Look, if you’ve spent any time in the Fadefields lately, you’ve probably heard the name Sidney Pointylegs.
Usually, it's followed by a string of curses.
It’s one of those encounters in Borderlands 4 that seems simple on paper—just a giant Psycho head mounted on a mess of spindly, mechanical limbs. But honestly? This guy is currently the "gear check" of the mid-game. If your build isn't tight, Sidney will absolutely dismantle you before you even see the first legendary drop.
People are losing their minds over the drop rates, too. Some players are reporting hundreds of runs with nothing but blues, while others are getting the Swarm grenade on their first try. It’s classic Borderlands RNG, but with a new level of "I want to throw my controller out the window" frustration.
Where to Find Sidney Pointylegs (Without Getting Lost)
If you're looking for him, you need to head to The Prospects Ripper Drill Site.
It’s smack in the middle of the Hungering Plain province, which is part of the larger Fadefields region. If you’ve found Horace’s Oversight, you’re close—just head east.
Basically, you have to fight through waves of Rippers before the big man (head?) himself shows up. It’s an optional boss, sure, but if you want the best endgame Ordnance gear, you can't really skip it.
The good news? Once you beat him once, a Moxxi’s Big Encore Machine pops up near the gate. You can use that to respawn him instantly. It costs some Eridium, but it’s way faster than reloading the entire map.
The Fight: Why You’re Probably Dying
Sidney is a two-phase nightmare.
- Phase 1: He stays at range and pelts you with rockets. They don't do massive damage individually, but they track. If you stand still, you're dead.
- Phase 2: This is where things get weird. He starts using his legs like helicopter blades. He’ll "Chopper Fly" toward you, spinning those pointy limbs to shred your health.
Pro tip: Watch his head. It’s a massive crit spot.
You need to bring a mix of elements. Sidney has three health bars: Shield (Blue), Flesh (Red), and Armor (Yellow).
Shock is mandatory for that first bar. If you don't strip that shield fast, he’ll just keep kiting you while summoning Skitter Balms—those annoying little robotic adds that heal him and explode in your face.
Once you get to the armor phase, swap to Corrosive. A lot of players make the mistake of sticking to Incendiary for the whole fight because he's a "Psycho," but those mechanical legs are purely armored.
The Loot: Is the Noisy Cricket Actually Worth It?
Most people are farming Sidney Pointylegs for three specific items.
The Noisy Cricket is a legendary pistol that’s a direct Men in Black reference. The flavor text says, "Feel like I’m gonna break this damn thing!" It’s tiny, but it kicks like a mule. Is it the best pistol in the game? Probably not. But it’s a fun trophy.
Then there’s the Disc Jockey. This is a Heavy Weapon (Ordnance) that shoots energy discs. They bounce up to five times, and every single bounce adds a 20% damage boost. In tight corridors? It’s a literal room-clearer.
But the real prize is the Swarm grenade.
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I’ve seen Reddit threads where people are losing their minds trying to get a level 50 version. It’s an "Order" manufacturer grenade that splits into a dozen homing micro-grenades. If you’re running a specialization like Rafa’s Overdrive or a grenade-heavy Amon build, the Swarm is basically a "win" button for mobbing.
Dealing With the "Broken" Drop Rates
There is a lot of talk in the community right now about whether Sidney's drop rates were nerfed in the latest January 2026 patch.
Some players on GameFAQs are claiming they wasted 3,000 Eridium on the Encore machine without a single legendary.
Honestly, it feels like Gearbox might have tweaked the "World Drop" logic. Early on, Sidney was raining gold. Now, it feels like you really have to earn it. If you aren't seeing results, try switching to True Difficulty Mode. The enemies are beefier, but the dedicated loot pool seems to trigger more reliably there.
How to Farm Effectively
- Fast Travel to the Shut-eye Keep Safe House.
- Drive East to the Drill Site.
- Clear the Rippers to trigger the spawn.
- Use the Moxxi Machine for repeats—don't quit to the main menu, it’s a waste of time.
- Keep one add alive. Seriously. If you get downed in the second phase, you need a Skitter Balm to kill for a Second Wind.
It’s a grind. No way around it. But if you want that Swarm grenade to carry you through the endgame Vaults, you’re going to have to get cozy with Sidney and his very, very pointy legs.
Next Steps for Your Build:
Check your current gear for Shock and Corrosive efficiency before heading to the Fadefields. If your shield-stripping potential is low, consider farming a basic Maliwan SMG first. Once you've secured the Swarm grenade from Sidney, look into spec-ing into the Ordnance tree to maximize the homing damage.