This article offers a clear path to becoming a mercenary in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, detailing the steps, providing practical advice, and sharing unique insights to help you navigate the political landscape and build your warband’s reputation. We solve the problem of knowing the precise in-game requirements and strategies for securing lucrative mercenary contracts, as well as highlighting lesser-known factors that influence a kingdom’s decision to hire you.
Becoming a mercenary is one of the early steps to building your power and potentially leading your own kingdom in Bannerlord 2. It provides a steady income, valuable combat experience, and a taste of the political machinations within Calradia. However, simply wanting to be a mercenary isn’t enough; you need to meet certain criteria and approach potential employers strategically.
What are the prerequisites for becoming a mercenary?
Before you can even consider offering your services, you need to ensure you meet the basic requirements. These are generally tied to your clan tier and reputation. You can check your clan tier by opening the clan menu (press ‘L’ by default).
Clan Tier is key to getting a mercenary contract
A clan tier of 1 is generally the minimum requirement. This means you’ve moved beyond being a simple wanderer and have started to establish yourself as a force to be reckoned with. Increasing your clan tier is the most crucial step. You can achieve this by completing quests, winning battles, and generally increasing your renown.
How does renown affect mercenary recruitment?
Renown acts as your reputation score within Calradia. The higher your renown, the more attractive you are to potential employers. You gain renown by defeating enemies, winning tournaments, and completing certain quests. Focus on engaging in battles that are challenging but winnable to maximize your renown gains.
Once you meet the minimum requirements, here’s a step-by-step process to becoming a mercenary:
Approaching a Kingdom’s Ruler
- Locate the Ruler: Find the ruler of the kingdom you wish to serve. They can usually be found in their capital city or leading an army. Use the encyclopedia (press ‘N’ by default) to track their location.
- Initiate Dialogue: Approach the ruler and initiate a conversation. Look for a dialogue option related to offering your services or asking about employment.
- Negotiate Terms: The ruler will outline the terms of the mercenary contract, including the daily wage you will receive. Pay close attention to the proposed wage, as it reflects the kingdom’s opinion of your worth.
- Accept or Decline: If you are satisfied with the terms, accept the contract. If not, you can decline and try again later or seek a contract with another kingdom.
What impacts how much kingdoms pay you?
Factors influencing the offered wage include:
- Your Clan Tier: Higher tier clans command higher wages.
- Your Renown: A strong reputation translates to a better offer.
- Kingdom’s Financial Status: A wealthy kingdom can afford to pay more.
- Current War Status: Kingdoms at war are often willing to pay a premium for skilled mercenaries.
Maintaining a Good Relationship with Your Employer
Once you’ve secured a contract, it’s important to maintain a positive relationship with your employer:
- Participate in Wars: Actively engage in battles against the kingdom’s enemies.
- Follow Orders: Cooperate with the kingdom’s marshals and lords.
- Avoid Crime: Don’t engage in activities that would harm the kingdom’s interests.
- Renew Contracts Promptly: When your contract is nearing expiration, speak with the ruler to renew it. Failing to renew on time can damage your relationship.
While the above steps are crucial, several less obvious factors can significantly impact your mercenary career.
Choosing the Right Kingdom: A Personal Perspective
In my experience, choosing the right kingdom is just as important as securing the initial contract. Consider their location, their enemies, and their overall strength. I’ve found that serving a kingdom on the defensive, fighting against a stronger opponent, offers more opportunities for renown and loot, even if the initial wage is slightly lower.
The Importance of Party Composition
Your party composition plays a vital role in your effectiveness as a mercenary. A well-balanced party of infantry, archers, and cavalry is essential. Focus on recruiting and training high-tier troops, as they will significantly increase your combat prowess and reputation.
Developing Your Character’s Skills
Investing in skills relevant to leadership, combat, and scouting will greatly enhance your capabilities as a mercenary. Leadership skills increase your party size and improve morale, while combat skills make you a more formidable warrior. Scouting skills allow you to track enemy armies and choose advantageous engagements.
Exploiting Kingdom Weaknesses
Sometimes, the best way to serve a kingdom is to exploit the weaknesses of its enemies. Identify vulnerable settlements or caravans and launch targeted raids to disrupt their economy and weaken their forces. However, be cautious not to overextend yourself or antagonize powerful lords.
Don’t Be Afraid to Negotiate
While you can’t always directly negotiate your initial wage, you can influence it indirectly. Consistently performing well in battle and completing challenging quests will demonstrate your value and increase your bargaining power when it comes time to renew your contract. I’ve personally seen my daily wage increase significantly simply by consistently exceeding expectations.
Understanding the kingdom’s policies is vital because it can affect everything from troop recruitment to war declarations. Here’s a table summarizing key policies and their effects on mercenaries:
| Policy | Effect on Mercenaries |
|---|---|
| War Tax | Can reduce overall prosperity, potentially impacting kingdom’s ability to pay wages. |
| Royal Armies | May limit independent action as armies are concentrated under royal control. |
| Forcible Recruitment | Might lead to higher troop availability, though quality could vary. |
| Common Land Rights | Could affect recruitment availability depending on economic impact. |
| Serfdom | Potentially impacts troop quality if morale and training are negatively affected. |
By paying attention to these policies, you can make informed decisions about which kingdoms to align with and how to best utilize your mercenary band. Source: A forum post on the TaleWorlds official forums
Becoming a successful mercenary in Bannerlord 2 requires more than just signing a contract. It demands strategic thinking, effective combat skills, and a deep understanding of the political landscape. By following the steps outlined in this article and incorporating the advanced strategies, you can build a thriving mercenary company, amass wealth and renown, and ultimately pave the way for your own rise to power. Remember, being a mercenary is a stepping stone, not a destination. Use it wisely to achieve your ultimate goals in Calradia.