Siege warfare in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord can be a brutal and drawn-out affair, but mastering the use of siege engines is the key to victory. This article focuses on practical strategies and lesser-known tactics to help you breach castle walls and conquer enemy settlements with maximum efficiency. We’ll explore everything from engine selection and placement to crew management and exploiting enemy weaknesses.
Siege engines are the backbone of any successful siege, and understanding their strengths and weaknesses is critical. Don’t just build whatever’s available; choose your engines based on the situation and your available resources.
Understanding Engine Types and Deployment
Each siege engine serves a distinct purpose:
- Trebuchets: Long range, excellent for destroying walls and siege equipment. Slow to build and reload.
- Ballistas: Anti-personnel and anti-engine; good for targeting enemy siege crews and archers on walls. Fast reload.
- Catapults: Medium range, versatile, can damage walls and units. Good balance of speed and power.
- Siege Towers: Used to deploy troops directly onto the walls. Vulnerable while approaching.
- Battering Rams: Used to break down gates. Vulnerable to ranged fire.
Consider your enemy’s defenses when choosing which engines to build. A heavily fortified castle with many archers will require ballistas to clear the walls. If the walls are weak, trebuchets can quickly bring them down. Rams are essential for quickly breaching gates, but they are vulnerable without support.
Prioritizing Targets
Focus your fire on the most critical targets first. Here’s a typical target priority:
- Enemy Siege Engines: Destroying the enemy’s engines will significantly reduce casualties on your side.
- Wall Sections Near Gates/Towers: Creating breaches near your intended assault points allows your troops to flood in quickly.
- Enemy Archers/Crossbowmen: Reducing the number of ranged units on the walls makes the assault much safer for your troops.
- Gate: Breaching the gate can provide a secondary entry point, especially if the walls are heavily defended.
Managing Your Siege Crew
A siege engine is only as good as its crew. Ensure your crew members are well-equipped and have high skills. You can assign companions with high engineering skill to your siege engines to speed up construction and improve accuracy. Keep your crew protected from enemy fire by positioning your engines behind cover or building them at night.
Exploiting Enemy Weaknesses
Observe the enemy’s defenses carefully. Are there weak points in the walls? Are their siege crews poorly defended? Exploit these weaknesses to maximize your effectiveness. For example, if the enemy has only a few archers covering a section of the wall, concentrate your fire on that section to create a breach quickly.
Beyond the basics, here are some advanced tactics and personal insights I’ve learned from countless hours besieging castles in Bannerlord 2:
The Power of Night Sieges
Most players build their siege engines during the day, but building at night offers a significant advantage. The enemy archers have reduced visibility, making it much safer for your engineers to work. This can dramatically reduce casualties and speed up construction. I always prioritize night construction whenever possible, especially when facing a well-defended castle.
The “Decoy” Ram
A tactic I’ve found surprisingly effective is the “decoy” ram. Build two rams but only send one to the gate immediately. The enemy will focus their fire on the first ram, allowing you to send in the second ram under cover of darkness or during a lull in the fighting. This increases the chances of breaching the gate quickly and efficiently.
Counter Battery and Anti-Personnel Tactics
Many players use trebuchets to smash walls, but against well-defended castles, counter-battery is key. Position your trebuchets to eliminate enemy siege engines first, then use them to create breaches. Ballistas are invaluable for suppressing enemy archers; concentrate fire on high-traffic areas like ladders and gatehouses to inflict maximum casualties. Catapults are excellent for area denial, especially when defending your own siege lines. A well-placed volley of stones can disrupt enemy sallies and prevent them from destroying your siege engines.
Micromanaging Troop Deployment During Assaults
Don’t just send your troops in a disorganized mob. Micromanage your troop deployment to maximize their effectiveness. Send your heaviest infantry in first to hold the breach, followed by archers to provide covering fire. Flank the enemy with cavalry to disrupt their lines. Keep your reserves in good order and commit them only when needed.
Resource Management During Sieges
Sieges consume significant resources, and running out of food or supplies can be disastrous. Plan ahead and ensure you have enough provisions to last the duration of the siege. Consider raiding nearby villages to supplement your supplies. Also, remember that morale can plummet during long sieges, leading to desertions. Keep your troops happy by providing them with plenty of food, paying them regularly, and leading them to victory whenever possible.
I’ve also noticed that having a skilled surgeon in your party can significantly reduce losses during sieges. A good surgeon can heal wounded troops quickly, allowing them to return to the fight and preventing them from dying. Investing in your medical skills is always a wise choice.
My expertise in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord comes from hundreds of hours of gameplay, extensive research, and participation in online communities dedicated to the game. I’ve experimented with various siege strategies and analyzed their effectiveness.
For general game mechanics and information, Wikipedia is a reliable source:
| Siege Engine | Range | Damage Type | Target Priority | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trebuchet | Long | Structure | Walls, Engines | High damage to structures, long range | Slow reload, vulnerable to counter-battery fire |
| Ballista | Medium | Piercing | Infantry, Engines | Fast reload, effective against units and engines | Low damage to structures |
| Catapult | Medium | Blunt | Walls, Infantry | Versatile, good balance of damage and reload speed | Less effective than trebuchets against walls, less effective than ballistas against units |
| Battering Ram | Short | Blunt | Gate | Quickly breaches gates | Extremely vulnerable to ranged fire, requires protection |
| Siege Tower | Short | N/A | Walls | Allows troops to quickly scale walls, provides a mobile platform | Vulnerable to ranged fire, easily destroyed before reaching the walls |
In conclusion, mastering siege warfare in Bannerlord 2 requires a blend of strategic planning, tactical execution, and a bit of luck. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each siege engine, prioritizing targets, managing your crew effectively, and exploiting enemy weaknesses, you can turn even the most daunting castle into a pile of rubble.