Battleborn Adds Two Brawlers To Roster

Gearbox Software continues to grow the Battleborn roster. Two new characters were introduced Wednesday for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC Hero Shooter. Both like to keep things up close and personal with their intimidating figures.

Attikus and Galilea were revealed as the latest Battleborn characters via the PlayStation Blog. The former is an imposing brute that lived a life as a slave laborer before being granted intelligence thanks to an experimental biotech harness. “The only thing more dangerous than a huge, imposing beast with an axe to grind against his oppressors…is a smart imposing beast with an axe to grind against his oppressors,” the character’s backstory states.

The former slave can pummel Battleborn enemies with his main attack or use powerful abilities thanks to his bionic arm. This includes a shock attack along with throwing shockwaves of enemies. He’s a rather slow character, but he can pounce forward to close the gap on enemies. Attikus’ passive is the ability to drain energy from killed enemies to recharge each of his active abilities.

Main Attacks

• Barefisted Brawling (R2): while his normal fist would just as easily knock you out, watch out for when his abilities are fully charged. You’ll be seeing stars as his enhanced hand delivers a burst of shield-draining damage.
• Charged Hook (L2): Hold back for a couple seconds and Attikus’ high-octane haymaker delivers a world of pain. To your face.

Abilities

• Pounce (L1): Just because this beast is huge doesn’t mean it can’t move. Attikus can leap to a target location and knock foes back.
• Hedronic Arc (R1): That metal arm grafted to Attikus’ body? He uses it to shock enemies when they come in for a closer look.
• Hedronic Eruption (Triangle): Attikus’ ultimate ability hurls shockwaves of energy to clear enemies out of his path.
• Hedronic Collector: A fringe benefit of the biotech harness — his passive ability can syphon energy from killed enemies. Once enough energy gets collected, he can pay it forward, juicing up the next skill he uses and making it even more powerful.

Meanwhile, Galilea is an armored holy warrior infused with life-draining dark energy. The fallen warrior uses sword and shield to attack enemies and protect allies. Of course, she can also use the shield as an offensive ranged weapon with her Shield Throw ability. Her dark energy comes into play with an area of effect debuff to the ground enemies walk on plus a passive aura that drains the health of nearby foes in Battleborn.

Main Attacks

• Wraith’s Greatsword (R2): she may be a fallen holy warrior of the Eldrid, but Galilea is still incredibly handy and swift in close combat.
• Sentinel’s Greatshield (L2): when Galilea is ready to wade deep into combat and stare her enemy in the eye, nothing’s better than a shield for deflecting blows and defending allies.

Abilities

• Shield Throw (L1): that shield Galilea wields can do a lot more than simply absorb damage — give it a toss and share the pain! And, no, she has nothing to do with a certain someone that rhymes with Shnaptain Shamerica.
• Desecrate (R1): always ready for a sword fight, she curses the ground beneath enemies to amplify damage against them.
• Abyssal Form (Triangle): Take personal time-out with this ability. Galilea’s ultimate ability explodes into dark energy allowing her to take a break from the action or run for cover. During that time, she takes reduced damage and regenerates a huge chunk of her health.
• Corruption: the more that she connects blows and uses skills, Galilea’s Corruption grows. Once charged, she begins projecting a passive aura that drains the health of nearby enemies.

Battleborn is still targeting a May 3 release for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC. An open beta is planned sometime prior to launch.

[Image via 2K Games]