Borderlands 4 Vex Ultimate Vex Trouble Build Guide Version : Post-Patch (Includes Buffed Red Tree & Trouble Adjustments) Author : ChatGPT (based on AbbyHour’s detailed build breakdown) Playstyle : Hybrid DPS | Minion Focused | Kinetic Build | High Survivability Difficulty : Intermediate Recommended For : Mobbers, Solo Players, Tanky Hybrid DPS Enthusiasts 1. Build Overview This Vex Trouble Build is designed to leverage the recent buffs to Vex’s Red Tree ("Here Comes Trouble") , with a heavy focus on kinetic gun damage , lifesteal-based survivability , and utility from Trouble (your minion). There are two main variants : Support Trouble (Recommended) : Trouble marks enemies, boosts gun damage, and acts as a tank. This is the most stable, boss-viable version. Damage Trouble Variant : Trouble deals more direct damage via illusions, but suffers in bossing and survivability. This guide focuses on the Support Trouble variant with options for hybridization. 2. Skill Trees & Augments Red Tree – Here Comes Trouble (Core Tree) 5/5 Enchantment : Bonus kinetic damage (multiplicative) 3/3 Grave Sustenance : Kill skill that restores action skill duration 3/3 Overprotective : Kill skill granting Overshield on crit 5/5 Vorpal Fiends : Critical hit damage (doubles in formula) Capstone – Unsealed : Trouble marks target → you deal +100% gun damage when active Action Skill: Face Familiar Effect : Teleports Trouble, dealing AoE, becomes "Big Trouble" Synergy : Respawns Trouble if dead. Benefits from sustain duration with Mortal Terror. Augments Beast Mode : Makes Trouble immune to damage during command skill Optional : Vorpal Fang or Hexus Nexus for crit chance (if leaning more into damage) Green Tree – Kinetic Affinity & Lifesteal 5/5 Leeching Attunement : Lifesteal + reload speed (kinetic attuned) 5/5 Grave Implements : Kill skill, +60% gun damage (up to 120% with stacks) 3/3 Grave Power : Increases max stacks of kill skills 2/2 Channeling : +10% action skill duration 5/5 Drink Full : +Fire rate 4/5 Mortal Terror : 4% chance to proc kill skills on crit Blue Tree (Optional – Not Core) Optional if pursuing illusions & more active Trouble damage, but not optimal for bossing. 🎯 Specializations Best Defense : Damage based on shield fullness Riddle You : Increases gun damage CQC : Melee damage → Fire rate bonus (applies via Trouble) One Shot, One Kill : Stores excess damage into next shot 3. Weapons & Gear Primary Mobbing Weapon: BOD (COV mag + SMG alt-fire) – Best-in-slot Try to farm with COV roll for synergy with firmware Hard to farm, but worth it Other Strong Mobbing Options: Madlad (Kinetic) – Fun, but overheats too quickly with COV perk Hot Slugger – Reliable kinetic option Wombo Combo / Plasma Coil (Shock) – For shock-attunement procs Bossing Weapons: Beam Tossers – MVP vs. big hitboxes (Vault monsters, Victor, etc.) Taser – Shock gun for shocking attunement Complex Root (Shock Sniper) – Viable for sniper users Backup Options : BOD (still works), Madlad (fire-locked, be careful) 4. Elemental Affinities Understanding elemental damage is crucial to maximizing DPS: Target Type Best Element Bonus (Multiplicative) Shields Shock +75% Armor Corrosive +75% Flesh (Health) Fire +75% ❗ Using the wrong element results in only 50% effectiveness . Kinetic Damage – Why It's Core: Neutral against all health bars (100%) No penalties or bonuses = Consistent DPS Synergizes with Enchantment , Leeching Attunement , and Lifesteal loops Secondary Elements: Radiation (up to +50% on shields) Cryo – Neutral-ish, decent utility 5. Rep Kits Recommended Mods: Use Case Rep Kit Effect Bossing Order (Amp + Overshield) Two charges, instant overshield + amp burst Mobbing Killspring Heals you with orbs (doesn’t heal Trouble) Utility Warp Paint Fire rate + Movement speed Burst DPS Amp + Enrage Great burst at cost of increased damage taken 💡 Support Drone (Tediore) : Heals you and Trouble – ideal if he keeps dying. 6. Enhancement & Firmware Enhancement Mod: COV + Duct Tape : 100% crit chance while overheating Stats to Look For : Gun Damage Magazine Size (Shotgun/Sniper Mag = works on BOD) Shotgun/SMG Damage Bonus: Overheat = guaranteed crits → Procs kill skills (e.g. Grave Implements) Firmware: 3/3 Heating Up : Reload speed + overheat shot cap + 25% gun damage 2/2 High Caliber : +10% gun damage + projectile speed (boosts beam tossers) 7. Shield & Class Mod Shield: Amp Shields Top Choice : Watts for Dinner with Amp + Siphon +25% bonus Shock (own bucket!) Backup Options : Sparky Shield : AoE shock effect Super Soldier : Fire rate & utility Look for: Low shield drain %, high amp %, fast recharge Class Mod: Teen Witch Drops from : Radics Stats to Look For : Kinetic Damage Damage Dealt Highest possible points in: Corporal : Damage while Overshielded Conjunction : Gun damage based on shield fullness Passive Effect: At max health → lifesteal applies to shields At max shield → lifesteal applies to overshield Synergizes perfectly with lifesteal and amp damage for infinite uptime 8. Playstyle Guide Activate Face Familiar : Trouble becomes "Big Trouble" and marks enemies Follow Trouble : He marks targets → You get +100% damage Pop Rep Kits (Order or Killspring): Amp for burst (but makes you squishier) Killspring for sustain Maintain Shock Attunement : Swap to shock gun to activate Shocking Attunement Then return to kinetic weapon for full damage Crits = Kill Skills : Overheat COV weapons or use crit knife to guarantee crits Procs: Lifesteal, Overshield, Grave Implements 9. Bossing vs. Mobbing Tips Bossing: Use Beam Tossers or BOD Maintain uptime on kill skills Use Order Rep Kit for amp burst If Trouble dies: use action skill to respawn Mobbing: Use Madlad or Hot Slugger Keep critting → Infinite uptime Switch between kinetic & shock weapons to refresh attunements 10. Build Variants 1. Support Trouble (Recommended) Trouble marks enemies You deal amplified damage Better for bosses & general play 2. Damage Trouble Variant Trouble becomes main DPS via illusion damage Needs points in Blue Tree Suffers from: No healing from Killspring Trouble dies faster Doesn’t work well on bosses 11. Summary Aspect Rating Bossing ★★★★☆ Mobbing ★★★★★ Survivability ★★★★★ Ease of Use ★★★☆☆ Scaling ★★★★☆ Fun Factor ★★★★★ 🔥 With high uptime on lifesteal, powerful kill skill chaining, and one of the most satisfying Trouble-based synergies, this is Vex's best hybrid build post-patch.