Released in 2019, Borderlands 3 is the third main instalment of the Borderlands series, which began 10 years earlier.

Like its predecessors, BL3 offers an intriguing combination of RPG, action, first-person shooter, and looter shooter. Fans have loved this series for its unique genre blend, the humorous tone throughout the franchise, and its great, eye-catching comic book-style graphic style.

Like the previous parts, Borderlands 3 also received several expansions, which expanded on the storylines started in the base game and introduced a host of new characters, locations, and enemies. How many DLCs are there? How does the comparision between individual add-ons look like? These and other questions will be answered in the following article!

What is Borderlands 3?

Borderlands 3 was created, like the second and first parts of the game, and many of their add-ons, by Gearbox Software. The game was released in 2019 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. A year later, it was released for next-generation consoles – PS5 and XSX, and quite recently, at the end of 2023, it also arrived on previously unconsidered consoles, Nintendo Switch.

Borderlands 3
Image credit: Gearbox

The action of the 3rd part of the Borderlands series takes place several years after the events known from the previous instalment. Vault Hunters join Lilith’s Crimson Raiders from the last Borderlands 2 DLC and team up with them during their journey. Importantly, in this instalment, these journeys are fascinating – we leave Pandora and explore many other planets full of dangers (but also wonders).

We traditionally play as a new group of Vault Hunters, consisting of FL4K The Beastmaster, Moze The Gunner, Zane The Operative, and Amara The Siren. Although Sirens (mysterious women endowed with superhuman abilities) were mentioned in previous instalments of the game, this part pays special attention to them – the siren Calypso Twins, Tyreen and Troy (interestingly, a man), leading the cult Children of The Vault, are the main antagonists in this part that our group of Vault Hunters will have to face.

Borderlands 3 DLC List

Add-ons, like in the previous games, develop new threads, introduce completely new places and characters, and allow us to meet old “friends” from previous parts again. The Borderlands 3 DLC list is similar in length to that of Borderlands 2. So far, 6 major add-ons have been released, divided into season passes.

Borderlands Ultimate Edition was a release that included them all.

Season Pass One includes four campaign add-ons:

This is the first season pass, released in 2019 on the Epic Store and consoles, and a year later on Steam. It includes DLC containing new story campaigns:

  • Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot – this add-on introduces the location of the space Casino, which was once one of Handsome Jack’s hideouts. In the game, we help the eponymous Moxxi break into this place.
  • Guns, Love, and Tentacles: The Marriage of Wainwright & Hammerlock – this add-on focuses on the story of characters known from previous installments – Sir Alistair Hammerlock and Wainwright Jakobs, who hold their engagement party on the icy planet Xylourgos, in the town of Cursehaven. Importantly, the settlement was placed on the body of a dead beast called Vault Monster. Cultists planning to resurrect the beast plan to thwart the lovers’ plans.
  • Bounty of Blood – an interesting add-on in which some find references to Red Dead Redemption – all thanks to the western atmosphere. The story is set on the planet Gehenna, which once largely served as a weapons testing and experimentation site. When it became deserted, mutated beasts and their caretakers remained, and formed the Devil Riders gang. Unfortunately, the gang’s favourite pastime is terrorizing local towns. The sheriff of one of them has placed a bounty on the criminals’ heads.
  • Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck – Patricia Tannis (scientist and archaeologist) discovered that all the psychos of Pandora share one thing – a visit to the mysterious Vaulthalla. To understand what this place is and what effect it has on the crazies, Patricia turned to Crimson Raiders’ resident psycho friend, Krieg, into whose mind she sent a group of Vault Hunters for further research.

Season Pass Two includes:

Released in 2020, the second season pass, containing access to the final two major add-on packs.

  • Designer’s Cut – content add-on, featuring a brand-new mode – ‘Arms Race’ – and an additional skill tree for each Vault Hunter.
  • Director’s Cut – second add-on, including behind-the-scenes content and additional missions and items.

Additional Bonus Content:

  • Butt Stallion Pack – additional content available in Season Pass One, containing a weapon skin, trinket, and Butt Stallion grenade mod.
  • All four Multiverse Final Form Cosmetic Packs – content available in Season Pass Two, includes a Multiverse Final Form Cosmetic Pack for every playable character, including Amara, FL4K, Moze, and Zane.
  • Retro Cosmetic Pack – a standalone add-on to purchase outside of Season Passes, containing: Retro Vault Hunter head, Retro Vault Hunter skin, Retro Echo Device skin, Retro weapon skin. However, it was available in Deluxe and Super Deluxe editions.
  • Neon Cosmetic Pack – similar to the one mentioned earlier, it is a standalone add-on that was available in Deluxe and Super Deluxe editions. It contains: Neon Vault Hunter head, Neon Vault Hunter skin, Neon Echo Device skin, Neon weapon trinket.
  • Gearbox Cosmetic Pack – a cosmetic package containing: Gearbox weapon skin and weapon trinket. Like the two mentioned above, it was available with one of the game editions and can be purchased standalone.
  • Toy Box Weapons Pack – works like the Gearbox Cosmetic Pack and contains: Toy Guns with unique effects, Toy grenade mod, Toy weapon trinket.
  • Gold Weapon Skins Pack – works like the two packs mentioned above, contains Gold weapon skin and Gold weapon trinket.

Takedown Raids:

In addition to the previously mentioned story and cosmetic add-ons, ‘Takedown Raids’ were also released for Borderlands 3. These are free downloadable content releases, containing special endgame missions designed to challenge up to four players at the level cap. So far, two have been released:

  • Takedown Raid 1 – Takedown at the Maliwan Blacksite
  • Takedown Raid 2 – Takedown at the Guardian Breach

Seasonal Events:

Borderlands 3 has also seen the release of Seasonal Events, directly related to various holidays and events, free add-ons available to players for about a month. So far, four have been released:

  • Seasonal Event 1 – Bloody Harvest – related to Halloween 2019, it temporarily added a new Terror system and a map.
  • Seasonal Event 2 – Broken Hearts Day – related to Valentine’s Day 2020, it temporarily added various types of floating Hearts, which, when hit, provided special effects or rewards. This Event was resumed for Valentine’s Day 2021, and with a patch released in the second half of 2021, it can be activated at any time.
  • Seasonal Event 3 – Revenge of the Cartels – was released shortly after Easter 2020, it temporarily added a new cycling set of enemies to battle and a new map.
  • Seasonal Event 4 – Bloody Harvest Returns – related to Halloween 2020, but being a redo of Seasonal Event 1. However, new rewards and challenges appeared. Like Broken Hearts Day, with the 2021 patch, it was made possible to activate it at any time.