5 Smart Tactics: How to Increase Your Charm Skill Quickly in Bannerlord 2

This article unveils 5 smart tactics on how to increase your charm skill quickly in Bannerlord 2. You’ll discover not just the what, but the how and why behind each method, ensuring you maximize your charm gains efficiently. Let’s dive in.

Charm in Bannerlord 2 is all about navigating social situations with finesse. The most direct way to boost your charm skill is through dialogue. Whenever you engage in conversations, particularly with nobles or influential figures, look for dialogue options highlighted in green. These choices typically represent persuasive or diplomatic approaches, and successfully executing them grants charm experience.

Consider this scenario: you need to recruit a specific companion, but their initial response is lukewarm. Instead of simply offering them a job, look for dialogue options that allow you to flatter their skills, appeal to their sense of adventure, or offer a compelling reason to join your cause.

Leveraging Quests for Persuasion Opportunities

Quests, especially those involving negotiation or mediation, provide excellent opportunities to utilize your charm skill. Townsfolk and nobles alike will often present you with tasks that require you to convince someone to take a certain action, resolve a dispute, or provide information.

The Art of the Deal: Trade and Bartering

Even seemingly mundane activities like trading can contribute to your charm skill. When bartering with merchants, attempt to haggle for better prices. Each successful negotiation, even a small one, adds to your charm experience. Don’t be afraid to push your luck a little, but be mindful of the merchant’s disposition to avoid damaging your relationship.

Tournaments aren’t just about fighting prowess; they offer a unique way to grind charm. Here’s the secret: bet on yourself (or a weaker competitor) and then, lose on purpose.

This might sound counterintuitive, but the charm comes from the post-tournament dialogues. When approached by other lords, you can feign humility or graciousness in defeat, triggering charm-boosting dialogue options.

Why This Works (and How to Optimize It)

• Consistent Encounters: Tournaments offer a concentrated opportunity to interact with multiple lords within a short time frame.
• Dialogue Variety: Defeat presents different dialogue options than victory, allowing you to exploit more charm-related interactions.
• Economic Efficiency: Betting on yourself and losing means you lose money. This is not the optimal approach. Betting on others and winning is a better approach.

Personal Experience: The Accidental Charm Grinder

I stumbled upon this method accidentally during my first Bannerlord 2 playthrough. I was terrible at tournaments, consistently losing in the early rounds. However, I noticed my charm skill steadily increasing, despite my lack of battlefield success. It wasn’t until I started intentionally leveraging the post-defeat dialogues that I realized the potential of this “tournament trick”.

Charm isn’t just about individual interactions; it’s deeply intertwined with influence and reputation. The more respected you are within the Calradic Empire, the more effective your charm skill will become. This means actively participating in kingdom politics, attending council meetings, and making strategic decisions that benefit your faction.

Building a Reputation That Opens Doors

• Support Popular Policies: Voting for policies that align with the interests of your fellow lords will increase their approval of you.
• Champion Just Causes: Taking on quests that help the common people and uphold justice will improve your overall reputation.
• Avoid Dishonorable Actions: Engaging in banditry, raiding caravans, or betraying your allies will severely damage your reputation and make it harder to persuade others.

The Power of Generosity: Gifts and Favors

Small acts of kindness can go a long way in Bannerlord 2. Offering gifts to lords, helping them with their personal problems, or even simply showing empathy for their misfortunes can significantly improve your relationship with them.

Bannerlord 2 is full of conflict, both on and off the battlefield. Learning to de-escalate tense situations is a crucial skill for any aspiring charmer. When faced with an angry lord, a disgruntled vassal, or a potential rebellion, resist the urge to resort to violence or threats. Instead, try to understand their perspective, empathize with their concerns, and offer a compromise that satisfies both parties.

Real-World Application: Resolving Clan Disputes

In my current campaign, two of my most powerful clans were on the verge of civil war over a disputed territory. Instead of taking sides or imposing my will, I organized a meeting between the clan leaders, listened to their grievances, and facilitated a negotiation that resulted in a mutually acceptable solution. Not only did this prevent a costly war, but it also significantly boosted my charm skill and solidified my position as a respected leader.

This is one that is easy to miss. In the Trade skill tree, there is a perk called “Art of the Deal” which gives +1 charm for every 3 successful barter. It should be noted that it is one of the earlier trade perks available at trade skill 25. This perk stacks, which makes it extremely valuable if you do a lot of trading and bartering.

Why This Perk is a Game Changer

• Passive Charm: It passively increases your charm without you having to do anything other than barter.
• Early Access: Accessible relatively early in the game, making it a viable charm boosting strategy.
• Stacks: This is a crucial, because every time you successfuly barter 3 times, you will get +1 charm.

Here are some frequently asked questions about increasing your charm skill in Bannerlord 2:

By implementing these tactics and insights, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of charm in Bannerlord 2. Good luck, and may your silver tongue lead you to victory!