Borderlands 2 Gunzerker Calculator
Ultimate Borderlands 2 Gunzerker Build Guide (2024)
The Gunzerker is one of the most powerful classes in Borderlands 2 when built correctly. This comprehensive guide will help you maximize Salvador’s dual-wielding potential with optimal skill allocations, gear choices, and gameplay strategies.
Understanding the Gunzerker’s Core Mechanics
Salvador’s defining feature is his ability to dual-wield weapons during Gunzerking (his action skill), which lasts for 6-42 seconds depending on skill investments. The class excels at:
- Sustained damage output through dual-wielding
- Survivability via health regeneration and damage reduction
- Ammo efficiency through skill synergies
- Melee potential with certain builds
Optimal Skill Distribution
For maximum DPS, we recommend the following skill allocation at level 72:
| Skill Tree | Key Skills | Points | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gun Lust | All In | 5/5 | 1 |
| Double Down | 5/5 | 2 | |
| Gunzerk Time | 5/5 | 3 | |
| Last Longer | 5/5 | 4 | |
| Keep Firing | 1/1 | 5 | |
| Brawn | Brawn | 5/5 | 1 |
| Hard to Kill | 5/5 | 2 | |
| Yippee Ki Yay | 5/5 | 3 | |
| I’m Ready Already | 5/5 | 4 | |
| Bus That Can’t Slow Down | 1/1 | 5 | |
| Rampage | Rampage | 5/5 | 1 |
| Out of Bullets | 5/5 | 2 | |
| Get Some | 5/5 | 3 | |
| Incite | 5/5 | 4 | |
| Go Get Some | 1/1 | 5 |
Best-in-Slot Gear for Gunzerker
The following gear represents the optimal setup for endgame Gunzerker builds:
| Gear Type | Best Options | Key Stats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class Mod | Legendary Gunzerker | +6 Gun Lust, +50% Gunzerk Duration, +33% Fire Rate | Best overall COM for DPS builds |
| Relic | Sheriff’s Badge (Legendary) | +33% Gun Damage, +20% Max Health | Best damage relic for Gunzerker |
| Primary Weapon | DP Unkempt Harold (Double Penetrating) | High base damage, explosive rounds | Best pistol for Gunzerking |
| Secondary Weapon | Sand Hawk (Corrosive) | High DPS, 9-pellet shot | Excellent for Gunzerking |
| Grenade Mod | Quasar (Singularity) | Enemies pulled together | Great for crowd control |
| Shield | Neogenator (Legendary) | Health regen, no delay | Best for survivability |
Advanced Gunzerker Strategies
-
Stack Management:
- Maintain maximum Brawn stacks (5) at all times for +75% gun damage
- Keep Rampage stacks high (600 max) for +60% gun damage
- Use “Get Some” skill to quickly regenerate stacks after Gunzerking
-
Gunzerk Timing:
- Activate Gunzerk when facing elite enemies or bosses
- Time your Gunzerk to coincide with enemy vulnerabilities
- Use “Last Longer” to extend duration to 42 seconds
-
Ammo Conservation:
- Prioritize weapons with high magazine sizes
- Use “Out of Bullets” for ammo regeneration
- Carry multiple weapons of the same type for quick swapping
-
Survivability Tactics:
- Keep moving to trigger “Yippee Ki Yay” health regeneration
- Use “Hard to Kill” for second winds at low health
- Equip a Neogenator shield for constant health regeneration
Mathematical Breakdown of Gunzerker DPS
The Gunzerker’s damage output can be calculated using the following formula:
Total Damage = Base Gun Damage × (1 + Skill Bonuses) × (1 + Gear Bonuses) × (1 + Stack Bonuses)
Where:
- Skill Bonuses include All In (+100% gun damage when Gunzerking), Double Down (+100% fire rate), etc.
- Gear Bonuses come from class mods, relics, and grenade mods
- Stack Bonuses include Brawn (+15% per stack) and Rampage (+0.1% per stack)
During Gunzerking, the damage multiplier becomes:
Gunzerk Multiplier = 2 × (1 + 0.15 × Brawn Stacks) × (1 + 0.001 × Rampage Stacks) × (1 + Gear Bonuses)
For example, with 5 Brawn stacks, 600 Rampage stacks, and optimal gear:
Gunzerk Multiplier = 2 × (1 + 0.15 × 5) × (1 + 0.001 × 600) × (1 + 0.75) ≈ 7.56
Common Mistakes to Avoid
-
Neglecting Stack Management:
Failing to maintain Brawn and Rampage stacks significantly reduces your DPS. Always prioritize keeping these at maximum.
-
Poor Weapon Selection:
Not all weapons work well with Gunzerking. Avoid weapons with long reload times or single-shot mechanics.
-
Ignoring Survivability:
Gunzerkers can become glass cannons if not built properly. Always invest in Brawn tree skills for sustainability.
-
Wasting Gunzerk:
Don’t activate Gunzerk against weak enemies. Save it for bosses and elite enemies where it matters most.
-
Overlooking Elemental Matchups:
Always carry weapons with different elements to exploit enemy weaknesses (corrosive for armor, fire for flesh, etc.).
Gunzerker vs Other Vault Hunters: Comparative Analysis
When compared to other Borderlands 2 classes, the Gunzerker excels in:
| Metric | Gunzerker | Commando | Siren | Assassin | Mechromancer | Psycho |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sustained DPS | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Burst Damage | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Survivability | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Ammo Efficiency | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Crowd Control | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Boss Killing | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
The Gunzerker particularly shines in prolonged engagements where his sustained DPS and survivability make him nearly unstoppable. While he may not have the crowd control capabilities of the Commando or the elemental versatility of the Siren, his raw damage output is unmatched when properly geared and played.
Endgame Progression Path
For players looking to maximize their Gunzerker’s potential, follow this progression path:
-
Level 1-30: Foundation Building
- Focus on unlocking Gunzerk (action skill) as soon as possible
- Prioritize skills that increase Gunzerk duration and damage
- Use balanced weapons (assault rifles, shotguns) for general play
-
Level 31-50: Specialization
- Begin focusing on either Gun Lust or Brawn tree based on playstyle
- Start collecting purple-rarity class mods
- Experiment with different weapon combinations
-
Level 51-72: Optimization
- Complete all skill trees for maximum synergy
- Farm for legendary class mods and weapons
- Optimize gear for specific content (raid bosses, digistruct peak, etc.)
-
Level 72+: Min-Maxing
- Farm for perfect rolls on legendary gear
- Optimize Badass Rank allocations
- Master advanced techniques like stack swapping
- Experiment with different elemental combinations
Advanced Techniques for Expert Players
Once you’ve mastered the basics, these advanced techniques can take your Gunzerker to the next level:
-
Stack Swapping:
Quickly swapping weapons during Gunzerk to maintain maximum stacks and trigger “Get Some” for instant stack regeneration.
-
Gunzerk Chaining:
Using “I’m Ready Already” to reduce Gunzerk cooldown and chain activations for near-permanent uptime.
-
Elemental Chaining:
Rapidly switching between elemental weapons to apply multiple status effects simultaneously.
-
Melee Gunzerking:
Using high-damage melee weapons (like the Hide of Terramorphous) during Gunzerk for massive burst damage.
-
Grenade Combos:
Throwing singularity grenades to group enemies before activating Gunzerk for maximum AoE damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What’s the best weapon combination for Gunzerking?
The ideal combination is typically a DP Unkempt Harold in one hand and a Sand Hawk in the other. This provides both high single-target and AoE damage.
-
How important are Brawn stacks?
Extremely important. Each stack provides +15% gun damage, so maintaining 5 stacks gives you +75% damage, which is one of your biggest damage multipliers.
-
Should I invest in the Rampage tree?
Yes, but it’s generally lower priority than Gun Lust and Brawn. The Rampage skill itself is valuable, but many skills in this tree are situational.
-
What’s the best shield for a Gunzerker?
The Neogenator is generally considered best for its health regeneration, but the Sham can be situationally useful for its absorption properties.
-
How do I maintain high Rampage stacks?
Use the “Get Some” skill to regenerate stacks when killing enemies. Also, the “Incite” skill helps maintain stacks during Gunzerking.
-
Is melee viable for Gunzerkers?
Yes, with the right gear. The Hide of Terramorphous and Love Thumper are excellent melee options, especially when combined with “Bus That Can’t Slow Down”.