to yank enemies into tight clusters, setting up chain reactions with elemental weapons.
3. By level 18, dive into the Demon Core capstone for amplified irradiation effects, boosting your survivability through DoT sustain.
4. Pair with relics that extend gadget cooldowns, ensuring you maintain control during intense open-world ambushes.

Harlowe's versatility shines in managing multiple threats, making her a solid pick for players who enjoy tactical positioning and elemental synergies without needing constant mobility.

Amon's melee tanking demands practice but rewards aggression

For those craving up-close brawling, select Amon, the Forgeknight, whose cybernetic enhancements make him a durable frontline fighter. His skills blend shock detonations with cryo control, but solo play highlights the need for careful timing to avoid overextending. Enter the skill menu and focus on the Vengeance tree initially for stagger resistance.

Here's how to refine him for lone wolf runs:

1. Invest first in Wrathfall for melee charge attacks that prime enemies for detonations, building your health pool through close-range hits.
2. At level 9, add Stormlance augments to infuse cryo elements, freezing groups for safer follow-ups.
3. Reach the third tier by level 16 for passives like Forge Fury, guaranteeing crits on staggered foes to ramp up damage output.
4. Aim for the Explosive Vigor capstone at higher levels to explode primed enemies on kills, providing area clears and self-heals.

Amon thrives if you master his rhythm, offering tanky satisfaction for aggressive players, though he lags behind others in pure solo ease due to his riskier engagements.

Comparing solo performance across all classes

To help you decide at a glance, here's a table summarizing key solo attributes based on current endgame viability as of September 2025:

This breakdown draws from leveled playthroughs, where Vex and Rafa edge out for consistent solo success across Kairos' diverse biomes.

Wrapping up your solo Vault Hunter journey

As you gear up for endless loot hunts in Borderlands 4, remember that while Vex leads for solo prowess with her reliable summons, experimenting with Rafa or Harlowe can uncover personal favorites tailored to your style. With the game's dynamic scaling and instanced loot, any class can conquer challenges—it's all about building smart and embracing the chaos.