One of the earliest military monsters, the Bombadire is considered obsolete on the battlefield but enjoys ongoing popularity with traditionalists in arena combat. Its body houses highly volatile chemicals in a series of sacs that empty into the cannon-like skull, producing a small explosion that propels bony "bullets" with lethal force. Another set of chemicals is used to arm egg-like organic firebombs that the monster can detonate via telepathy.

Bombadire were bred with a strict sense of duty, and have difficulty understanding the concept of leisure. Always on high alert, they view the world in the language of combat tactics.