Mount & Blade 2 Bannerlord has come a long way since it’s early access release back in 2020 and since then it’s had constant updates. Now its has just released to the full game to the joy of players and modders alike. The game features medieval micro and macro combat as you control your own customized character as they make a name for themselves in the world of Calradia alone and later with entire armies. There’s a lot to know about this game, since a tad bit more complex than previous titles, so in this guide we’ll show you some tips and tricks when starting out.
Best Starter Guide For Mount & Blade 2 Bannerlord
Long time Mount & Blade fans waited for Bannerlord to release while playing their modded Warband modules filled with all sorts of great features modders have made. When Bannerlord finally released, it was received by the fans with mixed results.
Some of them were excited at the new graphics, new gameplay changes and so on, while others were disappointed on the lackluster additions the game added for a supposed sequel.
Whatever your view was, today Bannerlord has a lot more features than the previous games, and today we’ll give you some tips if you’re playing it for the first time, or the 70th time.
Pick a Playstyle
This sounds like a no brainer, until you get to a high level with focus points on polearms despite your loadout consisting of a crossbow and a one-handed mace. At the start think of what your character is going to specialize, will he be a horse archer?
A Viking that uses a sword and a shield with some thrown weapons? A Lancer that specializes in Polearms and riding horses?
It doesn’t even need to be all combat, you can be a trader and let your charm and wits guide you through Calradia, and your money to buy mercenaries to protect you. Pick a style and stick with it, because you’ll need it for the next part.
Stats
In Bannerlord there’s 6 different attributes; Vigor, Control, Endurance, Cunning, Social and Intelligence. Each attribute helps with 3 skills, for example Vigor helps with the growth of your One-Handed, Two-Handed and Polearm skills while Cunning helps with the Scouting, Tactics and Roguery Skill.
Skills can also have focuses, and each skill can have at a maximum of 5 focuses. Focusing on a skill further increases the cap of that skill and the speed it increases.
So if you want to maximize a certain skill, remember to increase both attribute and focus on that skill. You only get 1 attribute though per 3 levels, and 1 focus per level so keep that in mind.
Recruitment
You don’t have to make an empire alone. You can recruit soldiers from towns and villages to help bolster your numbers. These villagers are usually low tier and you’ll need to push them through some battles to give them enough experience to go to the next tier.
Of course, they can’t go to the next tier if they’re dead so don’t just throw them into the meat grinder. Also remember that the recruits depend on where you recruit them from, so recruits in Battania have a different progression tree to recruits from Sturgian lands.
You can also recruit companions in the taverns in towns. These companions act as hero units in your army, they don’t really turn the tide in battle unless you kit them out and they’re of high level, but they can help you through their skills.
A companion that’s a doctor might not be good at battle but they’re good after the battle when tending troops or lowering casualties.
Trade
You can’t make an empire on an empty stomach or an empty purse. Don’t forget to buy food for your troops, and buy pack animals to carry more stuff without slowing down. Just remember to not bring too many animals or it’ll actually slow you down.
Trading is also a vital tool in any playthrough, even if you’re a raider who steals from villages, you’ll still need to sell those goods somewhere.
Making trade routes and knowing where to sell can take time, so for now just remember this. If you’re buying, green means it’s cheaper than average, if you’re selling green means it’s more profitable to sell there. Red means don’t buy or sell unless you really really need to.
Congratulations you now know some basics on playing Bannerlord, now go out there, make your character and make a name for yourself!
Many thanks to DaPhamius for showing everyone these tips, if you need more information on the subject then go check their video out here: BEST STARTER GUIDE 2022 Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord | Bannerlord tips and tricks – YouTube
ALSO READ: How To Equip Banners & Standards In Mount & Blade 2 Bannerlord
