This article breaks down the often-overlooked nuances of siege engine deployment and usage in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Understanding these tactics will allow you to significantly reduce casualties, shorten sieges, and ultimately dominate Calradia. We’ll cover everything from initial placement to advanced strategies for coordinating your siege engines.
Before diving into specific tactics, it’s crucial to understand the basics of how siege engines function in Bannerlord 2. Each engine type (Trebuchet, Ballista, Onager, Catapult) has unique strengths and weaknesses. Trebuchets offer long range and high damage but are slow to build and fire. Ballistas are accurate against individual targets, particularly siege engines themselves, but lack the area-of-effect damage of other options. Onagers provide a good balance between range, damage, and rate of fire. Catapults are relatively short-ranged but can quickly demolish walls.
Effective Deployment: Placement is Key
The initial placement of your siege engines is paramount. Don’t just clump them together! Consider the following:
- Range: Position your trebuchets furthest back to maximize their range advantage. Place onagers and catapults closer to the walls, taking advantage of their faster firing rates once the trebuchets have softened the defenses.
- Line of Sight: Ensure each engine has a clear line of sight to its intended targets. Obstructions like hills or buildings can render them useless.
- Protection: While siege engines are somewhat durable, they are vulnerable to enemy fire. Position them behind natural cover or build earthworks to provide additional protection.
Prioritizing Targets: The Art of Destruction
Effective siege warfare isn’t just about destroying walls. It’s about strategically eliminating threats and opening up pathways for your troops. Here’s a target priority list:
- Enemy Siege Engines: Neutralizing enemy artillery should be your top priority. Ballistas are particularly effective against these targets. Eliminating these early will drastically reduce casualties during the siege.
- Wall Sections: Focus your trebuchets on key wall sections, creating breaches for your infantry to exploit. Concentrating fire on a single point is more effective than spreading it across the entire wall.
- Gatehouses: Destroying the gatehouse allows for a direct assault on the inner courtyard. This can be a quicker path to victory than breaching the walls, but it leaves your troops vulnerable to flanking maneuvers.
- Defenders on Walls: While not a primary target, softening up the defenders on the walls with catapults or onagers can reduce casualties when your troops finally assault the walls.
Beyond basic deployment, several advanced strategies can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your siege engines.
Coordinated Fire: Timing is Everything
Coordinate the fire of your siege engines to maximize damage. For example, have your trebuchets weaken a wall section, then immediately follow up with a barrage from your onagers to widen the breach. Staggering your attacks and overwhelming the defenders with a constant stream of projectiles is crucial. This requires careful planning and execution, but the results are well worth the effort.
Baiting Tactics: Drawing Out the Enemy
Use your siege engines to bait the enemy into making mistakes. For instance, position a single trebuchet within range of their walls, forcing them to either attack it or leave it alone. If they attack, you can use your other engines to target their attacking forces. This tactic works best when you have a clear numerical advantage in siege engines.
Exploiting Terrain: Using the Landscape to Your Advantage
The terrain surrounding the castle or town can significantly impact your siege engine deployment. Look for hills or elevated positions that provide a better vantage point for your engines. Conversely, use natural cover to protect your engines from enemy fire. Adapting your strategy to the specific terrain is essential for success.
The Importance of Engineer Skill and Crew Management
The engineer skill of your character and companions directly affects the build time and effectiveness of your siege engines. Invest in leveling up your engineer skill to construct engines faster and increase their accuracy and damage. Also, ensure you have enough troops assigned to each engine to operate it efficiently. Low crew counts drastically reduce firing rates and overall effectiveness.
Personal Insights: Learning From My Sieges
From my experience, I’ve found that focusing on destroying a single wall section as quickly as possible is often the most effective strategy. It’s better to create one large breach than several small ones. This concentrates your assault and overwhelms the defenders at a single point. Also, don’t underestimate the importance of scouting the castle or town before launching your siege. Knowing the layout of the defenses and the location of key targets can significantly improve your chances of success.
I’ve also learned the hard way that neglecting the defense of your siege camp can be disastrous. Enemy raiding parties can easily destroy your engines while they’re under construction. Always maintain a strong defensive force to protect your investment.
Finally, remember that siege warfare is a long and arduous process. Be patient, adapt to changing circumstances, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different tactics.
Mastering siege engines is essential for conquering Calradia in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each engine type, strategically deploying them, prioritizing targets effectively, and utilizing advanced tactics, you can significantly improve your chances of success. Remember to invest in your engineer skill, manage your crew efficiently, and adapt your strategy to the specific terrain and defenses of each settlement. With practice and patience, you’ll become a master of siege warfare and a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.
This article provides 5 key tactics for effectively using siege engines in Bannerlord 2.
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Wiki: https://mountandblade.fandom.com/wiki/Mount_%26_Blade_II:_Bannerlord
- Wikipedia: Siege Engine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_engine
| Siege Engine | Range | Damage | Rate of Fire | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trebuchet | Very Long | High | Slow | Destroying walls and enemy siege engines |
| Ballista | Long | Medium | Medium | Targeting enemy siege engines and high-value targets |
| Onager | Medium | Medium | Fast | Softening up walls and defenders |
| Catapult | Short | Low | Very Fast | Quickly demolishing walls |