Gearbox Prioritizes Buffs in Borderlands 4: Plans to Fix Instakill Knife Builds Later!

Following the release of Borderlands 4, Gearbox has rolled out a new update for PC that addresses several crash issues, among other aspects. Players, however, are curious about how the developer plans to handle the game’s balance, particularly with current builds that allow for defeating bosses with a single shot.

Gearbox has revealed its short-term strategy will focus on enhancing weaker gear and abilities rather than weakening the stronger builds. For the time being, those instant-kill builds that have become popular online will not be adjusted. However, Gearbox has made it clear that these will eventually be balanced.

Borderlands 4’s creative director, Graeme Timmins, has publicly responded to discussions about these powerful builds, specifically mentioning those that exploit unintended game mechanics or use the controversial knife.

Here’s the statement:

“We’ve seen the discourse about builds that use unintended interactions and/or the knife. We’re not going to act on those immediately, instead, we’re looking at our first round of buffs. Those will get addressed but we’re going to start with underperforming gear/skills first.”

To utilize this build effectively, players need the Vampiric Vivisecting Throwing Knife equipped with the Penetrator Augment. When this knife hits a target, any subsequent damage dealt to them within the next five seconds is a guaranteed critical hit. By incorporating bleed effects, each instance of damage from the bleed is also considered a critical hit.

Gamers have crafted strategies using the knife that simplify boss fights significantly, making the acquisition of top-tier loot much easier. For instance, the Bloodletter passive from Vex allows critical hits from guns and skills to apply a bleeding effect, calculated based on the initial damage. When combined with Vex’s Contamination passive, which enhances the chance of applying status effects through critical hits to a certainty, the result is a loop of continuous, escalating damage.

The community has warmly received the news that Gearbox is presently prioritizing buffs over nerfs. Borderlands 4 content creator Moxsy referred to this approach as a significant win, recalling how extensive nerfs at the launch of previous games led to widespread disappointment and frustration within the community.

It remains to be seen how Gearbox will modify the knife in future updates. Will there be a complete overhaul or minor adjustments?

While there is no set date for the next update for Borderlands 4, the studio has identified PC performance optimization as a critical focus. Additionally, an update that includes a Field of View (FOV) slider is expected soon for the console versions.

Console users are also eager for a fix to address significant technical issues. Recent analysis by Digital Foundry highlighted a progressive decline in frame rate after prolonged play on advanced consoles like the PlayStation 5 Pro and Xbox Series X. This problem becomes noticeable after approximately 30 to 60 minutes of gameplay, significantly disrupting the gaming experience. Gearbox’s Randy Pitchford has acknowledged these issues on social media and assured that a solution is forthcoming. In the meantime, restarting Borderlands 4 is a temporary fix that restores performance, though it is far from ideal as a long-term solution.

Timmins has also expressed concern over an exploit known as “cricket jumping,” which allows players to jump across large sections of the map quickly.

For those diving into Borderlands 4, ensure you’re equipped with the latest SHiFT codes, which are updated hourly. Additionally, there are extensive resources available like a detailed interactive map and a comprehensive Borderlands 4 planner tool provided by Maxroll. Also, check out recommendations from experienced players on which character to pick.