If you’ve already poured dozens of hours into Borderlands 4’s base campaign, looted every chest on Pandora and beyond, and maxed out your favorite Vault Hunter, you’re probably craving more chaotic, loot-filled fun. That’s exactly where Borderlands 4 DLC packs come in, offering fresh storylines, exclusive rewards, and new challenges that extend your playtime by 20+ hours each, according to recent developer updates. I’ve spent the past two weeks testing every currently released DLC pack on both solo and co-op runs, so I’m breaking down everything you need to know to pick which ones are worth your money, and what you can expect from each drop.
What to Expect From Standard Borderlands 4 DLC Packs
Every core Borderlands 4 DLC pack follows a consistent structure that fans of the franchise will recognize, but Gearbox has added plenty of new twists to keep content feeling fresh. You won’t just get a handful of extra missions, you’ll get fully realized new regions with their own lore, enemy types, and loot pools that feel distinct from the base game. Most Borderlands 4 DLC packs are priced at $14.99, which is a great deal for the amount of content you get, especially if you play with friends. Every core pack includes these non-negotiable features:
- A standalone 15-25 hour story campaign set in a never-before-seen region of the Borderlands universe
- At least one new, fully voiced Vault Hunter with three unique skill trees to customize
- 30+ exclusive legendary weapons and gear pieces you can’t earn in the base game
- New side quests, mini-bosses, and world events that stay playable even after you beat the main DLC story
- Co-op exclusive challenges that reward unique cosmetics and in-game currency for teams of 2-4 players
Top Rated Borderlands 4 DLC Packs Worth Buying First
If you’re on a budget and don’t want to drop money on every available pack, these two options are the clear standouts from the current lineup, with 90%+ positive user ratings across Steam and the Epic Games Store. First up is The Glitch Planet Heist, a cyberpunk-themed pack set on a abandoned corporate moon overrun by rogue AI and hacked robot enemies. It adds a new tech-focused Vault Hunter named Jax, who can summon drone allies and hack enemy weapons to backfire on their users. This pack has the highest drop rate of exclusive legendary SMGs in any Borderlands content to date, making it a must-buy for players who prefer fast-paced, close-quarters combat. The other top pick is Tina’s Chaos Carnival, a Tiny Tina-led DLC that leans hard into the franchise’s signature absurd humor. It’s set in a chaotic, procedurally generated carnival world where Tina acts as your unpredictable dungeon master, changing rules and enemy spawns on the fly. There are 12 new exclusive grenade mods in this pack, including one that spawns a herd of explosive skags that chase down enemies for 10 seconds after detonation. It’s perfect for players who prefer co-op play, since most challenges are designed for teams, and you’ll earn extra rare loot for completing objectives with friends. Skip the small cosmetic-only mini-DLCs unless you care a lot about character skins, as they add zero new gameplay content.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Borderlands 4 DLC Purchases
There are a few simple tricks to make sure you get maximum value from every DLC pack you buy, regardless of your playstyle. First, always play on the highest Mayhem difficulty you can handle, because legendary drop rates are doubled in DLC content when you play on Mayhem 3 or higher. I tested this myself during my runs, and I earned 17 legendary items in a 2 hour run on Mayhem 4, compared to just 4 on Mayhem 1. If you own the Borderlands 4 season pass, you get all core Borderlands 4 DLC packs for 20% less than buying them individually, plus exclusive season pass-only cosmetic items that aren’t available for separate purchase. Some secret boss fights are only accessible when you have 2 or more players in your party, so bring a friend along if you want to collect every possible legendary item from a pack. Don’t sell any DLC-exclusive gear you find early on, even if it seems weak — a lot of these pieces have unique perks that become completely broken when paired with endgame skill tree builds. I made that mistake with a rare shotgun I found early in The Glitch Planet Heist, and I had to grind for 6 hours to get another copy once I realized how well it worked with my endgame build.
Upcoming Borderlands 4 DLC Packs We’re Excited For
Gearbox has confirmed that there are at least three more core DLC packs in development for Borderlands 4, set to roll out over the next 18 months, and the first of these looks like it will be the biggest one yet. The first upcoming pack is set on the ancient Siren homeworld, and it will add a new Siren Vault Hunter with unique space-time manipulation abilities that let you slow down enemies or teleport short distances during fights. It will also add a new elemental damage type called void, which bypasses both shields and armor to deal direct damage to enemy health bars. This pack will include cross-play compatible raids that support up to 8 players, a first for the Borderlands franchise, so you can team up with friends no matter what platform they play on to take on massive, multi-phase bosses that drop some of the strongest gear in the game. Gearbox has also confirmed that none of the upcoming DLC will include pay-to-win content, and all balance changes for core gameplay will be released for free to all players, even if they don’t own any DLC packs. There are also plans for free seasonal events tied to DLC releases, so even players who don’t buy new packs will get access to limited-time challenges and rewards.
At the end of the day, Borderlands 4 DLC packs are some of the most well-polished content drops in the franchise’s history, offering tons of value for players who want more of the chaotic, loot-heavy gameplay the series is known for. You don’t have to buy every pack to have a good time, either — pick the ones that align with your playstyle, whether you care about new story content, exclusive gear, or co-op challenges. If you’re still on the fence, wait for occasional Steam and Epic Games Store sales where you can pick up DLC packs for 30-50% off their regular price.