Claptrap is probably the most iconic character in the Borderlands series. The annoying yet endearing little yellow robot has been with us ever since we stepped off that bus on Pandora. Delivering gameplay tips as well as bad puns, he has been a loyal follower to the Vault Hunters from the first game onward. Initially serving as an NPC, Claptrap became a playable character in later games. With the Borderlands film in theaters this weekend, we get to see how actor Jack Black brings the eccentric robot to life. This article will cover the hilarious robot’s backstory, gameplay, and film portrayal, as well as any future iterations of the character.
Claptrap: A Tale From the Borderlands
CL4P-TP, or “Claptrap” as he prefers to be called, has been a constant staple of the massively successful Borderlands franchise. We first meet him after the opening cutscene ends in the first game, in a town called Fyrestone. He gives the player their ECHO device and offers them gameplay tips and missions. Claptrap’s programming has bestowed him with a high-strung personality, often bragging about himself despite actually being lonely and a bit cowardly. In spite of his flaws, Claptrap continued to assist the Vault Hunters in their quest and proved himself as a dedicated member of the team.
In Borderlands 2, our Claptrap returns to get vengeance against Handsome Jack for shutting down the other Claptrap units. Claptrap was tortured by Captain Flynt, before staging a mutiny and escaping. Once again, he finds the Vault Hunters after their train crashes in the frozen Southern Shelf. Claptrap eventually settles in Sanctuary, where he gives players optional missions. Claptrap shows his usefulness a few times during the game, like taking down the death wall around the Bunker and helping the party reach Hero’s Pass. Although he has some heroic moments, his greatest weakness is stairs. He is voiced by David Eddings and Jim Foronda in the games.
Introducing…Fragtrap
In Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!, Claptrap returns, this time as a playable character. After telling Jack (pre-“Handsome” era) that he can be programmed as an assassin, Jack does exactly that. Claptrap is reprogrammed and upgraded to be a deadly killing machine, removing his ability to open doors, but adding a stair-climbing wheel. These upgrades turn Claptrap into “Fragtrap”, one of the most fun character classes. To explain how Claptrap doesn’t have these awesome abilities in the first game, Jack shoots Fragtrap, removes its stair-climbing wheel, and abandons it until Sir Hammerlock restores it to a normal Claptrap.
Fragtrap excels at using high mobility and heavy firepower to quickly make mincemeat out of enemies. His Action Skill, VaultHunter.EXE, is a software program that analyzes current battlefield conditions and selects an appropriate Action Package. These Action Packages give Claptrap various bonuses including a higher rate of fire, an ability to empty a whole magazine in one shot, and even one that gives Claptrap a pirate hat and four large cannons. The Fragtrap has three skill trees: Boomtrap, focusing on explosive damage, I Love You Guys! which provides healing and bonuses to teammates, and Fragmented Fragtrap, which offers playstyle-influenced bonuses.
A Carefully Crafted Clapback From Claptrap
Borderlands is a series with many colorful characters, from the mercenary Roland to the Psycho Krieg. Claptrap has been instrumental in bringing these characters together and being a faithful companion throughout the franchise’s long history. With the Borderlands movie out today, we will see if veteran comic/actor Jack Black can be just as annoying as the video game character. A questionable choice for the role, fans are understandably nervous about the live-action portrayal. With less-than-favorable reviews pouring in, it’s clear that this cast has had the odds stacked against them from the beginning.
Despite your feelings about the movie, no one can deny the impact that Claptrap has had on the series. Sure, he has moments where he can be incredibly annoying and bouts of cowardice, but he has proven himself to be just as heroic as the team of Vault Hunters on multiple occasions. Choosing his Fragtrap character class in the Pre-Sequel is a great opportunity to see Claptrap in his most dangerous form, and is loads of fun to play as. So before you inevitably put a few rounds into him after he makes a particularly bad pun, give him a high five for being there from the beginning, and hopefully into the future.
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