The Jakobs Maggie: Farming Mick Zaford in Borderlands 2
Mick Zaford, the hot-headed leader of the Zaford clan in Borderlands 2, is primarily known for one thing aside from starting a good old-fashioned clan war: dropping the legendary Jakobs Maggie pistol. This makes him a popular target for players looking to add this powerful weapon to their arsenal. This article delves into everything you need to know about farming Mick Zaford for the Maggie, along with frequently asked questions to help you optimize your farming runs.
Understanding the Maggie
The Maggie is a legendary Jakobs pistol renowned for its high fire rate and pellet count. Each shot fires multiple projectiles, effectively making it a shotgun disguised as a pistol. This makes it incredibly effective at close range, delivering massive damage to enemies. The Maggie is a world drop, meaning it can drop from any loot source, but Mick Zaford has an increased chance of dropping it.
Farming Mick Zaford
Mick Zaford can be found in The Dust region of Pandora. He is encountered during the side quest “Clan War: Zafords vs. Hodunks.” However, whether you can farm him or not depends on your choice during this quest.
Siding with the Hodunks: The Key to Farming
To farm Mick Zaford, you MUST side with the Hodunks during the “Clan War: Zafords vs. Hodunks” quest. Choosing to side with the Zafords will prevent Mick from respawning. By siding with Tector and Jimbo Hodunk, you will ultimately kill Mick Zaford.
The Respawn
Once you have sided with the Hodunks and killed Mick Zaford, he will respawn in The Dust. A popular farming strategy is to fast travel to the train station near Lynchwood. From there, Mick is typically present, ready to be engaged again.
Farming Efficiency
After defeating Mick, simply save and quit the game. Upon reloading, Mick will respawn, allowing you to repeat the process as many times as needed until the Maggie drops. The key is to be efficient. Quickly dispatch Mick, collect the loot (or not, if it’s not the Maggie), and repeat.
Optimizing your Farming
- Level: Ensure you are at a high enough level to effectively fight Mick Zaford. Ideally, you should be at or near the level cap.
- Gear: Use effective weapons and gear that complement your character build.
- Team Up: Farming with friends can increase your chances of finding the Maggie. Sharing loot is caring!
- Patience: Farming for specific items can take time, so be patient and persistent.
- Explore alternative farming methods: Sometimes the best way to acquire items is to vary your approach.
Alternative Farming
While Mick Zaford offers an increased chance to drop the Maggie, remember that it’s a world drop. Therefore, it can drop from any loot source in the game. Other potential farming locations include:
- The Warrior: The final boss of the main story has a high chance of dropping legendary weapons.
- Treasure Room: Located in Pirate’s Booty DLC, this room is filled with loot chests.
- Loot Midgets: These can appear throughout the game, especially in Wildlife Exploitation Preserve, and have a high legendary drop rate.
Games Learning Society
For additional Borderlands 2 insights, gaming strategy discussions, and to connect with like-minded players, explore resources like the GamesLearningSociety.org! Understanding the community’s collective experience can enhance your gameplay and provide valuable tips. The Games Learning Society brings together researchers and educators who study how games can be used for learning and development.
FAQs: Mick Zaford and the Maggie
1. Can I farm Mick Zaford for the Maggie?
Yes, Mick Zaford is farmable, but only if you side with the Hodunks during the “Clan War: Zafords vs. Hodunks” quest. This allows him to respawn in The Dust.
2. What happens if I side with the Zafords?
If you side with the Zafords, Mick Zaford will not respawn, and you won’t be able to farm him for the Maggie.
3. What other legendary weapons can Mick Zaford drop?
While Mick Zaford is primarily known for dropping the Maggie, he can also drop other legendary items as part of the general loot pool. However, the Maggie is his dedicated drop.
4. What level do I need to be to farm Mick Zaford?
You can farm Mick Zaford at any level after completing the “Clan War: Zafords vs. Hodunks” quest, but it is recommended to be at a higher level for easier farming and better gear drops. Level 30+ would be considered sufficient for Normal Mode.
5. Is the Maggie worth farming?
Absolutely. The Maggie is a powerful pistol, especially at close range. Its high pellet count and fire rate make it effective against most enemies.
6. What are the best builds to use with the Maggie?
Characters like Salvador (Gunzerker) and Maya (Siren) can greatly benefit from the Maggie’s damage output, utilizing skills that boost fire rate, damage, or magazine size.
7. Can the Maggie drop with different elemental effects?
No, the Maggie is a non-elemental weapon. Its strength lies in its raw damage output.
8. What’s the best way to reach Mick Zaford after siding with the Hodunks?
Fast travel to the train station closest to the Hodunk Speedway in The Dust. From there, he is usually present.
9. What is the drop rate of the Maggie from Mick Zaford?
The exact drop rate is not officially disclosed, but Mick Zaford has a significantly increased chance to drop the Maggie compared to other loot sources.
10. Does the difficulty level affect the drop rate of the Maggie?
Yes, playing on True Vault Hunter Mode (TVHM) or Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode (UVHM) can slightly increase the drop rate of legendary items.
11. Can I farm the Maggie in Borderlands 3?
No, the Maggie is exclusive to Borderlands 2.
12. What other characters drop unique legendary weapons?
Several bosses and enemies in Borderlands 2 have dedicated legendary drops. For example, Wilhelm drops Logan’s Gun, and Tector & Jimbo Hodunk drop the Slagga.
13. How can I increase my overall loot luck in Borderlands 2?
While there is no formal “loot luck” stat in Borderlands 2, equipping certain items with bonuses to “Rare Item Find” can increase your chances of finding better loot. Also, playing on higher difficulty modes can improve the quality of drops.
14. What should I do if I accidentally sided with the Zafords?
If you sided with the Zafords, you’ll need to either create a new character or play through the game again in TVHM or UVHM and make the opposite choice to farm Mick Zaford.
15. Is there any way to reset the “Clan War: Zafords vs. Hodunks” quest?
Without using external save editors, the only way to reset the quest is to replay the game on a new playthrough (TVHM or UVHM) or with a new character.