The Ultimate Guide on Joining & Leading Armies in Bannerlord 2
As an avid Bannerlord gamer and content creator, I get a lot of questions around armies – how to join them and even create your own. So in this guide, I‘ll be providing an in-depth breakdown of the entire army system.
Joining Existing Armies in Bannerlord 2
To join an NPC army, simply talk to any roaming Lord and select "Join his army". This will immediately enroll you as a common foot soldier in that Lord‘s faction army.
You‘ll don the gear of the lowest rank and can start fighting alongside the battalions. For instance, joining a Vlandian army makes you a Vlandian Footman.
Why Join Existing Armies?
Being part of an NPC army gives you advantages like:
- Marching alongside hundreds of soldiers across Calradia
- Participating in large-scale battles and castle sieges
- Gaining XP and leveling up your character skills/perks
- Looting weapons, armor etc. from defeated enemies
- Opportunity to rise up the ranks for better wages and gear
- Option to leave the army anytime by talking to the commander
So in summary, joining armies allows you to be part of Bannerlord 2‘s intense PvE action without needing to raise one yourself initially.
Creating & Leading Your Own Army
However, to create your own custom army in Bannerlord 2, you need to fulfill one of three conditions:
- Become a vassal of an existing kingdom
- Establish your own independent kingdom
- Use mods like the Party AI Overhaul
If you meet any of those conditions, you can start recruiting lords, companions and soldiers into a personal army under your banner.
Building a Battle-Ready Army
When creating your own army, key aspects to focus on include:
- Recruiting elite units from factions like the Vlandians, Battanians and Empire armies. These have top-tier damage and armor.
- Ensuring you have a mix of infantry, ranged and cavalry units for versatility
- Having 150-200+ troops so you can besiege and capture enemy settlements
- Appointing a skilled quartermaster from your companions to boost party size
- Leveling up stewardship skills to further increase troop capacity
- Maintaining high morale and discipline to ensure battle readiness
Get these basics covered and you‘ll have an army capable of taking on enemies and seizing territories across the realm.
Army Composition Analysis
Based on extensive in-game testing, here is a breakdown of the various unit types and why they are vital for army building:
| Unit Type | Importance | Top Units |
|---|---|---|
| Infantry | Form frontline, high defense | Imperial Legionary, Sturgia Veteran, Vlandia Sergeant |
| Archers | Devastating damage dealers | Battania Fian Champion, Vlandia Sharpshooter |
| Cavalry | Flanking and charges to rout units | Vlandia Banner Knight, Khuzait Khan‘s Guard |
As shown above, ensuring you recruit top-tier units from factions like the Empire, Vlandia and Battania will lead to a powerful force.
Final Verdict: Joining vs Building Armies
While Bannerlord 2 allows you to easily join NPC armies, forming your own requires planning, leadership capabilities and resources. However, being part of an army opens up pivotal experiences like sieging castles, fighting epic battles and reaping the spoils of war together.
Both joining existing armies and building your own have their own appeal and rewards. As a passionate Bannerlord gamer, I highly recommend players experience both! Leading thousands of troops into battle yourself is an incredible feeling.
So in closing, I hope this guide gives you a comprehensive perspective on how armies work in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Let me know if you have any other questions!
