The latest Borderlands 4 trailer gives a complete look at Amon, the Forge Knight. The reveal opens with a heavy-metal intro: Amon rides a bike into battle, runs over an enemy, and showcases his unique melee-driven combat style. His three core action skills are Crucible, Scourge, and Onslaught.
Crucible comes from the green skill tree and equips Amon with dual axes — one fire, one cryo. Each can be thrown individually, and kills cause enemies to explode in elemental novas. The green tree also offers the option to switch axes for hammers and unlock a shock element variant for more build flexibility. Larger enemies can even freeze solid, something previous series entries rarely allowed.
Scourge, tied to the blue tree, deploys a defensive shield similar to Zane’s barrier from Borderlands 3. It blocks incoming fire while allowing shots to pass through, boosting damage and projectile speed for both Amon and his allies. Offensive options include a cryo whip that fires piercing projectiles, a glacier wave augment for wide battlefield control, and the ability to ricochet the shield offensively — an homage to Athena’s shield in The Pre-Sequel.
Onslaught in the red tree is a fiery punch dash that can be chained multiple times in one activation. It works as both an attack and a mobility tool, ideal for closing gaps or traversing areas without a vehicle. Augments can convert the fiery punch to shock damage, adding an area-of-effect wave that hits multiple enemies.
Forging Weapons and Augments
Amon’s identity as the Forge Knight means his kit revolves around crafting weapons mid-combat. Holding the action skill button can transform weapons into new elemental forms. Examples include replacing the whip with a shock spear for extended range or combining two swords into a massive spinning blade that clears large areas.
The skill trees also feature capstones that summon giant shock swords or enable sword storms of varying elements. In one example, Amon wields both a fire sword and a shock sword simultaneously, unleashing a multi-blade strike that devastates groups.
Elemental Versatility and Combat Flow
Amon’s design supports fire, cryo, and shock elements. While radiation and corrosive are absent from his skill trees, the combination of three strong elements creates synergy for status effects and crowd control. Elemental switching is baked into augments, allowing builds that shift damage types mid-combat.
The flow of combat with Amon blends defense and offense. Players can start by deploying the shield to block fire and buff allies, then transition to aggressive melee attacks or ranged elemental throws. His skills reward positioning — placing a shield for cover, then pushing forward with high-impact attacks.
Big Moments and Signature Abilities
The trailer closes with some of Amon’s most cinematic abilities. One scene shows a massive fire hammer slam triggered by holding the action skill button during Onslaught, dealing heavy area damage with a long cooldown. Another features a glacier wave tearing across the battlefield, freezing anything in its path. These big moves feel like power plays to save for critical moments.
Amon’s forging mechanic also allows dramatic weapon combinations. Snapping two swords together to create a spinning projectile is one standout example, covering huge ground and clearing enemies quickly. These moments give Amon a sense of spectacle while maintaining gameplay impact.
