Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord offers a deep and engaging sandbox experience, but for many players, the vanilla combat can feel a bit…lacking. This article solves the issue of bland, uninspired battles by presenting 5 of the best Bannerlord 2 combat enhancement mods, focusing on realism and strategic depth. These mods dramatically overhaul the combat system, making each clash feel more visceral, challenging, and ultimately, rewarding.
For players seeking a more immersive and tactical experience, Bannerlord’s modding community has delivered some truly impressive overhauls to the combat system. It is crucial to find mods that complement your playstyle while enhancing, not detracting from, the core gameplay. Let’s explore some standout options that promise to transform your Bannerlord battles into realistic and engaging conflicts.
Realistic Battle Mod (RBM) is arguably the cornerstone of realistic Bannerlord combat. It fundamentally alters several key aspects of the game.
RBM’s Impact on Armor and Weapons
RBM overhauls the armor and weapon systems. Armor values are rebalanced to more accurately reflect real-world protection. For example, plate armor provides significantly better protection against slashing weapons, making heavily armored units much more durable. Weapon damage is also reworked, with weapon types becoming more distinct in their effectiveness. Piercing weapons are more effective against armor, while blunt weapons can inflict more concussive damage.
Tactical Maneuvering is Key in RBM
This mod places a greater emphasis on tactical maneuvering. The speed of units is adjusted, making formations and flanking maneuvers much more crucial. Simply charging headfirst into the enemy is often a recipe for disaster. Consider using terrain to your advantage and coordinating your troops to exploit enemy weaknesses.
AI Improvement and Difficulty
RBM also significantly improves the AI’s tactical decision-making. Enemy commanders are more likely to use formations, flank, and react intelligently to your movements. Be prepared for more challenging and engaging battles, even against smaller forces. You can find this game changing mod on Nexus Mods.
Calradia at War goes beyond simple tweaks and delivers a total combat conversion, fundamentally reshaping battles.
Revamped Unit Types and Roles
This mod introduces a wide array of new unit types, each with specific roles and strengths. This encourages players to diversify their armies and create balanced formations. For example, elite shock troops might be ideal for breaking enemy lines, while skirmishers can harass enemy flanks.
Enhanced Weapon Handling and Animations
Calradia at War also features improved weapon handling and animations. Combat feels more fluid and responsive, with more realistic weapon impacts and character movements. This adds to the overall immersion and makes battles more visually engaging.
Strategic Map Changes
The mod affects strategic map gameplay as well. Supply lines and attrition become more important, forcing players to carefully plan their campaigns and manage their resources.
DismembermentPlus adds a layer of brutality and realism to Bannerlord’s combat, with its dismemberment and gore.
Dismemberment and Gore Effects
This mod introduces the ability to dismember enemies during combat. Limbs can be severed, heads can be lopped off, and bodies can be left in gory heaps. This adds a visceral element to battles that can be both shocking and satisfying.
Customization and Performance Considerations
DismembermentPlus allows players to customize the frequency and severity of dismemberment effects. This is useful for players who want to tone down the gore or optimize performance on lower-end PCs. While visually impactful, keep in mind that excessive dismemberment can potentially impact game performance, especially in large battles.
Impact on Immersion
While not for the faint of heart, DismembermentPlus undeniably increases the immersion of battles. The consequences of combat become more apparent, and each victory feels more hard-earned.
The Combat AI Improvement Project (CAIP) focuses specifically on enhancing the intelligence and tactical capabilities of enemy AI.
Improved AI Decision-Making
CAIP overhauls the AI’s combat logic, making enemy units more adept at using formations, flanking maneuvers, and targeting vulnerable units. Expect enemy commanders to be more aggressive and proactive in their strategies.
Adaptability and Learning
The AI in CAIP is designed to be more adaptable and reactive to player tactics. Enemy commanders will analyze your formations and adapt their strategies accordingly. This forces players to constantly evolve their tactics and avoid relying on predictable strategies.
Formation and Tactical Use
One of the most noticeable improvements in CAIP is the AI’s use of formations. Enemy units will use shield walls, spear formations, and other tactical arrangements to maximize their effectiveness in combat.
Bear My Banner isn’t directly a combat enhancement, but indirectly improves battles by allowing deep customization of troops.
Banner and Troop Customization
This mod allows players to design custom banners and apply them to their troops. You can create unique heraldry for your army, adding a personal touch to your forces. You can also customize troop equipment, skills, and appearances. This allows you to create specialized units that excel in specific combat roles.
Troop Tree Modification
Bear My Banner also allows for modification of troop trees. This means you can create entirely new troop types with unique stats, equipment, and abilities. You can further tailor your army to match your playstyle and preferred tactics.
Faction Customization
This mod enhances the level of immersion of combat in Bannerlord. Each faction in the game can also be customized.
The mods above can be combined for a truly transformative experience. However, compatibility is key. Always check the mod pages and community forums for compatibility information and load order recommendations. A general rule of thumb is to load core gameplay overhauls like RBM and Calradia at War first, followed by AI improvements, and then visual enhancements.
A stable and enjoyable modded experience hinges on a well-organized load order. Incorrectly ordered mods can lead to conflicts, crashes, and unpredictable behavior. The modding community often provides recommended load orders for popular combinations of mods.
Ultimately, the best combination of mods is a matter of personal preference. Experiment with different combinations and settings to find what works best for you. Do you prefer a highly realistic and challenging experience? Focus on RBM, CAIP, and DismembermentPlus. Do you prefer a more customized and visually engaging experience? Calradia at War and Bear My Banner might be more appealing.
| Mod Name | Key Features | Compatibility Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Realistic Battle Mod (RBM) | Armor and weapon rebalance, tactical maneuvering emphasis, AI improvements | Generally compatible, but may conflict with other overhaul mods. |
| Calradia at War | Total combat conversion, new unit types, enhanced animations, strategic changes | May conflict with other major gameplay overhauls. Requires careful load order management. |
| DismembermentPlus | Dismemberment and gore effects | Can impact performance on lower-end PCs. Customizable settings. |
| Combat AI Improvement Project | Improved AI decision-making, adaptability, formation use | Generally compatible with other mods, but may amplify difficulty. |
| Bear My Banner | Banner and troop customization, troop tree modification | Mostly compatible, focus on adding immersion and customization. |
Transforming Bannerlord 2’s combat into a realistic and engaging experience involves a thoughtful selection and combination of mods. Start with core overhauls like RBM or Calradia at War, enhance the AI with CAIP, and add visual enhancements with DismembermentPlus. Don’t forget to customize your forces with Bear My Banner for a truly unique and immersive experience.