Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands looks like a dream come true for fans of the Borderlands 2 DLC Assault on Dragon Keep. Not only is the fantasy theme making a comeback, but so too is the style of storytelling being used and Tiny Tina herself. While the game will feature plenty of guns like the mainline Borderlands titles, there is also lot that sets it apart.
For those that have not kept up with all the Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands trailers and livestreams, there is a lot of information to take in before the game releases on March 25. From new characters to major features that help the spin-off forge its own identity, fans can learn a good bit about what Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands will have to offer.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ Setting and Characters
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ place in the Borderlands timeline sees it being set shortly after Borderlands 2 and long before the events of Borderlands 3. This means that Tina is still Tiny, guaranteeing that she’ll have her signature high-pitched voice and that she’ll be as over-the-top as ever. While fans have only seen a few of the returning characters, like Torgue and Brick, some new additions have also been confirmed.
Frette is a robot played by Wanda Sykes, and she is obsessed with the rules of Bunkers and Badasses - meaning that she could get very upset when Tina Tina continuously goes out of their way to break them. As for Andy Samberg’s Valentine, another new character playing the game alongside Tina, he apparently hates patience. This headstrong nature could see him messing up a lot of Tina’s long-term plans, which should make for more hilarious interactions with the demolitions expert.
As for the villain, the Dragon Lord will be played by Will Arnett. While he has some big shoes to fill since the main series has featured the likes of Handsome Jack, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands seems to be going all-in on telling a story that is more about humor than anything else. As such, he should be an entertaining villain that adds even more comedy to the game, ensuring that Gearbox is firing on all cylinders when it comes to its opportunities for jokes.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ Dungeons and Dragons Inspirations
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands wears its Dungeons and Dragons inspirations on its sleeve, something that has led to a number of interesting mechanics being introduced. One of these is the Overworld map, which will see players walking between areas with some big-headed versions of their characters. While traversing this map, random encounters with roaming enemies will see gamers thrown into fights to get some extra loot. These fights will see players transition into first person, exiting the arena and moving back to the Overworld once the fight is complete.
Alongside an Overworld map that perfectly suits the vibe the game is going for, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands features a deep character creator for fans to engage with. Just like in Dungeons and Dragons, gamers can make their protagonist whatever they would like, with human and non-human customization options available. Players can choose the size of both their body and their heads, decide where facial features like eyes are placed, and determine whether their character wears makeup.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands also features spells in place of grenades and proper melee weapons, two excellent additions that should shake up gameplay in a major way. With players now able to swing axes and swords several times in a row, mixing close quarters combat into their offense with ease, some more interesting melee builds could end up being seen. As for spells, these powerful additions provide a variety of attacks, and players will likely want to wield plenty of magic as they fire off their guns.
Gearbox truly drives home the fantasy theme through Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ redesigned HUD and characters. From different on-screen text and a redesigned map to a more wooden version of the talkative robot Claptrap, the fantasy spin-off has its own aesthetic that helps players separate it from the main series. Even if the core gameplay feels similar, there are enough changes that should help ensure this particular game feels like its own product, as everything shown thus far makes it seem like the game’s setting is being used to its full potential.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ New Class System
Unlike previous Borderlands games, players will have six classes to choose from in Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. These classes are all different from those seen in previous Borderlands titles, with each having distinct abilities for players to make use of. These classes are as follows.
- Brr-Zerker: A clever play on the Berserker class from Borderlands 3, this class will see gamers wielding an icy axe to deal some cryo damage. Feral Surge sees players leaping forward and slamming the ground with the axe, while Dreadwind sees them spinning in circles to deal serious damage.
- Stabbomancer: Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ stealth-focused class sees gamers throwing a Ghost Blade forward, which spins where it lands for a few seconds and does continuous melee damage. From The Shadows should be familiar to fans of FL4K and Zer0, as it allows Stabbomancers to go invisible.
- Clawbringer: This Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands class gives players a large, throwable hammer that lets them live out their fantasies of using Mjolnir. Alongside the throw that is dubbed Storm Dragon’s Judgment, the hammer can be slammed in the ground via the Cleansing Flames ability to make a fire nova. The Clawbringer class also has a Wyvern companion.
- Spellshot: Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands' Spellshot class allows players to wield two spells at the same time, with Ambi-Hextrous letting them place a spell into their action skill slot. As for Polymorph, it will see enemies turned into a harmless Skeep. If the foe targeted with Polymorph is immune, Spellshots will get a free spell.
- Graveborn: Arguably Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ most unique class, this high-risk high-reward option sees players trading health to use strong abilities. Dire Sacrifice unleashes dark magic on nearby enemies, while Reaper of Bones allows players to deal extra damage at the cost of their health constantly being drained. Graveborns have a Demi-Lich companion, too.
- Spore Warden: Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ Spore Warden class not only gives players an adorable Mushroom companion, but also an ethereal bow. Said bow allows them to fire seven shots at once through Barrage, while Blizzard allows Spore Wardens to summon six frost cyclones that will hunt down any nearby enemies.
Unlike in other Borderlands games, players will not be forced to choose just one of the available classes. Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands features a multi-class approach that allows gamers to pick a second class. This should provide a lot of replayability, as Gearbox is giving gamers the opportunity to build a number of interesting character combinations through this system.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ Endgame and Post-Launch Content
For those hoping for endgame content, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ Chaos Chambers should prove exciting. This endgame mode will see players fighting through six dungeons, with a mini boss and final boss seen at the middle and end of runs. There will be sixty different rooms that can feature in the Chaos Chambers, with random lineups ensuring that each attempt feels different.
The goal will be to collect as many crystals as possible during each of the 20-30 minutes runs, as having more crystals at the end ensures players get better loot from the rabbit statues. With players able to pick the exact type of loot they want from these rabbits, hunting down specific Legendaries should be a lot less tedious than grinding a specific boss fight for hours. Players can also purchase blessings and curses, which make things easier or add to the challenge. With optional objectives to complete for more crystals, a weekly Chaos Chamber that allows players to compete to be the best, and hidden raid boss-level fights, the mode sounds exciting.
Lastly, for those planning to stick with Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands after it launches, the post-launch content could prove enticing. Mirrors of Mystery will see players entering a special arena to face a boss, and each time they return, the boss will get stronger. A special loot wheel can be spun, giving gamers another way to acquire better gear. These DLCs will be narrated by Vesper, a character that will tell stories about each Mirror’s boss. Four Mirrors will be released as part of the Season Pass, though all can be purchased separately.
With each boss added to the Chaos Chambers once beaten, and a new Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands class dropping alongside the final Mirror of Mystery, the DLC could be a worthwhile investment for those that enjoy the base game. With the title just a few days away from launch, now is the time for gamers to decide if they want to experience Tina’s latest Bunkers and Badasses campaign.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands launches March 25 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
