5 Proven Ways: How to Find and Recruit Noble Troops in Bannerlord 2

Landing the best troops in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord often means looking beyond the usual mercenary bands and common village recruits. Noble troops offer superior stats and upgrade paths, making them invaluable for any serious commander. This article provides five reliable methods for finding and recruiting these elite soldiers, saving you time and resources while boosting your warband’s effectiveness.

Noble troops are tied to specific cultures and their associated territories. Unlike common troops who can be found almost anywhere, these require a more targeted approach. Your success hinges on understanding where to look and how to interact with the right people. We will explore strategies for pinpointing locations with recruitable noble troops, effectively navigating clan politics, and optimizing party skills to maximize recruitment chances.

The most direct way to find noble troops is by visiting settlements within the territory of the culture you’re interested in. For example, if you’re after Battanian Fian Champions, focus on villages and towns within Battania.

• Villages Are Key: Focus primarily on villages linked to castles. These villages often have notables who can recruit troops from the local noble line.
• Walk Around and Talk: The most basic approach involves literally walking around villages and towns and clicking on every notable. Look for the recruitment icon to see what they offer.

Recruiting noble troops usually requires building a positive relationship with the local notables – village elders, clan leaders, and so on.

• Favor and Quests: Completing quests for notables is the most common way to improve relations. These quests are usually simple, such as dealing with bandits or retrieving items.
• Clan Tier Matters: The higher the clan tier of the notable, the more likely they are to offer higher-tier noble troops. Target powerful clans for the best recruits.

First-Hand Experience: My Favorite Relationship Booster

I’ve found that fighting alongside notables in battles significantly boosts their opinion of you. Whenever a village near me is attacked by bandits or looters, I immediately ride to their defense. This not only improves relations but also protects the village’s prosperity, ensuring a consistent supply of recruits and goods. This approach is particularly effective in the early game when every point of influence matters.

The in-game encyclopedia provides valuable information about troop locations and cultural affiliations.

• Troop Information: Search for the noble troop you want to recruit in the encyclopedia.
• Cultural Origins: The encyclopedia will tell you the troop’s culture and the regions where they are most commonly found. This narrows your search considerably.
• Notable Connections: Occasionally, the encyclopedia will also mention specific notables associated with that troop type, giving you a direct target for recruitment.

Certain party skills directly impact your ability to recruit and retain troops, including noble ones.

• Leadership: The Leadership skill increases your party size and reduces troop wages, allowing you to maintain a larger, more elite force.
• Steward: Steward increases your party’s food supply and reduces food consumption, crucial for long campaigns and maintaining troop morale.
• Charm: The Charm skill is extremely useful for improving relations with notables, making them more willing to offer you high-tier troops.

The Power of Charm: A Unique Perspective

Many players overlook the Charm skill, but it’s a game-changer for noble troop recruitment. A high Charm skill not only makes it easier to recruit troops but also allows you to persuade captured lords to join your faction, adding their noble troops to your pool of potential recruits. I once convinced a powerful Vlandian lord to defect, gaining access to a contingent of Vlandian Sharpshooters that turned the tide of a major war.

A less conventional, but highly effective method, is to capture enemy noble troops and convert them to your side.

• Prisoner Management: The Prisoner Management skill allows you to hold more prisoners and reduces the chance of escape.
• Recruitment Perks: Certain perks within the Prisoner Management and Leadership skill trees allow you to recruit prisoners directly into your party.
• Persuasion is Key: Some prisoners can be persuaded to join you through dialogue, particularly if they share cultural similarities or have grievances against their former lords.

This table offers a quick reference to help you focus your recruitment efforts based on your preferred culture and troop types.

Navigating the complex web of clan politics is crucial for long-term success in Bannerlord 2. Aligning yourself with powerful and influential clans can grant you access to better troops and more opportunities for recruitment. Pay attention to the relationships between clans, and choose your allies wisely. A strong alliance can provide a steady stream of noble recruits, while a misstep can leave you isolated and vulnerable.

A Personal Anecdote: Learning from Mistakes

Early in my Bannerlord 2 campaign, I made the mistake of antagonizing a powerful Battanian clan. They retaliated by raiding my villages and cutting off my access to Fian Champions, crippling my army. I learned a valuable lesson about the importance of diplomacy and the long-term consequences of short-sighted decisions. Now, I prioritize building strong relationships with key clans, even if it means making temporary compromises.

Mastering the art of recruiting noble troops in Bannerlord 2 requires a combination of strategic planning, relationship building, and a bit of luck. By targeting specific cultures, building relationships with notables, utilizing the encyclopedia, improving party skills, and converting enemy troops, you can assemble a formidable army of elite warriors. Remember that patience and persistence are key, and that the rewards of a well-trained, highly skilled force are well worth the effort.