Borderlands Will Feature New ‘Radiation’ Damage Type Replacing Slag
Following queries from fans, Randy Pitchford, the CEO of Gearbox, has now confirmed that Borderlands 3 will feature a new damage type. Radiation. The type was spotted by keen-eyed fans in a recent Twitter advert for the game (see below); the ad briefly features a shotgun with the ‘radiation’ damage type. According to Pitchford, Radiation will be replacing the Slag damage type from previous games with a slightly different effect.
Radiation: The New Borderlands 3 Damage Type Which Replaces Slag
Elemental effects are a major feature of Borderlands weapons. In previous games, these effects have included Corrosive, Explosive, Fire, Shock, and Slag. The last of these, Slag, was meant to be representative of an Eridium-based damage type. It was introduced to the series in Borderlands 2. While it didn’t cause major damage on its own, Slag damage would impose a temporary condition to enemies where all other damage dealt against them would double. According to Pitchford, the development team felt that Slag didn’t make much sense.
“There is no slag,” he Tweeted; “we replaced it with something that actually makes a little sense. The new ‘element’ damage type, which is like a nuclear radiation effect, has a similar effect to slag (increased vulnerability by those affected) and also has a damage-over-time component.”
At present, it’s unclear how this will be different from Corrosive, which is presumably still in the game. (Though it’s possible that it, too, has either been replaced or reworked.) Fans may get an answer to these questions on the 1st of May, when Gearbox holds the worldwide Borderlands 3 gameplay reveal livestream. That event will be the first opportunity for fans to see actual live gameplay. Gearbox has said that they will be revealing details about the four new Vault Hunters. Of course, they certainly may also reveal details about damage types as well. particularly as they show off combat.