Dominate Bannerlord 2 Battles: How to Use Formations Effectively

This article dives into the heart of Bannerlord 2’s combat system, focusing on how to leverage formations to achieve battlefield dominance. We’ll explore practical methods for deploying and commanding your troops, innovative tactical approaches, and personal insights to help you outmaneuver your opponents and secure victory. This knowledge empowers you to command diverse armies effectively.

Effective command in Bannerlord 2 hinges on your ability to manipulate troop formations. Understanding the default formations and their inherent strengths and weaknesses is the foundation for any successful strategy. You have infantry, archers, cavalry, and skirmishers at your disposal, each with unique roles and capabilities.

• Infantry: Your frontline, designed to absorb the brunt of enemy attacks.
• Archers: Ranged support, dealing damage from a distance.
• Cavalry: Shock troops, used for flanking maneuvers and disrupting enemy formations.
• Skirmishers: Hybrid ranged/melee units, best used for harassing and opportunistic attacks.

Default Formation Commands and Their Uses

The game provides several basic commands, accessible through the F1-F keys, that allow you to control these formations. It’s not enough to simply throw your units at the enemy; positioning and timing are everything.

• F1 (Select All): Selects all troops under your command.
• F2 (Move): Orders the selected formation to move to a specific location. Crucial for repositioning and flanking.
• F3 (Charge): Commands the selected formation to charge directly at the enemy. Use sparingly, as it can disrupt your formation.
• F4 (Follow Me): The selected formation will follow your character. Useful for leading troops into a strategic position or drawing enemies into a trap.
• F5 (Advance): Orders the formation to advance towards the enemy at a controlled pace, maintaining formation.
• F6 (Fall Back): Orders the formation to retreat, maintaining formation as much as possible.
• F7 (Stop): Halts the selected formation in its current position.
• F8 (Delegate Command): Allows a companion to take command of a specific formation.

Hotkeys

Moving beyond basic commands requires understanding how to combine formations and exploit terrain to your advantage. The battlefield isn’t flat; using hills, forests, and chokepoints can dramatically impact the outcome of a battle.

The Hammer and Anvil Technique

This classic tactic involves using your infantry as the “anvil” to hold the enemy in place while your cavalry acts as the “hammer,” flanking and crashing into their rear.

1. Position your infantry in a solid line or shield wall formation on relatively flat ground.
2. Position your archers behind the infantry line to provide covering fire.
3. Divide your cavalry into two wings.
4. As the enemy engages your infantry, send your cavalry wings around the flanks to strike their rear.

Archer Volley and Infantry Advance

This strategy focuses on softening the enemy before the main engagement.

1. Position your archers on elevated ground, if available, to maximize their range and effectiveness.
2. Order your archers to fire at will.
3. As the enemy advances, order your infantry to slowly advance as well, maintaining a defensive formation.
4. Once the enemy is within range, order your infantry to engage.

Using Skirmishers Effectively

Skirmishers are versatile units, but they require careful management. Don’t throw them into a melee; use them to harass and disrupt the enemy.

1. Position skirmishers on the flanks, slightly ahead of your main line.
2. Order them to skirmish, using their ranged attacks to harass the enemy.
3. As the enemy closes, order them to fall back behind your main line or to the flanks to continue harassing.

Terrain Awareness: Hills, Forests, and Chokepoints

The terrain plays a crucial role in Bannerlord 2 battles.

• Hills: Give archers increased range and provide a defensive advantage.
• Forests: Can conceal troop movements and create ambush opportunities.
• Chokepoints: Funnel the enemy into a narrow space, making them vulnerable to concentrated fire.

While the above strategies are effective, experience in Bannerlord 2 will teach you invaluable lessons that no guide can fully convey. This section focuses on those more subtle, but ultimately more impactful, elements of battlefield command.

The Importance of Morale

Troop morale is a significant factor in Bannerlord 2 combat. A well-fed, victorious army fights harder than a hungry, demoralized one. Morale can be raised by giving motivational speeches before the battle, fighting on familiar ground, and winning decisively. Conversely, defeats, heavy casualties, and starvation can severely impact morale.

Adapting to the Enemy

No two battles are the same. You must be prepared to adapt your tactics based on the enemy’s composition, terrain, and behavior. If the enemy has a large number of archers, prioritizing closing the distance quickly with your infantry or using cavalry to flank their archers becomes crucial. If the enemy is heavily armored, focusing on flanking maneuvers and using units with high armor penetration can be effective.

Micro-Managing Key Units

While commanding your entire army is important, sometimes focusing on micro-managing a few key units can turn the tide of battle. This could involve personally leading a cavalry charge, repositioning your archers to a better firing position, or using your character to draw enemy attention.

Why You Should Always Keep a Reserve

Never commit all of your troops at once. Holding a reserve force allows you to respond to unexpected events, reinforce weakened areas, or exploit breakthroughs. A small reserve of cavalry can be particularly effective for counter-attacks or flanking maneuvers.

The Value of Scouting

Knowing the enemy’s strength, composition, and position before the battle begins is invaluable. Investing in scouting skills and sending out scouts ahead of your army can provide crucial information that will inform your tactical decisions.

From my experience in Bannerlord 2, one of the biggest mistakes players make is over-reliance on the charge command. While charging can be effective in certain situations, it often results in a disorganized mess and negates the advantages of your carefully crafted formations. I’ve found it far more effective to use the “Advance” command to maintain formation and slowly grind down the enemy.

Another key takeaway is the importance of understanding your troops’ strengths and weaknesses. Imperial Legionaries are excellent in a shield wall formation, while Sturgian Axemen are better suited for a looser, more aggressive formation. Experiment with different formations and unit compositions to find what works best for your playstyle.

Finally, don’t be afraid to delegate command to your companions. A skilled companion can effectively manage a flank or defend a key position, freeing you up to focus on the overall battle strategy.

Mastering formations in Bannerlord 2 combat is a journey, not a destination. By understanding the basics, experimenting with different tactics, and learning from your mistakes, you can transform your army from a disorganized mob into a well-oiled fighting machine. Remember, the key to victory is not just having superior troops, but knowing how to use them effectively. This article provided solutions to:

1. Understanding Formation Basics: Mastering the default formations and commands.
2. Advanced Tactical Deployment: Utilizing terrain and combining formations effectively.
3. Unique Perspectives: Applying battlefield lessons and adapting to different scenarios.

• Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Official Website: https://www.taleworlds.com/en/Games/Bannerlord
• Wikipedia Article on Tactical Formations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_formation