Zer0

Zer0 is the playable Assassin class character in Borderlands 2.

He was revealed on February 21, 2012, in the Borderlands 2 Launch Date Trailer. His origins and real name are as of yet unknown. He works as an assassin, as much for the challenge as for the money; he even tells targets to fight back and give him a challenge. His nickname comes from the "0" hologram displayed over his faceplate when he dispatches a target. Other emotes and text, such as ":D" and "..." appear on his faceplate during different actions. He usually speaks in haiku.

Background
Zer0 is an assassin for hire, wanted for political killings as stated by his wanted poster. He appears to also work more common hits. In his ECHO recording that he starts out with in the game, he is about to kill one of his targets. The target apparently murdered a man, and claimed Zer0 must have been sent by the victim's sister or children, and offers to pay Zer0 quintuple what they're paying. In a haiku, Zer0 remarks on how he wants the "Poor Schmuck" to fight back and proceeds to say he wants a challenge.

After several weeks spent disappointed by the offerings of Pandora, Zer0 learns of the Vault from a bartender and deems the Vault hunt a challenge worthy of his skills.

Skills
Action Skill: Decepti0n

Decepti0n grants Zer0 the ability to deploy a holographic decoy of himself and enter an invisible "stealth mode." While cloaked, he can maneuver about the battlefield dealing amplified damage on his next attack. The longer Zer0 stays cloaked the more damage he can inflict to enemies; however, the shorter Zer0 stays cloaked, the sooner he is able to use the skill again. Zer0 does not enter a separate dimension like Lilith when she Phasewalks, and can still take damage from all sources while cloaked.

Decepti0n has a base cooldown of 15 seconds and gives up to +650% Melee Damage or +200% Gun Damage and +250% Gun Critical Hit Damage.

Sniping
This tree focuses on guns, particularly sniper rifles.

Cunning
This tree focuses on improving Decepti0n, and abilities that benefit both ranged and melee combat.

Bloodshed
This tree focuses on melee attacks.

Melee Weapon
Zer0's basic melee attack uses his sword. The sword is not an equipable item but its effectiveness in combat can be enhanced. The sword's hilt "exists" but the blade digistructs when the hilt is pulled from its sheathe.

Quotes
When joining a game Idle
 * Where is the target?

Entering Decepti0n Scoring a critical hit Affected by an elemental attack Spotting items Comparing items in the menu Reviving a downed ally Killing an enemy Getting Crippled Getting a Second Wind
 * I am bored. / I would like to kill things. / Can we go?
 * What's the hold up? / Is someone in the bathroom? / Are you on the phone?
 * What is going on? / Why have my limbs stopped moving? / Has my heart stopped?
 * Bor-ed, bor-ed, bored. / Bored bored bored bored bored bored bored. / I am really BORED!!
 * Boredom is my taunt, / As I lack autonomy / To move my own feet.
 * An idle mind is / A very dangerous thing. / I think of violence.
 * I am bored as hell / I would like to kill something / Can we friggin go?
 * I sit here and wait / so eager to move onward / but it's all in vain.
 * Can we start moving? / I grow tired of this spot. / I long to explore.
 * Your eyes deceive you; / An illusion fools you all. / I move for the kill.
 * How hilarious. / You just set off my trap card -- / Your death approaches.
 * The true world revealed -- / Weaknesses now known to me. / Time to go to work.
 * And I disappear; / A ghost amidst the combat, / Preparing to strike.
 * Stealth.
 * I vanish.
 * Goodbye.
 * Ghosting.
 * A critical hit; / So very satisfying. / I live for such kills.
 * Critical killing / Is an art unto itself; / And I am Rembrandt.
 * A critical kill / Showers me in blood and spit / How enjoyable
 * I enjoyed that.
 * Sucker.
 * Hee hee.
 * Painful...
 * I feel the burning / Eating through my equipment! / Must stop, drop, and roll.
 * I'm covered in slag! / I must seek cover quickly, / or pain is coming.
 * Disgusting, this slag / Inelegant chemical / Increases damage
 * Slag?!
 * A new instrument, / Waiting for a sonata / That I will conduct.
 * I want that.
 * Impressive
 * Mine
 * Comparisons made, / But which is superior? / A tough decision.
 * I have you.
 * Keep shooting!
 * Stay cool.
 * A most confused death / Dead before he even knew / Where I had struck from
 * Striking from nowhere / Killing with accuracy / This is who I am
 * I am everywhere / And yet I am no where too / I am infinite
 * Farewell foolish thing / Know that you have been deceived / As your soul moves on
 * This is how you die / A spectacle of violence / Gorgeous and ugly
 * Bow to my weaponry!
 * I am nearly dead / It's time for a second wind / Let my aim be true
 * I will not die here / I still have too much to do / And so much ammo
 * I do not think so.
 * I won't die today / Not while I still have ammo / I am a badass
 * I have arisen / You will regret harming me / My Vengeance at hand
 * Second Wind achieved / Pulled back from the brink of death / I'm ready for more
 * What is next?

Emotes
Zer0 often displays holographs from his faceplate, revealing his emotions through this. Known ones include:
 * :) - a smiley face emoticon, displayed randomly
 * 0 - a large zero, displayed when an enemy is killed with a melee attack
 * :D - a smiley face emoticon, displayed when constructing and/or entering a vehicle at the Catch-A-Ride
 * WTF BRO - an acronym for "what the fuck, bro", displayed when crashing into something in a vehicle
 * <3 - a heart emoticon, displayed while reviving a friendly player
 * FML - an acronym for "fuck my life", displayed while downed
 * ? - a question mark, displayed when pending actions (such as switching seats with a player in a vehicle)
 * ! - an exclamation mark, displayed when seeing a downed friendly player
 * $ - a dollar sign, displayed when completing a mission
 * && - twin ampersands, displayed when inspecting items in the menu
 * 勝 - a kanji character meaning "victory", displayed when receiving items by either picking them up or via trading
 * ... - ellipsis, displayed when either inspecting menu items, after killing an enemy, or while reloading a weapon
 * :| - a straight face emoticon, displayed when standing idle
 * ZZZ - three Zs, displayed when standing idle
 * :( - a sad face emoticon, displayed when standing idle
 * B0R3D - the word "BORED" written in leetspeak, displayed when standing idle
 * 嘆く - a kanji character meaning "sigh", displayed when standing idle

Trivia

 * Gearbox concept designer, Scott Kester, credits Zer0's inspiration to "loner characters" like Snake Eyes from G.I. Joe and Gray Fox from the Metal Gear video game series.
 * Zer0's Class Mod is represented by an attachment on his elbow.
 * The bounty on Zer0's head is $32,000,000,000.000
 * One of Zer0's dialogue lines when using Decepti0n, "How hilarious, you've just set off my trap card," is a reference to the anime Yu-Gi-Oh where characters would often say the same thing when revealing a trap card. The term is also used as an internet meme, usually said after a successful deception of someone else.
 * Most of Zer0's dialogue is spoken as a haiku, something that is noticed by Handsome Jack in an ECHO recording.
 * One of Zer0's heads, known as "Alienati0n" is a reference to the Alien franchise.
 * One of Zer0's skins, called "Why so Serious?"(a black and green color swap of his default costume) is a reference to an iconic line in the movie The Dark Knight.
 * One of Zer0's skins, called "Mutant" (a green and yellow color swap of his default costume) is a reference to the popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. The blue highlight on some of his faceplates is a reference to Leonardo, the de-facto leader of the turtles who is also known for his katana.
 * Another of Zer0's skins, Toad of Battle, shares the color scheme of the main characters of the game Battletoads.
 * After obtaining the voice modulator from Angel, Zer0 writes a haiku about his new voice, mentioning that it makes him sound like a jerk.
 * Zer0's personal backstory ECHO recordings can be found in Sawtooth Cauldron. A YouTube video exists showing the specific locations.