This article cuts to the chase, providing five battlefield-tested tactics for maximizing the effectiveness of your ranged units in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. We’ll cover positioning, troop composition, target prioritization, and advanced maneuvers, bypassing common pitfalls and offering practical advice to help you dominate the field.
The most fundamental aspect of using ranged units effectively is their positioning. Forget simply lining them up at the front; a nuanced approach is crucial.
High Ground Advantage: Always seek elevated positions. This not only increases the range of your archers and crossbowmen but also provides a clearer line of sight, allowing them to target enemies more easily. Furthermore, it provides a degree of protection from melee units.
Flanking Positions: Deployed correctly, ranged units become deadly. Positioning them on the flanks allows them to fire into the sides or backs of enemy formations, maximizing damage and disrupting their advance. This requires careful maneuvering and anticipating enemy movements.
Utilize Terrain: Bannerslord offers a variety of maps with varying terrain. Use forests, hills, and even buildings to your advantage. Concealing your ranged units in forests makes them harder to target by enemy archers, while positioning them behind obstacles offers protection from cavalry charges.
Practical Examples: Terrain Mastery
Imagine a battle taking place near a small village. Don’t just place your archers in a straight line in front of your infantry. Instead:
- A small contingent can be positioned on the roofs of buildings, providing excellent visibility and a difficult-to-reach firing platform.
- Another group can be hidden in a nearby forest, ready to unleash a volley on the enemy’s flank as they engage your main line.
- Use hills to your advantage to have the archers fire at the enemy at higher grounds.
Ranged units can’t function alone. A balanced army composition is crucial for their survival and effectiveness.
Strong Infantry Line: Your infantry serves as the primary shield, absorbing the brunt of the enemy’s attack. Choose units with high armor and shield skills, like Imperial Legionaries or Sturgian Linebreakers, to hold the line effectively.
Cavalry Support: Cavalry can be used to harass enemy archers, disrupt their formations, and protect your flanks. Consider using fast-moving horse archers to counter enemy ranged units or heavy cavalry to charge into the enemy’s flanks once they are engaged with your infantry.
Ranged Unit Variety: Don’t just rely on one type of ranged unit. A mix of archers and crossbowmen can be highly effective. Archers have a higher rate of fire and are better at sustained damage, while crossbowmen deal more damage per shot and are more effective against heavily armored targets.
Personal Experience: The Archer/Crossbowmen Blend
I’ve found great success in combining roughly 60% archers with 40% crossbowmen. The archers provide constant pressure, forcing the enemy to close the distance, while the crossbowmen deliver devastating blows against heavily armored units as they approach. This works especially well on open fields. Experiment and adjust the ratio based on your play style and the enemy’s composition.
Simply firing at the closest enemy is rarely the optimal strategy. Effective ranged commanders prioritize targets based on their threat level and vulnerability.
Enemy Archers First: Eliminating enemy ranged units should be your top priority. They pose the most immediate threat to your own ranged troops and can significantly reduce your overall firepower.
Unshielded Units: Look for enemies with exposed flanks or those who have lost their shields. These units are far more vulnerable to ranged attacks and should be targeted to quickly reduce the enemy’s numbers.
High-Value Targets: Identify enemy commanders or heavily armored units that pose a significant threat to your infantry. Focusing fire on these targets can disrupt their plans and cripple their offensive capabilities.
A Quick Guide to Ranged Unit Types
| Ranged Unit Type | Strengths | Weaknesses | Ideal Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archers | High rate of fire, good for sustained damage | Lower damage per shot, less effective vs. armor | Lightly armored units, enemy archers |
| Crossbowmen | High damage per shot, effective against armor | Slower rate of fire, longer reload time | Heavily armored units, enemy commanders |
| Horse Archers | High mobility, can harass enemy flanks and archers | Lower armor, less effective in melee | Enemy archers, flanking units, disrupting formations |
Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, you can start experimenting with more advanced maneuvers to further enhance the effectiveness of your ranged units.
Skirmishing: Use your ranged units to harass the enemy advance, forcing them to take casualties before they even reach your main line. Order them to fire volleys and then retreat to a more defensible position, repeating this process to whittle down the enemy’s numbers.
Hammer and Anvil: Use your infantry to engage the enemy head-on (the anvil) while your cavalry and ranged units flank them (the hammer). This creates a pincer movement that can devastate the enemy’s formation and allows your ranged units to fire into their exposed flanks.
Defensive Volleys: When facing a cavalry charge, order your ranged units to brace and unleash a volley at the approaching horses. This can significantly reduce the impact of the charge and give your infantry time to prepare.
Unique Perspective: Embrace the Chaos
Bannerlord’s battles are rarely predictable. Don’t be afraid to adapt your strategy on the fly. Sometimes, the best course of action is to abandon your carefully laid plans and react to the changing circumstances. This is where experience and quick thinking come into play. I’ve won many battles by making split-second decisions based on the enemy’s movements and the terrain.
Don’t underestimate the importance of equipping your ranged units with the best possible gear.
Bows/Crossbows: Prioritize weapons with high accuracy and damage. The higher the weapon skill required, the better the performance, generally.
Arrows/Bolts: Carry a variety of ammunition types. Bodkin arrows are effective against armor, while broadhead arrows deal more damage to unarmored targets.
Armor: While ranged units are not meant to be on the front lines, giving them decent armor can significantly improve their survivability. Look for light to medium armor that doesn’t hinder their movement too much.
Why Experience Matters
Having commanded countless battles, I can confidently say that unit experience is just as critical as equipment. Experienced archers reload faster, aim more accurately, and are less likely to panic under pressure. Training your ranged units regularly, even in small skirmishes, will pay dividends in the long run. It is often overlooked but can change the course of battles.
Conclusion: Mastering ranged combat in Bannerlord 2 requires a combination of tactical awareness, strategic troop composition, and smart target prioritization. By implementing these five tactics, you’ll turn your archers and crossbowmen into a deadly force on the battlefield.