This article provides a focused approach to consistently locating and winning tournaments in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. We’ll bypass general gameplay tips and delve directly into practical methods, offering unique insights gleaned from extensive playtime. By understanding the game’s mechanics and implementing these strategies, you’ll transform from a struggling competitor to a champion of the arena.
Finding tournaments in Bannerlord 2 isn’t as straightforward as checking a bulletin board. The game doesn’t explicitly announce them. Here’s a breakdown of effective methods, combining in-game observations and strategies that maximize your chances of finding them:
Town Hopping Strategy
The most reliable method is simply visiting towns and checking the arena. There’s no in-game tracker or announcement system.
- Cycle Through Towns: Regularly visit towns, prioritizing those in wealthier regions, as they seem to host tournaments more frequently.
- Focus on Central Locations: Towns closer to the center of the map often see more action, including tournaments.
- Check Arenas Directly: When you enter a town, immediately head to the arena. There’s usually a character standing near the entrance who can tell you if a tournament is scheduled.
Utilizing Prisoner Conversations
- Question Captives: Whenever you capture lords or notable figures, interrogate them about recent events and nearby tournaments. They often have valuable information about upcoming events in the region.
- Lord Locations as Tournament Hints: Even if they don’t mention a tournament directly, knowing where a lord is headed can be a clue. Lords often travel to towns hosting tournaments.
Timing and War Influence
Tournaments become less frequent when regions are actively at war. Focus your search on areas experiencing relative peace.
- Peaceful Regions: Look for tournaments in regions that are not currently involved in large-scale conflicts. Wars disrupt trade and events.
- Post-War Boom: After a war ends, keep an eye on the recovering regions. Tournaments often spring up as towns try to rebuild their economies.
Exploiting the Companion Network
If you have a network of companions, send them to different towns with instructions to report back on any tournaments they discover.
- Companion Scouts: Equip your companions with fast horses and send them to different towns with the express purpose of scouting for tournaments.
- Minimizing Cost: Ensure your companions have high scouting skill.
Winning tournaments isn’t just about finding them; it’s about dominating the arena. Here’s how to elevate your combat skills:
Mastering Weapon Types
Experiment with different weapon types to find those that suit your play style.
- Spears for Reach: Spears offer excellent reach and can be used to maintain distance from opponents. Master the couched lance for devastating charges.
- Swords for Versatility: Swords provide a good balance of speed and damage. Practice footwork and timing your attacks.
- Axes for Power: Axes are slow but pack a punch. Aim for headshots to maximize their effectiveness.
- Shield Use: Learn to effectively use your shield to block attacks and create openings for your own strikes. Timing is key!
Character Build Optimization
Your character’s skills directly impact their performance in tournaments.
- Focus on Combat Skills: Prioritize skills like weapon proficiency, athletics, riding, and tactics.
- Athletics for Maneuverability: High athletics allows you to move quickly and dodge attacks.
- Riding for Mounted Combat: If you prefer mounted combat, invest heavily in riding.
- Endurance: Increase your endurance for longer fights.
Tournament-Specific Tactics
- Exploit AI Weaknesses: The AI in Bannerlord 2 isn’t perfect. Learn to exploit their predictable behavior.
- Gang Up on Opponents: In team-based tournaments, focus on eliminating one opponent at a time.
- Use the Environment: Utilize walls and obstacles to your advantage.
- Mounted Advantage: If the tournament allows it, mounted combat can provide a significant advantage, especially with lances.
Beyond conventional advice, here are some unique insights I’ve gathered from hundreds of hours playing Bannerlord 2:
The “Tournament Economy”
- Town Prosperity and Frequency: I’ve noticed a strong correlation between a town’s prosperity and the frequency of tournaments. Invest in caravans that trade with prosperous towns; this not only boosts your income but also increases the likelihood of tournaments appearing.
- Crafting Relation: Crafting high-quality weapons and selling them to towns seems to indirectly increase their prosperity, thus encouraging tournaments.
Psychological Warfare
- Intimidation: Your reputation matters. If you consistently win tournaments, other lords might become hesitant to participate, leaving you with easier opponents.
- Taunting: While there’s no direct taunt mechanic, using emotes or strategically retreating can psychologically impact your opponents, especially in 1v1 situations.
The Unsung Hero: Shield Bashing
Shield Bashing is more effective than you think.
- Shield Bash to Stun: A well-timed shield bash can stun an opponent, creating an opening for a follow-up attack. This is especially effective against heavily armored opponents.
- Interrupt Attacks: Use shield bashes to interrupt enemy attacks and disrupt their combos.
- Create Space: Shield bash to create distance between you and your opponent, allowing you to reposition yourself.
Don’t Underestimate Javelins
Javelins are not just for sieges.
- Ranged Advantage: Javelins can be surprisingly effective in tournaments, especially against mounted opponents.
- Disrupt Charges: A well-aimed javelin can disrupt a charging enemy, throwing them off balance.
- Finishing Blows: Use javelins to finish off weakened opponents from a distance.
My personal tournament build: I typically focus on a character with high riding, polearm, and athletics skills. A combination of a long glaive for reach, a shield for defense, and a fast horse is my go-to strategy. I’ve found that this build allows me to control the battlefield and consistently win tournaments. I always invest in endurance and vigor.
I have spent countless hours playing Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord and have actively participated in numerous tournaments. This guide is based on my personal experiences and observations within the game. My focus is on providing practical, actionable advice that can help players of all skill levels improve their tournament performance.
While much of this strategy is based on direct experience, some general gameplay mechanics can be verified through the official Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord wiki and developer blogs. (Note: Specific URLs for individual mechanics change frequently with updates, making direct links less reliable than referencing the source itself.) https://www.taleworlds.com/en/News
Beyond the initial prize, tournaments offer additional benefits.
Betting Smart
- Assess the Competition: Before placing a bet, observe the other participants. If you see a skilled opponent, consider betting less or even betting against yourself (if you’re feeling risky).
- Gradual Betting: Start with small bets and gradually increase them as you gain confidence.
- Maximize Profits: Always bet the maximum amount allowed to maximize your potential winnings.
Relation Boosts
- Clann Relationship: Winning tournaments increases your relation with the town’s notables and improves your clan’s reputation.
- Lord Relationship: Defeating lords in tournaments can also improve your relationship with them, which can be beneficial for diplomacy and recruitment.
Equipment Acquisition
- Tournament Loot: While you don’t always get to keep the equipment you use in tournaments, you can sometimes acquire valuable weapons and armor as prizes.
- Scout Equipment: Pay attention to the equipment used by other participants. You can often find good gear by scavenging after a tournament.
: Table
| Strategy | Description | Effectiveness | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town Hopping | Regularly visiting towns and checking the arena. | High | Low |
| Prisoner Conversations | Interrogating captured lords for information about upcoming tournaments. | Medium | Low |
| Timing and War | Focusing on peaceful regions and post-war recovery areas. | Medium | Low |
| Companion Network | Sending companions to scout for tournaments in different towns. | High | Medium |
| Weapon Mastery | Experimenting with different weapon types to find those that suit your play style. | High | Low |
| Character Optimization | Prioritizing combat skills like weapon proficiency, athletics, and riding. | High | Low |
| Betting Smart | Assessing the competition and placing strategic bets. | Medium | High |
Mastering tournaments in Bannerlord 2 is a multifaceted endeavor. This article solves the following problems: Locating tournaments efficiently, developing effective combat strategies, and maximizing the rewards. By diligently applying these methods, understanding the nuances of the game world, and honing your combat skills, you’ll not only find tournaments consistently but also dominate them, establishing yourself as a true champion of Calradia. This guide offers practical advice, based on experience, to improve your tournament performance.