Action Skills

Active Abilities are a kind of "power" that each class can use. The power, effect, and duration of each class's active abilities are determined by the class's skill tree.

Skill Trees
Skill trees are a sort of upgrade system that you advance through by leveling up. You advance thruogh your character's skill tree using skill points, of which you can earn 45. (See Below)


 * Each character has 3 skill sections which are unlocked after spending your first point on your active ability.
 * Each skill section has 4 levels.
 * The first level is unlocked by default.
 * The second level is unlocked by having 5 skill points distributed into that section.
 * The third level is unlocked by having 10 skill points distributed into that section.
 * The fourth level is unlocked by having 15 skill points distributed into that section.
 * This level has only one, powerfull, skill.

Because of this, it is only possible to have two of the most powerful skills used by the end of the game (To unlock all 3, you would have to use 15 points in each section, and then you wouldnt have any points left to use on the powerful skills).

Skill Points
Skill points are used to progress through your skill tree. Your first skill point must be used to unlock your active ability, after that you can either spend your skill points as you use them, or save them.

You can earn a total of 45 skill points in borderlands.

Active Abilities' Descriptions
This is a brief description of each character's active abilities.

Lilith
Lilith has the most "magical" active ability, which earns her the title of "The Mage". She turns invisible (in what is called a "Phase Walk") for a few seconds, running around at amazing speed and still being able to melee, but not being able to shoot. Upon exiting, and entering, her phase walk, Lilith makes a grenade-sized explosion from where she re/dis-apears, damaging anyone around her. Cooldown: 34 seconds

Mordecai
Mordecai's active ability is the ability to summon his pet, a bloodwing bird that attacks an enemy, and then returns back to him. Cooldowns: 28 seconds

Roland
Roland's active ability is to deploy a turret. This turret provides a shield for cover and auto-fires at nearby enemies. Similar to the turret in Team Fortress 2, the turret can be upgraded to fire rockets using the skill Guided Missle. Cooldown: 100 seconds

Brick
Brick has the simplist active ability, he sheaths his gun and pulls out his two powerful fists. He then runs around in a berserk and does insane melee damage while remaining almost invincible. Cooldown: 60 seconds