Borderlands 4 allows players to devise exceedingly powerful builds, with Vex’s Bleed build standing out as one of the most formidable options. By utilizing the Bloodletter skill from her Incarnate tree, Vex can swiftly overwhelm any Borderlands 4 adversary.
The focus of Vex’s Incarnate skill tree is critical hits and aligning with certain status effects. The Bloodletter skill provides a unique advantage with its Bleed effect, triggered by critical hits. Given that Vex’s critical hit chance can be significantly enhanced in Borderlands 4, she’ll consistently activate Bleed effects. Below is an optimal Vex Bleed build in Borderlands 4.
Vex Bleed Build for Borderlands 4
To maximize Vex’s Bleed damage, the following skills should be prioritized:
|
Skill |
Description |
Why It’s Useful |
|---|---|---|
|
Leeching Attunement (5/5) |
While Vex is attuned to Kinetic, she gains Lifesteal and a boost to Reload Speed. These benefits persist for a time after switching attunement. |
The Lifesteal contributes to damage enhancement through other skills. |
|
Bloodletter (5/5) |
Critical hits from guns and skills have a chance to inflict Bleed, causing Kinetic damage over time for a specified duration. Bleed is influenced by the chance to apply status effects. |
This skill is fundamental to the build since Bleed is extremely potent. |
|
Material Components (5/5) |
Vex receives increased Kinetic Damage and Kinetic Status Effect Damage. |
This increases gun damage and enhances Bleed’s power, as it’s a Kinetic status effect. |
|
Grave Vitality (5/5) |
Killing an enemy boosts Vex’s Maximum Health and Health Regeneration. |
More health facilitates greater Lifesteal from foes. |
|
Essence Leech (5/5) |
Grants Vex Lifesteal, doubling the effect while an Action Skill is active. |
Lifesteal is crucial for this build’s success. |
|
Blood is Power (3/3) |
Vex gains additional Kinetic Damage with her guns based on her current Lifesteal when her health is full. |
As Bleed scales with gun damage, this makes it even more robust. |
|
Enchantment (5/5) |
Grants Vex extra Kinetic Damage while her Action Skill remains active. |
Since Bleed relies on gun damage, this enhances its strength. |
|
Idle Hands (3/3) |
Vex and her Minions receive increased Reload Speed based on her health level. |
With Lifesteal, downtime for reloading will be minimal. |
|
Cold Iron (2/5) |
Vex is granted increased Gun Damage. |
Higher Gun damage translates to more powerful Bleed effects. |
|
Portents of Suffering (5/5) |
Vex and her Minions gain a boost in Status Effect Damage. |
This enhancement benefits Bleed, a status effect. |
|
Grave Quickening (5/5) |
Killing enemies results in a faster Action Skill cooldown for Vex. |
With Lifesteal doubling while an Action Skill is active, this helps to maximize its effectiveness. |
|
Prismatic Ichor (1/5) |
Any Status Effect applied by Vex or her Minions will additionally apply a random Elemental Status Effect. |
This allows for even greater damage alongside Bleed from Kinetic attacks. |
These skills work synergistically. Since Bleed is a status effect that scales with gun damage, all of these abilities enhance Vex’s damage output from guns and status effects.
This build also equips Vex with Lifesteal, enhancing her stats such as reload speed and overall damage. Skills like Enchantment and Essence Leech amplify these bonuses, especially when Vex’s Action Skill is active. With Grave Quickening speeding up cooldowns, players can maintain these buffs almost continuously.
Utilizing Grave Harvest as an Augment will extend the duration of Action Skills by collecting Soul Orbs, which also heal Vex, ensuring that her health remains high to utilize Lifesteal to amplify damage via Blood is Power. Incorporating the Heartpiercer Capstone skill can further elevate damage outputs.
Top Weapons and Gear for Vex Bleed Builds
To optimize this build, focus on using a Kinetic weapon, steering clear of elemental attachments. Weapons from Jakobs are ideal as they are specifically designed for critical hits, making them the preferred choice for this Vex Bleed configuration.
A weapon equipped with an underbarrel Spread Launcher attachment works exceptionally well for this Bleed build. Not only does it inflict significant damage immediately, but it also amplifies subsequent Bleed damage.
For the best results, consider a legendary Jakobs shotgun for this build. Bod, obtained from Axemaul in The Toil of Spoiling Vis, is a top-tier choice, as is the Hellwalker shotgun, acquired from the Meathead Riders in The Old Scrape. The Hot Slugger is another excellent option, boasting a damage buff for consecutive kills, which can be claimed from the Callous Harbinger of Annihilating Death in Craven’s Nook.
For your Ordinances, a throwing knife with the Penetrator Augment is recommended. When you hit an enemy with a Penetrator knife, all damage inflicted in the next five seconds becomes critical damage. As critical hits are the trigger for Bleed effects, this can serve as a significant advantage.
Lastly, target Class Mods and enhancements that increase Gun damage and critical hit chance. Class Mods that offer points to Bloodletter or related skills will complement this build beautifully. Enhancements that enable Jakobs weapons to ricochet twice upon landing critical hits will dramatically enhance your overall damage potential, especially when using a Jakobs weapon.
In conclusion, as long as you opt for a Kinetic weapon that can activate Bleed, any weapon can work effectively within this Vex Bleed build. It’s undoubtedly one of the strongest builds in Borderlands 4, and adjustments may be expected in future updates.
