Rafa’s Overpowered Build Makes Borderlands 4 Easy

Who is Rafa? – Origin, Lore, and Character Concept

Rafa’s Core Gameplay: Three Main Playstyles

Rafa is all about versatility, power, and tactical choice. Borderlands 4 introduces three primary playstyles for the Exo Soldier, each built around a distinct action skill and supported by robust augment and capstone systems.

1. The Lance – Precision Off-Hand Arm Cannon

His main ability is the Lance, a big cannon on his arm. It works like a sniper rifle or a cannon, firing strong, electric shots that can go through enemies.

• How it Works: The Lance has a few shots. You can fire them quickly, or hold the button to charge up a bigger, more powerful shot that uses more ammo. Charging makes the shot stronger, bigger, and faster.

• How to Use It: Great for taking out tough enemies or groups of weaker ones from far away.

• Upgrades: These change how the Lance works.

  • Sangri Paw Sangry: Firing shots makes your ability recharge faster.

  • Battery Subscription Service: Gives you an extra shot and makes your charged shots even stronger.

  • Ojo Rojo: Hitting enemies with the Lance makes you more likely to hit their weak spots.

  • Gibby Struck Module: Hitting an enemy makes a grenade appear, copying the one you have equipped.

  • Engorg Ball: Makes your shots bigger, faster, and they can jump to other enemies.

• Final Upgrades (Capstones): These big upgrades totally change the Lance.

  • Project Rayu: Turns the Lance into a close-range taser that zaps all enemies around you.

  • Project Basilisk: Fires a blob of acid that splits into puddles and projectiles to control an area.

  • Project Gorgon: Turns the Lance into a fire laser that chains between enemies.

2. PeaceBreaker Cannons – Automated Shouldermounted Turrets

These are two turrets on his shoulders that automatically shoot at enemies. They provide steady damage, great for hurting single targets or groups.

• How it Works: The turrets turn on and shoot on their own. You can turn them off early to get some of your cooldown back.

• How to Use It: Perfect for adding extra damage while you shoot your guns or for helping your team.

• Upgrades:

  • Instinctto: The turrets have a better chance to hit weak spots. Turning them off early makes them do double damage for a short time, but they run out faster.

  • Bullet Buddy Deluxe: The turrets refill your gun ammo. They also do extra fire damage based on how full your magazine is, and fire explosive rounds when it’s full.

  • Hell in the Shell: When you first activate them, they fire firebombs. Getting kills makes the ability recharge faster.

  • Install Battle System: The turrets shoot grenades instead of bullets, copying the grenade you have equipped.

  • Unmissable Missiles: The turrets fire a bunch of rockets that chase enemies.

• Final Upgrades (Capstones):

  • Double or Autoshot: Turns the turrets into shotguns that fire bouncing rounds for close-up fights.

  • Beam Team: One turret shoots electricity, the other shoots acid. Applying these status effects makes you do more damage.

  • Volatile Hollow Points: Replaces the turrets with rocket launchers for huge explosions.

3. Arc Knives – Ultra Melee and Mobility

These are energy knives for up-close fighting. They let you move fast and hit hard in melee combat. You can swing them normally or dash forward to mark an enemy. Marked enemies take more damage.

• How it Works: Left-click to do a melee combo. Right-click to dash forward and mark an enemy. When you end the ability, all marked enemies take electric damage.

• How to Use It: A high-risk, high-reward style that rewards getting in close and being aggressive.

• Upgrades:

  • Altered Cabon: Getting a kill restores health, does extra acid damage, and makes you move faster.

  • Dead Man Walking: The knives stay active until you turn them off or go down, but they slowly drain your health. Kills give you a shield, allowing you to use them for a long time.

  • Thunder Cutter: Your melee attacks do electric damage to everyone around you.

  • Parting Gift: Dashing leaves a grenade behind. You can mark twice as many enemies.

  • Acid Drop: Your dash becomes a jump. When you land, you create an acid explosion. Marked enemies also explode in acid.

• Final Upgrades (Capstones):

  • Hurricane Special: You spin your blades, creating a black hole that pulls in and hurts marked enemies. Killing enemies this way refreshes your ability cooldown.

  • Inferno Protocol: While active, you deal and store fire damage. When you end the skill, you release all that stored damage and heal based on how much you did.

  • Galvanic Panic: Your melee attacks shoot acid projectiles for every mark on an enemy. Kills make the ability last longer. Ending the skill fires a volley of acid shots.

Detailed Playstyle Analysis

Lance Build

The Lance is for players who like to snipe. It’s great for taking out one big target or a line of enemies. You can mix upgrades to create special builds. For example, one upgrade makes grenades appear, which works well with others that give you more cannon shots.

Upgrades that make your shots bigger work well with the final skills that create large areas of effect, making Rafa great at controlling crowds. For big boss fights, upgrades that boost your charged shots are best for huge damage.

Peace Breaker Build

The Peace Breaker cannons are very flexible. They can be a simple damage boost or something more specialized. One upgrade that gives you ammo back pairs well with shield skills, helping you survive long fights.

Another upgrade turns the cannons into grenade launchers, letting you place turrets to defend an area. A final upgrade makes the cannons shoot two different elements, which is great for causing status effects and working with a team.

Arc Knives Build

The Arc Knives are for players who love melee combat. It’s a risky style that pays off with big damage. One upgrade lets you stay in melee mode almost forever, with shields from kills and big explosions chaining together.

You can mix upgrades to suit your style—one adds area damage to your swings, while another lets you leave grenades behind when you dash. The final skills are great for pulling groups of enemies together or for storing up damage to unleash all at once.