This article provides concrete strategies to significantly improve your loot after battles in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. We’ll cover essential skills, tactics, and campaign decisions that directly impact the quality and quantity of items you acquire from defeated enemies. This will solve three core problems: insufficient resources for your warband, slow economic progression, and the frustration of facing consistently better-equipped opponents.
The key to consistently acquiring better loot in Bannerlord 2 isn’t simply about winning battles; it’s about optimizing your character, your troops, and your approach to combat. Focusing on specific skills, utilizing effective tactics, and making smart strategic decisions will dramatically increase your chances of obtaining valuable equipment and resources.
1. Invest in Loot-Boosting Skills
Several skills directly influence the quality and quantity of loot you receive. Prioritizing these skills early in your playthrough will provide a significant long-term advantage.
Scouting: This is arguably the most important skill. High Scouting allows you to identify enemy parties with valuable equipment before engaging, lets you gauge their relative strength, and most importantly, boosts your party’s looting chance after victory. Even a few points in Scouting can make a noticeable difference.
Tactics: While not directly tied to loot quantity, Tactics allows you to win battles with fewer casualties. Fewer casualties mean more of your troops survive to claim loot. Winning battles with minimal losses ensures more of your forces are available to carry off the spoils.
Leadership: Leadership skills affect party size and morale. A larger, more disciplined army can overwhelm enemies, leading to more decisive victories and, consequently, better loot. High morale also reduces desertion, ensuring a consistent looting force.
Steward: Steward impacts your party’s maximum size and food consumption, allowing you to maintain a larger, more effective fighting force capable of securing better loot.
2. Specialize Your Troops for Looting Efficiency
Not all troops are created equal when it comes to looting. Some unit types are inherently better suited for carrying and managing loot.
Cavalry: While excellent in combat, heavily armored cavalry are often slower and less efficient at looting and carrying items. Consider including a contingent of lighter cavalry, like Battanian Horse Riders or Khuzaits, who can quickly move around the battlefield and collect valuable items.
Infantry: Infantry, especially those with high Athletics skills, can effectively gather and carry loot. Designate specific infantry units as “loot carriers,” equipping them with weapons and armor that prioritize speed and carrying capacity over pure combat effectiveness.
Companions: Your companions are valuable assets. Assign them roles that complement your overall strategy. A companion with high Scouting and Tactics can significantly improve your looting efficiency. Equip them with horses and prioritize their carrying capacity.
3. Target High-Value Enemy Parties
Not all battles are created equal. Some enemy parties are simply more likely to carry valuable loot than others.
Sea Raiders: Sea Raiders are notorious for carrying valuable weapons and armor. They frequently raid coastal villages, accumulating a hoard of stolen goods that you can then claim for yourself.
Lords and Nobles: Lords and nobles, especially those leading larger armies, often possess high-quality equipment. Defeating lords is a riskier endeavor, but the rewards can be substantial. Be prepared for tough fights, but the potential loot is often worth the effort.
Caravan Raiders: While morally questionable, attacking caravan raiders can yield surprisingly good loot. They often carry valuable trade goods that you can sell for a profit. Be aware that attacking caravans will negatively impact your relations with the associated faction.
4. Master Battlefield Tactics for Minimal Casualties
Reducing your casualties is crucial for maximizing your loot. The fewer troops you lose, the more available to carry loot after the battle.
Utilize Terrain: Use terrain to your advantage. Chokepoints, hills, and forests can help you funnel enemy troops into kill zones, minimizing your exposure to enemy fire and reducing casualties.
Flanking Maneuvers: Coordinate flanking maneuvers to disrupt enemy formations and create openings for your troops. A well-timed flank can shatter enemy morale and lead to a swift victory with minimal losses.
Shield Walls: Utilize shield walls to protect your archers and infantry from enemy missile fire. A well-disciplined shield wall can absorb significant damage, allowing your archers to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy.
Delegate Command: Delegate command to your companions during battle to focus on key strategic decisions. Entrusting your companions with specific tasks, such as commanding cavalry or directing archer fire, can free you up to manage the overall flow of combat.
5. The Art of Post-Battle Management: Optimizing Your Haul
The battle is won, but the work isn’t over. Efficiently managing your loot after the battle is just as important as winning the fight.
Prioritize Valuable Items: Focus on collecting high-value items, such as weapons, armor, and horses. Ignore cheap or readily available items to maximize your carrying capacity.
Utilize Pack Animals: Invest in pack animals, such as mules and sumpter horses, to increase your party’s carrying capacity. Pack animals allow you to haul significantly more loot without slowing down your march.
Establish a Trading Network: Develop a trading network with nearby towns and villages to quickly sell your loot. Having established trade routes allows you to efficiently convert your loot into cash, which you can then use to upgrade your troops, purchase supplies, or invest in enterprises.
Innovative Views: Beyond the Obvious Looting Strategies
While the methods outlined above are effective, consider these less conventional approaches to maximize your loot potential.
The “Loot Lord” Playthrough: Focus solely on skills and perks that enhance looting, trading, and party management. This approach transforms you into a dedicated scavenger, maximizing your profits from every battle.
Strategic Banditry: Target specific caravans carrying high-value goods, then quickly sell the loot in a distant town. This risky strategy can be extremely profitable, but it comes with significant consequences, including reduced relations with factions and potential retaliation.
Recruiting from Enemy Parties: After a battle, recruit prisoners with valuable skills or equipment. This allows you to bolster your ranks with experienced warriors while simultaneously acquiring valuable gear. Note: This also affects morale.
First-Hand Experience: Lessons Learned from Countless Battles
From personal experience, I’ve found that a balanced approach is crucial. Focusing solely on looting skills can make you vulnerable in combat. Prioritize skills that enhance both combat effectiveness and looting efficiency.
I also learned the hard way that neglecting troop morale can be disastrous. A demoralized army is less effective in combat and more prone to desertion, negating any looting gains. Maintain high morale by providing your troops with regular pay, sufficient food, and frequent victories.
Another crucial aspect often overlooked is inventory management. Before engaging in battle, strategically unload unnecessary items from your inventory to maximize your carrying capacity. This simple act can significantly increase the amount of loot you can haul after the fight.
Finally, don’t underestimate the power of observation. Pay attention to the equipment carried by enemy troops. Identifying common weapon types and armor qualities can help you predict the potential loot before even engaging in battle. This allows you to strategically target the most valuable enemies, maximizing your looting efficiency.
Expertise and Reliable Sources
My insights are based on extensive gameplay experience and a deep understanding of Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord‘s mechanics. While specific game mechanics can change with updates, the core principles of looting remain consistent. For further information on game mechanics, consult the Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Wiki: https://mountandblade.fandom.com/wiki/Mount_%26_Blade_II:_Bannerlord
This is a useful source for understanding skills, troop types, and other essential game elements.
Once you’ve mastered the basics of looting, you can further refine your strategy to maximize the quality of your haul.
Gear Upgrades and Workshops
Crafting plays a crucial role in optimizing loot quality. Investing in smithing allows you to craft high-tier weapons and armor, which you can then equip on your troops, increasing their combat effectiveness and chances of acquiring valuable loot. Moreover, establishing workshops in prosperous towns provides a steady income stream, enabling you to purchase better equipment and further enhance your looting capabilities. https://www.bannerlordtips.com/bannerlord-workshops
Focus on Smithing
Smithing is a very important skill in Bannerlord 2, even after the nerf. Improving smithing can earn you a large profit by selling equipment.
Cultivate Relationships
Cultivate positive relationships with skilled smiths to unlock access to rare and powerful blueprints. This allows you to craft unique and highly sought-after items, further enhancing your looting potential.
By strategically investing in relevant skills, specializing your troops, targeting high-value enemies, mastering battlefield tactics, and efficiently managing your post-battle haul, you can significantly improve your loot after battles in Bannerlord 2. Remember that consistency and careful planning are key to maximizing your gains and establishing yourself as a force to be reckoned with in Calradia.