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- Image from Borderlands 4 courtesy of 2K Games

How To Unlock All Skins In Borderlands 4

Originally posted on Total Apex Gaming | By Matthew Brown | Last updated Sep 20, 2025 11:25 PM ET

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the Borderlands series is personalizing your Vault Hunter to reflect your unique style. In Borderlands 4, the customization options are more expansive than ever, allowing players to collect a vast array of cosmetic items. From unique character heads to vibrant, all-class skins, there’s a look for every type of player. However, finding and unlocking these items requires dedication, exploration, and completing specific challenges.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to unlock all skins in Borderlands 4. We will detail the different types of cosmetics available, the various methods for obtaining them, and provide a complete summary table to help you track down every last one. Whether you want to make your Vault Hunter look menacing, absurd, or just plain stylish, this guide will show you how.

Understanding Cosmetics in Borderlands 4

Image from Borderlands 4 courtesy of 2K Games

Cosmetic items in Borderlands 4 are divided into two main categories: Heads and Skins. These items offer no gameplay advantages and are purely for aesthetic purposes, allowing you to change your character’s appearance at any Quick Change station.

Heads: These are unique, character-specific cosmetic items that change the appearance of your Vault Hunter’s head or helmet. A Head cosmetic unlocked for one character, like Amon, cannot be used on another, like Vex.
Skins: These are universal body patterns and color schemes that can be applied to any of the four Vault Hunters. Once a Skin is unlocked, it becomes available for all characters on your account.

How to Get Skins and Heads

Unlocking cosmetic items in Borderlands 4 involves a variety of methods. While some are handed to you through normal gameplay, others require you to go out of your way to complete specific tasks, challenges, or even purchase special editions of the game.

Main and Side Mission Rewards

The most common way to acquire new cosmetics is by simply playing the game. Many main story missions and side quests offer unique Heads and Skins as part of their reward pool. It’s always a good idea to complete every side quest you come across, not just for the experience and gear but for the exclusive cosmetic items you might unlock. For example, completing the “No Place Like Home” side quest in The Fadefields rewards you with the “Crimson Takeover” skin.

In-Game Challenges

Borderlands 4 is filled with hundreds of challenges that track your gameplay accomplishments. These can range from getting a certain number of critical kills to using specific elemental damage types. Many of these challenges reward you with exclusive cosmetic items upon completion. You can track your progress in the in-game challenges menu. For example, getting 400 critical kills with a character will unlock a specific Head for them, like Amon’s “Secret Prayer.”

Enemy and Boss Drops

While less common than weapon drops, cosmetic items can also be found as rare loot from enemies and bosses. Some specific enemies may have a higher chance to drop certain cosmetics, so farming them can be a viable strategy if you’re hunting for a particular item.

SDU Upgrades

Fully upgrading all of your Storage Deck Units (SDUs) for ammo, backpack space, and more at Marcus’s shop is a long-term goal for any player. As a reward for your investment and dedication, unlocking all SDU upgrades for a specific character will grant you a unique Head cosmetic for them.

Special Editions and Pre-Order Bonuses

Certain cosmetic items are tied to specific versions of the game or promotional offers. For instance, the Gilded Glory Pack, which includes the “Get a Grip” Head and “Lust for Luster” Skin, was available as a pre-order bonus but can also be purchased separately. Likewise, the Super Deluxe Edition of the game includes the Ornate Order Pack, which contains a unique Head and Skin for each of the four Vault Hunters.

Complete List of All Skins and Heads

To help you on your quest for customization, here is a concise table detailing all the Head and Skin cosmetics in Borderlands 4 and their unlock requirements.

Universal Skins (All Characters)

Skin Cosmetic	How to Unlock
The Great Escape	Complete main mission “Guns Blazing.”
Fought the Law	Complete the main mission “A Lot to Process.”
Gnarly Gnashing Gear	Complete the main mission “Wrath of the Ripper Queen.”
Digital Frontier	Complete the main mission “Down and Outbound.”
Beyond the Veil	Reach Ultimate Vault Hunter Rank 5.
Crimson Takeover	Complete the “No Place Like Home” side mission in The Fadefields.
Red Right Hand	Complete the “No-Escape Room” side mission in Dominion.
Tropics of Cairn	Complete the “Meat is Murder” side mission in The Fadefields.
Earned Stripes	Complete the “It’s A Whole Phase Situation” side mission in Terminus Range.
Taste Municipality	Complete the “Ready to Blow” side mission in The Fadefields.
Out of Bounds	Complete the “Null and Void” side mission in The Fadefields.
Vaultlanders	Complete a specific in-game challenge.
Sugar Coated	Complete a specific in-game challenge.
Splatterwave	Complete a specific in-game challenge.
Knitted Up	Complete a specific in-game challenge.
Copper Standard	Complete a specific in-game challenge.
Athame Not Included	Complete a specific in-game challenge.
Endless Summer	Complete a specific in-game challenge.
Waters of Akopos	Complete a specific in-game challenge.
Bargain Hunter	Complete a specific in-game challenge.
The Company	Complete a specific in-game challenge.
We Both Finish Line	Complete a specific in-game challenge.
Just Skidding	Kill 250 enemies with Grenade Ordnance.
Vault Hunter’s Choice	Kill 150 enemies with damage from Shields.
Pencil Case	Use a Repkit 125 times.
Wingman	Kill 250 enemies with Cryo damage.
Ursa Major	Kill 600 enemies with Corrosive damage.
Informal Function	Kill 50 enemies with 2 or more elemental effects simultaneously.
Lust for Luster	Included in the Gilded Glory Pack (Pre-Order Bonus or separate purchase).
The Director Skin	Included in the Ornate Order Pack (Super Deluxe Edition or separate purchase).
The Agent Skin	Included in the Ornate Order Pack (Super Deluxe Edition or separate purchase).
The Runner Skin	Included in the Ornate Order Pack (Super Deluxe Edition or separate purchase).
The Fixer Skin	Included in the Ornate Order Pack (Super Deluxe Edition or separate purchase).

Character-Specific Heads

Note: Some Heads like “Down and Outlaw” or “Original Synth” are unlocked for all characters by completing the same mission.

Head Cosmetic	Character	How to Unlock
VH-2015	Amon	Complete main mission “Guns Blazing.”
Primarquis	Amon	Complete main mission “Rush the Gate.”
Secret Prayer	Amon	Get 400 Critical Kills as Amon.
Whole Hog	Amon	Unlock all SDU upgrades as Amon.
The Director Head	Amon	Included in the Ornate Order Pack.
VH-1988	Vex	Complete main mission “Guns Blazing.”
Dual Wield	Vex	Complete main mission “Rush the Gate.”
Toxic Love	Vex	Get 400 Critical Kills as Vex.
Yabai	Vex	Unlock all SDU upgrades as Vex.
The Agent Head	Vex	Included in the Ornate Order Pack.
VH-1994	Rafa	Complete main mission “Guns Blazing.”
Party in the Everywhere	Rafa	Complete main mission “Rush the Gate.”
Revenge Ready	Rafa	Get 400 Critical Kills as Rafa.
Future Forward	Rafa	Unlock all SDU upgrades as Rafa.
The Runner Head	Rafa	Included in the Ornate Order Pack.
VH-1855	Harlowe	Complete main mission “Guns Blazing.”
Quad Nacelles	Harlowe	Complete main mission “Rush the Gate.”
Roundabout	Harlowe	Get 400 Critical Kills as Harlowe.
Curls	Harlowe	Unlock all SDU upgrades as Harlowe.
The Fixer Head	Harlowe	Included in the Ornate Order Pack.
Rip It Out	All	Complete main mission “Her Flaming Vision.”
Original Synth	All	Complete main mission “The Timekeeper’s Order.”
It’s Threshy!	All	Complete the “Breeding Daisies” side mission in The Fadefields.
Criminal Enterprise	All	Complete the “Mob Justice” side mission in Terminus Range.
Get a Grip	All	Included in the Gilded Glory Pack.