Borderlands 3 Weapons Guide

Borderlands 3 has a large arsenal of weapons, with different weapon manufacturers and weapon types. In this Borderlands 3 guide, I will explain the unique manufacturer traits and provide an overview of the loot you will encounter in the game.

Introduction to the Next Level of Weaponry

One of the biggest features in the Borderlands franchise has always been the crazy amount of loot. Gearbox Software pushes itself even further than ever before with Borderlands 3 as they promise to include over a million weapons in the game.

Gearbox Software already set the world record of ‘Most Guns in a Game’ in the Guinness Book of Records with the first Borderlands game. With Borderlands 2, the team didn’t break their own record by numbers, however, they revolutionized the loot itself. By giving each of the weapons manufacturers their own special traits, look, and feel, they made each weapon more distinct from one another. Therefore the search for new and exciting weaponry was a threat. For the first time, you could recognize the brand before you picked up the gun and it was no longer just about comparing the stats.

With Borderlands 3 it looks like Gearbox is once again going to revolutionize their loot.

“In the past, the guns all shared pieces between all the guns, and this time, we built entire suites of gun randomization inside of each manufacturer so that there’s a little bit more cohesiveness to them,”

Scott Kester

Number of weapons in Borderlands 3

• Without taking anointments into consideration: 69,434,517
• With taking anointments into consideration: 4,038,988,355

Weapon Types

Borderlands 3 has 7 different weapon types each one comes with its own pros & cons and has its own ammo type. Mix up your inventory with different weapon types because that way once you run out of ammo with one type of weapon you can always switch to a different type.

Weapon Type	Manufacturers
Pistols	Atlas, CoV, Dahl, Jakobs, Maliwan, Tediore, Torgue, Vladof
SMGs	Dahl, Hyperion, Maliwan, Tediore
Assault Rifles	Atlas, CoV, Dahl, Jakobs, Torgue, Vladof
Shotguns	Hyperion, Jakobs, Maliwan, Tediore, Torgue
Snipers	Dahl, Hyperion, Jakobs, Maliwan, Vladof
Heavy Launchers	Atlas, CoV, Torgue, Vladof
Grenades	Atlas, Hyperion, Pangolin, Tediore, Torgue, Vladof

Weapon Manufacturers

Borderlands 3 has 9 different weapon manufacturers each with its own unique weapon traits. Usually, weapon types have a traditional way of how they function. In Borderlands this is determined by the Manufacturer. This means you will find weapon types that act like different weapon types.

Most of your favorite classic weapon manufacturers return in Borderlands 3. The only one that has been replaced is the Bandit weapons manufacturer. They have been rebranded as COV weapons.

Weapon manufacturers have new unique gimmicks to them compared to previous Borderlands games. This makes the loot feel fresh and exciting.

Atlas

Atlas manufactures Pistols, Assault Rifles, and Heavy Weapons. Their unique weapon allows you to mark enemies and fire homing bullets.

• Step 1: Hit your enemies with tracker tags.
• Step 2: Unleash a hail of Smart Bullets that track towards your targets.
• Step 3: Loot!

Assault Rifles	N-System, Q-System, V-System
Heavy Weapons	Pattern [NULL], Pattern Black, Pattern Red
Pistols	AX-19, AX-88, AX-7

Atlas Weapons Database

Primary Atlas Prefix

Prefix	Effect
Cost-Effective	x2 Projectile
Over-Encumbered	Increased magazine size >34 Rounds
Laden	Increased magazine size > 26 Rounds

Secondary Atlas Prefix

Prefix	Effect
Accelerated	Rank 1 Projectile Speed
Active	Damage & Reload Speed
Adjusted	Rank 1 Accuracy
Alarming	Reload Speed & Splash Damage Radius
Aligned	Rank 2 Accuracy
Amplified	Rank 2 Damage
Armed	Damage & Projectile Speed
Beta	Rank 2 Splash Damage Radius
Boosted	Rank 1 Damage
Bug-Riddled	Splash Damage Radius & Handling
Clockwork	Fire Rate & Accuracy
Coordinated	Reload Speed & Accuracy
Energetic	Projectile Speed & Splash Damage Radius
Enhanced	Damage & Accuracy
Ergonomic	Rank 2 Handling
Gauged	Fire Rate & Handling
Integrated	Fire Rate & Reload Speed
Optimized	Damage & Fire Rate
Parallel	Rank 1 Reload Speed
Practical	Reload Speed & Handling
Prepared	Projectile Speed & Handling
Primed	Fire Rate & Projectile Speed
Prototype	Rank 1 Splash Damage Radius
Refined	Damage & Handling
Retooled	Accuracy & Handling
Shaped	Rank 1 Handling
Spontaneous	Reload Speed & Projectile Speed
Standardized	Rank 2 Fire Rate
Supersonic	Rank 2 Projectile Speed
Synchronized	Rank 2 Reload Speed
Targeted	Projectile Speed & Accuracy
Timed	Rank 1 Fire Rate
Unsafe	Splash Damage Radius & Accuracy
Unshippable	Damage & Splash Damage Radius
Unstable	Fire Rate & Splash Damage Radius

COV

CoV manufactures Pistols, Assault Rifles, and Heavy Weapons. Their unique weapon trait allows you to fire unlimited bullets until the weapon overheats.

CoV weapons kinda function like guns with large magazine sizes as you can fire them for an extended time.

Assault Rifles	BizZurker, Purferater, Ratatater, Wizzperer
Heavy Weapons	Chucka, Shredda, Zooka
Pistols	Blastphemy, Holey-Man, Preecher, Splainer

COV Weapons Database

Primary CoV Prefixes

Prefix	Effect
Brr	Elemental dmg type – Cryo
Hawt	Elemental dmg type – Incendiary
Kemik	Elemental dmg type – Corrosive
Melty	Elemental dmg type – Radiation
Moar	x2 Projectile
MOARR	x3 Projectile
Pointy	Melee Attachement, Increased Melee Dmg
Stabby	Melee Attachment, Increased Melee Dmg
Zappy	Elemental dmg type – Shocking

Secondary COV Prefixes

Prefix	Effect
Nassty	Rank 2 Damage
Hurty	Rank 1 Damage
Fasterfied	Rank 2 Fire Rate
Kwik	Rank 1 Fire Rate
Orakill	Rank 2 Accuracy
Blest	Rank 1 Accuracy
Deevowt	Rank 2 Handling
Ruhleejus	Rank 1 Handling
Kaketime	Rank 2 Heat Per Shot
Cheep	Rank 1 Heat Per Shot
Kersplatty	Rank 2 Splash Damage Radius
Splodey	Rank 1 Splash Damage Radius
Broosin	Damage & Fire Rate
Dayumned	Damage & Heat
Boomy	Damage & Splash Damage Radius
Ded On	Damage & Accuracy
Rapchury	Damage & Handling
Whizzy	Fire Rate & Heat
Greesy	Fire Rate & Splash Damage Radius
Shutupkate	Fire Rate & Accuracy
Eezy	Fire Rate & Handling
Inespensuv	Heat & Splash Radius
Da Vine	Heat & Accuracy
Say Krud	Heat & Handling
Hevunlee	Accuracy & Handling
Purfekt	Splash Damage Radius & Accuracy

Dahl

Dahl manufactures Pistols, SMGs, Assault Rifles, and Sniper Rifles. Their unique weapon trait allows you to toggle between firing modes changing the behavior (full auto, semi auto, and burst fire) and/or zoom scope.

Dahl weapons are reliable weapons that speak to modern soldiers as these guns can adjust to different combat scenarios.

Assault Rifles	Caracal, Jaguar, Mngwa, Puma
Pistols	Falcon, Raptor, Shrike, Wyvern
SMGs	Cadejo, Hyena, Jackal, Wolfhound
Sniper Rifles	Asp, Diamondback, Rattler, Wyrm

Dahl Weapons Database

Primary Dahl Prefixes

Prefix	Effect
Adapting	x2 Projectile
Arctic	Elemental dmg type – Cryo
Bladed	Melee Attachment
Daunting	Extended Mag
Decaying	Elemental dmg type – Radiation
Extended	Extended Mag
Freezing	Elemental dmg type – Cryo Damage
High Capacity	Extended Mag
Reflexive	Increased Reload Speed
Searing	Elemental dmg type – Incendiary Damage
Shocking	Elemental dmg type – shock dmg
Tamed	Reduced recoil, Increased handling
Venomous	Elemental dmg type – Corrosive

Secondary Dahl Prefixes

Prefix	Effect
Deadly	Rank 2 Damage
Dangerous	Rank 1 Damage
Shredding	Rank 2 Critical Damage
Tactical	Rank 1 Critical Damage
Rabid	Rank 2 Fire Rate
Hungry	Rank 1 Fire Rate
Nimble	Rank 2 Reload Speed
Deft	Rank 1 Reload Speed
Zeroed	Rank 2 Accuracy
Precise	Rank 1 Accuracy
Controlled	Rank 2 Handling
Tamed	Rank 1 Handling
Neutralizing	Damage & Critical Damage
Raking	Damage & Fire Rate
Barking	Damage & Reload
Lethal	Damage & Accuracy
Striking	Damage & Handling
Feral	Critical Damage & Fire Rate
Pouncing	Critical Damage & Reload
Surgical	Critical Damage & Accuracy
Instinctive	Critical Damage & Handling
Relentless	Fire Rate & Reload
Trained	Fire Rate & Accuracy
Dauntless	Fire Rate & Handling
Reflexive	Reload & Accuracy
Vigilant	Reload & Handling
Disciplined	Accuracy & Handling

Hyperion

Hyperion manufactures SMGs, Shotguns, and Sniper Rifles. Their unique weapon trait provides increasing accuracy the longer you fire, and a front-facing shield on your weapon.

• Hyperion Shield: Standard Shield
• Genesis Shield: Absorbs projectiles into your magazine.
• Amped Shield: Taking damage stacks damage for a short time.
• Redirect Shield: Reflects melee/projectile damage back at attackers.

Hyperion weapons basically do the opposite of regular weapons as those become less accurate due to the recoil when fired.

Hyperion weaponry gets a +5% multiplicative critical hit bonus

Shotgun	Collaborator, Downsizer, Host, Outsourcer
SMGs	Boardroom, Hivemind, Powerplay
Sniper Rifles	Broodmother, Entrepreneur, Mogul, Techspert

Hyperion Weapons Database

Primary Hyperion Prefixes

Prefix	Effect
Auditing	Elemental dmg type – Cryo Damage
Bank-rolled	Chance Ammo returned to Mag
Bleeding Edge	Melee Attachment
Cash-Infused	Shock & Increased Money Drop
Deep-Dive	Melee Attachment
Defrauding	Corrosive
Hostile	Incendiary
Redundant	x2 Projectile
Subsidized	Increased Mag Size
Undermining	Radiation

Secondary Hyperion Prefixes

Prefix	Effect
Shrewd	Rank 2 Damage
Savvy	Rank 1 Damage
Critical	Rank 2 Critical Damage
Essential	Rank 1 Critical Damage
Viral	Rank 2 Fire Rate
Trending	Rank 1 Fire Rate
Visionary	Rank 2 Accuracy
Insightful	Rank 1 Accuracy
Workshopped	Rank 2 Handling
Developing	Rank 1 Handling
Dynamic	Reload
Powerhouse	Damage & Critical Damage
Popular	Damage & Fire Rate
Synergized	Damage & Accuracy
Executive	Damage & Handling
Emboldened	Damage & Reload
Influential	Critical Damage & Fire Rate
Decisive	Critical Damage & Accuracy
Deliberating	Critical Damage & Handling
Proactive	Critical Damage & Reload
Mainstream	Fire Rate & Accuracy
Holistic	Fire Rate & Handling
Wunderkind	Fire Rate & Reload
Hyperfocus	Accuracy & Handling
Incentivized	Accuracy & Reload
Negotiating	Handling & Reload

Jakobs

Jakobs manufactures Pistols, Assault Rifles, Shotguns, and Sniper Rifles. Their unique weapon trait allows a bullet to ricochet to another target when scoring a Critical Hit.

Jakobs weapons are Old West-inspired weaponry and normally don’t deal elemental damage; therefore, they are devastating and can be fired as fast as you can pull the trigger.

Jakobs weaponry gets a +10% multiplicative critical hit bonus

Assault Rifles	Carbine, Clipper, Repeater
Pistols	Marshal, Peacekeeper, Ranger
Shotguns	Longrider, Scattergun, Stagecoach
Sniper Rifles	Callipeen, Cheechako, Muckamuck

Jakobs Weapons Database

Primary Jakobs Prefixes

Prefix	Effect
Loaded	+4 Magazine Stock Accessory
Gatlin	Fire Rate Trigger
Bowie	Clipper Melee Attachment
Cuttin’	Repeater Melee Attachment
Quad	4x Shot

Secondary Jakobs Prefixes

Prefix	Effect
Wicked	Rank 2 Damage
Snide	Rank 1 Damage
Bloodsoaked	Rank 2 Critical Damage
Bloodstained	Rank 1 Critical Damage
Gallopn’	Rank 1 Fire Rate
Marksman	Rank 2 Accuracy
Sharp	Rank 1 Accuracy
Genteel	Rank 2 Handling
Polite	Rank 1 Handling
Speedloadin’	Rank 2 Reload Speed
Cunning	Rank 1 Reload Speed
Dastardly	Damage & Critical Damage
Wild	Damage & Fire Rate
Daisy	Damage & Accuracy
Iron-Willed	Damage & Handling
Dueling	Damage & Reload
Dashn’	Critical Damage & Fire Rate
Deadeye	Critical Damage & Accuracy
Coolheaded	Critical Damage & Handling
Trick	Critical Damage & Reload
Petunia	Fire Rate & Accuracy
Unflappable	Fire Rate & Handling
Breakneck	Fire Rate & Reload
True	Accuracy & Handling
Quickdraw	Accuracy & Reload Speed
Round-Up	Handling & Reload Speed

Maliwan

Maliwan manufactures Pistols, Shotguns, and Sniper Rifles. Their unique weapon trait allows them to toggle between two elemental damage types.

Maliwan weaponry has a higher chance of dealing the elemental damage over time (DoT) effect, however, these weapons do have a brief charge-up time.

Pistols	Atomizer, Blaster, Devourer, Melter
Shotguns	Cyclotron, Interloper, Shockwave, Terminator
SMGs	Heliophage, Nebula, Pulsar, Quasar
Sniper Rifles	Antimatter Rifle, Multiplex, Particle Rifle, Proton Rifle

Maliwan Weapons Database

Primary Maliwan Prefixes

Prefix	Effect
Abundant	Increased Mag size
Binary	x2 Projectile
Eviscerating	Nebula Melee Attachment

Secondary Maliwan Prefixes

Prefix	Effect
Hazardous	Rank 2 Damage
Dangerous	Rank 1 Damage
Perfected	Rank 2 Charge Speed
Refined	Rank 1 Charge Speed
Peerless	Rank 2 Fire Rate
Elegant	Rank 1 Fire Rate
Panoptic	Rank 2 Accuracy
Lucid	Rank 1 Accuracy
Masterful	Rank 2 Handling
Proficient	Rank 1 Handling
Quantum	Rank 2 Projectile Speed
Ionic	Rank 1 Projectile Speed
Spooling	Rank 1 Reload
Expanding	Rank 1 Splash Damage Radius
Sublime	Damage & Charge Speed
Terminal	Damage & Fire Rate
Stark	Damage & Accuracy
Expert	Damage & Handling
Mocking	Damage & Projectile Speed
Compressing	Damage & Reload
Unescapable	Damage & Splash Damage Radius
Agile	Charge Speed & Fire Rate
Apt	Charge Speed & Accuracy
Immaculate	Charge Speed & Handling
Escalating	Charge Speed & Projectile Speed
Cultivated	Charge Speed & Reload
Quicksilver	Charge Speed & Splash Damage Radius
Exacting	Fire Rate & Accuracy
Explicit	Fire Rate & Handling
Sneering	Fire Rate & Projectile Speed
Graceful	Fire Rate & Reload
Saturating	Fire Rate & Splash Damage Radius
Meticulous	Accuracy & Handling
Pertinent	Accuracy & Projectile Speed
Vivid	Accuracy & Reload
Superfluous	Accuracy & Splash Damage Radius
Cavalier	Handling & Projectile Speed
Manipulating	Handling & Reload
Orchestrated	Handling & Splash Damage Radius
Expeditious	Projectile Speed & Reload
Massive	Projectile Speed & Splash Damage Radius
Inundating	Reload & Splash Damage Radius

Tediore

Tediore Manufactures Pistols, SMGs, and Shotguns. Their unique weapon trait allows you to digi-struct a new weapon in your hands instead of reloading. You throw away your old weapon which will explode like a grenade or turn into a sentry turret or spider bot.

Pistols	Deadshot, Lurkshot, Quickshot, Sureshot
Shotguns	Elderblast, Everblast, Fastblast, Powerblast
SMGs	Excellerator, Gibbergun, Keenfire, Kill-O-Matic
Sniper Rifles	Antimatter Rifle, Multiplex, Particle Rifle, Proton Rifle

Tediore Weapons Database

Tediore Prefixes

Prefix	Effect
Clearance	x2 Projectile
Maxed Out	Increased DPS
Firesale	Elemental dmg type – Incendiary
Frozen	Elemental dmg type – Cryo
Poison	Elemental dmg type – Corrosive
Precision	Increased Accuracy
Rad	Elemental dmg type – Radiation
Same-Day	Increased Fire Rate
Supercharged	Elemental dmg type – Shock
Turbo	Increased rate of fire

Torgue

Torgue manufactures Pistols, Assault Rifles, Shotguns, and Heavy Weapons. Their unique weapon trait allows them to switch between regular and sticky projectiles. The stickies deal more damage if a bunch of them detonate on the same target.

Torgue loves explosives therefore their weaponry shoots mini gyro rockets.

Assault Rifles	Blister, Flogger, Polisher, Stranger
Heavy Weapons	Hedgehog, Lump, Quickie, Threeway
Pistols	Carbuncle, Duke, Magnum, Pocket Rocket
Shotguns	Bologna Poney, Bangstick, Kielbasa, Protuberance

Torgue Weapons Database

Torgue Prefixes

Prefix	Effect
Burning	Elemental dmg type – Incendiary
Casual	Increased DPS
Cocky	Increased Splash & Accuracy
Double Penetrating	x2 Projectile
Gratifying	Extended Mag & Increased DPS
Itchy	Elemental dmg type – Radiation
Nasty	Increased Splash
Oozing	Elemental dmg type – Corrosive
Packin’	Increased Magazine Size
Shrinking	Elemental dmg type – Cryo
Stimulating	Elemental dmg type – Shock
Shredded	Improved dmg and projectiles
Stuffed	Improved splash
Triple	Armor Penetration
Triple-Penetrating	3-Shot

Vladof

Vladof manufactures Pistols, Assault Rifles, Sniper Rifles, and Heavy Weapons. Their unique weapon trait allows them to fire faster than any other weapon manufacturer.

Every Vladof weapon is basically a mini-gun and on top of that, their ammo-hungry guns have under-barrel attachments that include tasers, rocket tubes, and additional gun barrels.

Assault Rifles	Beezoomy, Burzum, Maslo, Oddy-knocky, Shlaga
Heavy Weapons	Bagronk, Gruppa, Strack, Vred
Pistols	Creech, Kot, Moloko, Pushdug
Sniper Rifles	Bratchny, Droog, Ghaash, Pooshka

Vladof Weapons Database

Primary Vladof Prefixes

Prefix	Effect
Annexed	x2 Projectile
Englufing	Increased Mag Size – Bi-Pod attachment
Expansive	Increased Magazine Size
Molten	Elemental dmg type – Incendiary
Negating	Elemental dmg type – Cryo
Nuclear	Elemental dmg type – Radiation
Pestilent	Elemental dmg type – Corrosive
Storming	Elemental dmg type – Shock
Unending	Increased Magazine Size
Nozh	Melee Attachment

Secondary Vladof Prefixes

Prefix	Effect
Ruthless	Rank 2 Damage
Ferocious	Rank 1 Damage
Scathing	Rank 1 Splash Damage Radius
Gromky	Rank 2 Projectile Speed
Nachinat	Rank 1 Projectile Speed
Rapid	Rank 2 Fire Rate
Swift	Rank 1 Fire Rate
Staunch	Rank 2 Handling
Loyal	Rank 1 Handling
Razrez	Rank 2 Accuracy
Otchky	Rank 1 Accuracy
Polezny	Rank 2 Reload
Sneety	Rank 1 Reload
Glorious	Damage & Splash Damage Radius
Merzky	Damage & Projectile Speed
Vicious	Damage & Fire Rate
Resolute	Damage & Handling
Krovvy	Damage & Accuracy
Righteous	Damage & Reload
Guttiwuts	Splash Damage Radius & Projectile Speed
Zammechat	Splash Damage Radius & Fire Rate
Choodessny	Splash Damage Radius & Accuracy
Vareet	Splash Damage Radius & Reload
Turbulent	Projectile Speed & Fire Rate
Oobviat	Projectile Speed & Accuracy
Nadmenny	Projectile Speed & Reload
Stoic	Fire Rate & Handling
Vengeful	Fire Rate & Accuracy
Solemn	Fire Rate & Reload
Dobby	Handling & Accuracy
Indoctrinated	Handling & Reload
Dorogoy	Accuracy & Reload

Weapons Rarities

Borderlands 3 has 5 different weapon rarities. Higher rarity weapons often have better stats than their lower-rarity counterparts. It’s possible that a lower rarity can outperform a legendary item in some areas but the special legendary trait that a legendary item has is what it makes it excel.

• Common (White)
• Uncommon (Green)
• Rare (Blue)
• Epic (Purple)
• Legendary (Orange)

All Borderlands 3 Weapons Ranked

Elemental Weapon Damage

The weapons in Borderlands 3 can also output elemental damage again. Maliwan weapons can even switch between various elements.

Damage Type	Strength
Kinetic	Overall
Fire	Good Against Flesh
Cryo	Slows Enemies Down Until They Freeze
Corrosive	Good Against Armor
Shock	Good Against Shields
Radiation	Spreads

Melee Weapons

Every Vault Hunter has their own off-hand melee attack but Borderlands 3 does not contain melee weapons.

Randy Pitchford confirmed ahead of Borderlands 3’s release that there are over a million weapons in the game, however, you only have 1 offhand melee weapon.

Gearbox Software did add Melee Weapons to your loadout in Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, therefore, we might see this mechanic return in Borderlands 4.

Instance Loot

Loot drops are unique for every individual player in Borderlands 3 when playing the game in Cooperation mode. This means that you don’t have to worry about co-op buddies stealing loot drops before your eyes.

You can still play by the old Borderlands 2 rules when you set the game to Coopetition. Loot will be shared and the game will scale to the host. Coöpetition does allow you to Power Level a new character.

If you forget to pick up an important item or are not able to pick it up for some reason, then there is the Lost Loot Machine for you.