Borderlands 4: Vex Skill Tree Guide

Follow this detailed guide to explore Vex’s full skill tree in Borderlands 4, including Action Skills, Passives, Augments, and Capstones.

Picture of Vex, a new playable character, in Borderlands 4
Vex is a new playable character in Borderlands 4 (Image via 2K)

In Borderlands 4, Vex is the new Siren class Vault Hunter who is known for her ability to adapt to different combat roles. Her most unique trait is the power to convert all Action Skills and Melee Damage into the Elemental Type of her currently equipped weapon. In a game like Borderlands 4, selecting a Vault Hunter that suits your playstyle is essential, and customizing their build is key to getting the most out of them.

If you are going to choose Vex as your character, understanding Vex’s skill tree is essential for creating an optimized build. Here is an article that contains everything you need to know about the Vex Skill Tree in the game.

Also Read: Borderlands 4 Crashing on PC With Black Screen: Possible Fixes Explored

Vex Skill Tree Guide in Borderlands 4

Vex's Skill Tree (Image via 2K)
Vex’s Skill Tree (Image via 2K)

There are three action skills available for Vex. These are:

  • Phase Phamiliar
  • Incarnate
  • Dead Ringer

Below are further details on them.

Phase Phamiliar

The first Action Skill for Vex is Phase Phamiliar, where her Minion, Trouble, fights alongside her. One of its standout features is that if Trouble is defeated, it will automatically respawn after a short cooldown.

Additionally, you can press F to manually teleport Trouble to a target location, dealing area damage on arrival. After teleporting, Trouble transforms into a Badass, fully restoring its health and gaining increased damage for a short time. If Trouble is dead when you trigger Phase Phamiliar, it will be revived immediately.

  • Trouble Respawn Cooldown: 20 seconds
  • Trouble Damage: 18
  • Trouble Respawn Damage: 82
  • Cooldown: 45 seconds
  • Duration: 20 seconds

Also Read: Borderlands 4: Which Vault Hunter Should You Pick

Incarnate

During the Incarnate skill, Vex unleashes a Phase Explosion to damage nearby enemies and completely restore her health. During its active stages, she gains bonus movement speed and can also use a secondary attack called Eldritch Blast.

To do so, you need to press L1 to fire the move from her offhand, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Additionally, dealing Gun damage during this time reduces Eldrich Blast’s cooldown. You can also press and hold F to manually cancel the skill early, which partially reduces the cooldown.

  • Phase Explosion Damage: 151
  • Eldrich Blast Damage: 100
  • Eldrich Blast Cooldown Reduction: 2.5%
  • Movement Speed: +25%
  • Cooldown: 55 Seconds
  • Duration: 25 Seconds

Dead Ringer

Vex can summon a Phase Clone minion by choosing between two types: Specter or Reaper. These Clones gradually lose health over time, and their damage type matches Vex’s current elemental attunement when spawned. You need to press M1 to summon a Reaper, which taunts nearby enemies and deals melee damage. Also, press M2 to summon a Specter, which uses gun attacks from a fixed position but cannot move.

  • Reaper Damage: 29
  • Specter Damage: 8 per shot
  • Health loss per second: 5%
  • Health loss increases per second: +4%
  • Cooldown: 35 seconds

Also Read: Is Borderlands 4 Available on Nintendo Switch 2?

All Passives and Augments on Vex Skill Tree in Borderlands 4

Vex can be an ideal Vault Hunter choice (Image via 2K)
Vex can be an ideal Vault Hunter choice (Image via 2K)

Each of the three Action Skills comes with its own set of Passive Skills and Augments that enhance and support it. Additionally, Passive Skills boost the overall effectiveness of the Action Skill, while Augments offer extra effects or bonuses that let you customize your playstyle even further.

All Passive Skills in Phase Phamiliar

Tier & Unlock RequirementSkill Name (Max Points)Description
Tier 1 (Start)Grave Sustenance (5)Kill Skill: Restore a percentage of missing Action Skill Duration (+4%).
Enchantment (5)Vex gains bonus Kinetic Damage with weapons while Action Skill is active (+6%).
Blood is Magic (5)Action Skill Damage increases the higher Vex’s Health (+6%).
Hasty Friends (3)Vex and Minions gain increased Movement Speed (+10%) and Damage Reduction (+14%).
Tier 2 (5 skill points invested)Grave Command (3)Kill Skill: Restore Trouble’s Command and Respawn Skill cooldowns (+7%).
Overprotective (5)Kill Skill: Vex and Minions gain an Overshield (+4%).
Yowl and Bay (5)Minions gain Max Health (+5%), Vex gains Gun Damage (+5%) for 8 seconds after commanding Trouble.
Tier 3 (10 skill points invested)Mourning (5)Kill Skills gain increased Effectiveness (+6%).
Claw and Bang (5)Vex and Minions gain Melee Damage (+6%) and Ordnance Damage (+6%).
Overheal (3)While Vex has Overshield, she and Minions regenerate health (+1%).
Vorpal Friends (5)Vex and Minions gain Critical Hit Damage (+3%).
Tier 4 Left (15 skill points invested)Icy Attunement (5)While attuned to Cryo, kills restore Ammo (+4%) and Ordnance cooldown (+4%) for 6 seconds.
Blast Rites (5)On Ordnance activation, Vex gains Overshield (+5%) and Fire Rate (+4%) for 8 seconds.
Tier 5 Left (5 skill points invested)Overspirited (5)Kill Skill: Ordnance or Action Skill kills spawn Explosive Remnant dealing Cryo damage (+15) with cooldown.
Blasted Fiends (5)Vex gains Ordnance Damage (+6%), a percentage of this increases Minion Damage (+10%).
Corporeal (3)Vex and Minions gain Max Overshield Capacity (+10%) and Duration (+10%); increased Damage dealt while Overshielded (+10%).
Tier 6 Left (10 skill points invested)Shiver (5)Vex gains Cryo Damage (+6%) and Cryo Status Effect Damage (+3%).
Tier 4 Middle (15 skill points invested)Elemental Essence (5)Vex gains Elemental Damage (+4%), doubled while Action Skill is active.
Keen Fiends (5)Minions gain Critical Hit Chance (+4%).
Tier 5 Middle (5 skill points invested)Infernal Sum (5)Vex and Minions deal increased Critical Hit Damage (+7%) to enemies below 66.6% HP.
Sacrificial Essence (5)Kill Skill: Vex and Minions gain Damage Dealt (+1.5% per stack) but Vex takes increased Damage (+3% per stack).
Reawakening (5)Critical hits by Vex or Minions have chance (+5%) to restore 4 seconds of Action Skill cooldown.
Tier 6 Middle (10 skill points invested)Tail Whip (1)Trouble can Tail Whip, dealing area damage over 2 hits (47 damage per hit, 12s cooldown).
Tier 4 Right (15 skill points invested)Shocking Attunement (5)While attuned to Shock, Vex gains Movement Speed (+6%) and Gun Damage (+6%) while moving, lasting 6 seconds after switching.
Grave Current (5)Kill Skill: Minions gain Bonus Shock Damage (+5% per stack, max 3 stacks).
Tier 5 Right (5 skill points invested)Deadwire (5)Gun Damage has 10% chance to spawn Spark Remnant that explodes for 60% of Gun Damage with 2s cooldown.
Grave Thirst (5)Kill Skill: Vex and Minions gain Lifesteal (+1.5% per stack Vex, +3% Minions) for 16 seconds (max 3 stacks).
Infusion (5)Using Repkit grants bonus Weapon and Melee Damage (+6%) based on equipped weapon’s elemental type for 15 seconds.
Tier 6 Right (10 skill points invested)Stormblessed (5)Vex gains Shock Damage (+6%) and Shock Status Effect Damage (+3%).

All Passive Skills for Incarnate

Grave Power Passive Skill (Image via 2K | Arekkz Gaming/YouTube)
Grave Power Passive Skill (Image via 2K | Arekkz Gaming/YouTube)
Tier & Unlock RequirementSkill Name (Max Points)Description
Tier 1 (accessible from start)Guns and Needles (3)Kill Skill. Restore Repkit Cooldown by +7%.
Volatile Essence (5)Vex gains +3.5% Splash Damage, doubled during Action Skill.
Leeching Attunement (5)Attun Skill: While Attuned to Kinetic, +2% Lifesteal, +6% Reload Speed; lasts 6 seconds after switch.
Grave Sights (5)Kill Skill: +2% Critical Hit Damage, +3% Gun Handling per stack (max 3, 10s duration).
Tier 2 (invest 5 skill points)Fiendish Invigoration (5)On Repkit use, +6% Movement Speed & Fire Rate for 10 seconds (affects Vex & Minions).
Bloodletter (5)Gun/Skill Crits have 25% chance to apply Bleed (9% Gun Damage per second, max 20 stacks).
Grave Implements (5)Kill Skill: +3% Gun Damage per stack (max 3, lasts 10 seconds) for Vex & Minions.
Tier 3 (invest 10 skill points)Channeling (5)+4% Action Skill Duration, +6% Attunement Duration.
Material Components (5)+6% Kinetic Damage, +3% Kinetic Status Effect Damage.
Grave Power (3)Kill Skills gain +1 Max Stack.
Target Prescience (5)+3% Gun Critical Hit Chance on all enemy parts.
Tier 4 Left (invest 15 skill points)Radiant Attunement (5)Attun Skill: Radiation Attunement grants +6% Splash Damage, +8% Max Shield; lasts 6 seconds after switch.
Conjunction (5)+6% Gun Damage at full Shield, +14.3% Damage Reduction at 1 Health.
Tier 5 Left (invest 5 skill points)Dreadlight (5)5% chance to spawn Radiation Hazard on Gun Damage (6 dmg/sec, lasts 8 seconds).
Restoration Tonic (3)On Repkit use, +4% Shield Regeneration for 4 seconds.
Full Moon (5)At full Shield, +6% Action Skill and Ordnance Cooldown Rate.
Tier 6 Left (invest 10 skill points)Havoc (5)+6% Radiation Damage, +3% Radiation Status Effect Damage.
Tier 4 Middle (invest 15 skill points)Drink Full (5)On Gun Damage, gain stacks of Drink Full increasing Fire Rate by 0.12% per stack (max 50, lasts 5 seconds).
Keen Mind (5)+2% Skill Critical Hit Chance on all enemy parts.
Tier 5 Middle (invest 5 skill points)Phase Pocket (3)+8% Magazine Size, +11% Weapon Switch Speed (doubled during Action Skill).
Mortal Terror (5)+1% chance to trigger Kill Skills on Critical Hit.
Grave Elements (5)Kill Skill: +0.8% Elemental Damage per stack (max 10, lasts 20 seconds) for Vex & Minions.
Tier 6 Middle (invest 10 skill points)Strike Me Down (1)On Fight For Your Life: Instant Second Wind, 4s Invincibility, and 151 damage Phase Explosion (120s cooldown).
Tier 4 Right (invest 15 skill points)Grave Vitality (5)Kill Skill: +1% Max Health Capacity and +0.1% Health Regen per stack (max 10, lasts 20 seconds).
Ars Arcana (5)+6% Skill Damage.
Tier 5 Right (invest 5 skill points)A Deeper Grave (3)+8% Kill Skill Duration.
Blood Shot (5)After Repkit use, next Gun Shot becomes Blood Shot: damage converts to Kinetic plus +10% current Health bonus.
Essence Leech (5)+2% Lifesteal, doubled when Action Skill is active.
Tier 6 Right (invest 10 skill points)Blood is Power (5)At full Health, gain Bonus Kinetic Gun Damage equal to 100% of Lifesteal.

All Passive Skills for Dead Ringer

Tier & Unlock RequirementSkill Name (Max Points)Description
Tier 1 (accessible from start)Sanguine Fiends (5)Kill Skill. Vex and her Minions regenerate Health over time. (+4% Health Regeneration)
Idle Hands (3)Vex and Minions gain Reload Speed based on Health Fullness (+12% at full health)
Cold Iron (5)Vex and Minions gain +3% Gun Damage
Fell Inscriptions (5)Vex and Minions gain +6% Melee Damage and +6% Max Health Capacity
Tier 2 (invest 5 skill points)Grave Assault (5)Kill Skill. Vex and Minions gain +1.5% Fire Rate per Stack (max 3), lasts 10 seconds
Potents of Suffering (5)Vex and Minions gain +6% Status Effect Damage
Cursed Blade (5)Melee attacks apply Curse, causing Kinetic Status Effect Damage on Gun Damage (+1 damage, lasts 10 seconds)
Tier 3 (invest 10 skill points)Blood Sacrifice (1)Kill Skills trigger when Vex’s Minions die
Grave Fiends (5)Kill Skill. Vex and Minions deal +2% Damage per stack (max 3), lasts 16 seconds
Grave Quickening (5)Kill Skill. +3% Action Skill Cooldown Rate per stack (max 3), lasts 10 seconds
Extra Cursed (1)(Requires 1 point in Cursed Blade) Curse triggers on Minion Melee; Crits deal +200% Curse Damage
Tier 4 Left (invest 15 skill points)Blight Attunement (5)Attun Kill Skill. While Attuned to Corrosive, kills create Haunting Remnant Minions that deal Corrosive Damage over time
Prismatic Ichor (5)Applying a Status Effect also applies a random Elemental Status Effect (+30% damage of initial, 5s cooldown)
Tier 5 Left (invest 5 skill points)Keen Suffering (5)Status Effect Damage gains +3% Critical Hit Chance
Ghasterbait (3)On Dodge, creates a Specter and grants 8s Invisibility; cooldown 120s
Shot To Go! (3)When swapping guns, new gun ammo partially restored (+6% Ammo Restoration)
Tier 6 Left (invest 10 skill points)Necrosis (5)+6% Corrosive Damage, +3% Corrosive Status Effect Damage
Tier 4 Middle (invest 15 skill points)Burning Attunement (5)Attuned Skill. While Attuned to Incendiary, Vex & Minions gain +6% Crit Damage and +6% Status Effect Application Chance; lasts 6s
Recurrence (5)On Gun or Melee damage, gain stacks increasing Gun & Melee Damage (+0.16% per stack, max 50, lasts 5 seconds)
Tier 5 Middle (invest 5 skill points)Reverburnations (5)Melee Damage has 25% chance to deal Incendiary Melee Damage (+30% of initial damage)
Haruspex (5)Melee Override: throws Phase Dagger that can Crit; Kill Skill resets cooldown (Damage: 18, Cooldown: 8s)
Tier 6 Middle (invest 10 skill points)Burnt Offering (5)+6% Incendiary Damage, +3% Incendiary Status Effect Damage

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All Augments in Phase Phamiliar

Blink Strike Augment (Image via 2K | Arekkz Gaming/YouTube)
Blink Strike Augment (Image via 2K | Arekkz Gaming/YouTube)
Tier & Unlock RequirementAugment NameDescription
Tier 2Violent OutburstCommand Skill – Command Trouble to explode himself, dealing Ordnance Damage to all nearby enemies and restoring Health to Vex. While Phase Phamiliar is active, sacrifice 33% of his Maximum Health Capacity instead. (Damage: 185, Health Restored: 75% of Maximum Health Capacity)
Blink StrikeCommand Skill – Command Trouble to Blink Strike target enemy, dealing Damage. Blink Strike always Critically Strikes enemies below 50% HP. (Damage: 86, Cooldown: 25 seconds)
Tier 4 LeftHexus NexusTrouble now Taunts enemies, making them more likely to target him. Command Skill – Command Trouble to charge target enemy, dealing Melee Damage in an area on impact and creating a Singularity for a Duration. (Damage: 129, Cooldown: 45 seconds, Singularity Duration: 10 seconds)
Tier 4 MiddleVorpal FangTrouble gains a chance to Critically Hit with all attacks. Command Skill – Command Trouble to summon Phase Daggers overhead that fire at nearby enemies, dealing Melee Damage on impact. (Trouble Crit Chance: +10%, Phase Daggers Damage: 23, Phase Daggers Max Stack: 5, Phase Dagger Duration: 15 seconds, Cooldown: 35 seconds)
Tier 4 RightBeast ModeCommand Skill – Command Trouble to enter Beast Mode, becoming Immune to Damage and gaining increased Minion Attack Speed and Movement Speed for a Duration. Kill Skill: Extend Beast Mode’s Duration. (Trouble Attack Speed Multiplier: +30%, Trouble Movement Speed Multiplier: +30%, Cooldown: 25 seconds, Duration: 10 seconds)

All Augments in Incarnate

Tier & Unlock RequirementAugment NameDescription
Tier 2GeistwaveInstead of causing a Phase Explosion, Vex launches a Geistwave, dealing Ordnance Damage to enemies it passes through. Each affected enemy takes increased Damage for a Duration. (Damage: 98, Enemy Damage Taken: 30%, Enemy Damage Taken duration: 15 seconds)
Energy VampireVex deals Status Effect Damage to nearby enemies over time and gains Overshield for each enemy affected. Kill Skill. Killing an enemy while Incarnate is active will grant a Stack of Energy Vampire, increasing Status Effect Damage. Stacks are lost when Incarnate ends. (Damage: 5 every 0.5 seconds, Overshield: 2 per enemy every 0.5 seconds, Status Effect Damage: 10% per Stack, Max Stacks: 5)
Tier 4 LeftIron MaidenPhase Explosion and Eldritch Blast restore Shield for each enemy hit and dealing increased Damage based on Vex’s current Shield. (Shield Restoration: 25%, Increased Damage: 15% of Max Shield Capacity)
Tier 4 MiddleWitchy Trigger FingerDealing Damage with Eldritch Blast or Phase Explosion will Reload Vex’s current Gun and grant a stack of Witch Trigger Finger, increasing Gun Damage for a duration. (Gun Damage: +15% per Stack, Max Stacks: 3, Stack Duration: 15)
Tier 4 RightGrave HarvestKill Skill. Killing an enemy while Incarnate is active will spawn a Soul Orb that deals Status Effect Damage over time to nearby enemies for a Duration. Detonate a Soul Orb at range by pressing [E], dealing Ordnance Damage to nearby enemies. Picking up a Soul Orb will restore Health and Action Skill Duration. (Duration: 10 seconds, Damage Over Time: 4 every 0.5 seconds, Detonation Damage: 97, Health Restored: 35%, Action Skill Duration Restored: 20%)

All Augments in Dead Ringer

Tier & Unlock RequirementAugment NameDescription
Tier 2Ghast BlasterMinion Kill Skill. Specters gain the ability to use Ghast Blast, dealing Gun Damage to all nearby enemies on impact. Specters will use Ghast Blast on Spawn, and after they Reload. (Damage: 78)
CovenSpawning a Reaper grants Vex and her Minions Health Regeneration for a Duration. Spawning a Specter grants Vex and her Minions Critical Hit Chance for a Duration. Both effects can stack. (Health Regeneration: 10%, Critical Hit Chance: 10%, Duration: 20 seconds, Max Stacks: 3)
Tier 4 LeftWitherMinion Skill. Specters cast Wither on an enemy when they Spawn, dealing Status Effect Damage over time, and increasing Damage taken for a Duration. Kill Skill. Killing a Withered enemy allows Specters to use Wither again. (Damage: 7 per second, Damage Taken: +30%, Duration: 15 seconds)
Tier 4 MiddleHellish HarvestMinion Skill. Reapers gain the ability to use Hellish Harvest, dealing Melee Damage 3 times in a large area around themselves and regenerate Health for each enemy hit, Reapers will use Hellish Harvest on spawn, and every third time they Melee Attack. (Damage 32 per hit, Health Regeneration: 15% of Maximum Health per hit)
Tier 4 RightBanshee’s WailMinion Skill. Reapers can now use Banshee’s Wail periodically, dealing Damage to nearby enemies and granting Overshield to nearby Allies. Damage increases apply to Overshield granted to Allies. Damaged enemies deal reduced Damage for a Duration. (Damage: 52, Overshield: 46, Enemy Damage Dealt: -50%, Duration: 10 seconds, Cooldown: 20 seconds)

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All Capstones for Vex

In Borderlands 4, you can unlock Capstones, powerful end-tier abilities found in Vex’s skill trees. These skills enhance her core playstyle and unlock the full potential of specialized builds.

All Capstones in Phase Phamiliar

Tier & PositionSkill NameDescription
Tier 6 LeftTrouble BubbleTrouble now gains Overshield whenever he deals Damage. While Phase Phamiliar is active, Trouble gains an Elemental Aura, dealing Ordnance Damage over time to nearby enemies. (Overshield Gained: 80% of Damage Dealt, Aura Damage: 6 every 0.5 seconds)
Tier 6 MiddleDouble TroubleTrouble now gains a Chance to create an Illusion near the enemy when dealing Damage. Critical Hits have double that Chance. Illusions become Badasses while Phase Phamiliar is active. (Illusion Chance: 15%, Illusion Duration: 8 seconds, Illusion Damage Multiplier: 50%, Illusion Damage Taken Multiplier: 300%, Max Illusions: 3)
Tier 6 RightUnsealedTrouble will now Mark his current target, causing them to take increased Gun Damage from Vex. Kill Skill. When a Marked enemy is killed, Trouble gains a Stack of Unsealed for a Duration, granting Health Regeneration and increased Damage. While Phase Phamiliar is active, Unsealed effects are doubled. (Gun Damage: +50% vs Marked, Health Regeneration: +1% per Stack, Damage Dealt: +10% per Stack, Stack Duration: 12s, Max Stacks: 3)

All Capstones in Incarnate

Tier & PositionSkill Name (Max Points)Description
Tier 6 LeftDesecration (5)Phase Explosion and Eldritch Blast create Hazards, dealing damage over time. Eldritch Blast is now Homing and bursts on airborne enemies, dealing AoE damage. (Hazard Damage: 15/sec, Duration: 8 sec, Flying Burst Damage: 65)
Tier 6 MiddleVibe Check (3)Eldritch Blast becomes a 3-charge skill. Consuming charges causes it to ricochet on hit. Cooldown reduction from Gun Damage is doubled.
Tier 6 RightHeartpiercer (5)Eldritch Blast sacrifices 20% of current health to become a piercing wave, dealing damage and healing allies. No cooldown, bonus damage/healing scales with sacrificed health.

All Capstones in Dead Ringer

Tier & PositionSkill Name (Max Points)Description
Tier 6 LeftHeirloom (5)Specters gain a copy of Vex’s currently equipped Gun for 8 seconds. Only one Specter can have the copied Gun at a time. (Copied Gun Damage Multiplier: -25%)
Tier 6 MiddleGrim Reaper (1)Press and Hold F to spawn a Grim Reaper that drains nearby enemies, dealing Status Effect Damage and restoring Health. Chance to spawn a new Reaper on enemy death. (Damage: 7/sec, Health Restored: 1%/sec, Spawn Chance: 33%, Cooldown: 120s)
Tier 6 RightDark Pact (1)Equip two Augments and use Dark Pact to restore Health of Phase Clones, increase Movement and Minion Attack Speed, and prevent Health loss for a Duration. (Speed Multipliers: +30%, Duration: 12s, Cooldown: 42s)

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Key Skill Nodes That Define Vex’s Playstyle

For Phase Phamiliar, Tier 2 Augments like Violent Outburst and Blink Strike boost Trouble’s offensive power. You can enhance this further by Tier 6 Middle Capstone Double Trouble, which creates pet illusions, making the situation confusing and challenging for enemies.

Use Incarnate nodes to enhance Vex’s own damage and defense. For this, you can use the Tier 2 Augments such as Geistwave and Energy Vampire for increasing damage output and survivability. Additionally, Heartpiercer, the Tier 6 Right Capstone, provides powerful buffs to make Vex an even more lethal force.

You can boost Vex’s minion attacks with the help of two Augments, one of which is the Tier 2 Ghast Blaster and the other is Wither. Out of the two, the first one lets Specters deal more gun damage over time, while the other increases the damage enemies take, helping your minions fight more effectively.

Additionally, the Tier 6 Middle Capstone Grim Reaper summons a creature that drains health from enemies and restores it to you, improving both battlefield control and survivability.


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Borderlands 4 (Image via 2K Games)

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