One of the most entertaining aspects of the Borderlands franchise is its wide selection of fun and challenging bosses. Not only do they vary thematically, but their mechanics often play a large part in how players approach them. Their integration into the story also plays a large role in how well they are received by the players.
Out of every possible future boss for the Borderlands franchise, The Watcher is among the most hyped. Its enigmatic introduction in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel left a lot of players scratching their heads as to what its intentions could be. It also left fans wondering what a fight between them and The Watcher might look like if it came to blows.
The Watcher and The Seer
The Watcher is a guardian that made its appearance in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, showcasing multiple abilities that put it above other Guardians. It seems to have a freer will than most other Guardians, except for The Seer, another entity that players can fight in Borderlands 3. The Seer believed the existence of Sirens was detrimental to the future of the universe, hence the fight that ensued. It is possible that, like The Seer, the player may interfere with The Watcher's plans and Borderlands' future war, which is why a boss fight against it is very likely.
Considering the build-up for Borderlands' Watcher war, the fight and its mechanics would likely be among the most intense in the franchise. It is also possible that players may already have somewhat of a grasp of what those said mechanics could be. The Watcher may employ some similar strategies as The Seer did in Borderlands 3. For example, The Seer was able to spawn additional Guardians to assist it. Not only did these Guardians deal damage to the player, but they could also revive The Seer itself. Considering the stakes The Watcher may have in the upcoming war, it would make sense that it would pull every stop it has in order to leave the fight victorious.
One major ability that The Watcher could utilize is its telekinetic ability to freeze projectiles and bullets in the air. This was showcased in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and could become a major problem, seeing how the main source of damage for players in the Borderlands franchise is guns. This alone could make The Watcher one of the most powerful Borderlands bosses to date. It would also make for an interesting mechanic for players to counter, having to utilize melee attacks or grenades at certain times in order to deal damage. Players could even be punished with a barrage of their own bullets sent back at them by The Watcher.
Another more unique power The Watcher could wield is its future sight/prediction abilities. The Watcher and The Seer have both displayed the ability to see into the future, which is why they sometimes intervene in order to "correct" the timeline. Perhaps The Watcher could employ this future sight ability in the form of input reading. To clarify, input reading is when an enemy's AI is told what buttons a player is pressing and reacts accordingly. This could come in the form of teleporting just as the player throws a grenade, or suddenly speeding away whenever a skill is used. Predictive movement like this would make The Watcher feel like they are always one step ahead of the player. This could lead creative Borderlands players to use specific skills in order to take down the Guardian.
Fans may be waiting a while for the next Borderlands game, so the franchise likely will not see a fight with The Watcher for quite a while. But by using fights with other Guardians and previous interactions with The Watcher, players can have a good idea of what to expect from it. Although, it could end up becoming a surprisingly different fight, such as the one with Tyreen at the end of Borderlands 3. Ultimately, Borderlands 4 could likely be even more intense than past games if The Watcher were to be included.