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The Nomad

The Nomad is Cyberpunk 2077's Nomad lifepath prologue, introducing V in the Badlands before a smuggling job brings them into contact with Jackie Welles.

RoleNomad lifepath introduction and opening mission
Statusreleased
Importancemajor
RewardIntroduces Jackie Welles and establishes V's arrival in Night City.
TimeShort opening mission
  • Mission typeMain story
  • LifepathNomad
  • Starting regionBadlands
  • Primary destinationNight City
  • Main companionJackie Welles
  • Boss encounterNone confirmed

This is a short introductory mission rather than a repeatable activity. Exact completion time can vary with player pace and combat settings.

Key takeaways

The mission is short, but it establishes the Nomad version of V and the relationship that carries into the main story.

  • The mission is lifepath-specific The Nomad is available only when the player selects the Nomad lifepath. It serves as that background’s opening sequence before the story moves into the shared early-game material.
  • Repair before you leave V’s first practical task is getting their vehicle ready in the Badlands. The opening is designed to introduce the player to the character’s situation before the mission becomes a border-running job.
  • Jackie is introduced here Jackie Welles is V’s contact for the crossing. Their first meeting establishes the partnership and conversational style that define much of the early story.
  • The border crossing becomes hostile The final approach does not remain a quiet delivery. Security intervention leads to a firefight, so players should be ready to switch from driving and dialogue to combat.

The Nomad

The Nomad is the Nomad lifepath prologue in Cyberpunk 2077, beginning with V outside Night City in the .

The mission presents V as a Nomad preparing to leave their former life behind. Before reaching Night City, V must get an old vehicle running again and deal with the practical problems of travelling through the desert. This opening establishes the Nomad identity through independence, mechanical know-how and familiarity with life beyond the city’s corporate boundaries.

Once V is ready to travel, a smuggling arrangement brings them together with Jackie Welles. The meeting is an important character introduction rather than a separate optional activity: Jackie becomes V’s first major ally and the two characters begin their partnership during the attempt to move contraband across the border.

The mission’s final section turns the border crossing into a combat encounter. A confrontation with security forces forces V and Jackie to fight their way out, giving the player an early introduction to driving, dialogue, shooting and the game’s wider conflict between ordinary outsiders, private security and the powerful institutions surrounding Night City.

Where this sits

Lifepath openingNomad prologue
Border crossingFirst meeting with Jackie
Shared openingThe story continues in Night City
  1. 1Choose the Nomad lifepathsetup
  2. 2Repair V’s vehicleobjective
  3. ●Meet Jackie Wellesstory
  4. 4Cross into Night Cityobjective
  5. 5Continue into the shared openingstory

The Nomad prologue is the opening branch for V’s selected lifepath; later story content converges with the other backgrounds.

Requirements

The only essential requirement is selecting the Nomad lifepath during character creation.

  • RequiredNomad lifepathSelect Nomad when creating V. The mission is the background-specific opening and cannot be started by a V from the Streetkid or Corpo lifepaths.
  • RecommendedBasic combat readinessThe mission introduces a firefight near the border. No particular weapon, cyberware setup or character build is required, but familiarity with aiming and taking cover is useful.
  • RequiredA vehicleV’s vehicle is part of the opening sequence and must be made roadworthy before the journey continues.

Objectives

  1. Prepare V’s vehicle for the journeyThe opening objective establishes V’s circumstances in the Badlands and leads into the departure from the starting area.
  2. Reach the borderDrive toward the crossing while handling the mission’s introductory dialogue and travel sequence.
  3. Complete the smuggling arrangementMeet Jackie Welles and help move the cargo through the border checkpoint.
  4. Survive the border confrontationFight through the security response and escape the immediate danger.
  5. Enter Night CityThe prologue ends with V’s arrival at the city and the transition toward the shared opening story.

Walkthrough

  1. 01

    Prepare the vehicle

    Inspect the vehicle

    Begin in the Badlands and examine V’s vehicle before attempting to leave. The opening interaction establishes the immediate problem: V cannot simply drive away until the vehicle has been made usable.

    Location: Badlands

    TipTake a moment to follow the prompts around the vehicle rather than searching the wider desert; the mission’s opening interactions are concentrated around the starting area.

  2. 02

    Get the vehicle running

    Finish the repair sequence

    Complete the repair interaction and return to the vehicle when V is ready to depart. This is a guided introduction, so progress comes from interacting with the marked parts of the vehicle rather than finding a separate repair station.

    Location: V’s starting area in the Badlands

    Watch outDo not treat the opening as free exploration. The prologue is still directing V toward the road and the border.

  3. 03

    Drive toward the border

    Leave the starting area

    Get into the repaired vehicle and follow the route away from V’s isolated starting point. Driving during this section is mainly about reaching the next objective and listening to the conversation rather than searching for distant activities.

    Location: Badlands roads

    TipStay on the marked route and avoid unnecessary detours; the mission’s next story beat occurs when V reaches the meeting point.

  4. 04

    Meet Jackie

    Meet Jackie Welles

    Continue to the rendezvous and speak with Jackie Welles, who is waiting with the smuggling job. The conversation introduces Jackie as V’s immediate partner and explains why the crossing must be completed together.

    Location: Near the Badlands border

    Checkpoint
  5. 05

    Get the cargo through the border

    Approach the border crossing

    Drive with Jackie toward the border and follow the mission prompts as the vehicle enters the checkpoint sequence. Keep the objective active and let the dialogue play out, because the crossing is a story set piece rather than a normal open-world delivery.

    Location: Border checkpoint

    TipThe mission shifts from open desert travel to a controlled checkpoint encounter. Be ready for the situation to change once security begins examining the shipment.

  6. 06

    Survive the confrontation

    Respond when security intervenes

    When the crossing becomes hostile, leave the vehicle or take the position the mission provides and engage the security forces. Use cover and deal with visible threats before pushing forward; rushing into the open makes the introductory firefight needlessly difficult.

    Location: Border checkpoint and nearby security area

    Watch outThe combat section is the main failure point of the prologue. Avoid standing in the open while trying to move past the checkpoint.

  7. 07

    Escape the checkpoint

    Fight alongside Jackie

    Advance with Jackie through the hostile section and clear the immediate opposition. Keep moving between cover positions and follow Jackie’s route instead of trying to create a separate path through the checkpoint.

    Location: Border security area

    TipJackie’s position is a useful guide to the intended direction. If the next objective does not update, look for remaining enemies around the checkpoint before moving farther away.

  8. 08

    Escape the border area

    Reach the escape vehicle

    After the firefight, return to the vehicle or the escape route indicated by the objective marker. The mission’s priority is leaving the border area safely, not searching every structure or pursuing enemies beyond the marked combat space.

    Location: Border crossing

    Checkpoint
  9. 09

    Reach Night City

    Complete the crossing and enter Night City

    Follow Jackie through the final travel sequence and let the prologue transition into V’s arrival at Night City. This closes the Nomad-specific introduction and leads into the early story shared by the lifepaths.

    Location: Road into Night City

    Watch outThe mission’s conclusion is story-driven. Once the final transition begins, the Nomad opening is complete and the next sequence takes over.

Mission mechanics

The mission combines several systems in a deliberately compact sequence. V begins with vehicle interaction and guided exploration, then moves into driving, dialogue and a short combat encounter. Because the activities are introduced one after another, the prologue works as a tutorial for the broader rhythm of Cyberpunk 2077 rather than as a build-checking mission.

The driving sections are primarily objective-focused. Follow the route toward the border and use the marker to keep the journey moving; the surrounding Badlands are part of the setting, but this opening does not require a full survey of the region. The important progression beats are the repaired vehicle, the meeting with Jackie Welles and the checkpoint confrontation.

Combat at the border rewards basic cover use and deliberate movement. Security opponents can make an exposed position dangerous, so clear the immediate threats before crossing open ground. Jackie’s movement helps communicate where the game expects V to go, making him both a story partner and a practical guide through the encounter.

What works and what does not

Strengths

  • It gives the Nomad background a clear identity before V reaches the city.
  • The sequence introduces Jackie Welles naturally through a shared job rather than a detached exposition scene.
  • The progression from vehicle preparation to driving, dialogue and combat makes the opening easy to follow.
  • The border setting provides an immediate contrast with the dense urban environments that dominate much of the game.

Weaknesses

  • The prologue is highly linear and offers little room for optional exploration.
  • The vehicle-repair opening is mostly a guided interaction, so players looking for a substantial mechanical activity may find it brief.
  • The combat encounter provides an introduction to gunplay but does not meaningfully test a specialized character build.

Best uses

  • Play it as an introduction to the Nomad role and V’s reasons for entering Night City.
  • Use it to learn the basic relationship between driving, objective markers, dialogue and cover-based combat.
  • Choose it when Jackie’s first meeting and the desert-to-city transition are more important than early open-world freedom.

Phases

  1. 1

    Vehicle preparation

    Starts: The mission begins at V’s starting location in the Badlands.

    V must make the vehicle usable before leaving the desert. This is a guided interaction phase with no major enemy encounter.

    • Follow the interaction prompts around the vehicle.
    • The objective remains close to the starting area during this phase.
  2. 2

    Border approach

    Starts: V reaches the rendezvous and begins the crossing with Jackie Welles.

    The mission changes from solitary travel to a shared smuggling run. Dialogue and the checkpoint procedure control the pace.

    • Stay with the marked route.
    • Listen for the change in tone when security begins checking the shipment.
  3. 3

    Checkpoint firefight

    Starts: The border crossing turns hostile and security forces attack.

    V and Jackie must survive the security response and move through the checkpoint area. Cover, target prioritization and following the objective marker are more reliable than charging ahead.

    • Security gunfireTell Hostile fire becomes visible as the checkpoint encounter begins.Answer Use nearby cover, return fire from a stable position and advance only after the immediate threat is reduced.
    • Use Jackie’s movement as a guide to the intended route.
    • Check the area for remaining enemies before leaving the combat space.

Choices and consequences

  • Select the Nomad lifepath during character creation

    This determines that V begins in the Badlands and receives The Nomad as the opening mission. The other lifepaths use different introductions before converging with the main story.

  • Choose dialogue responses during the meeting with Jackie Welles

    The responses shape the tone of V’s first exchange with Jackie, but the mission’s central progression remains the same: the pair attempt the crossing and the story moves toward Night City.

Checklist

  • Select the Nomad lifepathThis mission is tied to the Nomad background.
  • Complete the vehicle-repair interactionThe vehicle must be ready before V can leave the starting area.
  • Meet Jackie WellesThe meeting occurs during the border-running setup.
  • Reach the border checkpointFollow the marked route rather than detouring into the wider Badlands.
  • Survive the checkpoint firefightUse cover and clear the immediate security threats.
  • Leave the border area with JackieThe mission concludes as V reaches Night City.

Failure conditions

  • V is killed during the checkpoint firefightThe combat section is the principal conventional failure state. Restart from the latest checkpoint and use cover more carefully.
  • V abandons the active objectiveLeaving the mission route or moving too far from the guided sequence can prevent progress. Return to the objective marker and follow Jackie’s path.

On failure

The prologue is heavily guided and uses mission checkpoints during its major transitions, but exact checkpoint behavior can vary by game version and difficulty.

Rewards

  • Nomad lifepath progression
    Completing the mission advances the Nomad-specific opening and moves V toward the shared story in Night City.
  • Jackie Welles introduction
    The mission establishes Jackie as V’s early partner and an important character in the opening chapters.
  • Access to the shared opening
    Finishing the prologue transitions V from the Badlands into the main introductory sequence.

Characters in this mission

Aftermath

From the Badlands to Night City

Completing The Nomad moves V out of the lifepath-specific opening and into the shared beginning of Cyberpunk 2077. The mission’s most important lasting result is the introduction of Jackie Welles and the partnership formed during the crossing.

Trivia

  • The Nomad is one of three lifepath introductions in Cyberpunk 2077.
  • Its opening location emphasizes the Badlands and the contrast between life outside Night City and the city itself.
  • The mission introduces Jackie Welles before the shared opening content begins.
  • The prologue uses a border-running job to connect V’s personal background with the wider political and corporate tensions of the setting.

Relationships

Locations