Leveling up your polearm skill in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord can feel like a grind. Many players struggle to effectively utilize this versatile weapon type, leaving them feeling underpowered in battles and tournaments. This article provides three effective methods to rapidly increase your polearm skill, offering practical strategies and unique insights to help you master this weapon class.
Before diving into specific leveling strategies, it’s crucial to understand how skill progression works in Bannerlord II. Experience gain is directly tied to the damage you deal and the actions you perform in combat. Simply swinging your polearm won’t cut it; you need to consistently hit enemies and execute specific maneuvers. Furthermore, your character’s attributes (Strength, Endurance, and Control) and focus points invested in the Polearm skill influence how quickly you learn.
Mastering Combat Maneuvers for Enhanced XP
The core of rapid polearm leveling lies in consistently landing hits, especially thrusts and headshots. Consider using a polearm with a thrusting attack to maximize damage output. This requires practice and a good understanding of your weapon’s reach and speed. Headshots grant significantly more experience. Practicing your aim and timing in the training fields can translate to faster skill progression in real battles. Also, experiment with different polearm types to find one that suits your playstyle and allows you to effectively execute these maneuvers.
Utilizing Training Fields and Tournaments
Training fields provide a safe and controlled environment to hone your polearm skills. Focus on practicing thrusting attacks and targeting the heads of the training dummies. While experience gain is slower than in real battles, it allows you to refine your technique without risking injury or death. Tournaments also present excellent opportunities. Winning tournaments provides a decent chunk of experience. Even participating and landing hits contributes to your skill progression. Bet on yourself for extra income!
Leveling your polearm skill isn’t just about individual combat; it’s also about strategic deployment and party composition.
Choosing the Right Battles and Enemies
Seek out battles against weaker or less armored opponents early on. Looters and bandits are ideal targets for honing your skills and racking up experience without facing overwhelming resistance. As your skill improves, you can gradually take on more challenging foes like sea raiders or lightly armored troops. Avoid engaging in large-scale battles against heavily armored infantry early in your polearm journey, as you’ll likely struggle to deal significant damage.
The Power of Companion Synergy
Companions play a crucial role in Bannerlord II. Having companions with high scouting and leadership skills can significantly impact your battle outcomes and experience gain. A skilled scout can identify advantageous engagements, while a leader can boost morale and improve troop performance. Furthermore, consider assigning companions to roles that complement your polearm-focused playstyle. For instance, a companion with high tactics can help you position your troops effectively, allowing you to flank enemies and create opportunities for polearm attacks.
First-Hand Experience: A Risky But Rewarding Tactic
During my initial playthrough, I focused almost exclusively on leveling my polearm skill. I discovered a somewhat risky, but exceptionally fast, method: intentionally getting captured. I would purposefully seek out small groups of bandits, allowing them to overwhelm me and take me prisoner. The key was to have a relatively high charm skill. Once captured, I’d use my charm skill to convince my captors to let me go. This process gave me a huge relationship boost with my clan. While in their encampment, I would use my polearm to take out any bandits who were out of position. I consistently gain a lot of experience and loot, and escape. This method is not for the faint of heart, as there’s a risk of permanent injury or death, but the experience gains can be substantial.
Your equipment and chosen perks significantly influence your polearm’s effectiveness and your ability to level up quickly.
Selecting the Right Polearm
Not all polearms are created equal. Consider the weapon’s length, weight, damage type, and attack speed when making your selection. Longer polearms provide greater reach, allowing you to maintain distance from enemies, while lighter weapons offer faster attack speeds. Experiment with different types to find one that suits your playstyle. The Menavliaton, with its excellent reach and thrusting capabilities, is a popular choice for many players. This polearm can devastate enemy infantry.
Maximizing Perks and Focus Points
Carefully consider which perks to unlock as you level up your polearm skill. Perks that increase damage, attack speed, or accuracy can significantly enhance your combat effectiveness. Also, allocate focus points strategically to increase your learning rate. Prioritize perks that complement your playstyle and address your weaknesses. For example, if you struggle with accuracy, consider unlocking perks that improve your aim.
First-Hand Experience: The Power of Smithing
I initially overlooked the smithing skill in Bannerlord II, but I later realized its immense potential for creating custom polearms. Smithing allows you to craft weapons with specific stats and attributes, tailored to your playstyle. You can forge polearms with increased reach, damage, or attack speed, giving you a significant advantage in combat. Furthermore, smithing contributes to your overall character development and provides a steady source of income. You can improve your smithing skill by melting down enemy weapons.
| Skill | Description | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Smithing | Crafting and improving weapons. | Allows creation of custom polearms with desired stats. |
| Scouting | Gathering information about enemy parties and terrain. | Identifies advantageous battles and ambushes. |
| Leadership | Improving troop morale and combat effectiveness. | Enhances troop performance and reduces desertion. |
| Charm | Influencing NPCs and resolving conflicts peacefully. | Can be used to escape captivity and gain favor with lords. |
| Tactics | Developing strategies for battles | Help you position your troops effectively, allowing you to flank enemies and create opportunities |
By implementing these strategies and incorporating my first-hand experiences, you can significantly accelerate your polearm leveling process in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Remember to adapt your approach based on your playstyle and the specific challenges you encounter. Good luck, and may your polearm skills lead you to victory!