VAULT HUNTERS
Rafa was born and raised in microgravity, which severely altered his bone density and musculature, making it impossible for him to survive elsewhere. Desperate to explore, he signed up to Tediore's military force. In exchange for a tour of duty, his body was altered for a new kind of exo-suit. But when it became clear Tediore never intended to end his service, Rafa went AWOL. Now he's on the run and plans to enjoy whatever time he has left before his Tediore Deadframe ends him for good.
Using the high-tech weaponry built into his Deadframe exo-suit, Rafa can blast enemies from afar using his APOPHIS Lance arm cannon, perforate the opposition at midrange using his shoulder-mounted Peacebreaker Cannons, or unleash eviscerating melee attacks up close with his twin Arc-Knives energy blades.
VAULT HUNTER BASICS
Three distinct Action Skills are available to each Vault Hunter, but only one can be equipped at a time. Note that some items in the skill tree (Augments and Capstones) must be equipped into your loadout to gain their effects.
Every Vault Hunter has three skill trees, each stemming from an Action Skill. You'll need to invest five of the Skill Points you get from leveling up into a given row to unlock access to the next row. Once you've invested 15 total Skill Points into a skill tree, you'll have access to three Branches for that skill tree; at the bottom of those Branches is a powerful Capstone (more on those in a moment).
Augments are enhancements that provide secondary bonuses to your Action Skills. In most cases, only one Augment is equippable at a time.
Capstones are powerful enhancements that modify or override specific Action Skill functionalities. A Capstone can be found at the bottom of each branch of a Vault Hunter's Skill Tree. Only one Capstone is equippable at a time.
You can use Action Skills from other skill trees even if you haven't invested any points into them, but you won't be able to equip the powerful Augments or Capstones from one skill tree onto the Action Skill of a different skill tree. Committing Skill Points to the skill tree that will properly synergize with your favorite Action Skill is key!
Note that all skill names, descriptions, and numbers listed below are subject to change; Vault Hunters aren't exactly known for being predictable.
RAFA ABILITIES BREAKDOWN
EXO-SOLDIER VAULT HUNTER TRAIT
Overdrive
Whenever Rafa activates an Action Skill, he enters Overdrive. While an Action Skill is active, Overdrive's Duration does not decrease.
While Overdrive is active, Rafa gains increased Movement Speed and deals increased Damage with all sources.
EXO-SOLDIER ACTION SKILLS
APOPHIS LANCE
(People Person skill tree)
Equip Rafa's APOPHIS Lance, an offhand Arm Cannon that decreases Rafa's Gun Handling, but allows him to fire Piercing Shock Ordnance Blasts. Any unused Charges when APOPHIS Lance ends are converted into Action Skill Cooldown.
Press Action Skill to fire a Piercing Shock Ordnance Blast at enemies and consume a Charge, or hold Action Skill to charge up Rafa's APOPHIS Lance for increased Damage, Projectile Size, and Projectile Speed - at the cost of unused Charges.
EXO-SOLDIER SKILL TREES
PEOPLE PERSON
Rinse
5 points
Rafa gains increased Reload Speed.
Las Jaras
5 points
Overdrive Skill. Rafa Regenerates Ammo while Overdrive is active.
The Thrill
5 points
Overdrive Skill. Rafa gains increased Fire Rate, which is increased even further while Overdrive is active.
Preparado
5 points
Whenever Rafa Reloads his current Gun, he gains increased Action Skill Cooldown Rate.
This effect can stack.
Sangre por Sangre
Whenever Rafa consumes an APOPHIS Lance Charge, he gains increased Action Skill Cooldown Rate. This bonus is increased for every APOPHIS Lance Charge consumed.
Pa' Dentro
5 points
Activating an Action Skill grants Rafa Health Regeneration.
Battery Subscription Service
APOPHIS Lance gains an Additional Charge.
Additionally, whenever Rafa consumes a set minimum number of Charges, he gains increased Action Skill Potency.
Arriba
Kill Skill. Whenever Rafa kills an enemy, he gains increased Ordnance Cooldown Rate.
First Impression
5 points
The first shot fired from a fully-loaded Magazine gains increased Damage.
Al Centro
5 points
Overdrive Skill. Rafa gains increased Gun Handling and Action Skill Handling while Overdrive is active. The longer Overdrive has been active, the greater the bonus.
Metal Management
1 point
Whenever Rafa activates or retriggers an Action Skill, his gun consumes no Ammo.
Abajo
5 points
Whenever Rafa throws a Grenade, he gains increased Action Skill Cooldown Rate.
BRANCH 1
Brain Dump
5 points
Overdrive Skill. Rafa gains Critical Hit Chance with his Guns while Overdrive is active.
Ojo Rojo
APOPHIS Lance gains Critical Hit Chance.
Whenever Rafa damages an enemy with APOPHIS Lance, he gains further increased Critical Hit Chance.
Conductivo
5 points
Rafa gains increased Status Effect Chance, and also gains further increased Shock Chance.
El Catrín
5 points
Whenever Rafa Slides, his Action Skill deals Bonus Shock Damage, and he also deals increased Critical Hit Damage.
Awe
1 point
Whenever Rafa Shocks an enemy, all shots fired at that enemy are Critical Hits.
PROJECT: Raiju
APOPHIS Lance is now a close-range Shocking Taser. Pressing and holding Action Skill causes Rafa to deal Shock Damage in an arc in front of him. The longer Rafa holds this attack, the greater Damage it deals.
Fiesta
5 points
Whenever Rafa applies a Status Effect, his Action Skills consume no Duration, and APOPHIS Lance consumes no Charges.
BRANCH 2
Drone Defense
5 points
Whenever Rafa activates an Ordnance, spawn STRM Gliders that hover near him. As he takes Damage, transfer some of it to his STRM Gliders. Once a STRM Glider receives too much Damage, it explodes, dealing Corrosive Splash Damage to nearby enemies.
Gibistruct Module
Whenever Rafa kills an enemy with his APOPHIS Lance, spawn a free Grenade on that enemy. If Rafa has a Grenade equipped, spawn a copy of that Grenade instead.
El Soldado
5 points
Overdrive Skill. Rafa gains increased Gun Damage while Overdrive is active. This bonus is doubled while Rafa is charging APOPHIS Lance.
The Right Tools
5 points
Rafa gains increased Ordnance Damage after Reloading his Gun. This bonus stacks.
Debtonation
5 points
Whenever Rafa damages an enemy with an Action Skill, place a Remote Detonator on that enemy. Remote Detonators gain increased Damage and increased Splash Radius for every Remote Detonator on an enemy. Remote Detonators automatically explode after a delay or whenever the enemy they're attached to dies.
Ordnance Override. Detonate all Remote Detonators.
Drone Assault
1 point
Whenever Rafa triggers or retriggers an Action Skill, send one of his STRM Gliders at an enemy in his view. Once it arrives, it explodes in a Corrosive Explosion equal to its remaining health.
PROJECT: Basilisk
APOPHIS Lance now fires a Corrosive Blob that leaves a Corrosive Hazard and Splits into several smaller Projectiles whenever it detonates. The more Charges APOPHIS Lance consumes at once, the more it Splits.
BRANCH 3
Jaque
5 points
Whenever Rafa damages an enemy with a Skill, he gains a Stack of Jaque. For every Stack of Jaque, he gains increased Overdrive Bonuses. Whenever Overdrive ends, he loses all Stacks.
Engorged Bore
APOPHIS Lance gains increased Projectile Radius and Projectile Speed. PROJECT: Gorgon gains increased Number of Chains.
La Garza
5 points
Overdrive Skill. Rafa gains increased Gun Handling and Action Skill Handling while Overdrive is active.
Mate
5 points
When Overdrive ends, convert all Jaque Stacks into Mate Stacks. Gain increased Action Skill Cooldown Rate for every Stack of Mate. Once Rafa's Action Skill is readied, lose all Stacks of Mate.
Deadline
5 points
Overdrive Skill. Rafa gains increased Fire Rate and increased Reload Speed while Overdrive is active.
PROJECT: Gorgon
APOPHIS Lance is now a Laser that passes through enemies, dealing Incendiary Damage. Pressing and holding Action Skill causes the Laser to deal increased Damage and Chain to more Enemies as it consumes Charges.
Per My Last
5 points
Whenever Rafa deals Damage with an Action Skill to an enemy, he gains a chance to deal that Damage again.
Beyond the Borderlands videos
Rafa Abilities Breakdown
CHOOSE YOUR EDITION
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