Borderlands 4 releases on September 12, and like each of the previous titles in the franchise, it’ll arrive with a new playable Siren. Vex, however, is a little different from the usual, battle-hardened Sirens of previous entries. According to a new official character short, Vex unlocked her latent powers from the stress of being a grocery store clerk during a fire sale. She’s a playable Vault Hunter in Borderlands 4 because, according to her, the gig is “still better than retail.”
Borderlands is filled with explosive, over-the-top characters, but Sirens are rather unique for various reasons. With Eridium-fueled powers and glowing tattoos, Sirens are central to the story of the franchise and a defining pillar of its identity. Vex’s official story reveal gives a little more backstory to the Siren, but there have been other characters like her in Borderlands.
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Lilith is the Siren of the Borderlands series. Being one of the four Vault Hunters in the original game cemented her as a powerhouse to play as, but her transformation into a central narrative character in Borderlands 2 is what cemented her as the “ultimate” Siren. As the leader of the Crimson Raiders and mentor of the subsequent Sirens, Lilith is a big part of Borderlands‘ story. She’s central to the plot of all four main-line Borderlands games, and no other character, bar Claptrap, has made that many appearances, or as much of an impact. It’s safe to say Lilith is the gold standard by which all Sirens are measured.
Introduced in Borderlands 2 to a quick launch into fan favorite status, Maya is the second most iconic Siren, bar none. Her Phaselock ability allows for incredible versatility and crowd control, and elemental affinities mean Maya’s builds in Borderlands 2 can be quite unique. Her narrative implementation in Borderlands 3 holds her back, however. Despite an interesting introduction and setup with Ava, Maya’s young Siren ward, she exits the story too quickly to have the impact required to be the best of the best.
Amara marked a clear shift from the Sirens’ traditional mage-like design. Amara’s melee builds in Borderlands 3 show that she is all about punching problems in the face, and that makes her one of the most fun Sirens to actually play. She has the highest variety of all playable Sirens in terms of abilities, with four different phase abilities that she can elementally augment. Her background as a crime fighter on the planet Partali is interesting, but like all Vault Hunters, her real narrative only begins after her debut. Hopefully, Amara’s story will meaningfully grow when she shows up in Borderlands 4.
Angel’s story in Borderlands 2 remains one of the series’ most tragic. A Siren with the ability to Phaseshift, or interface with machines, Angel was cursed to be the daughter of Handsome Jack. She was manipulated, imprisoned, and forced to serve as a power source for Hyperion. She is present in both Borderlands and Borderlands 2 as a sort of guardian angel for the Vault Hunters, and her guiding omnipresence made her betrayal, redemption, and untimely end all the more emotional. While not playable, her legacy as a guide and victim of her father’s ambition cements her high placement on this list.
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Of the many narrative surprises in Borderlands 3, the revelation that series mainstay and insane scientist Patricia Tannis was a Siren must rank among the biggest. Inheriting her abilities from Angel, her status as a Siren isn’t revealed until Borderlands 3. She hasn’t done much with her powers, but she is one of the best supporting characters in the franchise. Hopefully, Tannis will return in Borderlands 4.
Perhaps the most divisive character in the entire franchise, Ava was introduced in Borderlands 3 as Maya’s ward. Following Maya’s untimely death, Ava inherited Maya’s Siren powers, much to the surprise (and frustration) of many fans. The somewhat grating character took an unexpectedly large role in the narrative of Borderlands 3, but throughout the game’s DLC cycle, Ava went through a rather large shift in personality. She ultimately becomes a less impulsive and more self-aware character, and there’s potential for Ava to shine in Borderlands 4, especially if these changes are expanded upon. For now, general opinion on Ava remains mixed.
Technically, only Tyreen Calypso is a Siren, but the fact that her brother Troy can parasitically siphon her powers is enough to earn them both a spot in the ranking. If this list were based on power alone, the Calypsos’ leeching abilities would’ve placed them much higher. Unfortunately, the Calypso Twins influencer-style villainy didn’t land for many. Their low ranking mainly has to do with them being one of the worst elements within Borderlands 3.
The original Borderlands antagonist, Commandant Steele, is technically the first Siren players ever chronologically encountered. Unfortunately, she’s also the one with the least development or impact in terms of the Siren legacy. Her status as a Siren wasn’t even confirmed until post-release lore and Borderlands extended universe material dropped, and nothing in her design or abilities made this clear during the actual game. If anything, the most she is remembered for is an untimely death at the hands of the first Vault monster, the Destroyer.
That is really the gist of the list, but honorable mention goes to the Sirens Dido and Nyriad, referenced in Borderlands 3, and the Siren Asha, from the Borderlands: The Fall of Fyrestone comic. Based on what fans know, Nyriad had the same sort of leech abilities as the Calypso twins, and Asha could control animals. Though varying in status in the lore, the lack of characterization holds them back from placement above any of the rest. They do flesh out the lore of Sirens in Borderlands, and that is always appreciated.
Every Siren, from Lilith to Commandant Steele, has shaped Borderlands‘ chaotic story in their own way. With Vex set to arrive with Borderlands 4 on September 12, it’ll be interesting to see how players rank her in the canon of Siren characters. All players know right now is that she looks powerful, and her backstory trades in the traditional merc work for retail trauma. At least that makes her the most relatable Siren so far.
September 12, 2025
Rating Pending
Unreal Engine 5
Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
Yes – all
