Troops are the soldiers in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, the fighters you recruit, train and lead into battle. They fill your party and make up the armies of the kingdoms of Calradia, so the mix you bring can decide how a fight goes. Each culture has its own troop tree that starts with basic recruits and climbs toward elite units, and mercenaries, bandits and smaller factions add their own fighters on top.
Showing 61 of 272 items.
Culture
Aserai
Aserai Recruit
An Aserai infantry troop, upgrading into the Aserai Mamluke Soldier or the Aserai Tribesman.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 1
- Level
- 6
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 2
- Upgrades To
- Aserai Mamluke Soldier; Aserai Tribesman
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Peasant
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Mamluke Soldier
An Aserai infantry troop, upgrading into the Aserai Mamluke Axeman or the Aserai Mamluke Regular.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 2
- Level
- 11
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 3
- Upgrades To
- Aserai Mamluke Axeman; Aserai Mamluke Regular
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Recruit
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Tribesman
An Aserai infantry troop, upgrading into the Aserai Footman or the Aserai Light Archer.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 2
- Level
- 11
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 3
- Upgrades To
- Aserai Footman; Aserai Light Archer
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Recruit
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Youth
An Aserai cavalry troop, upgrading into the Aserai Tribal Horseman.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 2
- Level
- 11
- Formation
- Cavalry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 3
- Upgrades To
- Aserai Tribal Horseman
- Upgrades From
- -
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Footman
An Aserai infantry troop, upgrading into the Aserai Infantry.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 3
- Level
- 16
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 5
- Upgrades To
- Aserai Infantry
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Tribesman
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Light Archer
An Aserai ranged troop, upgrading into the Aserai Archer or the Aserai Veteran Sailor.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 3
- Level
- 16
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 5
- Upgrades To
- Aserai Archer; Aserai Veteran Sailor (War Sails)
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Tribesman; Bedouin Rover
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Mamluke Axeman
An Aserai infantry troop, upgrading into the Aserai Mamluke Guard.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 3
- Level
- 16
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 5
- Upgrades To
- Aserai Mamluke Guard
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Mamluke Soldier
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Mamluke Regular
An Aserai cavalry troop, upgrading into the Aserai Mamluke Cavalry.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 3
- Level
- 16
- Formation
- Cavalry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 5
- Upgrades To
- Aserai Mamluke Cavalry
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Mamluke Soldier
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Tribal Horseman
An Aserai cavalry troop, upgrading into the Aserai Faris.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 3
- Level
- 16
- Formation
- Cavalry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 5
- Upgrades To
- Aserai Faris
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Youth
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Archer
An Aserai ranged troop, upgrading into the Aserai Bahriyyah or the Aserai Master Archer.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 4
- Level
- 21
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 8
- Upgrades To
- Aserai Bahriyyah (War Sails); Aserai Master Archer
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Light Archer
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Faris
An Aserai cavalry troop, upgrading into the Aserai Veteran Faris.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 4
- Level
- 21
- Formation
- Cavalry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 8
- Upgrades To
- Aserai Veteran Faris
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Tribal Horseman
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Infantry
An Aserai infantry troop, upgrading into the Aserai Veteran Infantry.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 4
- Level
- 21
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 8
- Upgrades To
- Aserai Veteran Infantry
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Footman
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Mamluke Cavalry
An Aserai horse archer troop, upgrading into the Aserai Mamluke Heavy Cavalry.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 4
- Level
- 21
- Formation
- Horse Archer
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 8
- Upgrades To
- Aserai Mamluke Heavy Cavalry
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Mamluke Regular; Nomad Bandit
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Mamluke Guard
An Aserai infantry troop, upgrading into the Aserai Mamluke Palace Guard.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 4
- Level
- 21
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 8
- Upgrades To
- Aserai Mamluke Palace Guard
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Mamluke Axeman
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Veteran Sailor
An Aserai ranged troop, upgrading into the Aserai Bahriyyah.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 4
- Level
- 21
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 8
- Upgrades To
- Aserai Bahriyyah (War Sails)
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Light Archer; Corsair Warrior (War Sails)
- Content
- War Sails
Aserai Bahriyyah
An Aserai ranged troop at the top of its upgrade line.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 5
- Level
- 26
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 12
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Archer; Aserai Veteran Sailor (War Sails); Corsair Chief (War Sails)
- Content
- War Sails
Aserai Mamluke Heavy Cavalry
An Aserai horse archer troop at the top of its upgrade line.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 5
- Level
- 26
- Formation
- Horse Archer
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 12
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Mamluke Cavalry
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Mamluke Palace Guard
An Aserai infantry troop at the top of its upgrade line.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 5
- Level
- 26
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 12
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Mamluke Guard
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Master Archer
An Aserai ranged troop at the top of its upgrade line.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 5
- Level
- 26
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 12
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Archer
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Veteran Faris
An Aserai cavalry troop, upgrading into the Aserai Vanguard Faris.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 5
- Level
- 26
- Formation
- Cavalry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 12
- Upgrades To
- Aserai Vanguard Faris
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Faris; Harami
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Veteran Infantry
An Aserai infantry troop at the top of its upgrade line.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 5
- Level
- 26
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 12
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Infantry
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Vanguard Faris
An Aserai cavalry troop at the top of its upgrade line.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 6
- Level
- 31
- Formation
- Cavalry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 17
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- Aserai Veteran Faris
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Militia Archer
An Aserai militia ranged troop that defends its home settlement.
- Troop Type
- Militia
- Tier
- 2
- Level
- 11
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 3
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- -
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Militia Spearman
An Aserai militia infantry troop that defends its home settlement.
- Troop Type
- Militia
- Tier
- 2
- Level
- 11
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 3
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- -
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Militia Veteran Archer
An Aserai militia ranged troop that defends its home settlement.
- Troop Type
- Militia
- Tier
- 3
- Level
- 16
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 5
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- -
- Content
- Base game
Aserai Militia Veteran Spearman
An Aserai militia infantry troop that defends its home settlement.
- Troop Type
- Militia
- Tier
- 3
- Level
- 16
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 5
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- -
- Content
- Base game
Beni Zilal Recruit
An Aserai minor-faction cavalry troop, upgrading into the Beni Zilal Soldier.
- Troop Type
- Minor faction
- Tier
- 2
- Level
- 11
- Formation
- Cavalry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 3
- Upgrades To
- Beni Zilal Soldier
- Upgrades From
- -
- Content
- Base game
Jawwal Recruit
An Aserai minor-faction infantry troop, upgrading into the Jawwal Camel Rider.
- Troop Type
- Minor faction
- Tier
- 2
- Level
- 11
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 3
- Upgrades To
- Jawwal Camel Rider
- Upgrades From
- -
- Content
- Base game
Beni Zilal Soldier
An Aserai minor-faction cavalry troop, upgrading into the Beni Zilal Royal Guard.
- Troop Type
- Minor faction
- Tier
- 3
- Level
- 16
- Formation
- Cavalry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 5
- Upgrades To
- Beni Zilal Royal Guard
- Upgrades From
- Beni Zilal Recruit
- Content
- Base game
Jawwal Camel Rider
An Aserai minor-faction cavalry troop, upgrading into the Jawwal Bedouin.
- Troop Type
- Minor faction
- Tier
- 3
- Level
- 16
- Formation
- Cavalry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 5
- Upgrades To
- Jawwal Bedouin
- Upgrades From
- Jawwal Recruit
- Content
- Base game
Beni Zilal Royal Guard
An Aserai minor-faction cavalry troop at the top of its upgrade line.
- Troop Type
- Minor faction
- Tier
- 4
- Level
- 21
- Formation
- Cavalry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 8
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- Beni Zilal Soldier
- Content
- Base game
Jawwal Bedouin
An Aserai minor-faction cavalry troop at the top of its upgrade line.
- Troop Type
- Minor faction
- Tier
- 4
- Level
- 21
- Formation
- Cavalry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 8
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- Jawwal Camel Rider
- Content
- Base game
Culture
Battania
Battanian Volunteer
A Battanian infantry troop, upgrading into the Battanian Clan Warrior or the Battanian Wood Runner.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 1
- Level
- 6
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 2
- Upgrades To
- Battanian Clan Warrior; Battanian Wood Runner
- Upgrades From
- Battania Peasant
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Clan Warrior
A Battanian infantry troop, upgrading into the Battanian Trained Warrior.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 2
- Level
- 11
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 3
- Upgrades To
- Battanian Trained Warrior
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Volunteer
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Highborn Youth
A Battanian ranged troop, upgrading into the Battanian Highborn Warrior.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 2
- Level
- 11
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 3
- Upgrades To
- Battanian Highborn Warrior
- Upgrades From
- -
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Wood Runner
A Battanian infantry troop, upgrading into the Battanian Raider or the Battanian Skirmisher.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 2
- Level
- 11
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 3
- Upgrades To
- Battanian Raider; Battanian Skirmisher
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Volunteer
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Highborn Warrior
A Battanian ranged troop, upgrading into the Battanian Hero.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 3
- Level
- 16
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 5
- Upgrades To
- Battanian Hero
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Highborn Youth
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Raider
A Battanian infantry troop, upgrading into the Battanian Falxman.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 3
- Level
- 16
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 5
- Upgrades To
- Battanian Falxman
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Wood Runner; Bushwacker
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Skirmisher
A Battanian infantry troop, upgrading into the Battanian River Raider or the Battanian Veteran Skirmisher.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 3
- Level
- 16
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 5
- Upgrades To
- Battanian River Raider (War Sails); Battanian Veteran Skirmisher
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Wood Runner
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Trained Warrior
A Battanian infantry troop, upgrading into the Battanian Picked Warrior or the Battanian Scout.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 3
- Level
- 16
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 5
- Upgrades To
- Battanian Picked Warrior; Battanian Scout
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Clan Warrior
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Falxman
A Battanian infantry troop, upgrading into the Battanian Veteran Falxman.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 4
- Level
- 21
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 8
- Upgrades To
- Battanian Veteran Falxman
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Raider; Freebooter
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Hero
A Battanian ranged troop, upgrading into the Battanian Fian.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 4
- Level
- 21
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 8
- Upgrades To
- Battanian Fian
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Highborn Warrior
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Picked Warrior
A Battanian infantry troop, upgrading into the Battanian Oathsworn.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 4
- Level
- 21
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 8
- Upgrades To
- Battanian Oathsworn
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Trained Warrior
- Content
- Base game
Battanian River Raider
A Battanian infantry troop, upgrading into the Battanian Skipari.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 4
- Level
- 21
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 8
- Upgrades To
- Battanian Skipari (War Sails)
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Skirmisher
- Content
- War Sails
Battanian Scout
A Battanian cavalry troop, upgrading into the Battanian Horseman.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 4
- Level
- 21
- Formation
- Cavalry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 8
- Upgrades To
- Battanian Horseman
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Trained Warrior
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Veteran Skirmisher
A Battanian infantry troop, upgrading into the Battanian Skipari, the Battanian Mounted Skirmisher or the Battanian Wildling.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 4
- Level
- 21
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 8
- Upgrades To
- Battanian Skipari (War Sails); Battanian Mounted Skirmisher; Battanian Wildling
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Skirmisher
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Fian
A Battanian ranged troop, upgrading into the Battanian Fian Champion.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 5
- Level
- 26
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 12
- Upgrades To
- Battanian Fian Champion
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Hero; Forest Bandit
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Horseman
A Battanian cavalry troop at the top of its upgrade line.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 5
- Level
- 26
- Formation
- Cavalry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 12
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Scout
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Mounted Skirmisher
A Battanian cavalry troop at the top of its upgrade line.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 5
- Level
- 26
- Formation
- Cavalry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 12
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Veteran Skirmisher
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Oathsworn
A Battanian infantry troop at the top of its upgrade line.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 5
- Level
- 26
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 12
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Picked Warrior
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Skipari
A Battanian infantry troop at the top of its upgrade line.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 5
- Level
- 26
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 12
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- Battanian River Raider (War Sails); Battanian Veteran Skirmisher
- Content
- War Sails
Battanian Veteran Falxman
A Battanian infantry troop at the top of its upgrade line.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 5
- Level
- 26
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 12
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Falxman
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Wildling
A Battanian infantry troop at the top of its upgrade line.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 5
- Level
- 26
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 12
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Veteran Skirmisher
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Fian Champion
A Battanian ranged troop at the top of its upgrade line.
- Troop Type
- Regular
- Tier
- 6
- Level
- 31
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 17
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- Battanian Fian
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Militia Archer
A Battanian militia ranged troop that defends its home settlement.
- Troop Type
- Militia
- Tier
- 2
- Level
- 11
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 3
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- -
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Militia Spearman
A Battanian militia infantry troop that defends its home settlement.
- Troop Type
- Militia
- Tier
- 2
- Level
- 11
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 3
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- -
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Militia Veteran Archer
A Battanian militia ranged troop that defends its home settlement.
- Troop Type
- Militia
- Tier
- 3
- Level
- 16
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 5
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- -
- Content
- Base game
Battanian Militia Veteran Spearman
A Battanian militia infantry troop that defends its home settlement.
- Troop Type
- Militia
- Tier
- 3
- Level
- 16
- Formation
- Infantry
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 5
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- -
- Content
- Base game
Young Wolf
A Battanian minor-faction ranged troop, upgrading into the Seasoned Wolf.
- Troop Type
- Minor faction
- Tier
- 2
- Level
- 11
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 3
- Upgrades To
- Seasoned Wolf
- Upgrades From
- -
- Content
- Base game
Seasoned Wolf
A Battanian minor-faction ranged troop, upgrading into the Chosen Wolf.
- Troop Type
- Minor faction
- Tier
- 3
- Level
- 16
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 5
- Upgrades To
- Chosen Wolf
- Upgrades From
- Young Wolf
- Content
- Base game
Chosen Wolf
A Battanian minor-faction ranged troop at the top of its upgrade line.
- Troop Type
- Minor faction
- Tier
- 4
- Level
- 21
- Formation
- Ranged
- Daily Wage (Denars)
- 8
- Upgrades To
- -
- Upgrades From
- Seasoned Wolf
- Content
- Base game
Troop Types and How They Fight
Most troops fall into four groups. Infantry fight on foot in close combat, archers and crossbowmen shoot from a distance, cavalry (mounted soldiers) charge on horseback, and horse archers shoot while riding. Each group has its own strengths and weaknesses, so the mix you bring matters as much as the number of soldiers.
Cavalry charges hit hardest against archers and lightly armored troops, and a well-timed charge can send an enemy line running. Horse archers are better at wearing down enemies from range than at winning a close fight, so they work best with heavier troops in front of them.
Where you place each group matters as much as which groups you bring. Heavier infantry, such as spearmen, do best holding the line against the enemy's foot soldiers, while lightly armored troops are more useful for hitting an enemy's flank once that line is pressed. Archers left out in front are easy prey for cavalry, so keep a line of heavier troops between them and the enemy.
A shield wall is a tight line of heavy infantry that advances slowly and is hard to break, and it's the formation to reach for when enemy cavalry is charging. Give each group its own formation so you can select and command it separately with the number keys.
Where to Recruit Troops
You can recruit troops in any settlement that isn't hostile to you, and the soldiers on offer come from the local notables. Notables are the influential people who run each town and village, and each one tends to favor certain troop types. One may mostly offer foot soldiers while another offers bowmen, so the people you know shape what you can hire.
Higher-tier recruits, the stronger units in a troop tree, stay locked until your standing with a notable improves. You raise that standing by finishing their quests and clearing the bandit camps nearby. Relations take time to build, so it pays to start early if you want elite options before you can afford them.
Calradian Mercenaries
Mercenaries are hired fighters who aren't tied to any one culture, so they can fill gaps in your army wherever you go. Most taverns have them for hire, and you can sometimes take them as prisoners after beating an enemy force. They're a practical choice when the villages around you don't offer the troops you need.
The mercenaries come in a few lines. The Hired Spear line leads to the Hired Crossbow and the Hired Pike, and the Sellsword line leads to the Mercenary Maceman and the Outrider. The Thug line runs from the Thug up to the Master Thug, and the Sisterhood Follower line ends at the Sword Sister.
Bandit Troops
Bandits are the outlaws roaming the map, and you can add them to your army after you beat them. Defeat a roaming bandit group and take some of its members prisoner, and after a few days you can recruit them. Take them in measured numbers, because recruiting too many at once can hurt your party's morale.
Looters are the lowest rank and the most common bandits, which makes them the easiest to beat and the first ones you're likely to meet. The others are named for where they roam, the Desert, Forest, Mountain and Steppe Bandits plus the Sea Raiders, and each group has stronger ranks such as the Brigand, the Highwayman and the Marauder.
Minor Faction Troops
Minor factions are smaller groups that sit outside the main kingdoms, and each has its own small line of troops. The Wolfskins, Lake Rats, Company of the Golden Boar, Skolderbrotva, Karakhergit, Eleftheroi and Beni Zilal are a few examples, and the Legion of the Betrayed is another. The Beni Zilal, Eleftheroi and Karakhergit fight on horseback, the Wolfskins and Company of the Golden Boar are archers, and the Lake Rats and Skolderbrotva fight on foot.
You can't recruit these troops in a village. Instead, find one of their parties, defeat it, and take some of its soldiers prisoner, who become available to recruit after a wait. Their parties aren't common on the map, so finding one takes some looking. The encyclopedia can show where a faction was last seen, which gives you a place to start.
How Troops Upgrade
Troops improve by fighting. Each one earns experience from battles, and once it has earned enough, you can upgrade it for gold. Some troops have more than one upgrade path, so you choose the branch you want, and it pays to keep veterans alive rather than swapping them for fresh recruits.
Upgrading a foot soldier to cavalry takes more than gold, because each troop being upgraded needs its own horse. Keep that in mind before you start, so you have mounts ready when the upgrade comes up.
Which Troops Matter Most
A few units are worth knowing early, because they change how you fight. Many of the standouts are tier 6 cavalry, including the Khuzait Khan's Guard, the Imperial Elite Cataphract and the Vlandian Banner Knight. The Khan's Guard is fast and durable with a strong bow, while the Cataphract is heavily armored and fights with a long lance, a kite shield and a sword.
Infantry standouts are fewer, and the Battanian Veteran Falxman is one of the most useful, with a two-handed long falx and throwing axes. The Sturgian Horse Raider is a mounted skirmisher that carries javelins alongside a spear and shield. Which of these fits best depends on whether your army needs range or a heavy front line.
Paying for Your Troops
Every troop in your party is paid a wage each day, so a large army means a large daily bill. Mercenaries cost more to hire and keep than regular recruits, which adds up quickly when you mix them in. Before you grow your army, make sure your income can cover the wages you already have.
Nord and Sea Raider Troops in War Sails
War Sails, the naval expansion for the game, adds the Nord troop tree along with new seafaring troops. The Nords are a Viking-inspired faction whose troops rely on foot soldiers and archers, with no mounted units at all. War Sails also gives the main cultures their own sailor and marine troops, and adds the Corsairs and Sea Hounds as new outlaws. These troops are built for naval battles and boarding fights at sea.
FAQ
Which horses count when upgrading troops to cavalry?
Pack animals such as mules, pack camels and sumpter horses don't count toward an upgrade. Basic cavalry can use a regular horse, but higher-tier cavalry needs better mounts, and the top units need war horses.
Where do Vlandian Knights come from?
They come from the Vlandian noble line. The Vlandian Squire upgrades into the Vlandian Gallant and then the Vlandian Knight, which can go on to become a Vlandian Champion and finally a Vlandian Banner Knight. Squires are the Vlandian noble recruit, so building good relations with Vlandian notables is the way in.
How do you get a Battanian Veteran Falxman?
You train one up. Battanian Volunteers become Wood Runners, then Raiders, then Falxmen, and a Falxman with enough battle experience becomes a Veteran Falxman. Keeping your Raiders alive through a few fights is the quickest route.