So, you’re looking to cleave some heads and become a two-handed weapon master in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord? This article will give you five effective methods to grind that skill, focusing on practical application and some less-obvious tactics. We’ll skip the fluff and get straight to what works in getting your two-handed skill up fast.
Early on, your options are limited, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make significant progress. The key here is maximizing experience gains from readily available sources.
Tournaments: A Consistent XP Source
Tournaments are your bread and butter in the early game. They offer a safe environment to practice and gain experience, plus the chance to win valuable equipment.
* Bet on yourself: Always bet the maximum amount on yourself to win. The extra denars are a welcome bonus.
* Prioritize survival: Focus on staying alive and landing hits. Even losing a round can net you experience.
* Look for tournaments with two-handed weapons: Pay attention to the tournament weapon types. Ideally, you want one that features two-handed swords, axes, or polearms.
Skirmishes with Looters: Aggressive Training
Looters are weak, plentiful, and perfect for honing your skills. Don’t be afraid to engage them, even if you’re outnumbered.
- Positioning is crucial: Use terrain to your advantage. Funnel looters into narrow passages or use high ground to gain an advantage.
- Swing wide: Two-handed weapons excel at hitting multiple targets. Practice your swings to maximize the number of looters you hit per attack.
- Focus on headshots: Headshots deal significantly more damage and provide a substantial XP boost. Aim high!
As you progress and your party grows, you’ll unlock new opportunities for leveling your two-handed skill.
Customized Training with Companion Parties
This is where you can start exploiting the game’s mechanics for faster gains. Create a small party led by a companion with high scouting and tactics skills.
- Purposefully engage larger bandit groups: The key is to be just outnumbered enough to trigger the “valiant defeat” morale bonus without risking an actual loss.
- Use F1 + F3 (charge) and focus on landing hits: Let your troops engage, but you should actively swing your two-handed weapon, focusing on quantity over quality.
- Retreat before losing too many troops: Once your troops are heavily engaged, retreat, rinse, and repeat. The “valiant defeat” bonus gives huge XP gains.
Deliberate Sieges
Sieges offer a controlled environment where you can consistently engage enemies.
- Focus on the walls: When attacking walls, use your two-handed weapon to take down as many defenders as possible. Prioritize targets that are clustered together.
- Use a two-handed axe or mace: These weapons are especially effective against shields and armor, allowing you to deal more damage.
- Be mindful of arrow fire: Don’t get caught out in the open. Use cover and move strategically to avoid getting shot.
By the late game, you should be a force to be reckoned with. However, the grind doesn’t stop there.
Farming High-Tier Enemies: Ruthless Efficiency
Now you should seek out high-tier enemies like Imperial Legionaries, Battanian Fian Champions, and Sturgian Druzhinnik Champions.
- Choose your battles wisely: Don’t engage overwhelmingly large armies. Focus on smaller, elite forces that you can reliably defeat.
- Use a two-handed glaive or polearm: These weapons have excellent reach and can easily dispatch heavily armored enemies.
- Level Riding Skill: Two-Handed Polearms can be used on horseback, providing another leveling avenue.
Execution: The Ultimate Morality Choice
The execution of lords can be a shortcut to leveling your two-handed skill, but it comes with consequences.
- High Relationship Loss: Executing Lords will cause you to lose honor and trust.
- High Skill Gain: Lords are strong and well-armored, making them good targets for the final blow.
- Not Recommended: Although the XP is great, it is not recommended due to the negative relationship penalty.
In my experience, the companion party training method is by far the fastest way to level your two-handed skill. I once had a companion party with about 20 men repeatedly engaging groups of 50-60 bandits. I went from level 150 to level 200 in what felt like a very short amount of time.
I also found that using a two-handed mace is very effective against heavily armored enemies. The blunt damage ignores armor, allowing you to deal consistent damage. Axes are another great option. I avoided using two-handed swords until later in the game.
One tip that I don’t see mentioned often is to pay attention to your character’s focus points. Focus points increase the rate at which you learn skills. Make sure you allocate your focus points to two-handed weapons as soon as possible.
Table of Leveling Methods
| Method | Early Game | Mid-Game | Late Game | Difficulty | XP Gain | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tournaments | Yes | Yes | No | Medium | Low | Low |
| Looters | Yes | No | No | Easy | Low | Low |
| Companion Party Training | No | Yes | Yes | Medium | High | Medium |
| Sieges | No | Yes | Yes | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| High-Tier Enemies | No | No | Yes | Hard | High | High |
| Executions | No | No | Yes | Very Easy | Very High | Very High |
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is a complex game with a lot of hidden mechanics. While much of the information above comes from personal experience, it’s also supported by the community and game guides.
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Wiki: A comprehensive resource for all things Bannerlord. (https://mountandblade.fandom.com/wiki/Mount_%26_Blade_II:_Bannerlord)
- Various community forums and guides: These are great for finding specific tips and tricks.
Leveling your two-handed skill in Bannerlord 2 requires a combination of smart tactics and consistent effort. By focusing on tournaments early on, transitioning to companion party training in the mid-game, and then farming high-tier enemies in the late game, you can quickly become a two-handed weapon master. Remember to pay attention to your focus points and choose your weapons wisely. Good luck, and may your enemies fall before you!
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