Additional Borderlands 4 patch notes (October 30) won't be able to change my plans

Another weekend has passed, which means I find myself staring down the barrel once again Borderlands 4's upcoming patch notes. If you're new here, I've been documenting my weekend playthrough Borderlands 4 and how it copes/feels with all the known upcoming changes. I was a Vex Main running an Infinite Bleed Build so that was fun. But whatever the next patch notes bring, since our only sample was Gearbox tracking recent changes, I think there's no point in running Vex anyway (and that's a bigger problem).

Probably another Borderlands 4 patch fixes several unintended effects of the 23rd October update: QOL hits to vending machines, even Crit Knife came out unintentionally, etc. Amon has a new broken OP build, so Gearbox can focus on that. It could be that there are some other surprises, but really, what a weekend I have with mine Borderlands 4 the crew emphasized that we were quickly running out of things to do.

Borderlands 4: Grinding the Weekend Away

Unlike the previous weekend (October 17-19), I can't say that we don't have enough time to play, but it definitely seems like the desire to play among my friends is gone. Our Amon Main didn't jump and our Harlowe Main was only on for a short time. When it was time to hunt some ghosts Phasmophobia although? Believe me, none of us will forget it. So for the most part it was our main Rafa and I grinding challenges with Armored Bods. To recap the weekend,

• We tested how bad the Vex nerf was. Yes, to the ground. I've heard of a new Bleed build but haven't looked into it. Quite frankly, we're at the point where we don't need a build (and that's the bigger concern here).

• We then sanded the Driller Sites. I think if I see another page of Driller this coming weekend I'll be nauseous.

• Rafa and I completed challenges for weapon types and manufacturers.

• The only achievements/trophies we have left are Dave the Burrito and Catch-a-Ride (which requires you to get all characters to level 50 for their unique vehicles).

• We've been working on leveling our alts for a while, but that's all the time we had this weekend.

Rafa was running one Driller Site while I was working on another, so we'd go to the new one every so often, just because the grind is more mind-numbing and less fun. Since the Bleed Build (with Knife being weaker than intended) was dead as a nail, I basically respected it and just went for crit chance and weapon damage on Vex. It made sense for the challenge grind, but with all of this, I thought of something else.

Ask not what Grind can do, but what Grind can do for you

I've said many times that I knew Vex's Infinite Bleed Build needed improvement, but I argued that the gameplay loop was so much fun that it shouldn't be forgotten. Once Gearbox fixes the Crit Knife which reduces crit chance instead of increasing it now, maybe my Bleed Build will be viable again. However, I think I realized something over the weekend. I only valued going into the challenges as hard as possible instead of playing the way I wanted to, and there are two main reasons why I'm getting rid of Vex anyway – more or less. In other words, I don't think it makes sense to look for a new build to begin with. First, Catch-a-Ride means I already have to play as other characters if I want all the achievements.

• I work on Raf first with my friends.

• Then I trade for Amon.

• Finally, sort of in between all of this, I'm leading Harlowe in another game with my wife.

Of course, not all players will want achievements, but I can, want, and need to play as other characters to accomplish the goals I set for myself. Well, Rafa and I want them at least. I already have to research more characters and make more builds to get from level 30 to level 50. Our plan, if we can get Amon and Harlowe on (although we'd all be swapping) is to have two people running the Driller Sites (level 50 on UVHM5), at least one running the sidequests and the other running the Vile Bounties. We'll see how the grind goes this weekend if we can get everyone on board. That said, I'm moving away from Vex anyway, so replacing my build is immediately less attractive. There's a lot of build variety knowing that every other VH is basically on par in terms of performance, so it really hurts my desire to work on a new build for Vex. I don't want to chase more loot at the point we are in the game, at least not for the Vex.

The only good thing about Catch-a-Ride is that when Borderlands 4the first DLC comes out I'll have a choice of 4 vault hunters at level 50. But that's probably a few months away and I have to ask right now what is the point of putting together a new building?

Borderlands 4Endgame is crushing bosses, missions and activities like Vile Bounties and Driller Sites. These are all grinding activities to get you somewhere, but inside Borderlands 4they won't take you anywhere. Not yet anyway. I hope he has a strong ending in his future, because right now I'm working for my own reasons and not something that the game itself really motivates.

I understand that my Infinite Bleed Build could be problematic for future content, but the future isn't here yet. I'm grinding to level 50, but even on UVHM5 I can't say I feel the need to have a cohesive build anymore. My desire to build a new Vex or any of these characters beyond what it takes to reach level 50 is going downhill simply because I'm at the end of my rope. I want more, better ending content sooner rather than later, but at the very least I think once I get all the achievements I'll probably take a break until there's a reason to come back. I don't really want to bounce back Borderlands 4but now that I'm wondering what's next after I finish these optional grinds, there's nothing in it that's really set up to challenge level 50 characters, regardless of their build.

I know it's coming, but that's what I (and probably a lot of others) are waiting for. So whatever the October 30th patches decide to balance, I'm happy to play them. I might get interested in builds again once I know there's a reason to build a character, but until then my only goal is to get all the achievements. Then I'll just wait Borderlands 4 it gives me a new goal to achieve whether the DLC comes out or not. Right now my biggest issue with the game is that there's nowhere to take any builds and really push them to their limits no matter what, and until then I'm not sure any balance fix will satisfy me. i believe BL4 i'll get there and maybe i'm impatient but that's what i'm hoping to see sooner rather than later.

Released

September 12, 2025

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Crude Language, In-Game Purchases, User Interaction