The Epic Power Unleashed at Level 72 in the Borderlands Franchise

Highlights

Level 72 has become a tradition in the Borderlands franchise as the maximum player level in most mainline games, offering a satisfying cutoff point for players.

In later Borderlands games, skill trees include Capstone skills that offer substantial enhancements. Attaining a few of these skills is attainable at level 72. A lower maximum level would conflict with Borderlands' gameplay style, which relies on increasing difficulty and loot quality with subsequent playthroughs. Therefore, raising the level cap is vital to fully unlock the potential of each Vault Hunter.

In the Borderlands franchise, the maximum level in the original game wasn't 72, but this number has become a traditional max level for the later games. It has been the highest level in every mainline game released after the original, except for a surprise expansion in Borderlands 2 that raised the cap to 80.

Throughout the franchise, the maximum player level has had various limits, often being raised with new expansions for each game. While none of the games have initially started with a max level of 72, most of them have eventually reached that point. This tradition is expected to continue in future Borderlands games, as 72 has become a significant and anticipated number.

Level 72 Is the Perfect Balance for the Borderlands Franchise Games

With the recent Borderlands games, the skill trees boast Capstone skills that provide significant enhancements compared to other standard skills. These powerful abilities can only be obtained by investing heavily in individual skill trees, often becoming the deciding factor when players choose their preferred skill tree. Upon reaching level 72 in the later Borderlands games, players have the opportunity to unlock two or occasionally three separate Capstone skills. While it is impossible to fully maximize every skill tree at level 72, obtaining a few Capstone skills still brings a sense of fulfillment.

The maximum level in the original Borderlands game is 69, with some expansions increasing it slightly. In the original game, players could easily reach the highest level by investing in the available skill trees and still have skill points left over. However, the successive Borderlands games introduced larger skill trees, resulting in an increase in the maximum player level to 72. This consistent maximum level across the games showcases Gearbox's mastery in achieving a balanced gameplay experience.

Having a maximum level lower than 72 would allow players to reach it in one playthrough, which goes against the intended gameplay style of the Borderlands games. These games are designed to be played multiple times, with increased difficulty and better loot as players progress through additional playthroughs or Mayhem modes. The quality of weapons and gear improves significantly in subsequent playthroughs, making them more powerful. The increased difficulty also leads to a higher amount of experience points, making it easier to reach the maximum level during these additional playthroughs.

As new expansions are released for the Borderlands games, the level cap is raised, providing players with additional ways to increase their strength. This is in addition to the exclusive loot introduced in the expansions. Whether players choose to dive into the expansions as they are released or wait until everything is available, playing Borderlands with all the level cap increases is the optimal way to unlock the true potential of each Vault Hunter in the franchise. The increased level caps are even seen as a redeeming quality for some expansions that may have lacked in story content or loot.

In addition to being a tradition, a maximum level of 72 is quite generous as it allows players to create incredibly powerful builds in the Borderlands games. This recurring feature is likely to continue influencing both the mainline games and spin-offs in the Borderlands franchise.