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Five Keys to Victory in Borderlands 2 Now on NVIDIA SHIELD

Return to Pandora armed with these top tips

Five Keys to Victory in Borderlands 2 Now on NVIDIA SHIELD

Gearbox Software’s critically acclaimed sci-fi action RPG, Borderlands 2, is now available to own on NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV and SHIELD Tablet. The game is also joined by the launch of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel on SHIELD Tablet, which was previously released on Android only for SHIELD Android TV. Both games feature rich, highly-detailed visuals that demonstrate the power of SHIELD and why it’s hands-down the best Android gaming platform out there.

To celebrate the arrival of Borderlands 2 on SHIELD, the following guide runs down five things you need to know to succeed in Gearbox’s epic return to Pandora.

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It’s Better with Friends
Borderlands 2 is great as a single-player experience, but to really get to grips with it you need to indulge in its spectacular four-player co-op. The benefits of this are many. For a start, loot is more plentiful when four of you are adventuring together. You have the benefit of watching each other’s backs in the heat of battle, clearing enemies and administering health where it’s needed. Then, of course, as long as you’re playing with a group of fair minded individuals, you can share loot and use the new trading system to level up weaker players more quickly and build a stronger squad.

Elemental Weapons
We love the elemental weapons aspect of Borderlands 2. Such modified weapons have a very real and tangible benefit against certain types of enemies. First up, fire weapons are great against weaker opponents like humans. Tougher opponents of the armored variety are hard to combat unless, that is, you’re tooled up with a corrosive elemental weapon. The lightning element launches electrical attacks, which is highly effective against robotic enemies. Finally there’s the explosive element, which creates weapons that have an area of effect that’s useful against groups of enemies.

Don’t Forget the Slag
Slag is a new elemental category in Borderlands 2. It’s the fifth element, if you will. Enemies that have had the purple goo that is slag fired at them will suffer far more damage from any subsequent attacks. This can be massively effective if, for example, you use Axton’s turret weapon to splatter slag all over a bunch of enemies that the other players can then get rid of more easily. Slag is harder to use in single-player mode but can still be useful if you get to grips with quickly swapping out weapons.

Complete the Side Missions
Take the time to explore all the side quests offered to you in Borderlands 2. There are two very strong reasons for doing so. First of all, Borderlands 2’s story is superb and by playing the side missions you learn a great deal more about the complex plot than if you just skip them. More importantly, though, is that by playing the side missions you will obtain more loot and attain a higher level, which will put you in a much better position when you come to tackle boss fights. This is particularly important because if you ignore all the side missions, you will find completing the single-player campaign is a very tall order indeed.

What If I’m Playing Alone?
As we’ve mentioned, cooperative play is the best approach in Borderlands 2. But if you do have to go at it alone, choice of character will have a significant effect on your prospects and how the game will play out. Beginners should almost certainly go for Axton the Commando. He is a fierce combatant and his turret ability gives you the back up when you need to recover. Zer0 is also a great choice. His ability to create a decoy and become invisible will get you out of many tight spots. If you like a challenge and fancy an aggressive approach, Salvador the Gunzerker will certainly give you that. Dig in, soak up the punishment and work your way through with brute force. Maya the Siren is a strong combatant and her Phaselock ability puts a markedly different spin on things.

With those quick tips, you should be ready to set foot on the surface of Pandora in Borderlands 2 on NVIDIA SHIELD. Good luck out there.