Borderlands 4's next patch notes (October 30) won't be able to change my plans

Another weekend has passed, which means I've once again found myself staring down the barrel Borderlands 4s upcoming patch notes. If you're new here, I've been documenting my play this weekend Borderlands 4 and how it balances/feels with all known upcoming changes. I was a Vex Main running the Infinite Bleed Build, so it's been fun. But regardless of what the next patch notes bring, since our only preview was Gearbox monitoring the latest changes, I don't think there's any point in me running Vex anymore (and that's a bigger problem).

Probably next Borderlands 4 patch will fix some of the unintended effects of the October 23rd update: QOL hits vending machines, even Crit Knife came out working accidentally, etc. Amon has a new broken OP build, so Gearbox can target that. There may be some other surprises in there, but really, what my weekend with mine Borderlands 4 the crew highlighted that we are running out of things to do quickly.

Borderlands 4: Grinding the Weekend Away

Unlike the previous weekend (October 17-19), I can't say we didn't have plenty of time to play, but it definitely seems like the desire to play among my friends is down. Our Amon main didn't jump on, and our Harlowe Main was only on briefly. When it was time to hunt down some ghosts Phasmophobia fixed? Trust me, none of us miss it. So for the most part it was our Rafa main and I grinding challenges with Armored Bods. To sum up the weekend,

• We tested how bad the Vex nerf was. Yep, down into the ground. I've heard of a new Bleed build, but haven't looked into it. Honestly, we're at a point where we don't need to build (and that's the biggest problem here).

• After that we sanded the Driller Sites. I think I'll be sick if I see another drilling site next weekend.

• Rafa and I completed both challenges for weapon types and manufacturers.

• The only achievements/trophies we have left are Dave the Burrito and Catch-a-Ride (which requires you to get all characters to level 50 for their unique vehicles).

• We worked on raising our alters for a while, but that was all the time we had this weekend.

Rafa ran one rig, while I worked another, and every now and then we'd go to a new one just because that drudgery is more mind-numbing and less fun. Since the Bleed Build (with the knife weaker than intended) was dead as a doornail, I basically respected and just went for crit chance and pistol damage on Vex. It made sense for the challenge, but something else came to mind when I was doing all of this.

Ask not what the gate can do, but what the gate does for you

I've said many times that I knew Vex's Infinite Bleed Build needed to be nerfed, but I argued that the game loop was so much fun that it shouldn't be nerfed into oblivion. Once Gearbox fixes Crit Knife, which limits crit chance instead of increasing it now, maybe my Bleed Build will be viable again. I think I realized something over the weekend though. I just wanted to face the challenges as hard as I could, instead of playing the way I wanted, and there are two big reasons why I'm – more or less – divesting from Vex anyway. In other words, it doesn't feel like it makes much sense for me to hunt for a new build to begin with. First, Catch-a-Ride means I have to already play the other characters if I want all the achievements.

• I work at Rafa first with my friends.

• Then I'll switch to Amon.

• Finally, like in between, I run Harlowe in another game with my wife.

Of course, not every player will want the achievements, but I can, will and need to play the other characters to complete the goals I've set for myself. Yes, Rafa and I want them at least. I already have to explore other characters and do other builds to get from level 30 to level 50. Our plan, if we can get Amon and Harlowe on (even if we were all to switch), is to have two people running Driller Sites (level 50 on UVHM5), at least one running side quest, and another running Vile Bounties. We'll see how it goes this weekend, if we can get everyone on board. That means I'm moving away from Vex anyway, so swapping out my build is immediately less appealing. There's plenty of build diversity knowing that every other VH is basically at the same level in terms of power, so it really hurts my desire to work on a new build for Vex. I don't want to hunt more loot at this point in the game, at least not for Vex.

The only good thing about Catch-a-Ride is that when Borderlands 4s first DLC comes out, I will have 4 level 50 Vault Hunters to choose from. But it's probably a few months away, and I have to ask, right now, what is the point of putting together a new build?

Borderlands 4The end game is grinding bosses, quests and activities like Vile Bounties and Driller Sites. These are all grinding activities to get you somewhere, but in Borderlands 4they will take you nowhere. Not yet anyway. I hope there is a strong endgame in the future, because right now I'm grinding for my own reasons and not something the game itself actually encourages.

I understand that my Infinite Bleed Build may be problematic for future content, but the future isn't here yet. I'm grinding to level 50, but even at UVHM5 I can't say I feel the need to have a cohesive build anymore. My desire to build a new Vex, or any of these characters beyond what is required to reach level 50, has gone downhill simply because I am at the end of my rope. I want more, better endgame content sooner rather than later, but at least I think once I get all the achievements I'll probably take a break until there's a reason to come back. I don't really want to bounce away Borderlands 4but now that I'm asking what happens next after I'm done with these self-imposed grinds, there's nothing in it that's really set up to challenge any level 50 character, regardless of their build.

I know it's coming, but that's what I (and probably many others) are waiting for. As such, regardless of the Oct. 30 patch notes that aim to balance, I'm good to roll with them. Maybe I'll care about builds again when I know there's a reason to build a character, but until then my only goal is to get all the achievements. Then I just wait until Borderlands 4 gives me a new goal to reach, whether it's at DLC release or not. Right now, my biggest problem with the game is that there's nowhere to build and really push it to its limits, regardless, and until then I'm not sure any balance fix will satisfy me. I believe BL4 will get there and I may be impatient, but that's what I hope to see sooner rather than later.

Released

September 12, 2025

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases, User Interaction