By Andrew Brown
Copyright gamesradar
Skip to main content
GamesRadar+
The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
View Profile
Search GamesRadar+
Game Insights
Games Features
Games Reviews
Game Guides
The Big Preview
On The Radar
Future Games Show
Action Games
Action RPGs
Adventure Games
Third Person Shooters
Xbox Series X
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch 2
Tabletop Gaming
Grand Theft Auto
Assassin’s Creed
Monster Hunter
The Elder Scrolls
Entertainment
Anime Shows
Sci-Fi Shows
Superhero Shows
Animated Shows
Marvel TV Shows
Star Wars TV Shows
DC TV Shows
Movie Reviews
Superhero Movies
Action Movies
Sci-Fi Movies
Anime Movies
Horror Movies
Marvel Movies
Apple TV Plus
Disney Plus
Amazon Prime Video
Marvel Comics
Toys & Merch
Toys & Collectibles
Dungeons and Dragons
Hardware News
Hardware Reviews
Hardware Features
Desktop PCs
Peripherals
Headsets & Headphones
TVs & Monitors
Gaming Mice
Gaming Keyboards
Gaming Chairs
Speakers & Audio
Accessories & Tech
Gaming Controllers
SSDs & Hard Drives
Accessories
Buying Guides
Newsletters
Retro Gamer
Game Insights
Games Features
Games Reviews
Game Guides
The Big Preview
On The Radar
Future Games Show
Action Games
Action RPGs
Adventure Games
Third Person Shooters
View Platforms
Xbox Series X
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch 2
Tabletop Gaming
Franchises
Grand Theft Auto
Assassin’s Creed
Monster Hunter
The Elder Scrolls
Entertainment
View Entertainment
View TV Shows
Anime Shows
Sci-Fi Shows
Superhero Shows
Animated Shows
Marvel TV Shows
Star Wars TV Shows
DC TV Shows
View Movies
Movie Reviews
Superhero Movies
Action Movies
Sci-Fi Movies
Anime Movies
Horror Movies
Marvel Movies
View Streaming
Apple TV Plus
Disney Plus
Amazon Prime Video
View Comics
Marvel Comics
Toys & Merch
Toys & Collectibles
Dungeons and Dragons
View Hardware
Hardware News
Hardware Reviews
Hardware Features
Desktop PCs
Peripherals
View Peripherals
Headsets & Headphones
TVs & Monitors
Gaming Mice
Gaming Keyboards
Gaming Chairs
Speakers & Audio
Accessories & Tech
Gaming Controllers
SSDs & Hard Drives
Accessories
Buying Guides
Newsletters
Retro Gamer
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
Subscribe from just £3
Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
Try a single issue or save on a subscription
Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From£9.99Subscribe now
Hollow Knight Silksong
Dying Light: The Beast
Battlefield 6
New Games for 2025
Don’t miss these
Borderlands
The 10 best Games like Borderlands to play right now
Third Person Shooters
10 Helldivers 2 tips and tricks to help you spread Managed Democracy
After 4 hours with Borderlands 4 I’m not yet sold on its biggest changes, but Gearbox says “it would be strange” if Borderlands wasn’t “constantly growing and adapting”
Borderlands
Get ready for the Borderlands 4 release – live build-up, reactions, and launch info as we countdown to Gearbox’s open-world looter shooter
Borderlands
Borderlands 4 review: “Undeniably an excellent looter shooter, but one that requires a bit of tunnel vision to fully enjoy”
Borderlands
Which class should you play in Borderlands 4?
Borderlands
I gotta admit, the Borderlands 4 endgame actually sounds pretty darn good: Gearbox showed a bunch of raid boss and loot details, and my RPG brain is locked in
Borderlands
The best Borderlands games, ranked
Borderlands 4 is releasing in just under 2 months, so I’m revisiting the 5 best Gearbox games while I count down the days
Borderlands
Borderlands 4: Everything we know so far
Action Games
10 Stellar Blade tips and tricks for beginners to master the sword
Borderlands
“It is a turning point in our universe”: Gearbox explains Borderlands 4’s deliberately less-stupid story, and it feels weird to actually be interested in a Borderlands plot
Survival Horror Games
9 Cronos the New Dawn tips to help you stay alive in this time travelling survival horror
Borderlands
Borderlands 4 fan decides life is long, might as well spend the next 950 years cataloguing some of the looter shooter’s 30 billion guns
Borderlands
Borderlands 4 endgame and post-launch roadmap revealed: You can start new characters at level 30 after beating the campaign, there are weekly challenges, and the first story pack is “cosmic horror” with “a bloodier, darker tone”
Action RPGs
Borderlands
Borderlands 4
8 Borderlands 4 tips to help you conquer Kairos
Andrew Brown
11 September 2025
Set yourself up for success to overthrow the Timekeeper
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: 2K)
My Borderlands 4 tips draw on over 30 hours of playtime, so whether you’re starting fresh on Kairos or already facing some of the shooter’s dicier difficulty spikes, these tips should help overthrow the Timekeeper in record… well, time.
Though if you’re not quite ready to get stuck in, it’s worth having a look at our Borderlands 4 classes guide to make sure you’re picking the right Vault Hunter for you.
1. Don’t ignore Silos
(Image credit: 2K)
With Borderlands 4 being far more open world than past entries, you’ll find yourself doing lots of backtracking – particularly during side quests. Though you get fast travel points in Kairos’ main settlements, they’re few and far between, which means activating Silos for safehouses is crucial for easy travel later in the game. Yes, they can be a pain to climb up and deal with – especially when you’re only passing by while working another job – but they’re worth taking the time out for. Trust us, you’ll thank yourself later.
You may like
The 10 best Games like Borderlands to play right now
10 Helldivers 2 tips and tricks to help you spread Managed Democracy
After 4 hours with Borderlands 4 I’m not yet sold on its biggest changes, but Gearbox says “it would be strange” if Borderlands wasn’t “constantly growing and adapting”
2. Resist the urge to grapple, but never stop dashing
(Image credit: 2K)
On paper, Borderlands 4’s new movement systems – namely the double-jump, glide, and grappling hook – all sound like they’ve been plucked from a Vault Hunter’s sweetest dream. But in truth, using good old fashioned cover can often be smarter than grappling through the air in firefights. Besides making you an easy target, swinging on the grappling hook can make aiming far harder than it needs to be. Instead, utilize the game’s dash to stay mobile – it’s the strongest tool in the game for staying alive, and doesn’t paint a massive bullseye on your back.
3. Take time to level up between main story missions
(Image credit: 2K)
If you focus solely on main story missions without dabbling in side activities, you’ll find yourself falling significantly behind in the level race. This gets more drastic later in the game, as enemies barring the way to raids can often end up being stronger than those within due to dramatic level scaling. Stay on top of your level before it becomes an issue, and you’ll find yourself evenly matched while progressing through the story – it’s practical advice, but it also makes Borderlands 4’s firefights so much less bullet sponge-y.
4. Try new guns, but don’t be afraid to stick with your favorite
(Image credit: 2K)
Borderlands 4 boasts more weapons than any of its predecessors, but that can make finding your favorites a little tricky. Start by playing it by ear – dabble with as many manufacturers and gun types as you can, paying attention to the ones you like and those you don’t, and you’ll quickly develop an eye for junk and worthy upgrades. Damage numbers can inform your decision once you know what you’re looking for, and while you’ll always want to keep nudging those lovely stats higher where possible, remember that it’s not the only factor. Sure, you’ve found a grenade that does 100 more damage than the throwing knife you’re using, but if it can’t hit flying targets…
5. Fill your gun slots carefully
(Image credit: 2K)
6. Mark junk as you find it, and hit every vending machine in sight
(Image credit: 2K)
Thanks to some pretty harsh storage limitations on your backpack, the opening hours of Borderlands 4 can demand some pretty constant inventory management. While this can be remedied by spending SDUs earned throughout the world, the sheer amount of loot thrown at you still adds up and can lead to fumbling around for space mid-raid. Make use of Borderlands 4’s one-button junk marker to automatically set items for sale as they’re picked up, take the opportunity to sell at every vending machine, and you’ll avoid a very frustrating problem before it happens.
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
7. Use your abilities more
(Image credit: 2K)
Whatever the Borderland 4 class you pick or where you spend skill points, none of that matters if you don’t actually use the abilities on offer. Yes, they can have hefty cooldowns depending on your build, but many fights later in the game are near-impossible to beat without making full use of whatever your class can do. Vex, for example, can wheel out her specters not just to dish out damage, but to take aggro – buying precious seconds for shields and health to regenerate. Every class is a little bit different, but the main takeaway is to not save your ability for the ‘perfect’ moment – that’s rarely going to happen, and you’ll make fights far harder for yourself if abilities are sitting unused.
8. Check out your alt-fire mode
(Image credit: 2K)
On a similar note, almost every gun in Borderlands 4 comes with a random alt-fire mode that can make or break its value. With a bit of luck, you can pull some extremely powerful modifications that complement the base gun – a standout is the underbarrel missile launcher for incredible burst damage, but have a play around and see what you like. It can be all-too easy to tunnel vision in on health bars during fights, so try and get into the habit of remembering your alt-fire modes are available to make things easier.
© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.
Nintendo Switch 2
Xbox Series X
PlayStation
Andrew Brown
Social Links Navigation
Features Editor
Andy Brown is the Features Editor of Gamesradar+, and joined the site in June 2024. Before arriving here, Andy earned a degree in Journalism and wrote about games and music at NME, all while trying (and failing) to hide a crippling obsession with strategy games. When he’s not bossing soldiers around in Total War, Andy can usually be found cleaning up after his chaotic husky Teemo, lost in a massive RPG, or diving into the latest soulslike – and writing about it for your amusement.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
The 10 best Games like Borderlands to play right now
10 Helldivers 2 tips and tricks to help you spread Managed Democracy
After 4 hours with Borderlands 4 I’m not yet sold on its biggest changes, but Gearbox says “it would be strange” if Borderlands wasn’t “constantly growing and adapting”
Get ready for the Borderlands 4 release – live build-up, reactions, and launch info as we countdown to Gearbox’s open-world looter shooter
Borderlands 4 review: “Undeniably an excellent looter shooter, but one that requires a bit of tunnel vision to fully enjoy”
Which class should you play in Borderlands 4?
Latest in Borderlands
Get ready for the Borderlands 4 release – live build-up, reactions, and launch info as we countdown to Gearbox’s open-world looter shooter
The Borderlands 4 whack-a-mole begins as Gearbox takes down streams ahead of release, while onlookers eyeball performance
Borderlands 4 review: “Undeniably an excellent looter shooter, but one that requires a bit of tunnel vision to fully enjoy”
Early look at Borderlands 4 disappears and reappears after fans spot “a huge spoiler” about a returning character, but somehow Conan O’Brien crashing the game was kept in
Beefy Borderlands 4 system requirements promise “solid performance on older PC hardware,” but after Randy Pitchford’s warnings about “realistic expectations” I’m starting to feel a little scared
Gearbox let one lucky gamer play Borderlands 4 days before the rest of us: Conan O’Brien, who hated Claptrap after exactly one minute – “He’s my least-favorite trash can I’ve ever met”
Latest in Guides
Last Judge boss guide, strategy and weaknesses in Silksong
How to beat the Silksong Sister Splinter boss fight
8 Borderlands 4 tips to help you conquer Kairos
Silksong Blasted Steps walkthrough and map location
Silksong walkthrough for the best start and where you should go first
How to connect your retro console to a modern TV or monitor
GAME REVIEWS
MOVIE REVIEWS
Borderlands 4 review: “Undeniably an excellent looter shooter, but one that requires a bit of tunnel vision to fully enjoy”
This enormous exploration board game won’t be for everyone, but it’s a masterclass in narrative and sandbox gameplay
Hollow Knight Silksong review: “Worth the wait and then some, this isn’t just more Hollow Knight but an evolved, spindly beast all its own – even if it’s fiddly at times”
Cronos: The New Dawn review: “An unabashed mash-up of survival horror greatest hits, from Dead Space to Silent Hill, with plenty of its own gory ideas”
This gorgeously weird monster board game warms my Halloween-loving heart, and it’s a delight
The Conjuring: Last Rites review: “Not bold or memorable enough for the Warrens’ final chapter”
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle review: “Roars past Mugen Train as Demon Slayer’s best adventure yet”
The Long Walk review: “One of the best Stephen King adaptations ever made”
Frankenstein review: “A classy, if somewhat safe, adaptation”
Weapons review: “A twisted fairytale that bests Barbarian”
Wednesday season 2 part 2 review: “Ortega shines, but it’s a zombie who steals the entire show”
Peacemaker season 2 review: “Darker and sadder than the first year, but there’s still a lot of fun to be had with the 11th Street Kids.”
Wednesday season 2 part 1 review: “Complex and exciting but weighed down by too many subplots”
Alien: Earth review: “Arguably the franchise’s strongest outing since James Cameron’s Aliens”
King of the Hill season 14 review: “Hank Hill himself has evolved into a much more open and accepting person”
GamesRadar+ is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
Contact Future’s experts
Terms and conditions
Privacy policy
Cookies policy
Advertise with us
Review guidelines
Write for us
Accessibility Statement
Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury,
BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.
Please login or signup to comment
Please wait…
