6 Most Hated Villains in Borderlands

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The Borderlands series, boasting four major games and three spin-offs that are frequently discussed, has earned a reputation as a beloved franchise among fans due to its gameplay reminiscent of Diablo’s loot system and top-notch first-person shooting mechanics. Yet, the franchise has faced criticism, particularly in recent installments, concerning its writing and characters, often criticized for their dialogue that can be grating at times. This is most evident in the series’ antagonists who frequently assume central roles in the narrative since the Vault Hunters seldom talk.

Here is a list of the six Borderlands villains, ranging from those you can’t help but dislike (or secretly adore) to those who make your skin crawl. These characters are arranged from the least detestable to the most despised:

1. The least loathsome of our antagonists is…
2. Our sixth-most detested villain is…
3. Moving up the list, we have…
4. In fourth place, we find…
5. And now, our third-most hated character is…
6. At the top of our list, the most despicable of all:…

This way, you can convey the same information while making it more engaging and easier to read for your audience.

6) Professor Nakayama

In the DLC “Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt” of Borderlands 2, Nakayama serves as the primary villain. If you haven’t encountered him in his most menacing form yet, consider yourself lucky!

In a more relaxed phrasing, it could be said that Nakayama has an intense fascination with Handsome Jack, and his persistent irritation becomes quite bothersome during your interaction with him. Furthermore, he orchestrates the challenging Jackenstein boss battle, which contributes to his undesirable final placement on this list.

A noteworthy aspect of Nakayama is the uproariously funny way he meets his end. In other words, there’s hardly anyone who deserves a mortifying exit as much as him.

5) Commandant Steele

In the game Borderlands 1, Commandant Steele seems more like an underdeveloped character rather than a fully fleshed out bad guy. This could be because at that time, developer Gearbox was still finding their footing, so it’s not unexpected that they would create a relatively one-dimensional antagonist.

Independent of your feelings towards Borderlands 2 and its antagonist, it’s clear that this sequel exhibits far more character than the initial game. At first glance, Steele may have appeared dull, but upon reflection, he seems remarkably uninteresting. Initially, Gearbox struggled to create an engaging villain, yet they refined their approach, making Steele even more memorable in the process.

4) Hugo Vazquez

In the video game “Tales from the Borderlands,” Hugo serves as a formidable adversary to Rhys. Similar to Rhys, he is an employee of the Hyperion Corporation, climbing the corporate ladder to eventually hold the position of Senior Vice President of Public Relations by the time the game unfolds.

In the game “Tales from the Borderlands,” the character Vazquez is a persistent nuisance, always causing trouble for you. Interestingly, this character is voiced by the talented Patrick Warburton, who is hard to dislike, but even his charming performance can’t overcome the annoying actions of Vazquez.

3) Shadowtrap

The Pre-Sequel titled “The Claptastic Voyage”. Although Shadowtrap seems to be aiding Claptrap to escape Handsome Jack, his role as a villain remains ambiguous. However, there’s no dispute about how frustrating his boss battle can be.

Actually, the battle against Shadowtrap is one of the most challenging fights outside of raids within the game series. Without suitable equipment, it’s quite common for players to struggle for almost an hour just to defeat him due to his enormous health bar and the perilous arena filled with hazards.

Seriously, some of the Invincible fights are easier than this guy.

2) Handsome Jack

It seems you’re correct; Handsome Jack is generally regarded as one of the top characters in the Borderlands series. I mostly concur with this opinion, but after his standout role in Borderlands 2, he was portrayed too frequently, which made him feel overexposed for some players.

It’s clear we’ve got a soft spot for “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen and “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey – they’re timeless tunes that have truly proven their worth with their massive popularity. Yet, despite the fact that not many folks seem to dislike Pharrell’s “Happy,” I can’t say I’d mind if it wasn’t played quite so often anymore.

As a gamer, I’ve got to admit it: Jack, the villain from Gearbox’s game, was an absolute smash hit! But here’s the thing; ever since then, the developers have been finding it tough to create another antagonist as captivating. It’s still early days, but if we keep going at this pace, Jack might just be Borderlands’ one-time sensation when it comes to memorable villains.

1) The Calypso Twins

As a devoted fan, I found myself grappling with the Calypso Twins’ dialogue in Borderlands 3, which left many of us players opting to mute the game just to appreciate the gameplay. While Gearbox had a potentially entertaining idea with these characters portrayed as pseudo-livestreamers spearheading a cult, they unfortunately dropped the ball and transformed them into awkward imitators.

In summary, Handsome Jack is undeniably the peak of villainy in Borderlands, and Tyreen and Troy struggle to escape his long shadow. What makes matters even worse is that they represent a concept called “go-away heat,” which means people find them so irritating that they wish they would disappear. It’s not that you dislike them; it’s more like you know someone more deserving could replace them. For those who don’t spend their Monday nights watching wrestling, this term refers to the feeling of wanting someone to leave because there’s someone better qualified for the role.

It’s promising to see if The Timekeeper in Borderlands 4, set to release on September 12th, will steer the villainous aspect of Borderlands back in the right direction, as suggested by the early footage we’ve seen. At least, it seems that Gearbox is going in a different direction from the Calypsos with this character. We’ll find out for sure when the game launches!

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2025-08-02 21:12