Rath - Battleborn Character Profile Page

About
NAME: Rath
FACTION: Jennerit
ROLE: Attacker
WEAPON: Axiom and Order
TALENT: Bladekeeper’s Vestment
SKILL 1: Crossblade
SKILL 2: Catalytic Smash
ULTIMATE: Dreadwind
PASSIVE: Genetic Syphon
Characteristics
About Rath
Verod Rath is not a vampire, though he gets that a lot. Rath is a master bladesmith and swordsman of the Jennerit Empire, once a member of the Keepers of the Blade — the elite guard of Empress Lenore. Rath is deeply focused on the art of battle, applying his three energy blades with lethal efficiency.
Rath is kind of like a cross between a samurai, a vampire, and a Sith lord. This katana-wielding warrior was a member of the elite guard that protected the empress of the imperialist Jennerit Empire. However, political infighting left him disillusioned and eager to get back to honing his combat skills on the frontlines. As a member of the Jennerit’s elite upper caste known as the Sustained, Rath is immortal, but can still be killed in combat – though with three separate blades and some devastating melee-focused abilities, that’s not a likely scenario.
Rath’s primary weapon is the Katanas, he’s purely focused on melee combat, and performs horizontal slashes with his dual katana blades via the right trigger and vertical attacks with the left trigger. Rath’s horizontal slashes can be chained together in combos, while his vertical attack is a much slower and more powerful downward strike.
Trivia
- Development Name: DeathBlade
- Character Concept:
- Character Designer:
- Character Concept Artist: Scott Kester
- Voice: Christopher Sabat
- The voice of Rath (and Geoff) is done by Christopher Sabat who has done many voices in the Borderlands Series but is also well known for voicing Vegeta in Dragon Ball Z.
- During the concept fase of Battleborn, Gearbox used assets from Borderlands 2 as temporary placeholders. Handsome Jack in a weird dress was used to represent Rath.
Abilities
WEAPON
AXIOM AND ORDER:
Rath’s primary melee attack can be chained multiple times for a quick combo. Rath’s secondary melee attack conjures a powerful lightning bolt.
TALENT
BLADEKEEPER’S VESTMENT:
Rath’s ceremonial Jennerit armor is sturdy enough to absorb plenty of damage, but light enough to preserve his speed and mobility.
ABILITIES
CROSSBLADE:
Throws an energy blade forward a limited distance, dealing 208 damage.
Cooldown: 15 Seconds
CATALYTIC SMASH:
Unleashes a shock wave, extending directly ahead of Rath, dealing 141 damage and knocking enemies up into the air.
Cooldown: 17 Seconds
[ULTIMATE] DREADWIND:
After a brief wind-up, initiates a whirlwind attack lasting 3 seconds, dealing 69 damage per hit to enemies in range.
Cooldown: 75 Seconds
[PASSIVE] HGENETIC SYPHON:
When Rath damages an enemy’s health, he steals health worth 8% of the damage from melee attacks and 10% of the damage from skills.
During the course of a gameplay session your Battleborn will earn experience points by taking down enemies or complete challenges. By earning enough XP Points your Hero will level up and gets presented a choice between two different augmentations in the Helix skill tree. Per level you can only choose one of these skills to enhance your character’s abilities.
Rath’s Helix Skill Trees
-
ASSASSIN
-
SWORDSMAN
-
MUTATIONS
LEVEL 1
-
SLOWING STRIKE
Crossblade slow enemies on impact. +3 Seconds Slow Duration
-
WAVEFORM SMASH
Catalytic Smash’s shockwave is shortened, but spreads out to the left and right.
-
CONCUSSIVE SMASH
Catalytic Smash’s no longer produces a shockwave that knocks targets into the air, but stuns enemies on impact if they have recently been hit by Crossblade.
LEVEL 2
-
SHIELD SYPHON
When Crossblade damages an enemy’s shield, Rath’s shield recharges the amount of damage dealt. +100% Shield Steal on Hit
-
ANGER’S ECHO
When a Crossblade is destroyed, a new Crossblade will spawn, moving towards Rath and dealing half damage to enemies.
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EVISCERATING BLADE
A portion of damage dealt by Crossblade bypasses enemy shields. +60% Shield Penetration
LEVEL 3
-
TERROR FROM ABOVE
Allows Rath to double-jump.
-
SPIN TO WIN
Rath’s primary melee combo finishing spin fires twice at the end of the combo.
LEVEL 4
-
CRIMSON FASTNESS
When Rath attacks with Catalytic Smash, he will leap forward before he smashes.
-
CATALYTIC FLASH
Catalytic Smash silences enemies on impact. +3 Seconds Silence Duration
LEVEL 5
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SKILLFUL SYPHONING
Genetic Syphon steals additional health when a skill deals damage to an enemy. +20% Life Steal
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NOT A VAMPIRE
Genetic Syphon steals additional health when attacking enemies with melee strikes. +11% Life Steal
-
SWORDSMAN’S SALVE
Greatly increases Genetic Syphon life-stealing properties for Rath’s melee attacks, but removes the effect from his skills. +23% Life Steal
LEVEL 6
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BRUTAL BLADES
Increases Crossblade’s base damage. +15% Damage
-
CATASTROPHIC SMASH
Doubles the shockwave length of Catalytic Smash.
LEVEL 7
-
EVASIVE MANEUVERS
When Rath’s shield is broken, movement speed is increased for a short time. +30% Movement Speed for 6 Seconds
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TO THE POINT
Increases base damage of all melee strikes. +18% Damage
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SPIN TO SLOW
Rath’s primary melee combo finishing spin slows enemies. +1 seconds slow duration
LEVEL 8
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ENERGETIC PROJECTION
Doubles the effective range of Crossblade.
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QUICK CROSS
Reduces Crossblade’s cooldown, allowing more frequent use. -20% Cooldown Time
LEVEL 9
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SOFTENED TARGET
Enemies hit by Catalytic Smash will take more damage from Crossblade for a short time. +25% Damage for 4 seconds
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ZEALOUS SMASH
Killing an enemy with Catalytic Smash reduces the cooldown of Dreadwind, allowing more frequent use. -3 Seconds per Kill
LEVEL 10
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DREADHEART
Grants a movement speed boost to Rath while Dreadwind is active. +30% Movement Speed
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DESPERATE ASSAULT
Damage dealt by Dreadwind is greatly increased while Rath’s shield is broken. +45% Damage when unshielded
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UNSTOPPABLE ASSAULT
Dreadwind generates an overshield upon activation. +225 overshield for 3 seconds
Guides
Rath Video Guides by the Community
Rath Tips
- Rath in-depth Guide by Kitru
- Rath’s ultimate can be stopped by hitting the Ultimate button again. Sometimes you need to kill and run before the Ultimate is complete.
Media
Images / Screenshots / Artwork
Videos
Rath Multiplayer Gameplay Highlights
Rath’s Skins & Taunts Preview
Battleborn Character Introductions
Lore Challenges
- SUSTAINED ACROSS TIME
Deal 10,000 melee damage in a single match or mission, 5 times. - BETRAYAL, BETRAYER
Kill 500 Jennerit. - RENDER THE SNAKE HEADLESS
Deal 2,000 damage to Rendain with Catalytic Smash. - AXIOM, PRAXIS, AND PRECEPT
Hit 3 enemies with Crossblade, 100 times. - THANK YOU LETTER
Play 3 matches on the same team as Caldarius
Reward
Rath’s legendary gear is rewarded to the player when all lore challenges are completed.
Rath Lore
Sustained Across Time
_______________________________________________________________________________
ARMAMENT EVALUATION
from The Red Observer on 19207 C.R. the 101st day
to The Distinguished Elder Mossire
Concerning “The Nature of Jennerit Sustainment”
Since the last time we spoke, I have made a few noteworthy discoveries as to the Jennerit Sustained from my observations of the Jennerit Keeper known as Verod Rath.
First – As is easily observable, the Sustained do not seem to age naturally.
During the time in which I have tracked Verod Rath, I have intercepted communication between Rath and the other Keepers. These messages confirm that Rath is well over 1,400 years of age. Moreover, I have confirmed through Jennerit Imperial records that several of the Keepers have aged beyond 18,000 years, though they appear as if they have not aged a day since they were Sustained.
Second – The Sustained are preternaturally fast healers.
Something about their physical substructure allows them to heal by drawing energy from surrounding living organisms. I have witnessed Verod Rath do this on numerous occasions while battling other biological beings.
Third – Verod Rath is exceptionally hard to kill.
Through my active observation, I now know him to be nearly impervious to most small arms fire, resistant to many poisons and toxins, all but incombustible, and is seemingly immune to asphyxiation. I will not describe here the incidents required to gain this knowledge, but safe to say, my information is personal, accurate, and Observed.
CONCLUSIONS
If Warmaster Rendain were to utilize Sustained troops in the coming war, our attack of the Jennerit Empire would be at a severe disadvantage.
Give my best to the Arbiters of Being. They have hard battles ahead.
Betrayal, Betrayer
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Excerpt from
“On Verod Rath, former Keeper of the Blade”
Exodus Seat of the Spymistress
19957.325
The story of Keeper Rath is but another dark mark upon our once glorious Empire.
Rath has become a force of retribution, of vengeance born in wrath birthed from Rendain’s betrayal.
As you are well aware, my Empress, Verod Rath has a long record as a dedicated guardian, not only serving as your personal guard for over 1,400 years (Codex Standard Reckoning), but also crafting the phasic blades used by the other Keepers of the Blade in your service.
Still, even Rath was susceptible to the tyrant’s deception.
You witnessed with your own eyes the fruits of Rendain’s lies. The Keepers were twisted against you by Rendain’s scheme, Rath included, and in doing so made it possible for Rendain to complete his betrayal and retain many loyal followers within the inner circle, despite the civil war within the former Empire.
Rath believed this fiction painted by Rendain for nearly three years, until I confronted him directly. After presenting to him the incontrovertible truth of Rendain’s lie, Rath was… upset. He found Rendain and demanded answers. When the Lord Commander rebuffed Rath’s demand, the Keeper snapped, drew Rendain’s own dagger, and plunged it deep within the tyrant’s abdomen.
This did not kill Rendain, as I’m sure you are aware. Sustainment, at times, has its inconveniences. Knowing that Rendain would not die from this wound, Rath withdrew the dagger and fled.
Over the last several months, as civil war continued between the Empress-loyal Empire and Rendain’s militaristic Imperium, Rath has been seeking vengeance, hunting and killing the other twenty Keepers who remained in Rendain’s service.
From Rendain’s dagger and from the blades of the defeated Keepers, Rath has forged a new style of sword, a sword he has named “Precept”.
I believe, my Empress, that Rath is still loyal to the Jennerit Empire, and will be a great ally in the coming war to unseat Rendain from power.
Render the Snake Headless
(Overheard conversation between Rath and Deande, aboard the Nova following the defeat of Lothar Rendain. Audio attached, transcript below.)
Deande: Rath.
Rath: Deande. It’s not your shift yet.
Deande: Yes, well, I’m not used to resting without the specter of impending death hanging over me. I need some time to adjust to… you know, hope. May I join you?
Rath: Hmph. I suppose.
Deande: Thank you. Not everything you hoped it could be, eh?
Rath: Hm?
Deande: In the days before our assault on Tempest, slaying Rendain was all you could think about. Now you’re hardly sleeping. Quests for vengeance are loathsome burdens, aren’t they?
Rath: I’m fine.
Deande: I have no doubt that you are. But you have to come up with some kind of plan, Rath.
Rath: What “plan”?
Deande: For your future.
Rath: Hmph. Not used to thinking about it.
Deande: None of us are. Hell, Kleese is scrambling because he didn’t bother renewing our LLC emergency transport contract. He figured we’d all be dead.
Rath: How optimistic of him.
(Rath sighs wearily.)
Rath: I bested Rendain, Deande. The tyrant of our age. He’s rotting in infinite, unbearable banishment, and yet all I can think of is his wretched face. I think of nothing else! I appear to be broken, Deande. I don’t know how to live in this new world you’ve created.
Deande: I’d be concerned if you WERE sleeping well. But what comes next is up to us. In the meantime, I recommend a hobby, Rath. To get your mind off things. Something related to swords and fighting.
Rath: Hm… I do like both of those things…
Deande: Doctor’s orders. Don’t worry, we’ll still have plenty of problems to solve. Rendain was only the first. You’ll always have a place among us, Rath.
Axiom, Praxis, and Precept
Three swords wielded by Jennerit Keeper of the Blades, Verod Rath. All were personally forged by Rath, who, as a Keeper of the Blade, is both a skilled scientist and an artisan craftsman.
AXIOM & PRAXIS
Twin phasic energy katanas; standard weaponry for the Keepers of the Blade. The phasic edges have variable edge breadth and are powered with energies capable of sub-atomic levels of “sharpness”. (Slicing of atoms with blades is inadvisable). Praxis is also capable of limited anti-grav, allowing it to be thrown short distances and recalled to the user’s grasp.
PRECEPT
Precept was forged from Rendain’s personal blade, blended with alloys from blades taken from fallen Keepers of the Blade, hunted and killed by Rath for their betrayal of the Empress.
Tuned to Axiom & Praxis, this two-handed blade draws in and amplifies kinetic energy from the motion of the other two swords. That stored energy can be redirected as powerful strikes used to render foes immobile in battle.
Thank You Letter from Caldarius
(Thank you message sent to Rath from Caldarius after their escape from Tempest following the Second Thrall uprising. Rath forged a phasic blade specifically adapted to fit Caldarius’ Shock armor, using metal from the alloyed walls of Caldarius’ prison cell.)
Verod –
The blade is sufficient.
Caldarius the Kemessian