At the Borderlands 3 gameplay event in Los Angeles, California, it was revealed that it will feature destructible and degradable cover.
I was able to test it out myself during my hands-on and it’s a great new feature for the franchise.
Borderlands 3 Destructible Cover
Basically, when enemies take cover, you’re able to shoot it, throw grenades at it and generally deal damage to it to gradually degrade it until it is completely destroyed. Thereby giving the enemies nowhere to hide.
However, you’ll need to be careful as the enemies can take advantage of this new mechanic to shoot you when you take cover too.
While it’s not clear just how much of the environment is destructible, I can confirm that a majority (if not all) of the chest high walls in Borderlands 3 appear to be destructible.
In the image above you can see some concrete benches that were being used by Maliwan forces as cover. I opted to shoot through them with my shotgun and the results speak for themselves.
In addition to the destructible cover, Borderlands 3 also allows players to melee barrels towards the enemy as a makeshift grenade. A great tactic is to melee an explosive barrel at the enemy’s cover, shoot it and watch as the ensuing explosion destroys the cover.
This new approach to a dynamic environment also extends to water and oil. Water is able to conduct electricity and oil can catch fire. Players who have a shock or fire gun equipped can make short work of enemies who are standing in puddles.
The new environmental systems make playing Borderlands 3 more dynamic than ever.
Look forward to it on September 13.
Leo Stevenson attended the Borderlands 3 gameplay event in Los Angeles, California as a guest of 2K. Flights, accommodation and meals were provided by 2K.
