Borderlands 4 Elemental Chart | Element Damage & Weaknesses
Borderlands 4 has six elemental damage types, and each one works differently against Flesh, Shields, and Armor. Learning how these elements interact is the key to melting enemies faster, especially once you climb into Hard difficulty or Ultimate Vault Hunter mode. This guide breaks down the full elemental chart, how DoTs work, shield resistances, and other tips to maximize your damage.
Borderlands 4 Elemental Damage Types Chart & Table
The six elements are Kinetic, Incendiary, Shock, Corrosive, Cryo, and Radiation. Kinetic is neutral, while the others have strengths and weaknesses depending on the enemy’s health bar.
Full chart of elemental damage and weaknesses
| Element | Flesh (Red) | Shield (Blue) | Armor (Yellow) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kinetic | Normal | Normal | Normal |
| Incendiary | Very Strong | Weak | Very Weak |
| Shock | Weak | Very Strong | Weak |
| Corrosive | Normal | Very Weak | Very Strong |
| Cryo | Weak | Strong | Strong |
| Radiation | Normal | Strong | Weak |
Incendiary is best for Flesh, Shock shreds Shields, and Corrosive melts Armor. Cryo is versatile but slightly weaker against Flesh. Radiation works well on Shields, but it falls short on Armor.
Damage Over Time Durations
Most elemental weapons apply a Damage Over Time effect, also called DoT. This is a lingering burn, shock, or corrosion that ticks away after you hit an enemy.
DoT Element Duration
| Element | DoT Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosive | ~8 seconds | Longest lasting DoT |
| Incendiary | ~4 seconds | Applies burn |
| Radiation | ~4 seconds | Creates damaging aura |
| Shock | ~2 seconds | Shortest duration |
| Cryo | Freeze effect | Duration depends on enemy |
| Kinetic | ~10 seconds | Exclusive to Vex’s Cursed Blade |
Radiation has a unique twist. Any enemy with a Radiation DoT creates a damaging aura that hurts nearby enemies. It doesn’t spread the DoT, but the aura damage is strong enough to chain through groups.
Elemental Resistances on Shields
Some shields come with elemental resistance. The default is usually 15 percent, unless stated otherwise. This reduces incoming damage from that element before it hits your shield.
Stacking elemental resistance can help in fights against specific enemy types, such as Order units with heavy Shock or Radiation attacks.
| Shield Type | Resistance Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Default Elemental Resistance | 15% | Unless stated otherwise |
| Special Shields | Variable | Can roll higher or specific element |
Elemental Weapons in Borderlands 4
Not all manufacturers treat elements equally. Maliwan weapons are almost always elemental, and they can swap between two damage types. Vladof is another strong choice thanks to elemental underbarrel attachments.
Jakobs is the least useful for elements, since most of their standard guns are purely kinetic unless they roll as legendary.
Elemental Barrels in the World
Scattered barrels add more ways to use elements. Shooting or sliding into one triggers an elemental zone that damages enemies and you. These can wipe groups fast, but watch your own positioning.
Cryo barrels are especially good for freezing mobs, while Incendiary or Radiation barrels can soften enemies before you unload your weapons.
Final Blurb
The Borderlands 4 elemental chart is simple once you see how each damage type matches against health bars. Use Incendiary for Flesh, Shock for Shields, and Corrosive for Armor, with Cryo and Radiation as flexible backups.
Learning to swap weapons by enemy type makes every fight faster, and mastering elements is one of the biggest keys to surviving in higher difficulties and Ultimate Vault Hunter mode.
FAQ
How many elemental damage types are in Borderlands 4?
There are six: Kinetic, Incendiary, Shock, Corrosive, Cryo, and Radiation.
Which element is best for Shields?
Shock is the strongest, with Cryo and Radiation as backups.
Which element is best for Armor?
Corrosive is the most effective choice against yellow Armor bars.
Can enemies be affected by multiple DoTs?
Yes. Enemies can have different elemental DoTs active at the same time, though stacking the same element usually requires different sources like ordnance and guns.
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