Borderlands 4 Kicks Off 2026 With Its First Major Update and It’s (more) Legendary

Table of content Table of content

• The First Borderlands 4 Update of 2026 Is Here
• Here Are All the Tweaks and Changes
  • Gameplay
  • Vault Hunters
    • Harlowe
    • Amon

Just over four months after its release, Borderlands 4 is receiving a new update intended to prepare the game for the year ahead. If the post-launch roadmap is anything to go by, 2026 is set to be a particularly busy and important year for Gearbox’s flagship looter-shooter. The first quarter alone will mark the arrival of the game’s first Story Pack, which will introduce a brand-new area to explore as well as an additional Vault Hunter. While more details on this upcoming content are still under wraps, this first major update of 2026 already gives players a taste of what’s to come.

The First Borderlands 4 Update of 2026 Is Here

This update arrives shortly after the conclusion of two limited-time events, “Season of the Loot” and “Triple Threat.” During these events, players were able to face new bosses and benefit from increased drop rates for dedicated legendary items when compared to the base game. These events were well received, particularly by players focused on endgame progression and loot farming. Following extensive community feedback, Gearbox has decided to make some of these improvements permanent.

As part of this Borderlands 4 update, the developers have implemented a slight but lasting increase in the drop rates of dedicated legendary loot from bosses. According to Gearbox, the goal is to make legendary items feel more rewarding and accessible without undermining the overall balance of the game’s loot system. Legendary drops should now appear more frequently, while still preserving the excitement and randomness that define the Borderlands experience. Players will be able to see the impact of these changes during the return of weekly events, such as Moxxi’s Big Encore or Maurice’s Black Market, which continue to encourage regular engagement.

Here Are All the Tweaks and Changes

Beyond loot adjustments, this Borderlands 4 update also brings notable balance changes to the Vault Hunters themselves. In particular, Amon and Harlowe, who had been underperforming compared to Rafa and Vex, receive a series of buffs. Several of their abilities have been enhanced with increased damage output or extended durations, making them more competitive and viable choices across different playstyles. These changes aim to ensure a more balanced roster, giving players greater freedom when selecting their preferred Vault Hunter.

Here are the full details on the Borderlands 4 update, including exact numerical changes and ability tweaks :

Gameplay

• A permanent increase to Legendary drop rate chance has been added
• The Phosphene variant of Daedalus Legendary Assault Rifle Bloody Lumberjack has been added to the Foundry Freaks loot pool

Vault Hunters

Harlowe

• Concurrence: Action Skill Duration increased to 5%
• Control Group: Killing an Entangled enemy now restores 6% of Harlowe’s Action Skill Cooldown and Action Skill Duration
• Freeze Frame: Bonus Cryo Damage increased to 20%, Max Stacks are now 5 
• Endothermic Reaction: Harlowe’s Endothermic Aura bonus damage increased to 6%
• Heat Sink: Action Skill Cooldown Rate increased to 10%

Amon

• Forgeaxe and Forgehammer Detonation damage increased by ~72%
• Get the Lead Out: Amon’s reload speed increased to 5%
• Hour of the Hammer: Increased Forgehammer Impact Damage by ~59%
• Freezer Burn: Increased Cryo and Incendiary bonus damage to 9%
• Armor of Contempt: Amon now gains 5% Overshield when doing Action Skill Damage
• Blade Tempest: Now fires 5 swords per barrage, and addressed a reported issue that could cause a change in cooldown duration

Source: Gearbox