Borderlands 3 ‘Catch-A-Ride’ Vehicles and Parts

Catching a ride just became a literal thing in the Borderlands universe. In Borderlands 3 you are able to hijack enemy vehicles, steal their parts, and customize your personal ride that you can enjoy! Find out about all the customization elements and I’ll tell you a little bit about my driving experience in Borderlands 3.

Introduction

Gearbox Software moved from Unreal Engine 3 to Unreal Engine 4 for Borderlands 3. Therefore they had to build everything from the ground up. One of those things is vehicle combat. Since the driving experience in the previous Borderlands games is known for not being the best in the world, Gearbox Software outsourced vehicle controls to the Quebec studio.

During a meetup I had with a few devs, I found out that multiple devs at the Quebec studio have worked on racing games like the Need for Speed franchise. Therefore it was a logical choice for them to take on this project.

I was able to drive around with a few vehicles at the Borderlands 3 gameplay reveal event. The controls felt familiar and the handling of the vehicles was good. During the demo, you can quickly obtain a vehicle. However, that first section is pretty open so there isn’t a lot you can bump into. I didn’t encounter any weird collisions with invisible objects it something like that.

Later on in the demo, you do get to race through the narrow streets of Meridian Metroplex. Once you meet up with Rhys, Lorelei mentions you can give the new cyclone bike a spin. I think this is the vehicle that everyone is most excited about trying out. While I wasn’t impressed by its weapons at first, I was impressed by how well it maneuvered. The handling at such high speeds and in the limited navigation space was great. I was able to swiftly navigate the city although half of the time I didn’t know where I was going because everything was new to me.

I noticed that there are a lot more Catch-A-Ride stations in the areas during my play session. This might be due to the location but it is a welcome addition to the game. No longer having to walk really long distances to get to a vehicle. Walking to your vehicle is a thing of the past because at any time you can also fast travel to your vehicle. This speeds up things significantly.

Vehicle Customization

Catching a ride just became a literal thing in the Borderlands universe. In Borderlands 3 you are able to hijack enemy vehicles. When you successfully claimed your new ride, then you might run into some new vehicle parts. You can then drive your vehicle to any ‘Catch-a-Ride’  station and scan in the new part. When doing so, you are then able to digi-struct those parts yourself for any of your future rides.

There are 3 different vehicles you can spawn from Ellie’s Catch-a-Ride stations. You have the Outrunner, the Technical, and the Cyclone. Each of these vehicles has a variety of different customization options. You can choose your Body Type (Vehicle type), Driver Weapon, Turret weapon, Mods, Wheels, Armor, Material (skin theme), and color pallet.

Outrunner

Developed by one of the big five coörporations is the fasted land vehicle available and can “outrun” anything else. It cannot outrun other Outrunners, however, since they go the same speed.

Catch-A-Ride Station

Statistics

• Speed: 14
• Armor: 4

Driver Weapons

• Machine Gun – High fire rate machine gun.
  • Default weapon, available from the start
• Tesla Coil – Beam of shock damage that chains to nearby targets.
  • Found on: Maliwan Outrunners
  • Location: Promethea, Meridian Metroplex Pandora, Ascension Bluff
• Flame Thrower – Produce a flame best used to quickly get rid of a vehicle’s occupants.
  • Found on: Outrunners
  • Location: Pandora, Ascension Bluff

Driver Weapons

• Heavy Missle – 50% more damage on a direct hit. The Gunner can zoom in for extra precision.
  • Default weapon, available from the start
• Shotgun Missle – Fire an array of missiles. The Gunner can change the firing pattern.
  • Found on: COV Outrunners
  • Location: Pandora, Devils razor
• Swarmer Missle – Fires a volley of missiles. The Gunner can laser-guide the missiles.
  • Found on: Outrunner, Maliwan Outrunners
  • Location: Pandora, Ascension Bluff Nekrotafeyo, Desolation’s Edge

Wheels

• Dune Buggy Wheels – Balanced for speed and handling.
  • Default wheels, available from the start
• Zip Wheels – Using the e-brake generates energy and releases it into a flaming boost.
  • Found on: Hijack Target Zippy Outrunner
  • Location: Pandora, Devil’s Razor
• Omni Wheels – Replaces the e-brake with a hovering mode.
  • Found on: Maliwan Hover Outrunners
  • Location: Promethea, Meridian Metroplex Nekrotafeyo, Desolation’s Edge
• Twitchy Wheels – Steerable back wheels for extra maneuverability
  • Found on: Twitchy Outrunner
  • Location: Promethea, Meridian Metroplex/Outskirts Pandora, Droughts/Ascension Bluff/Devil’s Razor

Armors

• Stripped Armor – Stripper armor is lighter but has no durability benefit.
  • Default armor, available from the start
• Heavy Armor – Heavy plated armor improves durability at the expense of speed.
  • Found on: Hijack Target Heavy Outrunner
  • Location: Pandora, Ascension Bluff

Mods

• Booster Canisters – Optimized for speed and duration, this boost is well-balanced.
  • Default mods, available from the start
• Energy Cells – Three charges of energy that produce a small boost and pulse of shock damage.
  • Found on: Pulsing Outrunner
  • Location: Nekrotafeyo, Desolation’s Edge
• Blaze Booster – Starting with a big kick, this fast-burning booster is better used in smaller bursts.
  • Found on: COV Outrunners
  • Location: Promethea, Meridian Metroplex Pandora, Ascension Bluff
• Laser Wings – Boost energy is redirected to create multiple laser blades around the vehicle.
  • Found on: Hijack Target Razor Outrunner
  • Location: Eden-6, Floodmoor Basin

Technical

There’s nothing technical about the way that the CoV built this. But it’s surprisingly sturdy, packs quite a punch and is a blast to drive!

Catch-A-Ride Station

Statistics

• Speed: 12
• Armor: 7

Driver Weapons

• Machine Gun – A trusted Classic, you know what to do. Aim and shoot!
  • Default weapon, available from the start
• Flak Cannon – A powerful shotgun that fires scrap projectiles. Especially deadly when close to the target
  • Found on: COV Technical
  • Location: Promethea, Neon Arterial Pandora, Splinterlands

Turret Weapons

• Barrel Launcher – Launches an explosive barrel. The gunner can detonate the barrel in midair to create cluster bombs.
  • Default weapon, available from the start
• Sticky Bombs – Launches bombs that will stick to any surface. Concrete, armor, even flesh. You name it, it will stick. The explosion occurs after a set time or can be triggered by the Gunner.
  • Found on: Hijack Target
  • Location: Promethea, Meridian Outskirt
• Tire Bombs – Launches a bomb shaped into a fast-rolling tire. The gunner can steer the tire remotely.
  • Found on: Hijack Target Spare Tire Technical
  • Location: Pandora, Splinterlands

Wheels

• All-Terrain Wheels – Technical’s fastest wheels.
  • Default wheels, available from the start
• Monster Wheels – Big wheels improve handling and durability
  • Found on: Angels and Speed Demons quest
  • Location: Pandora
• Barbed Wheels – Ignore Terrain. +50% more ramming damage against flesh.
  • Found on: Hijack Target Spiked Technical
  • Location: Pandora, Devil’s Razor
• Hover Wheels – Replace the e-brake with hovering mode.
  • Found on: Hover Technical
  • Location: Promethea, Meridian Outskirt

Armors

• Stripped Armor – Stripped armor is lighter but has no durability benefit.
  • Default armor, available from the start
• Heavy Armor – Heavy plated armor improves durability at the expense of speed.
  • Found on: COV Technical
  • Location: Promethea, Meridian Outskirts, Eden-6, Floodmoor Basin
    • Guaranteed one spawns during Beneath the Meridian
• Meat Grinder – +100% ramming damage. +200% ramming damage against flesh.

Mods

• Passenger Seats – Comes equipped with a boost module AND passenger seats! Now all your companions can come along. The more the merrier … or is it?
  • Default Mod that’s available from the start
• Fuel Barrels – All you have to do is activate it, and you’ll never run out! Doesn’t pack the punch of the other boosts but that’s the price you pay.
  • Found on: COV Technical
  • Location: Eden-6, Floodmoor Basin
• Toxic Booster – At first glance, it just doesn’t provide much speed and is all dirty and rusty. But it also coughs up corrosive clouds that damage the guys. So ask yourself, what’s your poison?
  • Found on: COV Technical
  • Location: Promethea, Neon Arterial Eden-6, Floodmoor Basin
• Jet Booster – Nothing can go wrong with a jet engine strapped to the back of a truck. It takes a bit of time to charge up, but it is well worth the wait.
  • Found on: Carnivora Technicals
  • Location: Pandora, Carnivora
    • found during the chase for Carnivora and only during the chase

Cyclone

The Cyclone makes up for its lack of defenses by allowing its driver to outmaneuver other vehicles. It’s armed with an array of fast weapons that can be aimed at 360 degrees.

Catch-A-Ride Station

Statistics

• Speed: 17
• Armor: 2

Driver Weapons

• Machine Gun – Trusted Classic. Just aim and shoot!
  • Default mod, available from the start
• Explosive Needle Launcher – Fires a bunch of explosive needles. After a while the needles explode.
  • Found on: Maliwan Cyclones
  • Location: Nekrotafeyo, Desolation’s Edge Promethea, Meridian Metroplex (True Vault Hunter Mode)
• Sawblade Launcher – Launch powerful explosive sawblades.
  • Found on: COV Cyclones
  • Location: Eden-6, Floodmoor Basin Pandora, Devil’s Razor

Wheels

• Monowheel – Cyclone’s fastest wheel.
  • Default wheel, available from the start
• Blade wheel – Offers more traction on terrains. Significant ramming damage boost against flesh.
  • Found on: Blade Cyclone
  • Location: Promethea, Neon Arterial Eden-6, Floodmoor Basin Pandora, Devil’s Razor
• Wide Wheel – Offers improved handling and more durability.
  • Found on: Hijack Target Fat Cyclone
  • Location: Eden-6, Floodmoor Basin
• Hover Wheel – Enable the Hover mode by activating the e-brake!
  • Found on: Maliwan Hover Cyclone
  • Location: Promethea, Meridian Metroplex

Armors

• Stripped Armor – Stripped armor is lighter but has no durability benefit.
  • Default armor, available from the start
• Heavy Armor – Heavy plated armor improves durability at the expense of speed.
  • Found on: Heavy cyclone
  • Location: Promethea, Meridian Metroplex Eden-6, Floodmoor Basin

Mods

• Heavy Booster – This booster is extremely powerful. Gotta go fast!
  • Default Mod that’s available from the start

Skin Customizations

When selecting your ride, you can choose between a variety of different paint job themes. After selecting a theme you can also adjust the 3 base colors of the theme to personalize your ride.

Themes

You can find different skin themes throughout the game, these items drop alongside the other weapons and loot in the game.