Future games in theBorderlandsfranchise have both a wealth of predecessors to learn from and plenty of room to grow with original features. One particular thing thatBorderlands 4can learn from the past games isBorderlands 2’s Slag Element.
This Elemental damage type ended up being highly problematic and hasn’t yet returned to theBorderlandsfranchise ever since it was introduced inBorderlands 2. However,Borderlands 4could learn fromBorderlands 2and potentially bring back the Slag Element for good, ideally without causing a controversy this time around.
Borderlands 2’s Slag Elemental Damage Controversy Explained
The Slag Element inBorderlands 2applies a unique status effect to enemies or players that make them take either double or triple increased incoming damage from all other damage types that aren’t Slag. For most common enemies, the Slag damage debuff lasts for eight seconds, whileBorderlands 2’s Raid Bossesnormally only receive the Slag debuff for one second.
In theory, an Element like this can have some fun implications, but it ultimately ruined the variety of endgame builds inBorderlands 2because of how the higher difficulties arguably force players to use Slag to defeat enemies. Not only is Slag a required part of every build inBorderlands 2, but one particular Slag weapon has become the game’s sole meta, which is the Grog Nozzle.
The Grog Nozzle is a pistol that has a high chance of applying slag, and it also heals players for a percentage of outgoing damage dealt from any source when it’s equipped.
While this weapon generally isn’t effective at killing enemies on its own in the higher difficulties, its utilities make it an extremely overpowered part of any build nonetheless. Also, thanks to the Grog Nozzle, the Gunzerker class is often considered one of thestrongest Vault hunters in theBorderlandsfranchise, since their Action Skill lets them dual-wield two separate weapons, allowing players to use the Grog Nozzle for utility and another weapon for DPS.
For initial playthroughs, the Slag Element can generally be a fun tool to have, but the difficulty balancing of the subsequent playthroughs inBorderlands 2is where things went wrong. Consequently, it was for the best that Slag wasn’t present inBorderlands The Pre-SequelandBorderlands 3.
How Borderlands 4 Could Rework Borderlands 2’s Slag Element
It may be a tall task, butBorderlands 4should consider stepping up to the challenge of rebalancing Slag to the point where it can make a welcomed comeback in theBorderlandsfranchise. While it would be necessary to rework Slag, it would still need to retain its primary function of being a debuff. Even with this in mind, there are still plenty of ways thatBorderlands 4can shake things up to revive Slag while making it less problematic, yet still distinct from any of the existingElemental damage types in theBorderlandsfranchise, like Cryo and Radiation:
One of the most important things that would need to happen for Slag to return is to nerf the potency of the debuff. This could be a direct decrease in the damage boost that it provides, a total rework of the debuff, or both.
Additionally, extending the duration of the Slag Status Effect and potentially making it permanent could go a long way toward freeing up other endgame builds in theBorderlandsfranchise. Lastly, the concept of a skeleton-key meta weapon like the Grog Nozzle needs to be avoided at all costs given theweapon variety in theBorderlandsfranchisethat this kind of weapon undermines.
Borderlands
Borderlands is an action RPG first-person shooter created by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games. The series is commonly called a looter shooter set in a space Western style, where players can select from multiple classes that can level up and acquire new skills. The franchise has quickly become one of the best-selling franchises and produced spin-offs like Tales from the Borderlands as well as a film adaptation being developed by Lionsgate.
