Most Beloved Borderlands Characters

Summary

• Maya’s journey to uncover her true identity resonates with fans due to her relatable curiosity and growth.
• Mad Moxxi’s alluring and flamboyant design, coupled with her mysterious persona, make her a fan favorite.
• Claptrap’s comedic relief, unpredictable nature, and iconic role as the series mascot have endeared him to players.

Alongside its over-the-top FPS gameplay and vast variety of fun weapons, the Borderlands franchise has also become well known for its quirky cast of fun and lovable characters. In keeping with the outlandish and vibrant tone of the series, many of these individuals are very upbeat and fun to be around, but many also have their own personal stories, which help to make them compelling as characters. While this applies to a few of the playable Vault Hunters seen throughout the series, there are also plenty of side characters who have become fan-favorites, too.

While there are many Borderlands characters who have stood out because of their abilities and powers, this can end up being quite different from the characters who are most beloved. After all, even if someone is absurdly overpowered, they still need an interesting backstory, design, and personality for players to truly care about them, and it’s fair to say the individuals below managed to tick all these boxes, becoming icons within the franchise.

8

Maya

The Siren Who Yearned For An Adventure

• First Appearance: Borderlands 2
• Performance By: Martha Harms

As someone who was made a Siren at an early age, Maya was understandably always curious about what this title even meant. As a result, she would embark on a courageous journey across Pandora in the hopes of seeking answers. Many people like Maya because of how easy it is to sympathize with her position, being left in the dark for most of their life before finally plucking up the courage to find out who she truly is.

On the other hand, though, she’s left behind an incredible legacy in the franchise, which simply can’t be ignored. She would even become the master to another young Siren by the name of Ava, which helps to round out her character arc by demonstrating that she was always much more than just a no-good mercenary.

7

Mad Moxxi

The Dangerous Seductress Has Stolen The Hearts Of Many Players

• First Appearance: Borderlands
• Performance By: Brina Palencia

Mad Moxxi was initially the host of the underground arena, which was included as DLC for the first Borderlands game, but she quickly became so beloved by the fans that her role was greatly expanded for Borderlands 2. After her Underdome is obliterated by Handsome Jack, Moxie ends up getting entangled with the Vault Hunters, who she provides with a few missions throughout the main storyline.

What makes Moxie such a popular character is not only the mysterious aura that surrounds her, but also her very vibrant design. It’s clear that Gearbox wanted to get extra creative when coming up with Moxie’s flashy appearance, with the snazzy top hat and ghost white makeup becoming synonymous with the character, making her very popular among cosplayers, and the character’s humorous backstories with plenty of dangerous lovers and husbands make her a flirty charm.

6

Claptrap

A Foul-Mouthed But Lovable Robot Who Always Managed To Light The Mood

• First Appearance: Borderlands
• Performance By: David Eddings, Jim Foronda

Claptrap is arguably the most recognizable character from the Borderlands franchise, and as a result, it didn’t take long for him to become the official mascot of the series after he debuted in the first game. This small and charismatic robot will often act as a guide to help players learn the ropes every time they enter a new game, but considering how clumsy he is, Claptrap will also frequently lead players right into a den full of enemies by accident, making him pretty unpredictable.

The main reason so many fans have warmed up to Claptrap over the years is his humor. This guy is always cracking jokes, even when face-to-face with a band of vicious psychos, so he helps to lighten the mood anytime players enter a dangerous new area. Though some may find him a little overbearing because of his exaggerated personality, for many fans, he’s a beloved companion who has become a mainstay in the series.

5

Patricia Tannis

Tannis Has Plenty Of Wild Tales To Tell About Her Adventures

• First Appearance: Borderlands
• Performance By: Colleen Clinkenbeard

Tannis is one of the most fascinating characters in the Borderlands lore who has played a central role in the majority of the games. As a former scientist obsessed with the Vault who slowly lost her mind while residing on Pandora, Tannis has an amazing intellect, but there’s also no telling what exactly she’s going to say next, considering how much of an oddball she is.

If anything, that simply adds to her charm, since it’s always a lot of fun learning from her, while also being able to hear a few tales from when she was researching Eridian artifacts. After debuting in the first game, Tannis would return in both Borderlands 2 and 3 to keep the hunters company once again along their dangerous adventures.

4

Krieg

Krieg’s Infectious Charisma and Bizarrely-Nonsensical Attitude have Resonated With A Lot of People

• First Appearance: Borderlands 2
• Performance By: Jason Douglas

DLC characters will usually end up going under the radar for a lot of people, considering they are added to a game after its release, but this certainly wasn’t the case with Krieg. This saw-wielding maniac may seem just like any other psycho on the surface, but the truth is, Krieg experienced a pretty horrible upbringing, which is what turned him into the crazed mercenary players meet in Borderlands 2.

After being captured by Hyperion, Krieg, along with many other kids, was experimented on against his will to become a super soldier. In a desperate attempt to escape his fate, Krieg butchered the Hyperion suits and allowed the prisoners to run free, but it was clear that his mental state had already taken a big hit because of all the punishment he had endured. As a result, his backstory manages to make this bloodthirsty warrior oddly sympathetic, becoming so popular that he would even earn a spot in the live-action Borderlands movie.

3

Mordecai

Mordecai Is A Lethal Hunter With A Pretty Fascinating Story

• First Appearance: Borderlands
• Performance By: Jason Liebrecht

Mordecai is one of the original playable Vault Hunters introduced in the very first Borderlands game, who immediately stands out from the crowd due to his badass appearance and dangerous set of skills. As a skilled Hunter with a flying pet named Bloodwing, who can help him take down swarms of enemies, Mordecai is extremely dangerous when dealing with his enemies from a safe distance, being the go-to character for many people who were introduced to the series with the very first game.

Aside from his play style, another reason Mordecai has become such a popular character is because of his story. Not only would he end up losing his precious Bloodwing during a mission gone wrong, but Mordecai also briefly becomes the leader of the Crimson Raiders, proving he has what it takes to take a leadership role with his buddy Brick. Since then, he has shown up as a cameo here and there throughout the games, receiving a huge focus in the Tales from the Borderlands series.

2

Lilith

The Crimson Raider’s Commander Has Been On Quite The Journey

• First Appearance: Borderlands
• Performance By: Colleen Clinkenbeard

While every Borderlands game offers multiple different characters for players to choose from, Lilith has often been considered the main character of the franchise, and it’s not hard to understand why. As someone who’s been in the story since the very beginning, Lilith the Siren has been on quite the adventure. Being one of the leaders of the infamous Crimson Raiders and the savior of Sanctuary, it’s fair to say Lilith has impacted the long-running storyline in more ways than one.

It’s also important to note that Lilith would have been the first character many people played when entering the first game, and considering how fun her powers are to use in combat, it’s no wonder that she became a fan favorite so quickly. As someone who has shown up in every game, a few of the DLCs, and even the movie where she played the leading role, it’s evident Lilith is still as popular and beloved as ever.

1

Tiny Tina

Explosive, Fun, And A Joy To Watch Any Time She Appears On Screen

• First Appearance: Borderlands 2
• Performance By: Ashly Burch

Despite only appearing as a minor side character in Borderlands 2, Tiny Tina has gone on to become an icon, not just within the franchise but in the gaming industry as a whole. Despite only being 13 years old, Tina loves nothing more than blowing everything and anything up with her wide arsenal of dangerous devices. As someone who lost both her parents to Hyperion, Tina seeks to get revenge on the people who stole her family from her at such a young age.

However, despite the dark and depressing backstory, Tina still has a young innocence about her, which makes her a ton of fun to watch any time she shows up for a scene. Her zany personality makes it very easy for people to connect with her, so much so that she would even get her own standalone spin-off game, where she narrates the entire story from her point of view. Tiny Tina also became the central focus of the live-action movie, which just goes to show how well-known and popular she has become among longtime fans of the Borderlands franchise.