In Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, a medieval sandbox game often called Mount and Blade 2, you lead a party across Calradia, an empire torn apart by civil war. You start with little money and no standing with any kingdom. Money and renown are what you need to grow, so early on you work to earn both.
Most of your time goes to the campaign map, an overhead view of the land where you move your party from town to town. Along the way, you take quests from people in towns and villages, trade goods to earn Denars for paying your troops, and recruit more fighters to grow your party. When your party runs into an enemy, the game switches to a real-time battle where you fight alongside your troops in first or third person. Battles bring loot and prisoners you can sell, and they earn renown, your reputation for deeds.
As your renown grows, your clan rises in standing and bigger options open up. Serving a kingdom as a mercenary earns you regular pay without tying you as tightly to its politics. Once you have enough renown, you can swear loyalty to the kingdom as a vassal, which brings more influence and the chance to own towns and castles. Later on, a strong clan that owns a town or castle and serves no other kingdom can found its own kingdom.
- Developer
- TaleWorlds Entertainment
- Publisher
- TaleWorlds Entertainment
- Release
- Full release: 2022-10-25 · PC Early Access: 2020-03-30
- Platforms
- Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Game data
Troops
Troops are the soldiers who fill your party and fight your battles in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Each culture has its own troop tree, from basic recruits to elite units, and mercenaries, bandits and minor factions each add their own lines. Troops gain experience in battle and are upgraded for gold, and cavalry also needs horses. Infantry, archers, cavalry and horse archers each have their own strengths, so the mix you field matters.
Melee Weapons
Melee weapons are the swords, axes, maces, polearms and daggers characters use at close range in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Each one deals cut, pierce or blunt damage depending on how it attacks, and the armor an enemy wears decides which type works best. One-handed weapons pair with shields for steady fights, two-handed weapons favor damage on foot, and polearms suit mounted combat. Players get them from merchants, from battle loot, or by crafting at a smithy in a major settlement.
Ranged Weapons
Ranged weapons in Bannerlord let you attack from a distance, and the main types are bows, crossbows, throwing weapons, and slings. Bows, crossbows, and slings each use their own ammunition: arrows, bolts, and sling bullets. Throwing weapons are thrown directly and need no separate ammunition. Bows and crossbows can't be crafted, so players find them through battlefield loot and markets.
Head Armor
Head armor covers the caps, helmets and crowns worn on a character's head in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Each piece has its own protection value, and that value applies only when a hit lands on the head. Head armor comes in tiers from Tier 0 to Tier 6, with designs that vary by culture. Players get helmets through tournaments, looting and shops in towns.
Body Armor
Body armor covers the torso in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, with smaller protection values for the arms and legs. Pieces come in tiers from 0 to 6, and higher tiers generally protect more and cost more. Weight slows a fighter down, mostly on foot, so the right piece balances protection with mobility. Towns sell many pieces, and loot and tournament prizes are a common way to get the top tiers.
Mounts
Mounts and pack animals are the horses, camels and mules that move your party and carry its load in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Riding horses, war horses and noble mounts are ridden by your troops and heroes, while mules, sumpter horses and pack camels haul supplies. Mounts also decide which foot soldiers can become cavalry, and a herd that grows too large can slow the whole party down.
Bannerlord Controls
| Action | Desktop |
|---|---|
| Move | W, A, S, D |
| Attack | Left mouse button |
| Defend | Right mouse button |
| Jump | Space |
| Kick or shield bash | E |
| Interact | F |
| Crouch | Z |
| Switch weapon usage | X |
| Drop weapon | G |
| Leave battle | Tab |
| Open battle orders | Backspace |
| Move party on the campaign map | Arrow keys |
| Pause or resume time on the campaign map | Space |
| Quick save | F5 |
| Party screen | P |
| Inventory | I |
| Encyclopedia | N |
Bannerlord gameplay tips
- Keep cash on hand for wages. Your troops are paid every day, and having the funds keeps your party intact.
- Clear bandits and looters early. They are a quick way to build renown, which raises your clan tier.
- Hire a companion from a town tavern and give them a party role. A companion with good Steward, Scouting, Medicine or Engineering skill can serve as your Quartermaster, Scout, Surgeon or Engineer, which helps your supplies, map movement, troop recovery and siege engines.
- Fight in a kingdom's army as a mercenary. You gain experience in big battles and build trust with allies, which helps when you later want to serve as a vassal.
- Stock up on food before long campaigns and sieges. Big armies eat through supplies fast, and a starving party loses morale until troops start to desert. Buy food in towns or keep what you loot from battles.
- Hover over trade goods to compare prices. The merchant tip shows what an item sells for in other towns, which helps you find profitable trades.