This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
Borderlands 2 originally released in 2012, and seven years later, we get a free DLC in the form of Commander Lilith and the Fight for Sanctuary. Announced during the Xbox E3 2019 Briefing, this new Borderlands 2 DLC is absolutely free, and leads players into the main plot of the upcoming Borderlands 3. Commander Lilith and the Fight for Sanctuary is a great excuse to get back into Borderlands 2, and encouragement for new players to dive in headfirst.
Note: This article will contain spoilers for Borderlands 2.
Commander Lilith Reclaims Pandora
Commander Lilith and the Fight for Sanctuary bridges the narrative gap between the end of Borderlands 2 and the beginning of Borderlands 3. Since it’s been seven years since the release of the original game, Commander Lilith does a great job recapping the story for those who may have forgotten it. The story is ripe with spoilers, as it takes place after all existing Borderlands 2 DLC and the Tales from the Borderlands spin-off.
Following the death and defeat of Handsome Jack, the main cast of Borderlands 2 contemplate their next move in the floating city of Sanctuary. They are suddenly attacked by Hector, a crazed military leader who unleashes a toxic gas onto Pandora. This causes the planet to be overtaken by dangerous vines, and the citizens to start becoming mutated and deformed. Thrust into a battle to save Sanctuary and Pandora, the gun-toting heroes dive into battle.
Rainbow Guns and Higher Level Cap
Although the main quest will only take you a few hours to complete, Commander Lilith and the Fight for Sanctuary provides plenty of reasons to dig back into Borderlands 2. The character level cap has been raised to 80, and there are now 2 new OP rankings to achieve. This means that your current OP ranking will reset (if you’ve played that many hours of the game), which might be a slight annoyance for fans who have a completely leveled-up character.
There is also a new weapon rarity, rainbow. These ultra-powerful weapons and gear give you something to work towards, and having an even rarer gun class means searching through piles of loot is worthwhile even to top tier players. You’ll gain a few pieces of rainbow gear while playing through the main quest, but like most of Borderlands 2‘s best guns, others will have to be farmed by defeating enemies.
Back in the Borderlands
For me, Commander Lilith and the Fight for Sanctuary was a great trip back to the last generation of gaming. I had tons of fun blasting through the main quest with a party of friends, cooperating on tough bosses, and checking out new gear and customization. As party members discussed various strategies and load outs, it was a great rush of nostalgia for this Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 gem.
This DLC also got me back into the groove on Borderlands 2, so to speak. After several years of not playing the game, Fight for Sanctuary eased me back into the exceptionally hectic gameplay without too many issues. Despite having a fully loaded inventory and quest objectives for miles, everything was easily digestible and entertaining. The main quest got me geared up and excited for Borderlands 3, and it reminded me why I enjoyed the franchise so much last generation.
How to Start Playing Commander Lilith and the Fight for Sanctuary
You can play Commander Lilith and the Fight for Sanctuary for free (while the E3 2019 promotion lasts), so be sure to download it while you can. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can access Borderlands: The Handsome Collection, which contains Borderlands 2 and all the other DLC as well. Depending on your timing, the game was also available for the June 2019 PlayStation Plus games, so you may have already downloaded it if you follow those titles.
To start the DLC, simply travel to the first location on the fast travel list. If you get a message about spoilers and you’re standing in front of a metal door, you’ve reached the right place. Be sure to download the DLC separately, as it is not a simple patch but a standalone piece of content. We highly recommend you take a trip through the Fight for Sanctuary DLC if you have the time; it’s a great refresher before Borderlands 3 drops this fall.
If you want more Borderlands, pre-order your copy of Borderlands 3 by using the links above! (Paid Links)
