Though it may not have lasted as long as its predecessor, Borderlands 3 received some strong post-launch support, with fans of the franchise able to enjoy two Season Passes worth of content. Many adored the expansions, finding their storytelling better than the main game’s, while new modes like Arms Race and extra skill trees for the Vault Hunters added depth. However, it would have been better if a few pieces of post-launch content could have been enjoyed from day one instead of coming several months later.
Alongside Vault Cards, which were battle pass-like sets of rewards that offered unlockable cosmetics, the Diamond Armory is a feature that came to the game far too late. Releasing near the end of the game’s life cycle, many Borderlands 3 fans have never even used a Diamond Key, missing out on an awesome mechanic with a lot of potential. Hopefully, Gearbox brings the feature to players much sooner with its next Borderlands release,
Borderlands 3’s Diamond Keys Need More Time To Shine
Borderlands 3’s Diamond Armory, and the Diamond Keys required to access it, were not added to the game until the Director’s Cut DLC. Once the system did come, though, it instantly replaced the Golden Chest as the most exciting thing aboard Sanctuary 3. Instead of getting all the keys through SHIFT codes - though some were distributed through this system - players would obtain them through gameplay and leveling up Vault Cards. This meant that players had another exciting thing to strive for, giving them a reason to stick with the game and keep grinding.
The major benefit of the Diamond Armory is that, unlike the usual random drops for Borderlands 3’s Legendaries, players had a good amount of control over which item they acquired next. When using a Diamond Key, gamers had a few minutes to careful scan each wall. A grenade section, weapon section, and shield section were all present, with players able to select just one piece of gear from each wall before being rewarded with one final item at the end. While this would not be difficult normally, the selection process had a time limit, evoking similar pressure to the loot rooms from the General Knoxx and Krieg expansions.
Being asked to make tough choices from a wall full of stellar loot is an interesting change of pace, and one that makes the endgame grind a bit more varied for players. Whenever a Diamond Key was required, many Vault Hunters likely went straight to the armory, excited to grab top tier items that could have required a massive grind otherwise. Not only did the Keys themselves give players something else to strive for, but the place where they used them provided an engaging experience every time.
With all this in mind, Gearbox making sure that more players experience the Diamond Armory with its next Borderlands game makes sense. Obviously, some form of balancing is required so that players do not get too much great loot right away. One option would see the Armory treated as a post-game area or a True Vault Hunter reward, while another would see Diamond Keys tied to endgame activities like Takedowns and Raid Boss kills. The feature could also be added after release, which would still be an improvement if it comes a few months after launch instead of a year and a half later.
After appearing in numerous games, Borderlands' Golden Chest and Keys have become iconic, and the Diamond Armory could achieve the same success if it becomes a series staple as opposed to a one-off feature. While being able to farm bosses in Borderlands for their loot should never go away, having other ways to collect gear will always be beneficial. The time limit for the Diamond Armory combined with the freedom it gives players helped make it an exciting addition, and tying keys to endgame content could be a great way to make it feel like a big deal every time gamers step inside.
Borderlands 3 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.