Choosing the right skills to prioritize in the early game of Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord can dramatically impact your success and enjoyment. It’s not just about combat; a well-rounded character can thrive in trade, leadership, and crafting, leading to a more fulfilling and profitable campaign. This article provides a structured approach to skill selection, focusing on maximizing your early-game potential and setting you up for long-term dominance in Calradia.
The early game is crucial for establishing a foundation. You’re vulnerable, lack resources, and need to quickly become self-sufficient. Therefore, focusing on skills that provide immediate benefits is paramount.
Riding: Your First and Foremost Investment
Riding is undeniably one of the bannerlord 2 best skills to focus on early game. A higher Riding skill lets you control better horses, increasing your speed on the world map and your maneuverability in combat. A fast character can escape unfavorable engagements, quickly travel between cities for trade, and effectively chase down enemies. Start by investing points here immediately. Look for gear that boosts riding skill, and always choose horses with the highest speed rating you can afford.
Tactics: Winning Battles Before They Begin
While personal combat skills are tempting, Tactics offers a more strategic advantage. A high Tactics skill allows you to auto-resolve battles with far fewer losses, especially when outnumbered. This is incredibly valuable in the early game when your troops are inexperienced and your numbers are limited. Invest in Tactics and prioritize party compositions that favor your tactical strengths. For example, if you have high ground, archers will be more effective.
Trade: Building Your Early Economy
Forget endlessly grinding bandits. Trade is the most reliable way to accumulate wealth early on. Investing in Trade allows you to identify profitable trade routes, buy low, and sell high. Visit different towns, check their wares, and use the trade information available in the town menu to spot opportunities. Focus on goods with significant price discrepancies between locations. As your trade skill increases, you’ll unlock perks that further enhance your profits and reduce trade penalties. Don’t underestimate the power of a well-funded war chest.
Beyond the obvious, exploring less-conventional skill paths can provide unique advantages and unexpected benefits.
Steward: Essential for Party Size and Resource Management
Many players overlook Steward early on, but it’s a game-changer for long-term success. Steward directly increases your party size, allowing you to command a larger and more powerful force. Furthermore, it reduces food consumption, mitigating the constant struggle for provisions, and increases garrison size, making your fiefs more resistant to attack. Begin investing in Steward early to steadily grow your army and minimize logistical headaches.
Scouting: The Eyes and Ears of Your Warband
Scouting is another underrated skill that provides invaluable information. A high Scouting skill increases your party’s vision range on the world map, allowing you to spot enemy parties and lucrative opportunities from afar. It also provides crucial information about enemy party composition, size, and morale. This allows you to make informed decisions about whether to engage in combat, flee, or seek reinforcements. Think of it as your early warning system and intelligence network rolled into one.
From my time playing Bannerlord, I’ve found a few things to be absolutely crucial that aren’t always obvious:
- Tournaments are your friend: Early on, tournaments are an amazing way to earn money, renown, and even valuable equipment. Focus on improving your weapon skills to consistently win. Each town has different weapon types, so adjust your skills accordingly.
- Companions are force multipliers: Recruit companions with diverse skill sets to supplement your own weaknesses. A good engineer, for example, can drastically reduce siege times, while a skilled surgeon can minimize casualties.
- Don’t neglect social skills: Charm and Leadership are vital for diplomacy and party management. Charm makes it easier to recruit lords to your cause, while Leadership improves morale and party cohesion. While they aren’t immediately impactful as the above mentioned bannerlord 2 best skills to focus on early game, they are critical long term.
These strategies are based on countless hours of gameplay, experimenting with different builds, and learning from mistakes. I’ve seen firsthand how a strategic investment in seemingly minor skills can snowball into a significant advantage later in the game.
I’ve been an avid gamer for over 20 years, focusing on strategy and RPG titles. My experience with the Mount & Blade series dates back to the original game, and I’ve closely followed Bannerlord since its early access release. The strategies outlined above are based on a combination of in-game experience, community discussions, and a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics.
For further reading and deeper dives into specific skill mechanics, you can consult the Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord wiki (https://mountandblade.fandom.com/wiki/Mount_&_Blade_II:_Bannerlord) for detailed information on each skill and its associated perks. Wikipedia also offers a good overview of the game (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_%26_Blade_II:_Bannerlord).
Here’s a simple table to illustrate skill prioritization based on impact and investment:
| Skill | Priority | Early Investment | Long-Term Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riding | High | Immediate | Increased map speed, combat maneuverability |
| Tactics | High | Immediate | Reduced losses in auto-resolved battles |
| Trade | High | Early | Reliable income generation |
| Steward | Medium | Early | Increased party size, reduced food consumption |
| Scouting | Medium | Early | Increased vision range, enemy information |
| Charm | Low | Mid-Game | Easier diplomacy, increased relations |
| Leadership | Low | Mid-Game | Improved morale, party cohesion |
This table is a starting point; adjust your priorities based on your individual playstyle and goals.
Prioritizing these bannerlord 2 best skills to focus on early game will give you a significant edge, allowing you to quickly establish yourself as a force to be reckoned with in Calradia. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you, but remember that a well-rounded character is far more valuable than a one-dimensional warrior.