As of November 2026 and Version 1.11, the Borderlands 4 tier list most players agree on puts Rafa the Exo-Soldier and Harlowe the Gravitar at the top, Vex the Siren and Amon the Forgeknight just behind, and the two DLC Vault Hunters, Loveless the Hacker and C4SH the Rogue, in the middle. Every Vault Hunter can clear the hardest content with the right build, so the ranking is about how easily and how quickly they do it. Below is the full ranking, the patch changes behind it, and which build each tier depends on.
We checked this against Game8's builds tier list (updated September 19, 2026), Geeky Inc's Version 1.11 tier list (November 10, 2026) and the official Borderlands 4 update notes for Versions 1.7 to 1.11 in November 2026.
The Vault Hunter Tier List at a Glance
Two of the most up-to-date published lists agree on the broad shape, and where they differ we say so. The ranking below combines them, weighted toward the more recent list because it accounts for the October 22, 2026 patch.
- S tier: Rafa the Exo-Soldier and Harlowe the Gravitar. Both lists place a Rafa build and a Harlowe build in their top tier.
- A tier: Vex the Siren and Amon the Forgeknight. Game8 still ranks two Vex builds in S, while Geeky Inc puts her in A after 1.11, so Vex sits on the line between the two.
- B tier: Loveless the Hacker and C4SH the Rogue. Geeky Inc ranks both in B. Game8's list includes only a Loveless leveling build (A tier) and no C4SH build.
| Vault Hunter | Game8 (Sep 19, 2026) | Geeky Inc (Nov 10, 2026) | Build named |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rafa | S (Ricochet) | S | Ricochet Peacebreaker Cannons |
| Harlowe | S (CHROMA Radiation) | S | Infini-Crit Flux Generator |
| Vex | S (Incarnate Bleed, Dead Ringer) | A | Incarnate bleed |
| Amon | A (Onslaughter Fire, Calamity Melee) | A | Onslaughter fire |
| Loveless | A (leveling build only) | B | VPN sniper |
| C4SH | Not listed | B | G4MBIT Fortune |
Treat any tier list as a snapshot. Gearbox has shipped a balance pass with almost every major update in 2026, and our Borderlands 4 patch notes roundup tracks each one, so a ranking older than the latest patch can be out of date by a full tier.
S Tier: Rafa and Harlowe
Rafa sits at the top largely because he received more buffs across Versions 1.10 and 1.11 than anyone else, according to Geeky Inc. The official notes back that up. Version 1.10 cut the APOPHIS Lance cooldown from 38 to 25 seconds and raised Vitriol to 20 percent Gun Damage per point. Version 1.11 then made CYA restore shields equal to 5 percent of Maximum Health (from 4), lifted Asymmetric Warfare to 12 percent Indirect Projectile Damage (from 9) and El Catrin to 15 percent Critical Hit Damage (from 10). Geeky Inc's pick is the Ricochet Peacebreaker Cannons build with the Double-Ought Autoshot capstone and Jakobs shotguns, and Game8 also lists a Ricochet Rafa build in S.
Harlowe's case rests on critical hits. Version 1.11 raised Excited State to 12 percent Critical Hit Damage per point (from 7), increased Freeze Frame's bonus to 40 percent and cut Stunlock's cooldown from 10 to 8 seconds. That came on top of 1.10, which doubled Cold Plunge damage and raised Ground State slam damage from 30 to 60 percent per slam. Geeky Inc's top Harlowe build is the Infini-Crit Flux Generator with the Group Study capstone, while Game8's S-tier Harlowe is a CHROMA Radiation build, so you have two proven routes depending on whether you prefer crit stacking or elemental damage.
A Tier: Vex and Amon
Vex is the most contested placement. Game8, updated before 1.11, ranks two of her builds in S: Lifesteal Incarnate Bleed and Dead Ringer. Geeky Inc moves her to A, not because she got weaker but because others gained more. She did receive real help: Version 1.10 halved Blight Attunement's cooldown to 20 seconds with 240 percent more damage and gave her companion Trouble about 42 percent more health, and 1.11 raised Material Components to 10 percent Kinetic Damage per point and Havoc, Shiver, Stormblessed, Necrosis and Burnt Offering to 12 percent per point (from 8).
Amon is the steady pick. Version 1.10 shortened his Forgeskill cooldowns (Crucible by 5 seconds, Scourge by 10, Onslaughter by 15), let Icy, Burning and Thunderous Rage stack 10 times for 60 seconds, and doubled the damage of Forgeaxes, Forgeswords and Forgehammers. Version 1.11 added 30 percent damage to Crucible, Blade Tempest and Hour of the Hammer and 40 percent to a long list of other skills. Both lists put an Onslaughter Fire build in A, and Game8 adds a Calamity Melee build in the same tier. If you like melee, Amon is the strongest way to play it.
B Tier: Loveless and C4SH
The two paid Vault Hunters sit lower, but not because they are weak. Loveless arrived with Version 1.10 on September 10, 2026, and 1.11 buffed her straight away: Kernel Panic now gives 10 percent Executable Damage per point per stack (from 5), Pure Fusion 10 percent Maximum Health per point (from 6), Contagion's Executable damage rose 33 percent and Lag Switch damage 66 percent. Geeky Inc still ranks her B, explaining that her stealth damage bonus now works only with the Montage Maker class mod, which effectively locks that slot. Its suggested build is a VPN sniper setup from her Visual Paradox Nexus tree, with Plague Star Contagion as an alternative.
C4SH, added with Story Pack 1 in March 2026, is ranked B mainly by comparison. The official notes for Versions 1.10 and 1.11 list balance changes for every other Vault Hunter but none for C4SH, and Version 1.7 had already tuned his Gamer class mod and his Roll the Bones, Luck of the Draw and Chaos Walking trees. Geeky Inc's recommended build stacks Fortune with his Windfall trait in a G4MBIT setup using the Whale class mod. If you enjoy his card-based playstyle, he is still fully capable of endgame content.
Why Tier Lists Disagree
Different lists measure different things, and knowing the method helps you decide how much weight to give each one. Game8 defines S tier as builds that clear all content, including high UVHM levels, need little specific gear and kill bosses quickly regardless of boss type. A tier builds clear certain content easily but struggle in some endgame modes or need more gear investment, and B tier builds do well early but fall behind at the top end. Its list mixes endgame and leveling builds, which is why a Loveless leveling build appears in A.
Geeky Inc ranks Vault Hunters rather than builds and says its order is based on patch notes, not usage data: it weighs the size and number of buffs each one received and compares the result with another list updated for 1.11. It also notes that every Vault Hunter can clear the hardest difficulty, so the tiers reflect ease rather than possibility. Neither method is wrong, but both can lag behind a fresh patch, and neither accounts for how much you enjoy a playstyle, which matters more over a 100-hour game than a few percent of damage.
When you find a new tier list, run four quick checks before trusting it. First, look at the date and compare it with the latest patch: anything published before October 22, 2026 predates Version 1.11. Second, see whether it ranks Vault Hunters or individual builds, because one strong build can lift a character that is otherwise average. Third, check what content it was tested on, since a build that shines in UVHM 1 may stall at UVHM 7 or in the raids. Fourth, note how much gear the build assumes. A setup that needs a specific Pearlescent or a perfect class mod roll is not realistic for most players right away.
Picking a Vault Hunter for Your Goals
Use the tier list as a starting point, then adjust for what you actually want to do:
- Pushing the highest UVH ranks or raid times: Rafa or Harlowe give you the most margin today.
- Farming bosses for Legendaries and Pearlescents: any S or A build works, and speed matters more than tier. Our Pearlescent weapons guide lists which bosses to farm.
- Leveling a fresh character: Game8 ranks dedicated leveling builds separately, with its Loveless leveling build in A, and our XP farming guide covers the routes to level 70.
- Playing without DLC: Vex, Rafa, Amon and Harlowe come with the base game, while C4SH and Loveless are paid add-ons.
- Co-op: mixing a tanky Amon with a damage-focused Rafa or Harlowe covers more situations than doubling up.
For full skill-by-skill setups, our older best builds guide goes deeper into each Vault Hunter's trees.
Want to Test the Top Builds at Max Level?
Most tier lists are judged at max level, and a build you like at level 30 can feel different once every skill point and class mod is in place. If you would rather try the top builds without leveling a new Vault Hunter from scratch, the store's Borderlands 4 level boost powers a character up for you. The listing says it works on PSN, Xbox and PC, needs only your SHiFT nickname and does not need your login details.
Note that the listing currently describes a level 60 package as max level, while the cap rose to 70 in Version 1.10, so confirm with the store which level you will receive before ordering. Other services are on the main Borderlands 4 page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best Vault Hunter in Borderlands 4 right now?
As of Version 1.11, Rafa and Harlowe share the top spot on current lists, with Vex close behind. All six can clear the hardest content with a good build.
Is Loveless good in Borderlands 4?
Yes, but recent lists put her in the middle. She got buffs in 1.11, though Geeky Inc notes her stealth bonus now needs the Montage Maker class mod.
Is C4SH worth buying?
He is fun and capable, but he received no balance changes in 1.10 or 1.11 while everyone else was buffed, so he ranks lower today.
What is the best Rafa build?
Both lists we checked favor a Ricochet build. Geeky Inc names Ricochet Peacebreaker Cannons with the Double-Ought Autoshot capstone and Jakobs shotguns.
Did Vex get nerfed?
No. She was buffed in both 1.10 and 1.11. She slipped on some lists only because Rafa and Harlowe gained more.
How often does the tier list change?
Roughly with every major patch. Gearbox has included Vault Hunter balance changes in most updates from Version 1.6 to 1.11.