One of the most iconic parts of the Borderlands series are the arms manufacturers; the corporations who produce the wide variety of eclectic weapon designs which feature in the games. With the announcement of Borderlands 3, Gearbox has now announced a roster of nine different Borderlands 3 gun manufacturers. Thus far, there are eight returning from previous games and one new face, though Gearbox could still announce more before the game’s release date…
Borderlands 3 Gun Manufacturers: Atlas, COV, and Dahl
Atlas: The first classic Borderlands arms manufacturer confirmed to be appearing in Borderlands 3 is Atlas; the villainous corporation of the original game. Due to their defeat in that game, Atlas weapons weren’t available in Borderlands 2, but they have since returned. Atlas guns are powerful and feature ‘Smart Bullets’; “Step 1:” explains Gearbox; “Hit your enemies with tracker tags. Step 2: Unleash a hail of Smart Bullets that track towards your targets. Step 3: Loot!”
COV: Little is known about this arms manufacturer at present, other than it will be a new addition to the series. The company’s name is written to include a vault symbol, and seems to have a bandit-like aesthetic. According to Gearbox, their guns will feature infinite ammo, but will need to cool down between firing. “Enjoy uninterrupted damage-dealing courtesy of ‘infinite’ ammo magazines, occasionally interrupted by unpredictable overheating.”
Dahl: A series classic, Dahl weapons are a staple of every Borderlands game. Though they aren’t normally very flashy, they’re reliable and feature alternate firing modes;“Toggle between alternate fire modes depending on your play style, your predicament, and your predilection for bonus damage.”
Borderlands 3 Gun Manufacturers: Hyperion, Jakobs, and Maliwan
Hyperion: Handsome Jack may be gone, but Hyperion is still around, and still making guns. In Borderlands 3, Hyperion guns benefit from mounted shields; “Aim down the sights to take cover behind your weapon-mounted shield and keep your finger on the trigger for increased accuracy.”
Jakobs: Another staple of the Borderlands series, Jakobs guns feature in every game. It’s no surprise then to see them back for Borderlands 3, complete with high crit damage and bullet ricochet; “Deliver devastating critical hits to enemies’ soft-and-sensitives, then joy-puke as your bullets ricochet towards other targets.”
Maliwan: Although Maliwan featured in the original game, this manufacturer came into their own in Borderlands 2. Their weapons exclusively use elemental damage, making them highly useful for taking down enemies resistant to standard bullets.“Toggle between two elements, charge your weapon, and deal guaranteed elemental damage with your finger glued to the trigger.”
Borderlands 3 Gun Manufacturers: Tediore, Torgue, and Vladof
Tediore: One of Borderlands’ most iconic manufacturers, Tediore makes guns which don’t need to be reloaded. Instead, you throw the empty gun like a grenade and a new one appears in your hand; “Toss your gun like a grenade to reload,” says Gearbox; “then watch it pursue a nearby enemy as a fully loaded version digistructs in your hand”. It seems likely that the gun with legs which appeared in the Borderlands 3 trailer will be a Tediore.
Torgue: Borderlands’ most explosive guns are almost all Torgue weapons. These over-the-top, high-damage weapons feature a variety of different types of explosive ammunition; “Switch between regular and sticky-projectile fire modes,” explains Gearbox; “Stickies do more damage if a bunch of them detonate on the same target.”
Vladof: Vladof guns have featured in Borderlands since the beginning. They tend to feature a Russian aesthetic, and often boast high rates of fire;“Augment these rapid-firing, ammo-hungry guns with under-barrel attachments including tasers, rocket tubes, and additional gun barrels.”
