Borderlands 4 Needs to Pull the Trigger on The Destroyer's Return

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Borderlands 4 Needs to Pull the Trigger on One Chekhov's Gun from the First Game

Borderlands

By Devin Friend

Published Nov 29, 2023

Highlights

Borderlands 4 could bring back The Destroyer as a major threat, raising the stakes for the game and potentially involving old Vault Hunters.
The Destroyer, the final boss of the first Borderlands game, has the power to destroy Pandora and even large sections of space if fully unleashed.
The return of The Destroyer would be a significant throwback and a fitting final boss for Borderlands 4, providing an epic climax for the series.

Borderlands 4 has one surprise that it can spring on fans, hailing all the way from the first game in the series. The next chapter in the Borderlands series will have to feature something impressive since the games keep raising the bar with every installment. This is especially true after the many wild developments that came to pass in Borderlands 3. There is a big throwback that the game could turn into a major part of the story in the upcoming installment. Even better, it's one that was set up perfectly by the events of Borderlands 3.

Considering the way that Borderlands brings back past Vault Hunters in new games, as well as other NPCs, the series isn't afraid of using its past for future stories. With the exception of characters who have died, many members of the casts of past games have stuck around in ensuing installments. Some have evolved in their roles, such as Lilith ascending to the leader of the Crimson Raiders, or Tannis becoming a Siren. After Borderlands 3, the setting of the series has changed drastically, leaving many story threads open. It'll be up to Borderlands 4 to carry the series into this chaotic new chapter.

Why Ava Will Have a Big Role in Borderlands 4

Ava is one of the more important characters to debut in Borderlands 3, and her story will likely be continued in the plot of Borderlands 4.

The Destroyer is Borderlands' Biggest Underlying Threat

So far, there's no information on who Borderlands 4's villain will be, but a look at the past provides a very valid option. Although Handsome Jack, Tyreen, and Troy are dead, the same cannot be said for The Destroyer. The Destroyer was the final boss of the first Borderlands, and it was a gigantic monster that emerged from the vault at the end of the game. Although not cunning or ambitious like Borderlands' other main antagonists, The Destroyer's sheer power is enough to make it a dangerous enemy. While it hasn't been seen since the first game, that doesn't mean it's no longer a threat.

The Destroyer doesn't appear in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel , but Handsome Jack does recover its eye and use it to make a superweapon called The Eye of Helios.

Borderlands 3 revealed that The Destroyer's lore is deeper than expected. Borderlands' iconic setting of Pandora is actually a prison designed to keep The Destroyer contained. It's been resting since its defeat in Borderlands, and if it ever fully escapes, then not only will Pandora be destroyed, but The Destroyer will likely annihilate huge sections of space. It took the combined strengths of the Siren Nyriad and the Eridian people just to seal The Destroyer away the first time. In comparison, the Vault Hunters sound hopelessly outgunned. But if they beat The Destroyer once, then they might have a chance to destroy it for good.

Focusing on the potential return of The Destroyer could not only be a rewarding storyline for Borderlands fans, it would be a perfect way to raise the stakes. The villains will have escalated from a supremely selfish businessman to power-hungry Sirens and then to a full-blown galactic threat. If anything, this could make Borderlands 4 the game that finally makes old Vault Hunters playable again, due to their experience being required for such a threat, or at the very least get them all involved in the events. A final battle with The Destroyer would be a suitably epic climax for Borderlands 4 to pursue.

Although not cunning or ambitious like Borderlands ' other main antagonists, The Destroyer's sheer power is enough to make it a dangerous enemy.

Nyriad left a warning that The Destroyer would come back, and that's too good of an opportunity to pass up. If Gearbox goes all-in with Borderlands 4, it's hard to imagine a better final boss than a returning Destroyer. It's the first serious threat that players faced in the series, and the only one confirmed to still be out there. It would not only be a threat to Pandora but the entire universe, making the return of The Destroyer the most effective throwback that Borderlands 4 could pull out.

Borderlands

Borderlands is an action RPG first-person shooter created by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games. The series is commonly called a looter shooter set in a space Western style, where players can select from multiple classes that can level up and acquire new skills. The franchise has quickly become one of the best-selling franchises and produced spin-offs like Tales from the Borderlands as well as a film adaptation being developed by Lionsgate.