Borderlands Movie: How Did Lilith Become Firehawk? Powers Explained

With the Borderlands movie making changes to Lilith from the games, viewers are intrigued to find out how she became the key to the vault and an incarnation of Pandora’s Firehawk goddess. Here’s the answer to all your questions about the change-up and Lilith’s powers in the movie.

How did Lilith become Firehawk and the key to the vault in Borderlands?

The big twist of Borderlands was that Lilith was the true daughter of Eridia. She didn’t magically become the key to the vault or an incarnation of the Firehawk goddess but was inherently that person right from birth, carrying Eridian blood.

Until its third act, Borderlands had viewers thinking that Tiny Tina was the prophesized daughter. Atlas cloned her with Eridian blood, believing that she was the special key to unlock the vault’s power. But the movie played a bait and switch with its audience.

Lilith presumed that her mother had sent her away and died while pursuing the vault and the keys to unlock it. However, her mother had realized Lilith’s specialty and had sent her with Tannis to protect her secret from Atlas and other Vault hunters. This way, Lilith grew up developing combat skills in her quest to survive. But upon eventually returning to Pandora, her inherent abilities began to activate slowly.

The clues of her true identity were planted throughout the film. Mad Moxxi hinted at them, while Lilith was unknowingly attracted to the McGuffins required to open the vault. Her presence on Pandora began to rejuvenate the planet, making flowers bloom, and even unlocked abilities within her, including teleportation (Phasewalk).

Ultimately, Lilith managed to open the vault, making a sacrifice play to save her friends. It made her worthy to carry her mantle as a protector, allowing her to take her true Firehawk form. She was always meant to become the protector of Pandora, and she fulfilled her destiny by truly embracing this role towards the end.

What are Lilith’s powers and abilities as Firehawk in Borderlands?

In the games, Lilith is a Siren class being who is empowered with many abilities. But in the film, she fully realizes her potential only towards the end. Unleashing her powers as the Firehawk incarnation, she becomes even stronger than her videogame counterpart.

Surviving as a bounty hunter, she was already an expert hand-to-hand combatant while being proficient with multiple weapons. But her Eridian blood and genetics unlocked her teleportation ability, which is the film’s version of “Phasewalking” from the game.

In the game, her key phasewalk skill makes her invisible to enemies, but not her friends. But in the movie, it allows her to teleport herself and even her friends. The other Firehawk powers grant her telekinesis, super strength, stamina, and endurance. She gains the ability to shoot energy blasts and fly with energized fiery wings, which also act as a forcefield shield that she can create around herself and others.