Borderlands Soldier Builds: Offensive and Defensive

Whatever direction you choose, you’ll have to start out by getting the Scorpio Turret. This skill allows you to deploy a turret which automatically fires at enemies. It lasts for a few seconds and has a cool down period of 100 seconds after which you can spawn another one. It also has a shield. I’d recommend maxing out each skill suggested and you should still have some room for maneuver.

As an offensive force, the soldier is a fearsome warrior. We’ll start with the Infantry Tree:

• First Tier - Impact – Increases bullet damage with all weapon types (+3% for each point up to a maximum of 5).
• Second Tier - Metal Storm – Killing an enemy will increase your fire rate and reduce recoil for a few seconds (+6% fire rate, 15% recoil reduction).
• Third Tier - Assault – Increases magazine size and reduces recoil for combat rifles (+9% magazine size, 15% recoil reduction).
• Fourth Tier - Guided Missile – Your Scorpio Turret can also fire guided missiles (starts at rate of 1 missile every 8 seconds).

From the Support Tree you should go for the following:

• First Tier - Defense – Increases your shield recharge rate (+4% per skill point).
• Second Tier - Quick Charge – Killing an enemy quickly causes your shield to regenerate for a few seconds (+2% per second to start with).
• Third Tier - Grenadier – Killing an enemy increases your grenade damage rate and lets you regenerate grenades for a few seconds (+2 grenades per minute, +3% damage rate to start with).

From the Medic Tree you should just choose this:

• First Tier - Fitness – Increase maximum hit points (+5% to start with).

The soldier also potentially makes a terrific support character and medic. If you want to go that route then this is the build for you, starting with the Medic Tree:

• First Tier - Aid Station – Allies near your Scorpio Turret regenerate health (1% per second to start with).
• Second Tier - Cauterize – Shooting your allies heals them and it even works with grenades and rockets (+6% damage to health to start with).
• Third Tier - Revive – Your Scorpio Turret can sometimes instantly revive nearby allies (+14% revival chance to start with).
• Fourth Tier - Stat – Killing enemies increases health regeneration for you and any nearby allies for a few seconds (+1% per second to start with).

From the Support Tree you should choose the following:

• First Tier - Stockpile – Allies near the Scorpio Turret regenerate ammunition for their currently equipped weapon (+1 to start with).
• Second Tier - Barrage – Increases the fire rate of your Scorpio Turret (+1 shot per burst to start with).
• Third Tier - Deplore – Reduces the cool down period for your Scorpio Turret (+20% to start with).
• Fourth Tier - Supply Drop – Your Scorpio Turret periodically fires out pick ups for you and your allies (every 7 seconds to start with).