Zane is one of the playable Vault Hunters in Borderlands 3 and is known as “the Operative” class. With these various skill trees, you can create powerful character builds for Zane. In this Borderlands 3 guide, you will get an introduction to Zane’s Skill Tree, a complete breakdown of each Skill Tree, and Skill recommendations.
Introduction to Zane’s Skill Tree
Zane is the only Vault Hunter who can equip two Action Skills, but the second one comes at the expense of the ability to throw grenades yourself. This doesn’t mean your Grenade Mod Slot is wasted because Zane’s gadgets can utilize the equipped Grenade Mod. This makes him the min/max character in Borderlands 3.
Zane’s Action Skills have two augment slots to enhance their capabilities. These augmentations are found on the sides of the Skill Trees and can only be equipped on the corresponding Action Skill.
You unlock your Action Skills at Level 2 and continuously earn Skill Points after that until you hit the level cap. Tier 1 Skills can be accessed directly. Each Skill Tier beyond that requires a 5-point investment into that Skill Tree, unlocking new Skill Tiers at 5,10,15,20, and 25 points.
Skills can be upgraded 1, 3, or 5 times, increasing their effectiveness with each Skill Point. Class Mods provide additional Skill Points that could double a Skill’s effectiveness and raise a 5/5 skill to 10/5, for example.
- Under cover: Focused on the Barrier Action skill and shielding yourself.
- Hitman: Focused on the SNTL Drone Action Skill and dealing Damage through Kill Skills and Speed.
- Double Agent: Focused on the Digi-Clone Action Skill and empowering two Action Skills.
- The Professional: Focused on the MNTS Canon Action Skill and critical hit damage.
Complete Breakdown of Zane’s Skill Trees
Zane Under Cover Skill Tree – Borderlands 3
The undercover skill tree is focused on Zane’s barrier action skill, survivability, and the Cryo element. You will also find some crowd control and co-op skills in this tree. The Capstone allows your barrier action skill to get the same special effects as your equipped shield mod. Since there will be awesome legendary shields that will do all sorts of crazy stuff this can be cool to provide such protection for your entire team.
Starting Action Skill
- Barrier: Drop a deployable Barrier that blocks incoming projectiles. Zane and his allies can shooter through the Barrier, dealing increased Gun Damage. Pressing LB or RB (controller) while Barrier is active picks up and holds the Barrier, but the size and bonuses are decreased.
Tier 1 Skills
[Required Points: 0]
- Adrenaline (5): Zane gains increased Action Skill Cooldown Rate. This bonus is based on the amount of shield he has. The more percent full, the greater the bonus.
- Hearty Stock (3): Zane gains increased Maximum Shield Capacity.
- Ready for Action (5): Zane gains improved Shield Recharge Rate and Shield Recharge Delay.
Tier 2 Skills
[Required Points: 5]
- Charged Relay: [Augment] Whenever Zane or an ally touches the Barrier, they gain increased Movement Speed and Fire Rate for a few seconds.
- Brainfreeze (5): Whenever Zane scores a Critical Hit on an enemy, there’s a chance they will be Slowed.
- Stiff Upper Lip (3): Whenever Zane is damaged, he gains Damage Resistance against that damage type.
- Rise to the Occasion (5): Zane gains Health Regeneration. The lower his shield is, the higher the bonus. While Zane’s shields are full, he does not receive any health regeneration.
Tier 3 Skills
[Required Points: 10]
- Nanites or Some Shite: [Augment] Zane and his allies gain Health Regeneration, increased Reload Speed, and greatly improved Shield Recharge Delay while near his Barrier. The lower their health, the more health is regenerated.
- Distributed Denial (1): Zane’s barrier gains the effects of his currently equipped Shield Mod. Additionally, shield effects are applied to all allies near the barrier. Bonuses to Zane are reduced.
- All-rounder: [Augment] Zane’s Barrier becomes a dome, covering all sides.
Tier 4 Skills
[Required Points: 15]
- Redistribution: [Augment] Zane and allies near the Barrier gain increased Gun Damage for a few seconds after the Barrier takes damage.
- Really Expensive Jacket (1): Elemental damage over time effects applied to Zane have reduced duration.
- Best Served Cold (5): Whenever Zane kills an enemy, they create a Cryo Nova, dealing damage to all nearby enemies. This skill has a short cooldown. This Skill Receives Mayhem Scaling.
- Futility Belt (1): Zane gains resistance to non-elemental damage. Kill Skill: All elemental damage Zane takes is converted to non-elemental damage.
- Deterrence Field: [Augment] Enemies that touch the Barrier take Shock Damage and are staggered.
Tier 5 Skills
[Required Points: 20]
- Refreshment (3): Whenever Zane damages a frozen enemy with his weapon, he gains some of that damage back as health.
- Calm, Cool, Collected (1): Whenever Zane Freezes an enemy, his shield instantly begins recharging. If Zane’s shields are already full, he regenerates health for a few seconds. If Zane’s health is already full, his Action Skill Cooldowns and Durations are immediately reset.
- Nerves of Steel (3): Zane gains increasing Accuracy and Handling. The longer his shield is full, the greater the bonus.
Tier 6 Skills
[Required Points: 25]
- Confident Competence (1): While Zane’s shields are active, he gains increased Gun Damage and Accuracy. This bonus is based on the amount of shields he has. The more percent full, the greater the bonus.
Zane Hitman Skill Tree – Borderlands 3
The hitman skill tree is focused on Zane’s drone action skill and kill skills. A cool thing is that there is a skill that allows you to trigger all your kill skills by activating the SNTL drone. This is an awesome augment because this will allow you to be badass when you jump into a fight, rather than struggling to get a kill before all your buffs trigger. The capstone really increases all the kill skill boosts, and there are plenty in this tree. If you sacrificed your grenade to pick up the second action skill, you can use your drone to drop frags, as it will drop a corresponding grenade based on your grenade mod.
Starting Action Skill
- SNTNL: Send into battle an automated SNTL drone that continually flies through the environment and attacks enemies with its Machine Guns. Pressing LB or RB (controller) while SNTNL is active causes it to attack the enemy under Zane’s crosshairs, if any.
Tier 1 Skills
[Required Points: 0]
- Violent Speed (5): After killing an enemy, Zane gains increased Movement Speed for a few seconds.
- Cold Bore (5): Zane gains increased Weapon Swap Speed. The next shot fired after swapping weapons deals Bonus Cryo Damage.
- Violent Momentum (5): Zane’s Gun Damage is increased while moving. The quicker he moves, the greater the Gun Damage bonus.
Tier 2 Skills
[Required Points: 5]
- Winter’s Drone: [Augment] Converts SNTNL’s primary weapons to Cryo Damage.
- Cool Hand (5): Zane gains increased Reload Speed. After killing an enemy, Zane’s Reload Speed is increased for a few seconds.
- Drone Delivery (1): SNTRY will occasionally drop a free grenade based on your current grenade mod while attacking enemies.
- Salvation (5): After killing an enemy, Zane’s weapons gain Life Steal for a few seconds.
Tier 3 Skills
[Required Points: 10]
- Bad Dose: [Augment] SNTNL occasionally shoots out a beam of Radiation that weakens enemies and buffs Zane.
- Seein’ Red (1): Activating an Action Skill automatically activates all of Zane’s kill skills.
- Static Field: [Augment] SNTNL emits a static field that sends a Shock beam to nearby enemies, draining their shields and replenishing Zane’s.
Tier 4 Skills
[Required Points: 15]
- Boomsday: [Augment] SNTNL adds a rocket pod to its primary weapons, allowing it to shoot rockets as well as machine guns.
- Violent Violence (5): After killing an enemy, Zane gains increased Fire Rate for a few seconds.
- Playing Dirty (5): After killing an enemy, Zane’s next five shots all have a chance to fire an additional projectile.
- Almighty Ordnance: [Augment] Hold down LB or RB (controller) while SNTNL is deployed to paint a target area. SNTNL fires a missile barrage at that area, and if an enemy is killed, Almighty Ordnance’s duration is reset. This can only be used once per Action Skill use.
Tier 5 Skills
[Required Points: 20]
- Good Misfortune (3): Killing an enemy increases Zane’s Action Skill Duration. This skill has diminishing returns.
Tier 6 Skills
[Required Points: 25]
- Death Follows Close (1): All of Zane’s kill skills gain increased effect and duration.
Zane Double Agent Skill Tree – Borderlands 3
The double agent skill tree is focused on Zane’s ‘Digiclone’ action skill. An interesting thing is that you can pick up the ability to sacrifice your clone to get a second win. Generate and use grenades to boost your stats. Use the Digi-clone to trigger shield regeneration. Capstone skill allows you to give your Digi-clone the same gun as you. So if you are rocking an epic legendary, it can become mayhem.
Starting Action Skill
- Digi-Clone: Spawn a Digi-Clone of Zane. The clone stays in place, but distracts and fires at enemies. Pressing LB or RB (controller) while the Clone is active causes Zane and the Clone to swap places.
Tier 1 Skills
[Required Points: 0]
- Synchronicity (5): Whenever one or more of Zane’s action skills are active, he gains increased Gun Damage for each active action skill.
- Praemunitus (3): Zane and his Dig-Clone gain increased Magazine Size.
- Borrowed Time (5): Zane gains increased Action Skill Duration for every active action skill.
Tier 2 Skills
[Required Points: 5]
- Binary System: [Augment] Whenever Zane swaps places with his Clone, a Cryo Nova is triggered around Zane and his Clone. This Skill Receives Mayhem Scaling.
- Donnybrook (5): Whenever Zane kills an enemy, he and his Digi-Clone receive increased Gun Damage and gain Health Regeneration for a few seconds.
- Fractal Frags (1): The Digi-Clone throws a copy of Zane’s current grenade mod when it is first activated. If the Digi-Clone is killed, it drops a free grenade. Killing an enemy while the Digi-Clone is active gives the Clone a chance to throw a grenade.
- Duct Tape Mod (5): The first shot fired from Zane’s gun has a chance to also fire a grenade. The more grenades in his capacity, the higher the chance.
Tier 3 Skills
[Required Points: 10]
- Schadenfreude: [Augment] Whenever the Clone takes damage, Zane’s shield is restored by a portion of that damage.
- Quick Breather (1): Whenever Zane swaps places with his Clone, his shield immediately begins recharging.
- Which One’s Real?: [Augment] Enemies are more likely to target the Clone for a few seconds after it’s summoned and after swapping places.
Tier 4 Skills
[Required Points: 15]
- Doppelbanger: [Augment] Hold down LB or RB (controller) to end the action skill early. When Zane’s Action Skill is ended, the Clone explodes, dealing Fire Damage to all nearby enemies. The more Action Skill time remaining, the greater the damage. This Skill Receives Mayhem Scaling.
- Pocket Full of Grenades (3): After killing an enemy, Zane gains Grenade Regeneration for a few seconds.
- Old-U (1): Press LB or RB (controller) during Fight for Your Life if Digi-Clone is active to destroy the clone and immediately gain a Second Wind with full health.
- Supersonic Man (3): Whenever one or more of Zane’s Action Skills are active, he gains increased Movement Speed for each active Action Skill.
- Digital Distribution: [Augment] If Zane takes health damage while the Clone is active, a portion of that damage is shared to his Clone instead.
Tier 5 Skills
[Required Points: 20]
- Like a Ghost (53: Zane and his Digi-Clone gain a chance to ignore bullets. This chance is increased for a few seconds after activating an action skill. This effect stacks.
- Boom. Enhance. (1): Whenever Zane summons his Digi-Clone, it consumes up to 3 grenades. For every grenade consumed, the Digi-Clone gains increased Gun Damage, Max Health, Fire Rate, and Reload Speed.
- Trick of the Light (3): Zane deals Bonus Shock Damage to enemies that aren’t targeting him.
Tier 6 Skills
[Required Points: 25]
- Double Barrel (1): The Clone is equipped with a copy of Zane’s Current Weapon when activated. Swapping places with the Clone causes Zane and his clone to gain increased Gun Damage.
Zane’s ‘The Professional’ Skill Tree – Borderlands 3
The Professional skill tree is focused on critical hit damage and reducing your action skill cooldown. So you can create a sniper build or spam your action skill.
STARTING ACTION SKILL
- MNTIS Shoulder Cannon:
- Zane equips a Shoulder-Mounted-Cannon. Pressing the action skill button causes Zane to fire his cannon at his crosshairs and consume one charge.
- Max Charges: 3
- Cooldown: 12 seconds
- Damage: 12324
TIER 1 SKILLS
[Required Points: 0]
- Man of Focus (5):
- Activating an Action Skill grants Zane increased Accuracy and Handling for a short time. This effect stacks.
- Accuracy: +7%
- Handling: +7.4%
- Duration: 12 seconds
- Max Stacks: 10
- Renegade (3):
- After scoring a Critical Hit, Zane Regenerates Health for a short time.
- Health Regeneration: up to 0.5% Max Health per second
- Duration: 12 seconds
- Déjá Vu (5):
- Whenever Zane kills an enemy with a Critical Hit, there is a chance for 1 ammo to be added to his magazine.
- Chance to add ammo: +14%
TIER 2 SKILLS
[Required Points: 5]
- Colder Shoulder: [Augment]
- Converts Zane’s MNTIS Shoulder Cannon damage to Cryo Damage but deals reduced damage. Additionally, Zane gains Increased Cryo Freeze Rate.
- Cannon Damage: -10%
- Freeze Rate: +20%
- Headsman’s Hand (5):
- Kill Skill. Zane gains increased Critical Hit Damage. This effect stacks twice.
- Critical Hit Damage: +6%
- Duration: 15 seconds
- Tunnel Vision (3):
- While moving, Zane gains increased Accuracy and Handling. The quicker Zane moves, the greater the bonus.
- Accuracy: up to +10% at default walk speed
- Handling: up to +11% at default walk speed
- Commitment (5):
- Kill Skill. Zane gains increased Gun Damage and Action Skill Cooldown Rate.
- Gun Damage: +6%
- Cooldown Rate: +6%
TIER 3 SKILLS
[Required Points: 10]
- Wetwork: [Augment]
- Whenever Zane kills an enemy with his Shoulder Cannon, that enemy explodes into an Elemental Puddle.
- Explosion Damage: 8532
- Puddle Damage: 4740 per second
- Fugitive (1):
- Zane can sprint and shoot at the same time.
- Brain Drain: [Augment]
- Whenever Zane kills an enemy with a Critical Hit from his Shoulder Cannon, two charges are instantly returned.
TIER 4 SKILLS
[Required Points: 15]
- No Way Out: [Augment]
- Whenever Zane damages an enemy with his Shoulder Cannon, that enemy is pulled to him and takes Increased Damage for a short time. Additionally, Zane’s MNTIS Shoulder Cannon cooldown time is increased.
- Cooldown: +20%
- Damage Increase: +25%
- Duration: 6 seconds
- Domino Effect (5):
- Whenever Zane scores a Critical Hit, he gains increased Fire Rate and Reload Speed for a short time. If he scores a Critical Hit with his Action Skill, he doubles this effect.
- Reload Speed: +4%
- Fire Rate: +3%
- Duration: 8 seconds
- The Art of War (5):
- After activating an Action Skill or Action Skill Ability, Zane’s next shot fired from his weapon deals Increased Damage. This effect stacks.
- Gun Damage: +3%
- Max Stacks: 10
TIER 5 SKILLS
[Required Points: 20]
- Sheer Will (3):
- Zane gains increased Action Skill Cooldown Rate. Scoring a Critical Hit increases this effect. This effect stacks.
- Cooldown Rate: +5%
- Cooldown Rate: +2.5% after Critical Hit
- Duration: 8 seconds
- Max Stacks: 15
- Eraser (3):
- Zane’s Critical Hit pierce through enemies for all weapons, dealing Increased Damage for every enemy pierced.
- Pierced Shot Damage: +40% per enemy pierced
- Proliferation: [Augment]
- Zane’s MNTIS Shoulder Cannon gains Additional Charges and deals Increased Damage based on the number of charges remaining.
- Additional Charges: +2
- Cannon Damage: +20% per charge
TIER 6 SKILLS
[Required Points: 25]
- Our Man Flynt (1):
- While aiming down sight, Zane’s weapons deal Bonus Damage and automatically apply their Status Effect when he scores a Critical Hit.
- Bonus Damage: 25% of damage dealt.
Best Zane Skills
Here is a list of skills you should consider when creating your ultimate Zane Build.
Best Undercover Tree Skills
- Brain Freeze: Cryo is a strong damage type in Borderlands 3.
Best Hitman Tree Skills
- Violent Momentum + Violent Speed: These 2 skills in the Hitman tree synergize really well and can boost your damage to incredible height the faster you go. Try using a Snowdrift artifact to increase your speed even more.
- Salvation: You only ever need to spend 1 point on this skill because the healing effect is so good even on the highest Mayhem Level.
- Seein’Red: Zane has a lot of Kill Skills and this skill not only boosts those skills but also triggers them when using one of your action skills.
- Good Misfortune: This skill is great as it allows you to have your Clone and Drone active all the time.
- Death Follows Close: A great skill that buffs your Kill Skills even further
Best Double Agent Tree Skills
- Duct Tape Mod: While it’s fun to shoot grenades but the Splash Damage Immunity is the thing that makes this skill great.
- Boom Enhance: Your Clone can do massive damage and this skill really helps you achieve that at the cost of grenades. Having the Skill “Pocket Full of Grenades” helps you keep your grenades up.
- Double Barrel: If you use the Clone, you want this Skill as it will give a copy of your gun to the Digi-Clone and that’s where the fun starts.
Best The Professional Tree Skills
- Eraser: This skill allows you to deal a lot of damage as it creates new projectiles that get all the damage bonuses again. Combine this with Zane’s Hustler Class Mod for an even greater effect.
- Our Man Flynt: The damage boost from this skill is multiplicative and boosts your damage significantly as long as you aim down sight. If you use Zane’s Spy Class Mod, you can boost this capstone to 2/1.
