Mount & Blade 2: Strongest Troops In The Game, Ranked (2024)

Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord sees players take to the field with hundreds of individual troops at one time. These combatants range from peasant recruits equipped with colorful robes and their father’s pitchfork to elite heavily armored shock troops that can ravage the battlefield.

But, with every culture in having various high-tier options to cut down the enemy in melee, pepper them with arrows, or knock them down with a thunderous charge, which troops do it the best? Look no further - here’s our ranking of the most effective units on the battlefield, by their role.

20 Battanian Veteran Falxman

• Polearm - 130
• Athletics - 130
• Throwing - 120

The Battanian Veteran Falxman is an ideal anti-cavalry unit that is a good bit more affordable than other options on this list. While they have a decent Polearm and skill to use it properly, they also start each battle with throwing axes, a staple in many Battanian troops.

While they only get two throwing axes, these are great openers should they have to fight other infantry, while also giving a ranged option in case they are dealing with mounted archers.

19 Ghulam

• Polearm - 110
• Riding - 100

There isn’t a lot of choice in fielding camel cavalry in Bannerlord, but the Ghulam is by far the best option, even matching the performance of some tier 4 and 5 horse riders. Unlike their Jawwal Bedouin cousins, Ghulam units have decent armor and can usually take a couple of hits before going down.

Their weakness is their offensive stats – with only 110 Polearm skill and 90 One-Handed skill, and some pretty average weaponry, their killing power is rather lackluster compared to other tier 4 mounted units. Still, they make for a rather unique and fresh addition to the player’s army.

18 Sturgian Heavy Spearman

• One-Handed - 140
• Polearm - 140
• Athletics - 125

If you are looking for a solid anti-cavalry unit, the Sturgian Heavy Spearman is one of the better choices. They wield a steel spear, which can be braced to deal devastating damage to incoming charges. Unlike other polearm infantry, they also carry a shield, which is a blessing when going up against archers and infantry in close-quarters combat.

While they may not be the most effective anti-cavalry troop in the game, these footmen will get the job done and are particularly effective when fighting the powerful horse archers of the Khuzait.

17 Sturgian Druzhinik Champion

• One Handed - 200
• Polearm - 170
• Riding - 170

Strugian Druzhinik Champions dominate in mounted combat despite Strugians not being known for their powerful cavalry. These units are fairly expensive and rare to come by but are heavy cavalry units whose armor, shield, and polearm will make quick work of an enemy's mounted units.

They also have a one-handed sword which can help deal with infantry they charge into, and keep them viable in combat should the horse fall before the rider. These units have a hefty shield and armor, already making them hard to take down before adding the speed of a horse.

16 Imperial Bucellarii

• One-Handed - 130
• Bow - 130
• Riding - 120

The main benefit of the Imperial Bucellarii is that they are a decent horse archer unit that isn’t Khuzait. They actually have 10 more Bow skill at 140 than their Khuzait counterpart, but lose 10 Riding to their nomad cousin and are far less armored. They also suffer from a reduced arrow count and slightly reduced damage.

Regardless, if players want to field horse archers from a different culture, or if they are at war with the Khuzaits and can’t recruit new troops, these riders are an ideal replacement.

15 Sturgian Heroic Line Breaker

• Two-Handed - 150
• Athletics - 150
• Throwing - 130

Entirely living up to their name, Heroic Line Breakers are designed to crush and pummel the enemy infantry into submission. Their two-handed axes are devastating in melee and can reduce a shield to splinters in a matter of moments. They also boast throwing axes, which act as an opening barrage on the enemy’s lines.

Unfortunately, Heroic Line Breakers have some disappointing armor stats, with their Sturgian tier 5 counterparts all clad in significantly stronger gear. This makes them vulnerable to archers, and results in them performing poorly in sieges, limiting them to a niche role on the battlefield.

14 Aserai Master Archer

• Bow - 160
• One-Handed - 130
• Athletics - 130

With a strong Bow skill of 160, the Aserai Master Archer outperforms most other archer units in the game, including the commonly-used Imperial Palatine Guard, and its Sturgian and Khuzait counterparts.

However, the Master Archer’s main downfall is a lack of survivability in melee combat. Their armor is weak, and their melee weapon and one-handed skill are nothing to write home about. Outside of wide-open field battles (which notably are very common in Aserai terrain), they struggle compared to more armored and durable archer units.

13 Imperial Sergeant Crossbowman

• One-Handed - 130
• Crossbow - 130
• Athletics - 130

Well-armored, and more than capable of defending themselves in combat, the Imperial Sergeant Crossbowman is an ideal unit for field battles. They can deal deadly piercing damage to enemy lines as they close in, before charging into the frontline as a strong melee combatant.

Cavalry has a tough time trying to deal with them, and these heavy crossbowmen will generally help to dispatch any kind of threat the archer line might be facing. Of course, it also helps that they are widely available, as all Imperial units are, across the continent of Calradia.

12 Khuzait Darkhan

• One-Handed - 130
• Polearm - 130
• Athletics - 130

While the Khuzait are known for their vast and powerful cavalry, the Darkhan is the perfect counter to a cavalry. These units come with a strong polearm and shield, along with a strong one-handed weapon to clean up whatever is left.

They do also come with a shield that has good durability, but its size keeps it from being an outstanding addition. Their armor is on the lighter side, as is normal with Khuzait units, so their overall survivability isn't very high; though they will take down some mounted units before falling themselves.

11 Aserai Veteran Infantry

• One-Handed - 160
• Polearm - 130
• Athletics - 130

A unit that is often underrated, Aserai Veteran Infantry used to be rather weak in early access but has since been given a boost to make them one of the better infantry options. While not quite as heavily armored as their competition, they do boast the highest One-Handed skill of all tier 5 infantry at 160.

This makes them a presence to be feared in close-quarters combat, and as a front-line unit in field battles, they can prove to be exceptional. In sieges, they may suffer due to their lack of leg armor but will more than make up for it after gaining entry to the fortress.

10 Vlandian Voulgier

• Two-Handed - 130
• Polearm - 130
• Athletics - 130

The Vlandian Voulgier is a bit of a glass canon, as they don't have much in terms of defense and only okay armor overall. That being said, these units excel at fighting just about anything, thanks to their signature weapon the Voulge.

This weapon is great against cavalry and infantry, being even more effective against infantry. Its long sweeping attacks from a safe distance make it to where your units don't have to worry about their light armor, just as long as the enemy doesn't have too many archers.

9 Khuzait Heavy Horse Archer

• One-Handed - 130
• Bow - 130
• Riding - 130

As one would expect from a culture like the Khuzait, their tier 5 horse archers are one of the best in the game. They are heavily armored, and strong in both ranged and melee combat.

Beyond this, the ability for a player to spam these units can prove dangerous, as they are upgraded all the way from a Khuzait Nomad in the main troop tree. This makes them easy to acquire, without the need for noble recruits, allowing players to devastate the battlefield with large numbers of these hard-to-catch horse archers.

8 Vlandian Sergeant

• One-Handed - 130
• Polearm - 130
• Athletics - 130

The Vlandian Sergeant is the pinnacle of Vlandian infantry and outclasses most other top-tier infantry units throughout the game. Their one-handed mace and two-handed spear give them options against any enemy, but their main selling point is their armor.

The Vladnian Sergeants have some of the strongest armor out there, letting them take a beating before going down. While their shield may not be the best, attacks that get through won't do any noticeable damage to these tanks.

7 Imperial Elite Menavliaton

• One-Handed - 130
• Polearm - 130
• Athletics - 130

Wielding a lengthy menavlion, these anti-cavalry troops specialize in bringing mounted troops crashing into the dirt. Their extended reach is highly effective in striking cavalry before they strike first, and although the menavlion can’t be braced like other polearms, it tends to be more consistent than the high-risk high-reward nature of bracing.

The Elite Menavliation also performs well in combat with other infantry, something many anti-cavalry units struggle with. These guys won’t be replacing a player’s main-line infantry anytime soon, but they’re a great supplement to it.

6 Imperial Legionary

• One-Handed - 130
• Polearm - 130
• Athletics - 130

The power behind the Imperial Legionary is that it’s a great all-rounder, capable of breaking a cavalry charge or decimating enemy infantry in melee combat, but never masters one thing. They are clad in some of the best infantry armor in the game and come equipped with a sizable shield, providing some great survivability.

As for offense, they are equipped with both a one-handed weapon for sieges and close combat and a polearm to take out cavalry. These guys are tough to kill and perform well in almost every battlefield situation, making them a good pick for main-line infantry.

5 Khuzait Khan's Guard

• Bow - 260
• Polearm - 220
• Riding - 200

It’s no surprise that the Khuzaits possess by far the strongest horse archer in the game. The Khan’s Guard is a monster of a unit, with an absurdly high 260 Bow skill and 220 Polearm skill.

Boasting two quivers totaling 48 arrows, heavy armor, and a long glaive to pick off enemy cavalry and infantry, this unit can inflict some serious damage in even relatively small numbers. Their only weakness (alongside most horse archers in the game) is a sub-par performance in sieges, but their impressive combat ability in the field more than makes up for it.

4 Imperial Elite Cataphract

• Polearm - 260
• Riding - 200
• One-handed - 200

Just shy from taking the top spot as the best melee cavalry in the game, the Elite Cataphract is a juggernaut on the battlefield. It's got some of the best stats in the game, with 260 skill in Polearm, and 200 in Riding and One-Handed.

Combine that with some insane survivability from the heaviest armor in the game (both on the soldier and the horse), as well as great offensive capabilities in the form of a lance and sword, and players can do no wrong in fielding these in their ranks. Of course, they even have an added bonus that, given the Elite Cataphract’s prevalence in the many imperial armies of Calradia, they tend to be easier to acquire by recruiting them as prisoners.

• Polearm - 260
• One-Handed -220
• Riding - 200

While similar to the Imperial Elite Cataphract, the Banner Knight has the advantage in two distinct ways. First, they have an extra 20 skill in One-Handed, giving them the edge in close-quarters fighting like sieges. Second, their lance is couchable, meaning they can inflict devastating one-hit kills on every unit in the game as long as they have the speed for it.

While the Elite Cataphract may be equipped with more armor, a Banner Knight charge is like a bulldozer, carving its way through enemy lines. Armor is pretty irrelevant when being hit with a 200-damage couched lance attack.

2 Battanian Fian Champion

• Bow - 260
• Two-Handed - 220
• Athletics - 170

Ever the king of the ranged units, Battanian Fian Champions are devastating archers. Not only do they have a pretty ridiculous Bow skill of 260, but they carry two quivers totaling 64 arrows, making their potential battlefield impact massive, especially in prolonged conflicts.

When it comes to melee, they’re more than capable of defending themselves, with great armor and a highlander sword that lets them unleash their 220 Two-Handed skill. Put simply, deploy a line of these troops and watch them annihilate anything and everything standing in their way.

1 Vlandian Sharpshooter

• One-Handed - 130
• Athletics - 130
• Crossbow -130

Edging out the Imperial Sergeant Crossbowman by a sliver, the Sharpshooter packs a powerful punch. Best used in fortifications where they can refill ammunition (as in the field they only carry one pouch of 18 bolts), these marksmen can ravage a besieging army before they even reach the walls.

Consider their decent combat stats and massive shield, and these ranged units can hold their own in melee combat. They’re no top-tier infantry unit, however – they’ll quickly be picked off unless supported by heavier troops.

Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord

Action RPG

Strategy

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:76/100 Critics Recommend:69%

Franchise

Mount And Blade

Platform(s)

PC , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S

Released

October 25, 2022

Developer(s)

TaleWorlds Entertainment

Publisher(s)

TaleWorlds Entertainment

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

Proprietary Engine

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Violence

How Long To Beat

45 Hours