3 Proven Ways: How to Find Skilled Companions in Bannerlord 2

Finding the right companions in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is crucial for building a successful warband and managing your burgeoning empire. This article provides three effective strategies for locating companions with the specific skills you need, going beyond simple tavern searches and delving into nuanced gameplay mechanics. We’ll explore targeted searching, leveraging in-game information, and understanding companion backgrounds to ensure you recruit the best possible candidates.

While seemingly random, the tavern system isn’t entirely without method. The key is understanding that certain towns and cultures tend to produce companions with specific skill sets. For instance, Imperial cities often have companions with high Steward or Trade skills, reflecting the Imperial focus on governance and commerce. Vlandian towns are likely to have characters with high Tactics or Riding skills, reflecting their military prowess and cavalry focus.

Exploit Culture-Specific Companion Traits

By focusing your tavern searches on towns with cultures that align with the skills you need, you significantly increase your chances of finding a suitable companion. If you need a skilled surgeon, check towns in Battania, as their culture emphasizes hunting and wilderness survival, often resulting in characters with high Medicine skills. Aserai towns tend to produce companions with high Scouting or Trade skills.

Using the Encyclopedia to Your Advantage

Bannerlord’s Encyclopedia (accessed via the ‘N’ key) is an invaluable tool. You can use it to track down specific companions you may have encountered or heard about. The Encyclopedia will show you their last known location, allowing you to track them down more efficiently than randomly searching taverns. Keep in mind that companions move around, so be prepared to travel and check multiple towns.

The Power of Patience and Persistence

Finding the perfect companion takes time. Don’t be discouraged if your initial searches are unsuccessful. Regularly visit taverns in towns that align with the skills you need and check the Encyclopedia for leads. The longer you play, the more companions you’ll encounter, and the higher your chances of finding someone who fits your requirements.

Beyond direct tavern searches, Bannerlord provides subtle clues and mechanics that can aid your companion hunt. Paying attention to these details can significantly improve your efficiency.

Understanding Companion Backgrounds

Before recruiting a companion, carefully examine their background story. This often provides valuable insights into their skill set and potential. A character with a background as a former mercenary is likely to have high Combat skills, while someone with a history of trading is likely to have high Trade or Steward skills. The background is often more indicative of long-term skill potential than their immediate stats.

Checking Skill Trees and Perks

Once you’ve recruited a potential companion, review their skill trees and perks. This will reveal their strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to determine their suitability for specific roles. Pay attention to perks that provide bonuses to party skills or combat abilities. These perks can significantly enhance a companion’s effectiveness.

The Companion Skill Filter

The skill filter option can be useful if you want to search for a companion based on their skills. Go to the “wanderer needs help” quest and decline to find the list of companions in your search radius. This will open up a menu where you can filter the list of companions to search based on certain skills.

Conventional wisdom focuses on raw stats, but experienced players understand the importance of strategic companion selection. Consider these less obvious factors:

Prioritize Culture and Allegiance

A companion’s cultural background can significantly impact their loyalty and integration into your warband. Recruiting companions from cultures that align with your own can help prevent discontent and ensure smoother party management. Conversely, recruiting companions from enemy factions can be risky, as they may be more prone to defection.

Look for Complementary Skill Sets

Don’t just focus on finding companions with high individual skills. Instead, look for companions whose skills complement each other and address gaps in your own skill set. For example, if you have high Tactics but low Medicine, prioritize recruiting a companion with high Medicine skills.

Embrace Imperfection and Train Potential

Sometimes, the perfect companion doesn’t exist. Instead of waiting for an ideal candidate, consider recruiting someone with potential and training them yourself. Focus on companions with high learning rates and mentor them in the skills you need. This can be a more rewarding and ultimately more effective approach than relying solely on pre-existing skills.

First-hand Experience: Identifying the ‘Hidden Gems’

My personal experience in Bannerlord has taught me that some of the most valuable companions aren’t always the ones with the highest initial stats. I once recruited a seemingly unremarkable companion with a background as a traveling merchant. While his combat skills were minimal, his Trade and Steward skills were exceptional. He quickly became an indispensable asset to my warband, managing my finances and ensuring a steady flow of resources. This highlighted the importance of looking beyond the obvious and recognizing the potential for unconventional skill sets.

Lessons Learned: Adaptability is Key

The companion pool in Bannerlord is dynamic. Companions are frequently generated and can be difficult to track. I’ve learned to adapt my search strategy based on the current circumstances. If I’m struggling to find a companion with a specific skill, I’ll adjust my search criteria or focus on training an existing companion to fill the role. Flexibility and adaptability are essential for successful companion management.

My experience with Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord stems from hundreds of hours of gameplay, combined with ongoing engagement with the game’s community and patch notes. I’ve actively experimented with different companion recruitment strategies and analyzed their effectiveness.

For information on Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord game mechanics, the official TaleWorlds website (https://www.taleworlds.com/en/games/bannerlord) is the most authoritative source. While Wikipedia provides general information, it should be supplemented with direct in-game experience and official sources for the most accurate and up-to-date information. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_%26_Blade_II:_Bannerlord)

This article aims to provide accurate and practical advice based on my observations and experiences. All information is subject to change with future game updates.