Gearbox has pulled back the curtain on Borderlands 4’s first new Vault Hunter, C4SH, one of two exciting characters arriving as part of the game’s paid Story Pack DLCs.
Set to debut in the first quarter of 2026, C4SH is a playable character whose powers are entirely based on luck. This means he could either be the most formidable or the most frustrating character in the game, a detail Gearbox development chief Randy Pitchford shared during a panel at Tokyo Game Show 2025.
Here’s a sneak peek at C4SH’s backstory, straight from Gearbox:
A former casino dealer bot, C4SH is now a drifter who chases the probability-breaking highs of cursed eldritch artifacts. As luck would have it, Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned is full of cosmic horrors that harbor uncanny curios, some of which can surely bend the odds in C4SH’s favor.
An official character teaser for C4SH was also showcased, giving fans a first look at the new Vault Hunter in action.
C4SH comes with three unique Action Skills and three distinct skill trees, each offering three branches of passive abilities and customization. However, what sets C4SH apart is his unpredictable Action Skills. Gearbox explained that all of C4SH’s abilities involve an element of chance, creating a thrilling risk-reward playstyle. This can lead to incredible outcomes like boosting himself and his allies, dealing massive damage, or debilitating enemies.
During the panel, Pitchford gave attendees a preview of C4SH’s card Action Skill, which definitely evokes a Gambit-like flair. Pitchford, a professional magician himself, expressed how “very dear” and “personal” C4SH is to him.
“Because of chance, with luck he can be the most powerful Vault Hunter in the game. But of course, with bad luck it’s the opposite. The gameplay with C4SH is definitely high risk, high reward. I think it’s a lot of fun. It makes my heart pound,” Pitchford remarked.
He elaborated on his connection: “C4SH is important to me because I think he and I have a lot in common. Some of you might not know this, but I have played poker professionally, as a gambler. I have appeared on a live reality television show in America about playing Texas Hold’em Poker. And I’ve felt what it’s like to take risks and to have that work out and have extreme success from chance, but also to miss out and lose my money.”
Pitchford further revealed: “Another thing some of you may know about me is that in addition to being a game developer, I’m a professional magician. And I’ve mastered sleight of hand with playing cards, and we used my demonstration to help animate the character in the game.”
He then showcased behind-the-scenes footage from his Texas studio office, where he was seen palming, flicking, and throwing playing cards from a first-person perspective. This footage, he explained, was directly used by animators to create C4SH’s in-game movements. A side-by-side comparison of Pitchford’s real-life actions and C4SH’s animated card skill was also shown. A video of this in-game animation for C4SH’s card action skill was shared on Twitter by EpicNNG on September 28, 2025.
Players can unlock C4SH upon his release by owning the Borderlands 4 Super Deluxe Edition, the Vault Hunter Pack (included in Super Deluxe Edition), or Story Pack 1: Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned (also part of the Vault Hunter Pack).
The “Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned” Story Pack expands the game with multiple main and side missions set in a new zone of Kairos, new gear to earn, and fresh cosmetics, alongside the introduction of C4SH.
Borderlands 4 launched earlier this month featuring four initial playable characters: Vex, Rafa, Amon, and Harlowe. A detailed post-launch roadmap outlines content additions heading into and beyond the first quarter of 2026.
Gearbox is also actively working to address player feedback regarding Borderlands 4’s performance, having already released a patch last week, with another balance patch expected early this week. The Nintendo Switch 2 version has been delayed to ensure a polished experience.
For players delving into Borderlands 4, various resources are available, including updated SHiFT codes, a comprehensive interactive map, and a robust planner tool. Discussions on optimal character choices among expert players continue, highlighting the diverse playstyles available.