Answer the question “What are Borderlands 3 elements?” and learn how to use the different damage types to your advantage. From fire to radiation, this guide covers it all to help you become a more effective Vault Hunter.
Borderlands 3 is a chaotic and action-packed looter shooter that offers players a wide variety of weapons and damage types to choose from. While the classic physical, non-elemental "kinetic" damage is always a reliable option, the game's elemental damage types can be true game-changers when used correctly.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the different elemental damage types in Borderlands 3, their strengths and weaknesses, and how to best utilize them to take down your enemies.
Physical Non-Elemental Damage (Kinetic)
Let's start with the basics - physical, non-elemental damage, also known as "kinetic" damage. This is the standard type of damage dealt by most weapons, such as bullets, explosions, and melee attacks.
Kinetic damage is effective against all enemy types, as it has no special properties or weaknesses. It's a reliable fallback option when you're not sure which elemental damage type to use. However, it's important to note that kinetic weapons still have a hidden elemental damage chance stat, which can be important for certain gear and skill interactions.
Fire Damage
Fire damage is strong against enemies with flesh or health bars. When you inflict fire damage, it causes the target to "burn," dealing high damage over time for 5 seconds.
Fire is an excellent choice against fleshy enemies like bandits, animals, and some bosses. The burning effect can quickly whittle down their health, making fire-based weapons a great option in many situations.
Corrosive Damage
Corrosive damage is the counter to armored enemies. It's highly effective against targets with armor or health bars, causing them to "melt" and take sustained damage over 7 seconds.
If you're facing heavily armored foes, such as certain robotic enemies or Hyperion units, corrosive damage should be your go-to. The melting effect can quickly strip away their defenses, making them more vulnerable to your other attacks.
Shock Damage
Shock damage is the bane of shielded enemies. It's highly effective against targets with shield bars, causing them to be "electrocuted" and take massive damage over a 3-second duration.
Shock-based weapons are invaluable when dealing with enemies protected by shields, such as Tediore or Dahl troops. The electrocution effect can quickly deplete their defensive barriers, leaving them vulnerable to your other damage types.
Cryo Damage
Cryo damage is all about crowd control. It doesn't deal the highest raw damage, but it can slow down and eventually freeze enemies, rendering them unable to move and taking 3 times more melee damage.
Cryo is a great choice when you need to control the battlefield and disable groups of enemies. Frozen targets make easy targets for your other weapons or melee attacks, making Cryo a versatile and strategic element to have in your arsenal.
Radiation Damage
Radiation damage is the newest elemental type in Borderlands 3, and it's all about area-of-effect chaos. When an enemy becomes "irradiated," they deal damage to nearby foes over time. If an irradiated enemy is defeated, they explode, further irradiating any nearby targets.
Radiation damage shines in situations where you're facing multiple enemies or need to create a chain reaction of destruction. It's great for clearing out groups of weaker foes or softening up tougher enemies before finishing them off.
To help visualize how the different elemental damage types perform against the various enemy life bars (health, shield, and armor), let's take a look at the elemental effectiveness infographic:
As you can see, each elemental type has its own strengths and weaknesses. Fire is great against health, Corrosive is best for armor, Shock is the counter to shields, Cryo can slow and freeze enemies, and Radiation can create chain reactions of damage.
Mastering the interplay between these elemental damage types and the enemy life bars is key to becoming a more effective Vault Hunter in Borderlands 3.
While the general guidelines above provide a solid foundation, it's important to remember that Borderlands 3 is a dynamic and varied game. Certain enemies, bosses, or situations may require you to adjust your elemental damage approach.
For example, some enemies may have specific resistances or immunities to certain elements, while others may have a combination of health, shields, and armor that require a more nuanced approach. Additionally, your own character build and gear can also influence the optimal elemental damage strategy.
It's always a good idea to keep a diverse arsenal of weapons with different elemental types, allowing you to adapt to the challenges you face. Experiment with various combinations and observe how the enemies react to each element. Over time, you'll develop a keen understanding of when to use each type of elemental damage to maximum effect.
The elemental damage types in Borderlands 3 don't exist in a vacuum. They can be further enhanced and amplified through your character's skills, perks, and gear.
For instance, the Vault Hunter Amara has access to a skill tree focused on elemental damage, allowing her to increase the potency of her fire, shock, and corrosive attacks. Similarly, the Vault Hunter Moze can specialize in explosive and incendiary damage, making her a formidable force against fleshy targets.
Paying attention to the synergies between your character build and the available elemental damage types can help you squeeze even more power out of your Vault Hunter. Combining the right elemental damage with your character's unique abilities and passive effects can create devastating combos that will make short work of your enemies.
Elemental damage is a core mechanic in Borderlands 3 that can make a significant difference in your success as a Vault Hunter. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each damage type, and how they interact with the various enemy life bars, you can tailor your weapon and skill choices to the situation at hand.
Remember to keep a diverse arsenal, experiment with different elemental combinations, and synergize your character build to maximize the impact of your elemental attacks. With a little practice and mastery of the elements, you'll be tearing through hordes of enemies with ease and becoming the ultimate Borderlands 3 Vault Hunter.
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