Pets or minions have been a mainstay in all Borderlands games, including the recently released one Borderlands Mobile (although it's only available for a limited time at the moment). Borderlands 1Mordecai had Bloodwing, while Borderlands 2's Mechromancer is the minion class there. Borderlands 3FL4K is one of the most comprehensive pet classes, complete with three different pet options and Vex in Borderlands 4's fulfill both the Siren and minion class archetypes. Borderlands Mobiles currently available class, The Summoner, fulfills the archetype in the latest edition. Of course, as any pet owner would attest, pets and minions are two different things.
That's not to say that Vex is less interesting than the others or anything Borderlands 2's Gaige and Deathtrap are smaller in nature, but there's something special about pets. Death of Bloodwing in Borderlands 2 shows how well done a “pet class” i Borderlands can be, and if someone misses the gameplay and tonality of FL4K especially, then Borderlands Mobile's Summoner class is for you.
Why Borderlands Mobile's Assassin Vault Hunter Is Basically “Zer0 at Home”
While there are similarities between all the stealth characters in the Borderlands series, Assassin and Zer0 are more similar than most.
Borderlands Mobile's pet class (compared to FL4K)
FL4K in Borderlands 3 is built around the idea that you never fight alone, with each pet changing how combat feels rather than just acting as a sidekick. Skag is a frontline fighter that draws attention and increases damage, making it perfect for simple, tanky fights. Jabber focuses on mobility and ranged support, and suits faster, crit-heavy playstyles while remaining active in mid-range battles. Meanwhile, the Spiderant leans into survivability with healing, elemental effects, and steady pressure over extended fights. Overall, FL4K's design focuses on constant teamwork between weapons, action skills, and pets, creating a mix of sniper, summon, and stealth style that works well in both solo and group play.
Of course, it's worth highlighting that FL4K is a Vault Hunter in a main Borderlands game – the one with arguably the most complex gameplay in the series to date. Caller in Borderlands Mobile are much simpler in comparison: they rely on a single companion, a skag named Nigel, who fights alongside them using the Good Boy Action Skill. While the depth and build variety isn't on the same level as FL4K, the core identity is familiar: your companion is present and part of the fight. While the extent of that partnership differs, the similarity between FL4K and The Summoner as pet classes (as opposed to minion classes) is profound.
That difference in complexity doesn't change the emotional flow that makes pet-style classes stand out Borderlands. FL4K offers variety and mechanical depth through multiple beasts, but the Summoner leans towards a more focused bond between player and pet, particularly through moments like rescuing Nigel to strengthen that bond. And that's what makes the pet and minion archetype such a reliable part of Borderlands' identity: it scales. It can be expanded into a multi-layered toolbox like FL4K, or distilled into a single emotional bond like The Summoners' relationship with Nigel. Different games, different mechanics, same core truth—Borderlands is at its best when you're fighting side-by-side with something that feels like more than just an ability.
Who is that character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
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Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)
What binds all this Borderlands characters together isn't just gameplay mechanics, but the consistent appeal of having a companion that actively shapes how you experience combat. Whether it's Bloodwing, Deathtrap, FL4K's beasts or Nigel i Borderlands MobileThe Pet/Minion fantasy remains remarkably intact across the vastly different systems and levels of complexity found in each individual game.
