Few characters in gaming are as iconic—or as enigmatic—as the Sirens of the Borderlands universe. These individuals possess extraordinary, mysterious powers and are physically distinguished by elaborate tattoos covering half of their bodies. Only six Sirens exist at any one time, and when one dies, her abilities transfer to a new host. All Sirens are drawn to the planet Pandora, where their powers often shape the fate of the universe itself. With Borderlands 4 approaching and a new Siren, Vex, poised to join the ranks, it’s the perfect time to rank all known Sirens based on their gameplay impact, lore significance, and raw power.
Who Are the Sirens?
Before diving into the rankings, it’s worth understanding exactly who the Sirens are in the Borderlands universe. Sirens are individuals—almost always women—who possess extraordinary, mysterious powers and bear elaborate tattoos covering half of their bodies. These tattoos typically appear when a Siren’s powers first awaken and often glow when their abilities are in use.
- At any given time, only 6 Sirens can exist. A mysterious “7th Siren” is hinted at in Eridian writings, though her identity and powers remain unknown and feared.
- Sirens gain unique tattoos that usually cover half their bodies. These tattoos typically appear when their powers awaken.
- Sirens are drawn inexplicably to Pandora during their lives.
- Siren powers can be passed on upon death, either deliberately to a chosen successor or randomly to a stranger.
- Sirens often thrive on Eridium, using it to amplify their abilities, though overuse can cause addiction or deadly consequences. For instance, Lilith showed signs of addiction, while Angel required a constant Eridium feed to survive.
- Some Sirens channel their powers through the tattooed arm, as seen when Maya often uses her left arm for Phaselock. However, this isn’t absolute and may vary by Siren or by whether they’re holding a weapon.
- Each Siren’s power is unique, ranging from dimensional shifting to technopathy and life-draining abilities.
While they share these cosmic traits, each Siren brings a distinct personality and power to the series. Let’s know how they stack up against one another.
See also: Are Borderlands 4 PC Requirements Too High for Most Gamers?
S-Tier: The Benchmark of Sirens
Lilith
Games: Borderlands 1, 2, 3, narrative links to Borderlands 4
Power: Phasewalk
Lilith is the original playable Siren and remains the franchise’s most defining character. Her Phasewalk lets her slip between dimensions, becoming invisible while dealing explosive damage upon exit. It’s tied to the fire element, allowing flame attacks and even generating flaming wings during her Phoenix skill. Beyond combat, Lilith is the leader of the Crimson Raiders, mentor to newer Sirens, and the moral backbone of the series. No other Siren has influenced Pandora’s fate so profoundly.
Her use of Phasewalk on Elpis was so catastrophic that the Eridian Seer declared it “ruined the course,” demonstrating how Sirens can disrupt causality itself.
While Lilith stands as the gold standard, other Sirens have made significant marks on the Borderlands universe in their own unique ways.
A-Tier: Powerhouses in Their Own Right
Maya
Games: Borderlands 2, 3
Power: Phaselock
Maya’s Phaselock suspends enemies mid-air, enabling versatile crowd control and elemental damage builds. She could even turn enemies against one another by mind-controlling Phaselocked foes. By Borderlands 3, she advanced her Phaselock into launching energy orbs capable of destroying metal gates. Though her narrative was tragically cut short in Borderlands 3, Maya remains one of the franchise’s most beloved and versatile Sirens.
Her elemental synergy also allowed unique build paths involving fire, shock, and corrosive damage.
Amara
Games: Borderlands 3
Power: Phasetrance
Amara shattered the traditional mage archetype, embracing raw brawler power. Phasetrance lets her manifest astral projections—giant fists erupting from the ground, spectral arms for punching, or six radiant arms fanning out behind her like wings for defensive or offensive strikes. She’s unmatched in melee damage and offers diverse elemental builds. While her narrative presence is lighter than Lilith or Maya’s, her gameplay is a powerhouse of flexibility and fun.
Amara’s tattoos expand over time as she grows stronger, a unique visual evolution not seen with other Sirens.
These A-Tier Sirens demonstrate that while Lilith reigns supreme in legacy, others rival her in raw gameplay impact and creativity.
B-Tier: Story-Driven Sirens
Angel
Games: Borderlands 1, 2
Power: Phaseshift
Angel was a tragic Siren whose Phaseshift allowed technopathy—controlling machines and digital systems. As Handsome Jack’s daughter, she was manipulated into powering Hyperion’s networks and the Warrior’s vault key. She even appeared as a digital hologram guiding Vault Hunters, only to reveal her tragic true identity. Though unplayable, her influence on the story—and one of Borderlands’ most emotional scenes—cements her legacy.
Angel ultimately required a continuous supply of Eridium to stay alive due to overuse of her powers.
Patricia Tannis
Games: Entire series (Siren reveal in Borderlands 3)
Power: Phaseshift (inherited from Angel)
The eccentric scientist Tannis shocked fans when revealed as a Siren. Her Phaseshift grants her technopathy, but she hasn’t yet showcased combat abilities. Still, her knowledge of Eridium, vaults, and Siren lore makes her a crucial ally. Her Siren tattoos and connection to Eridian writings hint at deeper potential in future games.
Interestingly, Tannis becoming a Siren confirms Siren powers are not “born” traits but can be transferred, a fact reinforced by Maya passing her power to Ava.
The B-Tier Sirens remind us that their narrative weight often rivals, or even surpasses, their combat presence.
C-Tier: The Controversial and Underused
Ava
Games: Borderlands 3
Power: Phaselock (inherited from Maya)
Ava inherited Maya’s Phaselock after her mentor’s death. Initially brash and divisive among fans, Ava’s character matured during Borderlands 3’s DLCs. She has yet to fully develop new Phaselock manifestations like Maya’s advanced orbs, leaving her power set underdeveloped. Borderlands 4 might give her the depth she needs to win over skeptics.
She’s a key example of how Siren powers can transfer between individuals, even to the surprise of the characters themselves.
Tyreen Calypso (and Troy Calypso)
Games: Borderlands 3
Power: Phaseleech
Tyreen wielded Phaseleech, draining life force from others and even absorbing their unique abilities, as when she consumed Lilith’s Phasewalk. She became one with the Vault monster, The Destroyer, showcasing the terrifying limits of Phaseleech. Troy, as her parasitic twin, could siphon her power but not wield it independently to the same extent. Though immensely powerful, their influencer-style villainy fell flat for many players, securing their low tier despite raw strength.
Unlike other Sirens, Phaseleech users cannot charge Vault Keys, as their power only draws energy outward rather than transferring it.
See also: Borderlands 4 Free Cosmetic: How to Get the Hazard Pay Weapon Skin Early
Commandant Steele
Games: Borderlands 1
Power: Unknown (confirmed Siren via lore)
Steele led the Atlas Corporation in Borderlands 1 but never displayed Siren powers on-screen. She did possess Siren tattoos and the unique ability to assemble a Vault Key, suggesting a link to Siren capabilities. Unfortunately, her abrupt death at the hands of the Vault monster left her underdeveloped and largely forgotten outside of hardcore lore discussions.
These C-Tier characters reflect either controversy, narrative misfires, or simply underutilized potential within the Siren legacy.
Honorable Mentions
- Nyriad: Ancient Siren who used Phaseleech to drain the entire Eridian civilization’s life force. Her writings warn, “You must never find the Seventh,” hinting at a Siren whose existence could destabilize reality.
- Dido: Referenced as Queen of Athenas and Typhon DeLeon’s lover, but her Siren power remains unknown.
- Asha: Featured in the Borderlands comics with the power to control animals, though she remains outside game canon.
Even these lesser-known figures contribute fascinating threads to the vast tapestry of Siren lore.
Additional Gameplay Mechanics and Lore Details
Beyond individual rankings, it’s crucial to remember the shared traits and cosmic rules that bind all Sirens.
- Wings: Many Sirens generate luminous wings during power use (Lilith’s Phoenix skill, Maya’s Blight Phoenix, Angel’s true form, Amara’s spectral arms arranged like wings).
- Vault Key Charging: Sirens can charge Vault Keys using their powers—a critical story function throughout the series.
- Connection to Eridium: Sirens can amplify powers using Eridium but risk side effects ranging from addiction (Lilith) to life support dependency (Angel).
- Acausality: According to the Seer, Sirens disrupt cause-and-effect, creating chaos in the universe’s fabric. Lilith’s use of Phasewalk on Elpis was so disruptive that it “ruined the course” of fate itself.
When a Siren dies, they can either choose their successor or let their powers drift into the universe to find a random new host. Nyriad herself pondered whether Siren powers are a blessing or a curse.
Altogether, these traits remind us that Sirens aren’t merely superpowered warriors—they’re cosmic anomalies whose actions reshape the very fabric of reality.
Vex and Borderlands 4
Borderlands 4’s newest Siren, Vex, promises to bring fresh energy—and possibly new abilities—to the series. Her backstory hints at a shift from mercenary work to retail trauma—a relatable twist for fans. Many speculate she could inherit the Phaseleech ability left behind by the Calypso twins. This would make her capable of siphoning life force and possibly unique abilities from enemies, introducing thrilling new support or offensive mechanics.
Whichever path Vex takes, one thing is certain: the Sirens remain the lifeblood of Borderlands lore and gameplay. Whether you’re melting enemies with Maya, smashing them as Amara, or waiting to see what Vex brings, these characters define Borderlands’ unique blend of chaos and cosmic mystery.
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