Battleborn is a hero shooter with multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) elements. Players choose from several pre-created characters with different attacks and skills and participate in solo, co-op, or competitive matches with other players. During matches, players gain experience allowing them to advance their character through the Spiral Tree, choosing one of two new abilities or power-ups at each stage of progression, allowing the player to create custom equipment for that character for the duration of the match. Additionally, as matches are completed, the player receives random equipment (generated similar to the random weapon feature in the Borderlands series), which can also be equipped as part of the loadout for additional buffs and abilities, or purchased through microtransactions.