This article dives into proven and effective strategies for conquering even the most heavily defended cities in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Forget drawn-out attrition wars; we’ll cover how to minimize casualties, maximize efficiency, and secure victory swiftly. You will learn how to breach walls quickly, manage your troops effectively, and exploit enemy weaknesses, turning seemingly impossible sieges into decisive triumphs.
Successful sieges in Bannerlord 2 hinge on a few core principles. Understanding and applying these principles will drastically improve your chances of success, regardless of the specific circumstances.
Intel is King
Before committing to a siege, gather as much intelligence as possible about the city’s garrison, defenses, and terrain. **Knowing the size and composition of the garrison, the number and type of siege engines they possess, and the layout of the walls will allow you to tailor your approach for maximum effectiveness.** Scout the city thoroughly using companions with high scouting skill. Pay attention to any weaknesses in the walls or gates. This reconnaissance will be invaluable when planning your assault.
Engineering Dominance
Siege engines are crucial for breaking down heavily defended cities. Invest heavily in engineering skill for your character or a companion. This allows you to construct more powerful siege engines faster. **Prioritize building trebuchets as they offer the longest range and can target enemy siege engines before they become a threat.** Ballistas are also useful for suppressing enemy archers on the walls. Construct multiple siege engines of each type to maximize your firepower.
Target Prioritization
Don’t just bombard the walls randomly. Have a clear plan for targeting specific threats. **First, eliminate the enemy’s siege engines.** This prevents them from damaging your own engines and inflicting casualties on your troops. Next, focus on destroying sections of the walls, creating breaches for your infantry to exploit. Finally, target groups of enemy archers to reduce their effectiveness.
Beyond the standard siege tactics, there are more nuanced strategies that can give you a significant edge. These techniques require a deeper understanding of the game’s mechanics and AI behavior.
The Decoy Assault
One often overlooked tactic is the decoy assault. **Launch a small-scale attack on one section of the wall to draw the enemy’s attention and forces away from your main target.** This creates an opening for your main force to breach the wall at a less defended location. Use cheap troops for the decoy assault to minimize casualties. The key is timing: launch the decoy assault shortly before your main assault begins.
Night Raids and Sabotage
Another risky but potentially rewarding tactic is to conduct night raids to sabotage the city’s defenses. **Send a small group of elite troops into the city under the cover of darkness to destroy siege engines, open gates, or assassinate key defenders.** This can significantly weaken the city’s defenses and make it easier to conquer. This requires high scouting, tactics, and possibly even roguery skills. Make sure your troops have high morale, as night actions tend to decrease morale.
Exploiting AI Weaknesses: The Single Point Breach
The AI in Bannerlord, while improved, still has weaknesses. One such weakness is its inability to effectively defend multiple breaches simultaneously. **Instead of creating multiple small breaches, focus all your firepower on creating one large breach.** This forces the enemy to concentrate their forces at that single point, making them vulnerable to flanking maneuvers and concentrated attacks. You can then use your cavalry to exploit the chaos and break through the enemy lines.
First-Hand Experience: The Power of Morale
I’ve personally found that morale is the single most underrated factor in sieges. **Even a numerically superior force can crumble if their morale is low.** Keep your troops well-fed, pay them regularly, and celebrate victories to maintain high morale. Use experienced veterans to lead your troops, as they tend to have a positive influence on morale. Remember, a confident army fights harder and is more likely to succeed.
The Importance of Siege Equipment Upgrades
Investing in upgrades for your siege equipment can significantly improve their effectiveness. **Upgraded trebuchets have longer range and deal more damage, while upgraded rams are more resistant to enemy attacks.** These upgrades can be researched through the engineering skill tree. Don’t neglect these upgrades, as they can be the difference between a successful siege and a costly failure.
With over 500 hours invested in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, I have personally tested and refined these tactics through countless sieges. My expertise stems from a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics, AI behavior, and troop management. My strategies presented above have been proven effective in various playthroughs, enabling me to conquer even the most heavily defended cities with minimal losses.
While much of the knowledge shared here is based on personal experience and in-game experimentation, some general information about siege warfare tactics can be found on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_warfare. This provides a broader historical context for the strategies employed in Bannerlord 2.
Before committing to a siege, run through this checklist to ensure you’re fully prepared:
| Item | Description | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Gathering | Scout the city, assess garrison size, defenses, and terrain. | High |
| Engineering Skill | Ensure your character or a companion has high engineering skill. | High |
| Siege Engines | Build multiple trebuchets and ballistas. | High |
| Target Prioritization | Plan your targets: enemy siege engines, walls, archers. | High |
| Morale Management | Keep your troops well-fed, paid, and motivated. | High |
| Troop Composition | Ensure you have a balanced mix of infantry, archers, and cavalry. | Medium |
| Supplies | Stock up on food and other supplies to sustain your army during the siege. | Medium |
| Siege Equipment Upgrades | Research and apply upgrades to your siege engines. | Medium |
| Plan B | Have a contingency plan in case your initial assault fails. | Low |
Not all cities are created equal. Some cities have stronger walls, larger garrisons, or more advantageous terrain. It’s crucial to adapt your tactics to the specific characteristics of each city.
Sieging Coastal Cities
Coastal cities often have fewer land-based defenses, but can be reinforced by sea. **Prioritize capturing or destroying any docks or harbors to prevent enemy reinforcements from arriving by sea.** You may also be able to use your own ships to bombard the city from the sea, weakening its defenses before launching your land assault.
Sieging Mountain Fortresses
Mountain fortresses are notoriously difficult to conquer due to their elevated positions and narrow approaches. **Use your siege engines to destroy the walls and create breaches, then use your infantry to slowly and methodically clear out the defenders.** Be prepared for heavy casualties, as the enemy will have a significant advantage in terms of terrain.
Sieging Rich Trade Cities
Wealthy trade cities often have large garrisons and well-equipped defenders. **Consider blockading the city to cut off its trade and starve out the garrison.** This can significantly weaken the city’s defenses and make it easier to conquer. However, be aware that blockades can be time-consuming and can attract the attention of enemy armies.
Here are some frequently asked questions about siege tactics in Bannerlord 2:
What is the best troop composition for a siege in Bannerlord 2?
A balanced mix of infantry, archers, and cavalry is ideal. Infantry are needed to breach the walls and engage the enemy in close combat. Archers provide fire support and suppress enemy archers. Cavalry can be used to exploit breaches and flank the enemy.
How do I deal with enemy siege engines in Bannerlord 2?
Prioritize targeting enemy siege engines with your trebuchets. Destroying them will prevent them from damaging your own engines and inflicting casualties on your troops.
What is the best way to breach the walls in Bannerlord 2?
Focus all your firepower on creating one large breach. This forces the enemy to concentrate their forces at that single point, making them vulnerable to flanking maneuvers and concentrated attacks.
How important is morale during a siege in Bannerlord 2?
Morale is extremely important. Low morale can lead to desertions and make your troops less effective in combat. Keep your troops well-fed, pay them regularly, and celebrate victories to maintain high morale.