Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel may not be out yet, but here’s your head start. We’re helping you plan out ahead of time some choice skills for the playable characters, as we’ve done with previous Borderlands games. Here’s an overview of each character’s skill trees before you dive in on your own.
Claptrap the Fragtrap
Claptrap’s action skill is called VaultHunter.EXE, which is a program that randomly selects an ability to use depending on the situation. It’s unfortunately classified as malware by the Hyperion Corporation. What they call a “bug” Claptrap calls a “feature.”
Claptrap’s trees offer a variety of options ranging from the explosive, to the cooperative, and something for more advanced players.
Boomtrap
Boomtrap will be a favorite for fans of – oh, how does Mr. Torgue put it - “EXPLOSIONS?!?!?” The tree focuses on explosive damage with a capstone skill that activates Pirate Ship Mode. When Pirate Ship Mode is activated, Claptrap is armed with four pirate cannons that will launch cannon balls each time the player fires. As a bonus, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture will play to serenade your explosive damage fest. Because we’re classy like that.
I Love You Guys!
For the player into cooperative buffs, the “I Love You Guys!” tree offers many options to aid your fellow Vault Hunters. Highlighting the tree is the capstone skill “High Fives Guys”, where Claptrap raises his hand up to receive a proper high five. If anyone gives him a high five, everyone in the group gets a buff. If everyone leaves Claptrap hanging, then it activates another action called “Screw You Guys” where only Claptrap gets the buff.
Fragmented Fragtrap
Advanced players looking for a more technical skill tree should enjoy “Fragmented Fragtrap” This tree is all about unlocking subroutines making yourself more powerful with either melee, pistols, sub-machine guns, shotguns, you name it. On the downside, it will make you less powerful in the other action types. Frag Stacks will be gained while your subroutine is active. With the capstone “Rainbow Coolant” activated, each time you cycle through a subroutine, Claptrap will shoot out a rainbow wave that buffs everyone in your team. Additionally, Claptrap will release a disco ball that shoots lasers at enemies.
Nisha the Lawbringer
Nisha’s action skill, Showdown, will automatically aim at targets when activated. The player can quickly cycle through targets by flicking the right stick. You’ll also gain buffs in gun damage, fire rate, reload speed, accuracy, and bullet speed.
Nisha’s skill trees offer something for the player who likes getting quick kills, getting up close and personal, and shooting from the hip.
Gaining stacks of Order is the highlight of this tree. A player must continue to get kills by mixing gun fire, melee, and slams to keep the Order stacks flowing. The capstone Thunder Crackdown adds a cone-shaped shock burst to her melee whip attack for major damage.
Fan the Hammer
There’s a ton of kill skills that buff Nisha’s core abilities in this tree. If you like bringing the law with a pistol, you’ll love the capstone for this tree called “One for Each of Ya” which gives you a duplicate pistol for dual wielding damage.
The Riflewoman
If you like shooting from the hip and are a frequent re-loader, the Riflewoman skill tree is for you. There are plenty of skills that grant buffs for kills, reloading, and critical hits. Players can gain Unchained stacks for shooting an enemy and stacks of Impatience for killing them.
Wilhelm the Enforcer
Wilhelm can summon two drones with his action skill named Wolf and Saint. Wolf brings the offensive firepower while Saint can charge Wilhelm’s health and shields. Both can be recalled early to reduce the cool down timer.
Power up Wolf, get more defensive help from Saint, or go full cyborg by choosing the right tree for Wilhelm.
Hunter-Killer
Buffs to Wolf is what the Hunter-Killer tree is all about. Increased damage, air speed, and added targeting controls for Wolf fill the tree. The capstone “Omega Strike” adds missiles to Wolf when the action skill is enabled.
Cyber Commando
Watch Wilhelm’s transformation to cyborg badass by spending points in the Cyber Commando tree. “Power Fist” replaces his arm with a cyborg fist, which extends your melee range. “Shock Absorbers” enhances his legs robotically so you can shoot while sprinting. The capstone “Vengeance Cannon” makes use of his shoulder mounted cannon that fires lasers.
Dreadnought
Shield boosts and decreased cool down durations for Wolf and Saint are the highlight of the Dreadnought tree. Saint can deploy a large healing zone for your whole party to use with “Zero Hour”. The capstone “Overcharge” buffs movement speed, fire rates, reloads speed, and ammo regeneration for your entire party.
Athena the Gladiator
Athena’s action skill is her Kinetic Aspis (Shield) which can absorb incoming damage. The player can decide to throw the Aspis at an enemy or have it thrown automatically when the timer runs out.
Be the healer of the group, increase melee and gun damage, or build maelstrom stacks for maximum damage with Athena’s skill trees.
Phalanx
Cooperative buffs fill the Phalanx tree with skills that regenerate health and shields for your entire party. The capstone “Wrath of the Goddess” enables the Aspis to ricochet to up to four enemies which is always awesome to witness.
Xiphos
If maximum melee and gun damage is your thing, Xiphos is the tree for you. Increased damage, bleeding damage, exploding bleeding enemies, need we say more? The capstone, Blood Rush, changes your melee attack to a dash with more damage.
Ceraunic Storm
For the advanced player, Ceraunic Storm offers the player Maelstrom stacks which increases all elemental damage dealt. This should give the player plenty of options on the battlefield to finish off enemies. The capstone “Flash Freeze” encourages the use of cryo weapons to keep your Maelstrom stacks going.
We’ve talked – a LOT – about how Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel sits between Borderlands and Borderlands 2. Technically, the Pre-Sequel takes place after Borderlands 2 and is told via flashbacks.
You got all that?
Cool?
How’s about a spoiler-filled breakdown of what exactly has been happening on Pandora these past few years – just to make sure we’re all on the same page?