So, you want to build a better Vault Hunter in Borderlands 2, eh? The first lesson you'll have to learn is to pick a focus, and stick to it. Crafting a deadly character takes focus, and although each character can be specced in many different ways, there are definitely certain "right" ways to do it. So put on your min/maxing shoes and come join us in a comprehensive list of the best ways to spec your Borderlands 2 characters.

Axton:

Axton is Borderlands 2's Commando. You may remember the Commando as that class whose turret basically made you invincible in the original game, thanks to its health-restoring energy field. Well, that field is gone in Borderlands 2, so you'll have to come up with a few new tricks. Axton can be specced in one of several ways. He can deal massive damage on his own merits, use his turret to draw aggro and help him defeat enemies, or become a veritable tank bolstered by thousands of health and shield points. Decide which option sounds the most appealing to you, and follow one of the following build strategies to get the best results.

To max out the damage tree, max out the following skills:

• Ready
• Impact
• Metal Storm
• Battlefront
• Duty Calls
• Do Or Die
• Ranger 
• Healthy
• Preparation

When maxing out the turret, you can do so in one of several ways. If you want to deal double the damage with two turrets, max out the following skills:

• Sentry
• Laser Sight
• Scorched Earth
• Impact 
• Healthy
• Pressure
• Phalanx Shield
• Resourceful
• Grit
• Gemini

Now, raise your Able skill to 3/5, and your Quick Charge skill to 4/5. This is statistically the best way to throw down with two turrets.

To spec your turrets so that you gain all basic abilities, use the following skills:

• Sentry 
• Laser Sight
• Onslaught
• Scorched Earth
• Impact
• Overload
• Longbow Turret
• Duty Calls (2/5)
• Battlefront
• Healthy
• Phalanx Shield
• Pressure

Finally, if you want to spec purely for defense, use the following loadout:

• Ready
• Willing
• Able (4/5)
• Healthy
• Preparation
• Pressure
• Quick Charge
• Phalanx Shield
• Forbearance
• Grit