Choosing the right companions in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord can drastically improve your gameplay experience. This article provides actionable insights into selecting companions for various roles, focusing on practical strategies and less-obvious considerations. You’ll learn how to optimize your party’s skills, manage finances effectively, and even leverage companions for specific strategic advantages.
Companions in Bannerlord 2 aren’t just extra swords; they’re vital for party roles, governor positions, and clan leaders. Understanding their skill sets is paramount. Here’s how to choose based on key skills:
The Surgeon/Medic
- Why you need one: A skilled surgeon significantly reduces troop mortality after battles. This is critical for long-term campaign success, as it conserves your manpower and reduces training costs.
- Key Skills: Medicine. Focus on companions with high existing Medicine skill and traits that boost learning rates in this area.
- Finding them: Wander the taverns of major cities, specifically those in regions known for healing practices in your game.
- Personal Insight: While Intelligence is often cited as important, I’ve found that a companion with the “Healer” trait, even with lower Intelligence, levels Medicine faster due to the increased learning rate.
The Scout/Pathfinder
- Why you need one: A good scout increases your party’s map speed, spotting range, and reduces your visibility to enemies. This allows you to engage enemies on your terms and avoid unfavorable encounters.
- Key Skills: Scouting. Look for companions with high Scouting skill and bonuses to map movement speed.
- Finding them: Similar to surgeons, check taverns, paying attention to companions with descriptions that suggest experience in wilderness survival or tracking.
- Personal Insight: Don’t underestimate the value of spotting range. It gives you crucial reaction time to prepare for or avoid ambushes.
The Engineer/Siege Master
- Why you need one: During sieges, an engineer speeds up construction of siege engines, giving you a tactical advantage. They also reduce construction costs.
- Key Skills: Engineering. Focus on companions with high Engineering skill and traits that enhance construction efficiency.
- Finding them: Cities with a strong military presence or those recently involved in sieges are good places to start your search.
- Personal Insight: Early in the game, having an engineer dramatically reduces the time needed to build siege engines, allowing you to capture towns more quickly.
The Quartermaster/Steward
- Why you need one: A capable quartermaster reduces your party’s wages, increases party size, and improves morale. This allows you to maintain a larger and more effective fighting force.
- Key Skills: Stewardship. Prioritize companions with high Stewardship skill and traits that reduce wage costs or increase party size.
- Finding them: Search in wealthier cities and trading hubs, as these locations tend to attract individuals with economic or logistical expertise.
- Personal Insight: I often pick companions with high Cunning as Quartermasters. While Stewardship is key, Cunning seems to play a role in resourcefulness, further reducing expenses.
The Trainer/Instructor
- Why you need one: An effective trainer accelerates the leveling of your troops, allowing you to upgrade them to higher tiers more quickly.
- Key Skills: Training. There’s no explicit “Training” skill in Bannerlord 2. This role is fulfilled by a companion with high skills related to the troop types you wish to train. For example, a companion with high Polearm skill can quickly train your spear infantry.
- Finding them: Focus on finding companions with high combat skills that match your preferred troop composition.
- Personal Insight: Don’t overlook Intelligence! A companion with high Intelligence will level their combat skills faster, making them better trainers in the long run.
While the above skills are vital, some companion roles are often overlooked:
The Trader/Caravan Leader
- Why you need one: Trading caravans are a passive income stream. A companion with high Trade skill can manage these caravans more effectively, increasing their profits and reducing the risk of getting ambushed.
- Key Skills: Trade and Leadership. Trade increases profits, while Leadership reduces the chances of desertion and improves morale within the caravan.
- Personal Insight: Start by giving them some high level troops that you can easily replace. This will help them win more fights.
The Rogue/Troubleshooter
- Why you need one: A companion with high Rogue skill can perform tasks like scouting enemy towns, sabotage, and even prison breaks.
- Key Skills: Rogue. This skill impacts their success in clandestine operations.
- Personal Insight: I often use rogue companions to weaken enemy garrisons before a siege. Sabotaging their food supplies can significantly reduce their numbers.
Don’t just look at skill levels; consider the companion’s traits and backstory.
Traits
- Honorable: These companions are more likely to improve morale and loyalty but may object to dishonorable actions.
- Calculating: Pragmatic and efficient, but can be less trustworthy.
- Upstanding: Very loyal and moral.
- Merciful: Won’t want to execute prisoners.
Backstories
A companion’s backstory can provide clues about their existing skills and learning potential. A former mercenary, for example, will likely have high combat skills.
- Ignoring skill focus: Don’t assign companions to roles they aren’t suited for, even if they have decent skills in other areas.
- Neglecting equipment: Equip your companions with good armor and weapons to increase their survivability and effectiveness in combat.
- Forgetting to level skills: Regularly check your companions’ skills and assign focus points to areas where they can improve.
| Role | Primary Skill(s) | Secondary Skill(s) | Important Traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | Medicine | Intelligence | Healer, Patient |
| Scout | Scouting | Riding, Tactics | Quick, Observant |
| Engineer | Engineering | Intelligence | Planner, Methodical |
| Quartermaster | Stewardship | Trade | Thrifty, Organized |
| Trainer | Varies (Combat) | Leadership | Inspiring, Skilled |
| Caravan Leader | Trade | Leadership, Riding | Cautious, Persuasive |
| Rogue | Rogue | Tactics, Scouting | Stealthy, Deceitful |
Choosing the right companions for your party and clan is critical for success in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. By focusing on key skills, considering traits and backgrounds, and avoiding common mistakes, you can build a team of loyal and effective companions that will help you conquer Calradia. Remember to adapt your strategy based on your specific goals and play style.