Borderlands 3 carries on the series' tradition of pulse-pounding action, zany characters, and witty dialogue. The game has received 4 DLCs and numerous updates from Gearbox adding new content to the classic Shoot and Loot adventure. As well the new features added by the developers, Borderlands 3 also has a rich modding community for those who want to spice up their game even more.
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Most of the mods available for Borderlands 3 are downloadable save files that simply unlock existing high-level weapons and items. However, there are still a variety of more creative mods that will shake things up for veteran players by altering weapons, enemies, and loot drops throughout the game. There are even humorous joke mods that make the already bombastic world of Borderlands 3 even more hilariously surreal.
Updated June 6, 2023 by Stephen LaGioia: Gearbox's intense looter-shooter has winded down in terms of post-launch support — but leaving loads of both core and added combat to explore. And while it is safe to assume most die-hard supporters have grabbed Borderlands 3 by now, some newcomers might consider giving the game a go.
While the base version is chock-full of chaotic fun, these players might eventually want to check out some of the growing number of Borderlands 3 mods, many of which are particularly wild and game-altering. The game's modding community is not quite as vast as something like Skyrim, but there are plenty of great downloads available.
The Borderlands 3 Hotfix Merger
There are only a handful of mods available for Borderlands 3 on Nexusmods. If players want to access more complicated content, they will need to download and install the hotfix merger.
The Borderlands 3 hotfix merger allows players to tweak and alter hotfixes added to the game by Gearbox. This tool has its own wiki page with useful instructions on how to install it. It's an essential download for any player who wants to install mods or create their own for Borderlands 3.
How to Install Mods Using The Hotfix Manager
- First players, will need to locate the folder their game is installed in. For Epic Games users, go to Local Disk C:/ Program Files (x86)/ Epic Games/ Borderlands 3. Steam Users can simply right-click on the game in their library and select browse local files.
- In order for the Hotfix Manager to work, players will need to install this Plugin Loader. Download the D3D11.zip and copy the contents into ...Borderlands 3/OakGame/Binaries/Win64.
- Download the B3HM.zip for the Hotfix Manager and copy the contents into the newly created Plugins folder.
- Players can also download HotfixLoader, which works the same way.
- With the Hotfix Manager now installed, players can access it by booting up their game. The manager will appear in the hidden icons section of their taskbar.
- Adding mods is incredibly simple. For many of them, players will only need to find the GitHub page for their chosen mod and click on the B3HM- compatible link. This will open up a page of source code. Copy the link for this page.
- Opening up the Hotfix Manager, click on add URL and paste the link for the mod.
- When players next open up Borderlands 3, their chosen hotfix mod will be activated.
18 Edit Your Profile With Ease
- Borderlands 3 Profile Editor by FromDarkHell
While most of the mods available for Borderlands 3 have been rigorously playtested, problems can still occur. A frequent issue with downloadable save files is that they change the player's stats in their main profile, altering their guardian rank or other important achievements.
Should players need to restore their profile, or just want to fiddle with their stats to unlock new skins without grinding, they can use the BL3 Profile Editor. This tool does just what it says on the tin. It allows players to alter their Guardian rank, unlock new skins, and more.
17 Smol Lands, But A Big Experience
- Smol Lands by Apocalyptech
Bringing more of an amusing Goldeneye-cheat-style vibe rather than sheer practicality, the ability to shrink character models certainly can alter the BL3 experience. Specifically, all enemy sizes are dialed down to 70 percent of their original size.
While this aptly-named sizemod may not seem like a "big" deal, this scaling can make a huge difference when it comes to foes like Wotan the Invincible and other beefy bosses.
16 You're A Wizard Fl4K
- You're A Wizard Fl4K created by Uniqueduck
Those who love cheesing with different elementals and damage over time a la Tiny Tina's Wonderland's late stages should love this mod. Fans of the robotic Beastmaster FL4K should certainly get a kick out of it, too.
Creator Uniqueduck puts this one best — "think Phasezerker Elemental Transfusion Amara with a way better damage debuff applied to enemies." Players can absolutely melt even the toughest bosses with this juiced-up, elemental-wielding Fl4K.
15 All The Red Text Weapons
- All Red Text Weapons And Customizations DLC 1-4 by ZuLLuuKus
Understandably one of the most all-time popular BL3 mods on nexusmods.com, this boosting mod brings more high-powered weapons and OP characters than they'll know what to do with. As the name implies, Vault Hunters will be granted all Red Text guns and other items. This will also amp up the unpredictable, wild nature of the game quite a bit since Red Text are what's applied to distinct trait or ability that makes it stand out and can make an impact.
For example, there is the "...to the grave" Cradle, which triggers a broken shield being tossed out Tediore-style, followed by an explosion before it recharges.
Not only this, but players are gifted all items in the Bank, a handful of Mayhem ten characters, True Vault Hunter Mode, and all cosmetics.
14 A True Melee Build For Amara
- True Melee Amara by CZ47
There are no melee-only weapons in Borderlands 3; the game instead chooses to focus on adding awesome guns to blast enemies apart. Weapons with spikes on them will augment a player's melee attack, but hand-to-hand combat is still far from viable in the base game.
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Amara is the best Vault Hunter for a melee build, and this mod makes her even better. With the cooldown on Blitz reduced to zero, and powers like Personal Space and Forceful Expression applied to all attacks, this mod makes true melee builds not only possible, but lots of fun to play.
13 Level Up All Vault Hunters
- All Vault Hunters with TVHM & Mayhem Mode Unlocked From Start by CptnHappyTymPie
Normally to unlock Mayhem mode, players will need to have already completed the game once. One of the best things about having a level 72 Vault Hunter is that players can go back through the game in Mayhem or the new arms race mode, and test their skills against tougher enemies.
Some players don't want to keep replaying the game to max out all the vault hunters. Thus, there is a mod for downloading save files where they are already leveled up. This mod, created by CaptainHappyTimePie, offers 8 saved games with each character at level 30, or level 72, as well as instantly unlocking mayhem mode. No skill points have been allocated in any of the saves, allowing players to choose their own Max level build.
12 Faster, Faster!
- Speedo Maker by Game Specifications
Compared to other popular games, Borderlands 3's Nexusmods page does not have much in the way of gameplay mods. While some areas of Gearbox's title were criticized by reviewers and fans, the gunplay was generally not one of them, so one could argue that there simply isn't much of a reason to tweak something that is not broken.
Still, the Speedo Maker mod is worth an install for anyone who just feels like their playable character is a bit too slow. This mod requires users to download and use the Borderlands 3 Hotfix Merger, but it is otherwise quite a straightforward addition.
11 A Cheaper Eridium Economy
- Cheaper Eridium Economy by Apocalyptech
Borderlands 3 is like its predecessors in that most of the gameplay entails grinding to get the best loot. This isn't an inherently bad thing. The combat is fun, and the work put into getting legendary items makes them all the more special.
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For those who don't want to grind, though, there are mods to make items, upgrades, and repairs cheaper. These may crash the Eridium economy; however, they are great for players who want to play or replay the game while minimizing the amount of grinding necessary to progress. This mod also lowers the price of all slot machines in the game.
10 The Infinite Slide Mod
- Infinite Slide by Apocalyptech
For fans who have already finished Borderlands 3, joke mods are a great way to have fun with the familiar setting and play around with ridiculous features. This mod does what it says on the tin, and massively increases the length of the player character's slide animation.
There are plenty of vehicles that players can use to traverse the map in Borderlands 3, but this mod adds a new hilarious way for vault hunters to travel with speed. It should be noted that the mod does not make the player's slide actually infinite, just 4000x longer than it originally was.
9 A Mod For Making Enemies Fight Each Other
- Infighting by Apocalyptech
The wasteland of Borderlands 3 is a hostile place with plenty of vicious enemies and powerful boss fights. Monster infighting is a rare mechanic to find in games, especially in first-person shooters, as it tends to substantially reduce the game's difficulty.
The infighting mod sets all enemies in the game to the "enraged Goliath" team, which means that they will just as readily attack each other as they will the player. If players don't mind the lack of challenge, the mod is great for players who are curious about who would win between a Skag and a Spiderant. The mod even makes some of the DLC3 enemies attack their own mounts.
8 The Silences Sellout Pistol
- Silent Sellout by Apocalyptech
The Hazardous Sellout pistol is certainly one of the more unique weapons in Borderlands 3. This gun is obtained during the Sellout mission and will talk to the player, often in a very condescending tone, whenever it is equipped.
While for most fans the Sellout Pistol's mocking jibes are the main reason to use it, other players may find being constantly berated by their weapon slightly annoying. The silenced sellout mod removes the voice lines from the pistol and allows it to be used as a normal gun. It's great for players who love the Sellout but have heard its petty insults one too many times.
7 Changing The Size Of NPCs
- Sizemod: NPC Giant lands (5.0x) by Apocalyptech
Also available through the Borderlands 3 hotfix merger are the sizemods. These allow players to enlarge or shrink all friendly and hostile NPCs in the game.
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There are five variations of the sizemod, allowing players to choose between tiny, small, big, huge, and giant. This mod is purely for comedic effect, although taking on a giant raider that towers over the landscape is pretty epic. Even the game's charismatic, somewhat nonsensical, main villains Troy and Tyreen are much less intimidating when they barely come up to the player character's shins.
6 More Customisable Vehicles
- Vehicle Unlocks by Apocalyptech
There are three different vehicles players can find and control in Borderlands 3 and each one has a variety of skins as well as other customizable features.
The Vehicle Unlocks mod makes all skins and parts available for a vehicle as soon as it is unlocked, meaning players can customize their cars however they want much earlier in the game. This mod also affects enemy vehicles, randomizing the skins and accessories applied to them. This way, they no longer have a set design depending on the area they are found in.
5 Randomizers For Enemies, Weapons, And More
For those who have played and replayed Borderlands 3 multiple times, randomizers are a good way to keep the game fresh. These mods mix up the locations of enemies, items, and more. The Hotfix Merger has a collection of randomizer mods that allow players to control which part of the game they want to change.
The main benefit of randomizers is that they can make the game unpredictable and more fun for players who have already beaten it. The only downside is that they have the chance of making the game incredibly easy. With one of these mods, it's entirely possible to get one of the best weapons in the game right at the beginning.
4 Balance
- Balands by Aaron0000
Borderlands 3 is generally a great game, but it does have several balancing issues. The Balands mod aims to correct these to the best of its abilities, and it also includes the changes from the Borderlands 3 Unofficial Community Patch.
Rather than any huge change that will instantly be obvious to players, this mod straightens a few of the first-person shooter's rougher edges, introducing quality-of-life alterations that make for an overall more enjoyable experience. Going through all the changes would take too long since the mod casts a wide net that impacts everything from Mayhem Mode to gear, but they are all outlined in this README file.
3 A Mod For Making The Game Third Person
- Third Person Cheat Table by Screen Names
There are 4 vault hunters for players to choose from in Borderlands 3 and a variety of powerful builds available for each one. For players who want to admire their chosen character, there is a mod to make the game third-person.
This third-person mode is more of a cheat than a mod. Still, players will find it useful if they want to try the gameplay in a different style or have a wider camera angle to appreciate the game's stylized landscapes and scenery. This mod is, like many of the others, only available on PC as it requires accessing the developer's console.
2 All The Best!
- All Items Game Saves Level 72 Mayhem 10 created by RiotsRevenge
It's hard to beat the prospect of having access to virtually everything Borderlands 3 offers at the drop of a hat. And other than being limited to Moze, that's essentially what this monstrous mod does. Packed into the mod are saved files that yield all the best items usable for a level 72 Vault Hunter and Mayhem 10 run.
Each of the Moze builds comes with a different loadout, so players can still get a nice variety despite being limited to one class. The latest update hosts the complete set for everything up to DLC 2. Assuming one is fine with being absurdly OP, this mod is one of the more fun options to explore.
1 Borderlands 3 Redux Mod
- Borderlands 3 Redux by EpicNNG
Borderlands 3 is full of unique weapons, quirky characters, and memorable side quests. However, this didn't stop a small group of dedicated fans from making a complete overhaul mod called Borderlands 3 Redux.
To try and list all the changes this mod makes would take too long. That said, the main tweaks and alterations include the replacement of anointments with better weapons, a better Eridium economy, and the ability to land critical hits in melee. With all of these changes and many more, redux is the biggest mod currently available for Borderlands 3.
Borderlands 3 is available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.
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