Nomads are an enemy type in Borderlands 2. They are characterized with low speed but high health, making them some of the tougher bandits. Certain nomads carry large shields that protect them from most forms of direct damage. Most nomads only wield a single weapon, but a few varieties carry two at a time and may have additional attacks.

Quick Answers

What makes the Nomads in Borderlands 2 tougher than other bandits?

In Borderlands 2, Nomads stand out as tougher bandits due to their high health and protective shields, which guard against most direct damage. The Badass Nomad, a more formidable variant, wields assault rifles and can deliver a strong shield bash in close combat. Additionally, they can enhance the battle skills of other bandits by issuing orders.

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What kind of weapon does a basic Nomad in Borderlands 2 wield?

In Borderlands 2, a basic Nomad is equipped with an assault rifle. They are known for their high health and low speed, making them formidable opponents. Some Nomads carry large shields for protection against direct damage and can repel enemies with an over-the-shoulder melee attack.

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How do the large shields carried by certain Nomads in Borderlands 2 protect them?

In Borderlands 2, Nomads use large, indestructible shields for protection against gunfire and frontal attacks. These shields drop only upon the Nomad's defeat. They are not immune to all damage sources, such as certain weapon splashes. Badass Nomads also use these shields offensively, performing a powerful bash in close combat.

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What are the different varieties of Nomads in Borderlands 2?

Borderlands 2 features several varieties of Nomads. Basic Nomads are slow but have high health, often carrying large shields for protection. The Badass Nomad is a stronger variant with a spiked shield. The Nomad Pyro, part of the 'Children of the Firehawk' cult, is found in Frostburn Canyon and wears fire-resistant armor for immunity to incendiary damage.

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What is the significance of the 'Nomad Maniac' in Borderlands 2?

In Borderlands 2, the Badass Nomad, also referred to as the Nomad Maniac, is a formidable adversary. Despite their slow speed, they possess high health, making them challenging bandits to defeat. They are known to carry large, spike-covered shields for protection and can execute a potent shield bash in close combat. These Nomads are typically found in territories controlled by the Bloodshot and Sawtooth clans. They can enhance the combat effectiveness of other bandits by issuing orders.

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Types

• The basic Nomad wields an assault rifle and will slowly advance towards his targets, rarely seeking cover. He can knock back an enemy with an over-the-shoulder melee attack.
• Badass Nomad
• Butcher (The Horrible Hunger of the Ravenous Wattle Gobbler)
• Digistruct Blaster Nomad
• Heavy Nomad
• Loot Midget Nomad
• Marshall
• Midget Nomad
• Nomad Torturer
• Nomad Pyro
• Shock-Nomadic
• Nomad Taskmaster

Notable Nomads

• Assassin Oney
• Bad Maw
• Captain Flynt
• Deputy Winger
• Doc Mercy
• Mad Mike
• Prospector Zeke

Quotes

Normal

• Quit making me work for it!
• Drop your gear, I'll let you go!
• Dibs on their scalps!
• Well, who's this?
• I'll make a coat outta ya!
• You won't last two minutes!
• I want everything you got!
• Just leave!
• Leave us alone!
• Gimme your damn loot!
• I'll survive, you won't!
• You should be runnin'!
• Look at all that gear!
• Some nice gear ya got!
• Just DIE already!
• Die, midget lover!
• You're worse than a midget!
• You can still run!
• Midget loving taint-sacks!
• Get 'em, boys!
• I'm gonna pick your corpse clean!
• I got no time for this!
• This one's mine!
• You're nothin'! Nothin'!
• Make this easy on yourself!
• Here's the winder!! (when using a melee attack)
• Shut up, tiny! (spoken by Nomad Torturers on rare occasions when their captive midgets squeal in fright)
• Shut the hell up! (spoken by Nomad Torturers on rare occasions when their captive midgets squeal in fright)

Dying

• Don't scavenge my stuff...
• But, my gear...
• Midget lover...
• I miss my midget...
• Least I won't have to deal with you people anymore...
• Bury me with my stuff...
• Leave me alone...
• Been waiting for this...
• Hell...
• Fine...good...
• It's the end...
• Why...

Player fleeing

• I ain't followin' you!
• Stayin' back here!
• That's the idea!
• Yeah, runnin' away!
• You'd better run!

Player crippled

• Freaking finally!
• I told you to leave me alone!
• Almost as bad as the midgets!

When attacked

• Aw nuts. (when slagged)
• Slag? Really?! (when slagged)
• Slagging bitch! (when slagged)
• Augh, disgusting! (when slagged)
• Ah, it's sticky! (when slagged)
• Lay off!
• How?!
• Son of a ... bitch!
• Damn bastard...
• Stop it!
• You bitch!

Nearby when Goliath is attacked

• What are you doing!
• No! You'll rage him!
• He'll rage out!
• Stop it, you moron!
• No, not the helmet!
• We put the helmet on for a reason!
• You're almost as dumb as the midgets!
• Leave it on!
• Keep the helmet on!
• Don't shoot the helmet! 
• We can't stop him!

Nearby when Goliath goes into rage mode

• Everybody run!
• He's angry!
• Start runnin'!
• He's loose!
• Who took off his helmet!?
• He's free! He's free!

During Goliath's rage

• We can't stop him!
• Kill it! KILL IT!
• We're gonna die!
• We're dead!
• Goliath? I-I order you to stop!

Fighting escaped midget

• Midget on the loose!
• Get back on the shield!
• My midget!
• They freed my midget!
• Shoulda never let you free!
• I will end you!
• I knew I shoulda killed you!
• That was your last chance!
• Kill the midget!
• You're going back in your box!
• You're not getting fed this month!
• I will kill you, short stuff!
• I will break you, pint size!
• I friggin' HATE midgets!

Losing shield

• Ah, shield's gone!
• GOD DAMN IT!
• Lost my shields!
• Lucky sonofabitch!
• My shield!
• PISS OFF!
• Quit screwin' my shields!
• Shields are down!
• You're pissin' me off!
• Ahhhrrrgghh!

Mortally wounded

• Just... end it already...
• I'm so sick of this...
• Wounded again...great...!
• I... don't... die...
• Keep trying...!
• I was suppose to be alone...!
• Son of a bitch...!

Ally's demise

• He owed me rations!
• Ha ha!
• Serves him right!

When grenade is thrown

• Aw crap.
• Huh?
• Grenade!
• Oh! Grenade!
• Dammit!
• What?!

When Buzzard(s) appear

• We got gyros in the air!
• Took ya long enough!
• Strafe 'em already!
• We got gyros, we're fine!

When Buzzard pilots die

• You suck, pilot!
• Learn to fly!
• Worst pilot ever!
• Where's our air support!?
• You fly, they can't! What's your problem!?

When Zero0 is Spotted

• Get that assassin!
• Kill the ninja thing!
• Get the tall one!

When Axton is Spotted

• Rip up that Commando!
• Tear the Commando apart!
• The Commando - get him!

When Maya is Spotted

• People, kill the hot chick!
• Men, take out the siren!
• Get rid of the magic chick!

When Salvador is Spotted

• Somebody six that Gunzerker!
• Everybody kill the short guy!
• Shoot the 'zerker!

When Gage is Spotted

• The little girl - kill her!
• The Mechro-chick - get her!
• Somebody shut that Mechromancer down!

When Zer0's Decepti0n fades out

• That was a decoy, you morons!
• Shoot the real one! The real one!
• How'd he move so fast?
• Crap! That was just a hologram!
• You idiots can't tell a person from a hologram?!
• He was tricking us!
• No, shoot the real one!
• Damn it, he fooled us!
• It's a trick! He's over there!
• It was a decoy!

When Axton throws down a turret

• Look out!
• What the?!
• Nice turret!
• That ain't gonna help you!
• W'the hell is that?!
• I want one of those!
• It'll take more than that!
• Auto-gun - great!
• What?!
• What's that thing?!

When Phaselocked by Maya

• What's this crap?!
• Freakin' witch thing!
• What the hell?
• Put me down!
• Whoa... WHOA!
• Lemme down!
• Goddammit!

When Salvador Gunzerks

• Oh! One gun wasn't enough?!
• You and me 'zerker!
• I'll survive this!
• Two guns?! So what?
• Show me what you got, 'zerker!
• What the hell?
• 'Zerker's doublin' up!
• Bring it on, 'zerker!

When Gaige summons Deathtrap

• Stop that bot!
• Cute robot!
• Don't sweat it boys, just a dumb machine!
• The hell is that thing?
• Scrap that bot!
• We don't take kindly to bots around here!
• The bot! Somebody wreck it!
• Don't break that bot! We could use it!

Notes

• Whenever a shielded nomad issues a command, he will briefly set his shield aside, opening him to damage.
• Nomads' physical shields are indestructible and are dropped only when they have been slain. They do not protect the Nomad from certain other damage sources, such as splash on some Torgue/Maliwan/E-tech weapons
• In True Vault Hunter Mode, they are renamed to Nomad Raider.
• In Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode, they are renamed to Nomad Plunderer.

Trivia

• Nomads detest midgets, choosing to affix them to the front of their shield to show their hatred for them.