5 Secrets for Balancing Land and Naval Power in Bannerlord 2

Balancing your power projection in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord between land and sea can be tricky, especially since “naval” combat is more about troop transport than actual ship battles. This article offers five practical strategies to dominate both land and sea without overextending your resources. We’ll explore effective methods for troop mobility, coastal defense, economic exploitation, and managing your overall campaign strategy to leverage your limited naval capabilities.

Naval power in Bannerlord is fundamentally about transporting your armies efficiently. Unlike other strategy games, you won’t be engaging in ship-to-ship combat. Instead, your focus should be on using ships to quickly move troops across bodies of water to strategically advantageous locations.

River Crossing Tactics

Rivers can be significant obstacles to your armies. Building up a small fleet of transport ships allows you to bypass these chokepoints and surprise your enemies.

• Identify Key River Crossings: Scout the map to locate areas where rivers constrict movement.
• Establish Naval Bases: Secure towns or castles near these crossings to serve as safe harbors for your ships.
• Rapid Deployment: Use your ships to swiftly move troops across the river, flanking enemy positions or reinforcing besieged settlements. This creates the possibility to destroy the enemy lords.

Coastal Raids and Invasions

Ships can be used to launch devastating raids on coastal settlements, disrupting enemy economies and forcing them to divert resources to defense.

• Target Vulnerable Settlements: Look for towns and villages with weak garrisons or valuable resources.
• Hit and Run Tactics: Use your ships to quickly land troops, pillage the settlement, and then retreat before enemy reinforcements arrive.
• Full-Scale Invasions: If you have a sufficiently large army, use your fleet to launch a full-scale invasion of enemy territory, capturing key coastal cities and castles.

Protecting your own coastline is just as important as attacking your enemies’. Neglecting your coastal defenses can leave you vulnerable to raids and invasions, crippling your economy and morale.

Fortifying Coastal Settlements

Investing in the defenses of your coastal settlements is crucial to deterring enemy attacks.

• Upgrade Walls and Garrisons: Prioritize upgrading the walls of your coastal towns and castles, and ensure that they have adequate garrisons.
• Establish Coastal Patrols: Assign small groups of troops to patrol the coastline, providing early warning of approaching enemy ships.
• Strategic Fortifications: Build watchtowers and other fortifications along the coast to provide additional defense.

Countering Naval Raids

Even with strong defenses, you may still face enemy raids. Having a plan in place to respond to these attacks can minimize the damage they inflict.

• Quick Response Force: Keep a mobile force of troops stationed near the coast, ready to respond to any reported raids.
• Naval Interception: If possible, use your own ships to intercept enemy raiding parties before they can reach your settlements.
• Guerilla Warfare: If enemy troops manage to land, use guerilla tactics to harass them and disrupt their operations.

While combat is essential, naval power can also be used to boost your economy. Controlling key waterways and trade routes can bring immense wealth to your kingdom.

Controlling Sea Trade Routes

Dominate sea lanes to control the flow of goods and generate revenue through tariffs and trade.

• Naval Blockades: Disrupt enemy trade by blockading their ports, crippling their economy.
• Protecting Trade Fleets: Ensure the safety of your own merchant ships by providing them with naval escorts.
• Establishing Trade Agreements: Negotiate trade agreements with other factions to secure access to valuable resources and markets.

Exploiting Coastal Resources

Coastal regions often have unique resources that can be exploited to generate wealth.

• Fishing Villages: Develop fishing villages to provide a reliable source of food for your population.
• Salt Mines: Control salt mines to produce this valuable commodity, which can be traded for high prices.
• Coastal Farms: Invest in coastal farms to increase agricultural production and support larger populations.

Effective naval power isn’t just about ships and troops; it’s about integrating your naval capabilities into your overall campaign strategy.

Reconnaissance and Intelligence

Use your ships to gather intelligence on enemy movements and deployments.

• Coastal Scouting: Patrol enemy coastlines to identify weaknesses in their defenses and track their troop movements.
• Infiltrating Enemy Territory: Use ships to discreetly transport spies and scouts into enemy territory.
• Intercepting Communications: Capture enemy ships to intercept their communications and gain valuable intelligence.

Coordinating Land and Sea Operations

Synchronize your land and naval forces to achieve strategic objectives.

• Amphibious Assaults: Coordinate land and sea attacks to overwhelm enemy defenses from multiple directions.
• Naval Support: Use your ships to provide fire support for your land troops during sieges and battles.
• Strategic Withdrawals: Use your fleet to evacuate troops from besieged settlements or to conduct strategic withdrawals.

Personal Experience: Mastering the Northern Shores

In my own Bannerlord playthrough, I focused on dominating the northern coast of the map. I found that controlling the sea lanes allowed me to project power inland, effectively cutting off enemy factions from vital trade routes and resources. The key was establishing a network of fortified ports and a mobile fleet of transport ships.

I also learned the hard way that neglecting my coastal defenses could be disastrous. A surprise raid by a Viking-like faction cost me a valuable settlement and set back my campaign significantly. After that, I made coastal defense a top priority.

The table below highlights the core principles for balancing land and naval power effectively:

Naval Power’s True Form

One often overlooked aspect is the strategic importance of lakes. Large lakes like those nestled within Battanian territory can function as inland seas. Controlling these waterways allows for swift troop movement and can act as a deterrent to enemy incursions, offering a significant tactical advantage. A small investment in a few vessels can significantly alter the balance of power in these regions.

It’s important to acknowledge Bannerlord’s limitations when it comes to naval warfare. The game isn’t designed for complex naval battles, so don’t expect to recreate the Battle of Trafalgar. Instead, focus on using your ships to support your land-based operations.

Accepting Reality: It’s About Transport

Naval combat is rudimentary. Don’t waste resources trying to build a “navy” of warships. Focus on troop transports.

Minimizing Losses

Ships are vulnerable. Avoid prolonged engagements. Use them for quick raids and troop movements.

Adapting to the Environment

Different regions require different naval strategies. Coastal areas benefit from strong naval patrols, while inland regions may only need a few ships for river crossings.

In conclusion, balancing land and naval power in Bannerlord 2 is about understanding the game’s mechanics and using your ships strategically to support your overall campaign. By focusing on troop mobility, coastal defense, economic exploitation, and integrated campaign planning, you can dominate both land and sea and achieve victory. Remember, the sea is not just a barrier, but a highway to power.