Pets or minions have been a mainstay in every Borderlands game, including the recently released Borderlands Mobile (even if only available for a limited time currently). Borderlands 1‘s Mordecai had Bloodwing, while Borderlands 2‘s Mechromancer is the minion class there. Borderlands 3‘s FL4K is one of the most extensive pet classes, complete with three different pet options, and Vex in Borderlands 4‘s fulfills both the Siren and minion class archetypes. Borderlands Mobile‘s currently available class, The Summoner, fulfills the archetype in the latest release. Of course, as any pet owner would vouch, pets and minions are two different things.
That’s not to say Vex is any less interesting than the others or that Borderlands 2‘s Gaige and Deathtrap are inherently lesser, but there’s something special about pets. Bloodwing’s death in Borderlands 2 shows how well-done a “pet” class in Borderlands can be, and if someone is missing the gameplay and tonality of FL4K especially, then Borderlands Mobile‘s Summoner class is for you.
Why Borderlands Mobile’s Assassin Vault Hunter is Basically “Zer0 at Home”
While there are similarities between all stealth characters in the Borderlands franchise, the Assassin and Zer0 are more similar than most others.
Borderlands Mobile’s Pet Class (Compared to FL4K)
FL4K in Borderlands 3 is built around the idea that you’re never fighting alone, with each pet changing how combat feels rather than just acting as a sidekick. The Skag is a front-line fighter that draws attention and boosts damage, making it great for straightforward, tanky fights. The Jabber focuses on mobility and ranged support, fitting faster, crit-heavy playstyles while staying active in mid-range combat. Meanwhile, the Spiderant leans into survivability with healing, elemental effects, and steady pressure over longer fights. Overall, FL4K’s design centers on constant teamwork between guns, action skills, and pets, creating a mix of sniper, summoner, and stealth-style gameplay that works well in both solo and group play.
Of course, it’s worth highlighting that FL4K is a Vault Hunter in a main Borderlands game—the one with arguably the most complex gameplay in the series to date. The Summoner in Borderlands Mobile is much simpler by comparison: they rely on a single companion, a skag named Nigel, who fights alongside them using the Good Boy Action Skill. While the depth and build variety aren’t on the same level as FL4K, the core identity is familiar: your companion is present and part of the fight. Even if the scale of that partnership differs, the similarity runs deep between FL4K and The Summoner as pet classes (as opposed to minion classes).
That difference in complexity doesn’t change the emotional throughline that makes pet-style classes stand out in Borderlands. FL4K offers variety and mechanical depth through multiple beasts, but the Summoner leans into a more focused bond between player and pet, especially through moments like rescuing Nigel to strengthen that connection. And that’s what makes the pet and minion archetype such a reliable part of Borderlands’ identity: it scales. It can be expanded into a multi-layered toolkit like FL4K, or distilled into a single, emotional bond like The Summoner’s relationship with Nigel. Different games, different mechanics, same core truth—Borderlands is at its best when you’re fighting side by side with something that feels like more than just an ability.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
What ties all of these Borderlands characters together isn’t just gameplay mechanics, but the consistent appeal of having a companion that actively shapes how you experience combat. Whether it’s Bloodwing, Deathtrap, FL4K’s beasts, or Nigel in Borderlands Mobile, the Pet/Minion fantasy stays remarkably intact across very different systems and levels of complexity, present in every single game.
