5 Game-Changing Bannerlord 2 Mods for Horses & Cavalry

If you’re finding the vanilla cavalry in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord a little…lacking, you’re not alone. Many players feel the need to enhance the horse combat, cavalry effectiveness, and even the breeds and equipment available. This article addresses that need by showcasing five essential mods that drastically improve the horse and cavalry experience in Bannerlord 2. They range from overhauling combat mechanics to adding entirely new horse breeds and crafting options. Get ready to charge into a whole new level of mounted warfare!

One of the best aspects of Bannerlord 2 is its modding community, offering almost limitless ways to customize your experience. For those of us who prefer leading from the saddle, this means a plethora of options to make cavalry gameplay more engaging and realistic. However, wading through them all can be a chore. This section highlights essential mods that will transform your Bannerlord 2 cavalry.

Realistic Combat Overhaul: Making Every Blow Count

The “Realistic Battle Mod” (RBM) stands out as a game-changer for combat in Bannerlord 2. It fundamentally alters the combat system, impacting everything from weapon speeds and damage to armor effectiveness and AI behavior.
* How RBM Improves Cavalry: For cavalry players, RBM makes a significant difference. It adjusts weapon reach and swing speeds to better simulate mounted combat, making it feel less like a chaotic melee and more like a skillful dance of lance and blade. The improved AI also means enemy formations are more responsive, requiring smarter tactics and positioning from your cavalry. Find RBM on Nexus Mods https://www.nexusmods.com/mountandblade2bannerlord/mods/775.

Personal Insight: I’ve found that RBM completely changes how I approach cavalry charges. You can’t just blindly crash into enemy lines anymore; you need to consider your angle of attack, weapon type, and the enemy’s formation. This forces you to actually think like a cavalry commander. Before RBM, the battles feel a bit arcade-like.

Expanded Horse Breeds: Tame the Best Steeds in Calradia

Vanilla Bannerlord has a relatively limited selection of horse breeds. The “Expanded Horse Breeds” mod addresses this by adding a variety of new horses, each with unique stats, appearances, and even cultural associations.

• More Than Just Skins: This mod doesn’t just reskin existing horses. It introduces new breeds with different speeds, maneuverability, and health, impacting your unit’s performance in battle. Some breeds might be better suited for heavy cavalry charges, while others are faster and more agile for skirmishing.
  Personal Experience: What really stands out to me is how the different horse breeds add to the immersion of the game. Using a specific horse for a faction feels right.

Improved Horse Archery: Rain Arrows from the Saddle

While Bannerlord allows for horse archery, the vanilla mechanics feel clunky and imprecise. Mods like “Horse Archer Fixes” aim to rectify this, making horse archery a viable and enjoyable playstyle.

• Enhanced Accuracy and Control: These mods tweak the accuracy of ranged weapons while mounted, making it easier to hit targets at different speeds. They also address issues with character animations and aiming stability, resulting in a smoother and more responsive horse archery experience.
  Practical Tip: Experiment with different bows and arrow types to find the combination that best suits your playstyle. Lighter bows might be easier to handle while mounted, while heavier bows pack more punch.

Banner Kings: For a More Real Life Feel

Banner Kings is a complex mod that drastically alters the strategic and political layers of Bannerlord.
* Cavalry Focused Culture: Some cultures within Banner Kings will lend themselves to a more cavalry centric approach. You can adjust your culture’s focus as you play which will affect what bonuses and maluses you receive.
Personal Insight: I found that with Banner Kings, specializing in cavalry actually feels rewarding because of the cultural bonuses and economic support it gives. It adds a layer of grand strategy that the base game misses.

DismembermentPlus: Watch Your Enemies Fall

DismembermentPlus adds, unsurprisingly, dismemberment to Bannerlord. The immersion it creates in any campaign is simply unrivaled.
* Dismemberment Adds Realism: The damage that your cavalry can inflict with this mod installed will make the game feel more true to life. This will also allow you to more easily take down enemies that are heavily armored.
Practical Tip: Test this mod in sandbox mode first before beginning a long campaign. See if the level of gore is something you and your system can handle.

Beyond just installing mods, there are several ways to fine-tune your game to maximize your cavalry experience. This includes tweaking game settings, adjusting troop compositions, and even learning advanced combat maneuvers.

Understanding Troop Compositions

Cavalry doesn’t exist in a vacuum. A successful cavalry force needs support from other troop types to be truly effective.
* The Hammer and Anvil Tactic: The classic “hammer and anvil” tactic involves using infantry to pin down the enemy while cavalry flanks and delivers a devastating blow to their rear. This requires a balanced army with both strong infantry and fast, hard-hitting cavalry.
Expert Tip: Experiment with different troop ratios to find what works best for your playstyle and the types of enemies you face. A heavily armored force of Cataphracts might be devastating against lightly armored infantry, but vulnerable to archers and spearmen.

Mastering Cavalry Maneuvers

Knowing how to use your cavalry is just as important as what cavalry you use.
* The Couched Lance: Mastering the couched lance is essential for any aspiring cavalry commander. This technique involves bracing your lance against your body while charging, delivering a devastating blow that can unhorse or even kill enemies instantly. Time your charge carefully and aim for the center of mass to maximize your chances of success.
* The Importance of Flanking: Never charge straight into the enemy’s front lines. Instead, try to flank them, hitting them from the side or rear where their defenses are weaker. This can disrupt their formations and create openings for your infantry to exploit.
Personal Insight: I’ve found that practicing cavalry maneuvers in the training arena is invaluable. It allows you to experiment with different tactics and refine your timing without risking your troops in a real battle.

Game Settings for the Cavalry Commander

Tweaking your game settings can also enhance your cavalry experience.
* Combat AI: Increasing the combat AI difficulty can make battles more challenging and require more strategic thinking from your cavalry.
* Battle Size: Increasing the battle size can allow for larger and more epic cavalry charges, but may also impact your game’s performance.
Practical Consideration: Be mindful of your system’s capabilities when adjusting these settings. A too-large battle size can lead to lag and a less enjoyable experience.

While mods can greatly enhance the cavalry experience in Bannerlord 2, there’s always room for innovation and improvement. This section explores potential future directions for cavalry gameplay and how the community can contribute to its evolution.

Community-Driven Content and Ideas

The Bannerlord modding community is incredibly creative and passionate.
* Collaboration is Key: Sharing ideas, collaborating on projects, and providing feedback to modders can help push the boundaries of what’s possible with cavalry gameplay.
* New Mechanics and Features: The community could explore new mechanics such as mounted formations, cavalry-specific skill trees, or even the ability to customize your own warhorses with different armor and equipment.

Potential Future Directions: A Vision for Cavalry

Imagine a future where cavalry gameplay is even more immersive and nuanced.
* Realistic Horse Behavior: Incorporating more realistic horse behavior, such as fatigue, morale, and even different horse personalities, could add another layer of depth to cavalry combat.
* Cavalry-Specific Tactics: Introducing new cavalry-specific tactics, such as feigned retreats, flanking maneuvers, and coordinated lance formations, could make cavalry combat even more strategic and engaging.
Expert Opinion: I believe that the future of cavalry gameplay in Bannerlord 2 lies in a combination of community-driven content and innovative game mechanics that push the boundaries of realism and immersion.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord offers a solid foundation for cavalry gameplay, but it’s the modding community that truly unlocks its potential. By installing the right mods, fine-tuning your game settings, and mastering advanced tactics, you can transform Bannerlord 2 into a cavalry paradise. Experiment with different combinations of mods and settings to find what works best for your playstyle and enjoy the thrill of leading your mounted warriors to victory. So, saddle up, grab your lance, and prepare to charge into a new era of cavalry combat in Bannerlord 2!

Table of Essential Mods: