The first major story expansion for Borderlands 4 is here, and it brings a brand new zone, a playable DLC character, 16 new legendary weapons, and three pearlescent weapons to chase. Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned (Story Pack 1) released on March 26, 2026, and getting into it takes about two minutes if you know where to look. Here's everything you need.
How do you start the Mad Ellie DLC?
You've got two entry points. Pick the one that matches whether you're continuing an existing vault hunter or starting fresh.
Using an existing character
Existing characters must hit a specific campaign checkpoint before the DLC becomes accessible. Here's the unlock sequence:
- Purchase Story Pack 1 (included with the Super Deluxe Edition or Vault Hunter Pack).
- Complete the main campaign mission A Lot to Process.
- Travel to Dissected Plateau.
- Enter Zadra's Backup Plan.
- Interact with the alien pillar to trigger the mission An Invitation.
That pillar interaction kicks off a cutscene with Moxxi that sets up the expansion's story. You'll be transported directly to Whispering Glacier, the DLC's main zone, immediately after.
Starting fresh with a new character
Want to skip the base campaign? Create a new character and pick Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned at character creation. You'll land in the DLC with:
- A level 13 character
- 12 skill points already banked
- Starter weapons, a grenade, and a repkit
This is the fastest path to the new content. The downside is missing the base game's story setup, but if you've already run through it once, that's irrelevant.
New character DLC entry point
What is the recommended level before starting?
If you're bringing an existing character, hit level 13 minimum before entering Whispering Glacier. This keeps early fights balanced and prevents your gear from falling behind. Going in underleveled is doable, but the zone's enemy density will make you regret it.
What's new in Whispering Glacier?
Whispering Glacier is the DLC's only playable zone and functions as the hub for all five main story missions. The zone also adds new activities and collectible types exclusive to the expansion.
Story missions
The DLC runs five main missions. Rewards scale as you progress through the campaign:
New collectibles and activities
Whispering Glacier swaps out the base game's standard collectibles for DLC-specific versions. Three new types appear:
- Dahl Caches: Scattered across the zone, these reward loot on discovery.
- Eldritch Phonographs: Assembled from fractured record pieces found in the zone. They function similarly to the base game's Echo Logs, providing additional story context.
- Vault of the Damned Symbols: The DLC's version of Vault Symbols, a new collectible type exclusive to Whispering Glacier.
Ice Fishing
One unexpected addition is Ice Fishing. You toss dynamite into glowing spots in the water to trigger the activity and earn loot. It's optional, but worth doing whenever you spot a glowing water surface.
Nightmare Rift
The Nightmare Rift is an arena-style challenge that throws randomized bosses at you. Think of it as the DLC's endgame loop: test your build, earn loot, repeat.
Who is C4SH, the new DLC character?
C4SH the Rogue is the first DLC character added to Borderlands 4 and arrives alongside Story Pack 1. C4SH's playstyle centers on Gambling and Gunslinging mechanics. Players who own Story Pack 1 can play as C4SH immediately.
Dedicated leveling build guides for C4SH are already available if you want to optimize his skill tree from the start.
What new weapons does the DLC add?
Story Pack 1 adds a significant haul of new gear. The full breakdown:
Pearlescent weapons (3 total)
Legendary weapons (16 total, 13 from Story Pack 1)
The DLC's legendary pool includes Falke, Fearstalker, Flash Cyclone, Heimdahl, Hemmorhage, Honey Badger, Ichor, Unstable Kor, Laser Cutter, Prowler, Remiinisce, Scoot'N'Shoot, Sunspot, and three others. Two new Legendary Ordnances (Barb'ara and Bismuth-Tipped Daggers), one Legendary Repkit (Blood Moon), and one Legendary Shield (Elpis Moon) round out the gear additions.
What free content comes with the Story Pack 1 update?
Even players who don't own the DLC get something from the Story Pack 1 update. The patch delivers two quality-of-life changes for all players:
- 10 additional levels added to the level cap for all characters.
- Shared Character Progression: collectibles and map unlocks now carry across characters, so you won't have to re-clear areas when switching vault hunters.
These changes apply regardless of whether you own Story Pack 1, making the update worth installing even if you're holding off on the DLC itself.
Difficulty settings overview
The DLC uses the same three-tier difficulty system as the base game. Here's the breakdown:
Hard mode's loot quality boost makes it worth considering if your build can handle the extra damage. The cash bonus is minor, but better drops over the course of the DLC's five missions adds up.
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