The Borderlands franchise is full of memorable characters, but the series’ Sirens are undoubtedly some of its most iconic. Players have controlled three different Sirens thus far, each with their own abilities. Lilith provided access to Phasewalk in the original game, Maya wielded Phasegrasp in the sequel, and Phasetrance served as Amara’s special power in Borderlands 3.
With each main Borderlands game giving gamers a Siren to play as, it is not much of a leap to suggest that Borderlands 4 will do the same. However, it is also worth noting that each Siren has had a different ability. While the next entry in the series could introduce a new power, as one Siren ability remains unknown, there is a good case to be made for letting players wield Tyreen Calypso’s Phaseleech instead.
Why Phaseleech Is The Perfect Ability For A Borderlands 4 Vault Hunter
While it is hard to imagine something like Tannis’ Phaseshift working well as an action skill, Phaseleech has some serious potential. Borderlands 4 could give players control of the woman that acquired Tyreen’s powers after her death, giving gamers access to the scariest Siren power thus far. Throughout Borderlands 3’s story, players could find husks of psychos that Tyreen had drained, showing just how deadly Phaseleech can be.
One obvious ability tied to Phaseleech would see the new Siren getting buffs from drained enemies. Draining foes could become a source of health for the Borderlands 4 Vault Hunter if they follow one skill tree, while another skill tree could see enemy drains providing a buff to melee damage. Potential upgrades could see enemies drained faster, the Siren being able to drain larger enemies, or the ability to drain several targets at the same time. Another nice touch would see husks created whenever an enemy dies to a drain, with each husk providing a piece of Eridium once shattered.
Even more exciting is Phaseleech’s ability to steal powers. In Borderlands 3, Tyreen is seen draining Lilith and a Vault Monster, showing that she can take any kind of power she comes into contact with. Putting this in the hands of players could be exciting, as Phaseleech could provide temporary buffs directly tied to a target that was drained. If Borderlands 4’s Siren drains a corrosive enemy, for example, she could deal corrosive melee damage for thirty seconds. Draining a boss could temporarily give the Siren an ability from the boss in question, throwing it back at them to deal serious damage.
Alongside gameplay potential, giving a Vault Hunter Phaseleech would provide some interesting possibilities for a fresh story. Thus far, all the playable Sirens have embraced their powers, and all have been genuinely good people. Given how brutal Phaseleech is, the person who inherits the power of Tyreen Calypso could view the ability as a curse. This could damage her psyche, making the Phaseleech wielder a darker Siren that either hates using her power or embraces it. With potential for a troubled or cruel Siren, Gearbox could have some fun with the character’s dialogue and overall design.
While Borderlands 4 is likely a few years away still, it is fun to speculate on what could be happening with the sequel. While players know that the story will likely focus on tracking down Lilith, everything else about the game remains a mystery. Though the other three slots could feature anything from the Con Artist Fiona to a playable Tiny Tina, a Siren is all-but-guaranteed to be in the Vault Hunter lineup. Gearbox could certainly bring back Phaselock through Ava or introduce a never-before-seen Siren ability in the next Borderlands game, but plenty could also be done with a class built around Phaseleech.