Choosing the right companions in Bannerlord 2 can dramatically impact your success. This article explores five essential roles and the best companions to fill them, helping you build a powerful and well-rounded party. It goes beyond simply listing names and dives into practical strategies for leveraging their unique skills and traits.
Companions in Bannerlord 2 are more than just extra swords. They are valuable assets who can lead parties, govern fiefs, train troops, and fill vital roles within your main army. Picking the right companion for each task is crucial. Consider their skills, culture, and traits. Skills determine their effectiveness in combat and other roles. Culture impacts morale within your party and how well they govern fiefs. Traits can have both positive and negative effects, so choose wisely.
Why Skills Matter
Skills are the backbone of any companion. A high Steward skill means better food management for your party. A skilled Surgeon keeps your troops alive longer. Tactics determines how well they fare in auto-calculated battles. Focusing on specific skills allows you to create a specialized team.
Culture Considerations
Cultural compatibility affects morale. A companion from the same culture as your troops will boost morale, reducing desertion. This is especially important when leading large armies or governing fiefs with populations of a different culture than yours.
The Impact of Traits
Traits are personality quirks that can influence a companion’s behavior. Some traits boost loyalty, while others make them more likely to disagree with your decisions. Pay attention to these traits to avoid problems down the line.
The Quartermaster is responsible for managing your party’s finances and supplies. A good Quartermaster will reduce your party’s daily costs and prevent starvation.
Ideal Skills for a Quartermaster
- Steward: This is the most important skill for a Quartermaster. It directly reduces your party’s daily wages.
- Trade: Helps you buy supplies at lower prices and sell loot for higher profits.
- Leadership: Contributes to party size and morale.
Recommended Quartermasters
- Yana: While her stats may vary, Yana often appears with a decent Steward skill and helpful traits.
- Other Companions with High Steward: Look for companions with pre-existing high Steward skills, often found in taverns.
Pro Tip: Early Game Quartermaster
In the early game, you might not find a perfect Quartermaster right away. In that case, assign the role to whoever has the highest Steward skill, even if it’s not ideal. Prioritize finding someone with at least 50 Steward to make a noticeable difference.
The Scout is your eyes and ears on the campaign map. A skilled Scout can increase your party’s movement speed, spot enemy parties from further away, and reduce your chances of being ambushed.
Essential Scouting Skills
- Scouting: This skill directly affects your party’s vision range and movement speed.
- Riding: Improves movement speed on horseback.
- Athletics: Helps you escape from ambushes.
Top-Tier Scouts
- Rhea: Is usually the go to choice for many players, she can be found in tavern, usually has a good scouting skill and her stats usually vary.
- Other Companions Specializing in Scouting: Search taverns and focus on companions with a back story that relates to travelling around.
Scout Tactics: Maximizing Efficiency
Assign your Scout the role of party leader in a separate, small party. This allows them to level up their Scouting skill more quickly and cover more ground. Use this party to scout ahead of your main army and uncover valuable information.
The Surgeon is responsible for treating injuries and preventing deaths within your party. A skilled Surgeon can significantly reduce your losses in battle and keep your troops fighting longer.
Vital Surgeon Skills
- Medicine: This is the most important skill for a Surgeon. It increases the chance of wounded troops surviving and speeds up their recovery.
- First Aid: Helps treat injuries immediately after battle.
- Surgery: Reduces the chance of troops dying from wounds.
The Best Surgical Companions
- Nightingale: Nightingale will often be the first choice for many players.
- Companions with Medicine Focus: Find companions who already have a background in medicine.
Surgeon Strategies for Lower Casualties
Make sure your Surgeon is not in the thick of battle. Keep them protected in the back lines to prevent them from being injured or killed. Investing in Medicine skill for your character can also support your surgeon
The Engineer is responsible for building siege engines and constructing improvements in your fiefs. A skilled Engineer can speed up sieges and boost the economy of your towns and castles.
Key Engineering Skills
- Engineering: This skill is essential for building siege engines and constructing improvements.
- Tactics: Helps you deploy your siege engines effectively.
Recommended Engineers
- Artimenner: Artimenner is a great choice for the engineer role.
- Companions Skilled in Engineering: Look for a back story that shows an interest in building or constructing.
Engineering in Practice: Siege Warfare
During sieges, let your Engineer lead the construction of siege engines. This will significantly reduce the time it takes to build them, giving you a crucial advantage.
Combat companions are valuable assets on the battlefield. They can fill various roles, from heavy cavalry to archers, and provide a significant boost to your army’s combat effectiveness.
Important Combat Skills
- Weapon Skills: Choose companions with high skills in the weapons you want them to use (e.g., Two-Handed, Bow, Polearm).
- Riding: Essential for cavalry companions.
- Tactics: Helps them make smart decisions in battle.
Top-Tier Combat Companions
- Derthert: A natural born leader, Derthert will have the right stats to become a formidable force on the battlefield.
- Militia Leader: Like Derthert, Militia Leaders will often have high combat skills.
Combat Companion Strategies: Specialization
Specialize your combat companions in specific roles. A companion with high Two-Handed skill is best suited for charging into the enemy ranks, while a companion with high Bow skill is better off providing ranged support.
| Role | Key Skills | Example Companions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quartermaster | Steward, Trade | Yana | Reduces party costs and manages supplies. |
| Scout | Scouting, Riding | Rhea | Increases movement speed and vision range. |
| Surgeon | Medicine, Surgery | Nightingale | Reduces casualties and speeds up recovery. |
| Engineer | Engineering, Tactics | Artimenner | Builds siege engines and improves fiefs. |
| Combat | Weapon Skills | Derthert, Leader | Provides combat support and can fill various roles. |
How do I find companions in Bannerlord 2?
Companions can be found in taverns located in towns and castles. Look for characters with unique names and backstories.What should I do if my companion leaves my party?
Companions may leave if their morale is low, they disagree with your decisions, or they are imprisoned. Try to keep their morale high by providing them with good food and paying them regularly.Can companions die in Bannerlord 2?
Yes, companions can die in battle if they are not protected. Equip them with good armor and keep them out of harm’s way.How many companions can I have in my party?
The number of companions you can have in your party depends on your Leadership skill and your clan tier.What are the best traits for companions?
Traits like “Brave,” “Generous,” and “Loyal” are generally beneficial, while traits like “Cruel,” “Greedy,” and “Treacherous” can cause problems.
Choosing the right companions and assigning them to the correct roles is essential for success in Bannerlord 2. By focusing on their skills, culture, and traits, you can build a powerful and efficient party that will help you conquer Calradia.