How to Increase Party Size in Bannerlord 2: A Practical Guide

This article dives into the most effective ways to expand your warband in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. We’ll explore proven strategies to boost your party size, covering everything from clan tier and leadership skills to policies and key perks. The core focus is providing actionable steps to solve your party size limitations and dominate the battlefield.

Party size in Bannerlord 2 isn’t a fixed number. It’s dynamically influenced by several factors, meaning you can significantly increase it with the right approach. Ignoring these factors will leave you with a small, easily defeated force.

Clan Tier: The Foundation of Your Army

Your clan tier is the most fundamental determinant of party size. Each tier grants a substantial increase to your maximum party size. Starting at Tier 1 with a modest limit, you’ll need to progress through the game by gaining renown and completing quests to reach higher tiers.

Influence: Fueling Your Ambitious Campaigns

Influence acts as a resource that can be used to pass beneficial kingdom policies that can, in turn, increase your party size limit. Managing your influence wisely is crucial for long-term success.

Leadership Skill: Honing Your Command Abilities

The Leadership skill directly impacts how many troops you can command. Investing skill points in Leadership unlocks perks that grant additional party size. Focus on leveling this skill early to maximize your potential.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s delve into the practical methods to increase your party size in Bannerlord 2.

Leveling Leadership and Choosing the Right Perks

Leadership offers numerous perks that boost party size. Some of the most effective include:

• Authority: +2 party size per level after 50 Leadership.
• Swift Justice: +1 party size for every 25 points of leadership skill.
• Drill Sergeant: Increases experience gain for your troops, helping them level up faster and indirectly boosting your army’s combat effectiveness.

Prioritize perks that offer flat increases to party size early on, then transition to perks that scale with your Leadership level.

Increasing Clan Tier: Gaining Renown and Power

Earning renown is the key to increasing your clan tier. Here’s how:

• Winning Battles: Participate in and win battles, especially against larger forces.
• Completing Quests: Take on and successfully complete quests from lords, notables, and villagers.
• Tournaments: Participate in tournaments and win for a significant renown boost.

Focus on consistently earning renown early on, as it will unlock higher clan tiers and significantly increase your party size limit. I have found that focusing on tournaments in the early game is a very easy way to quickly gain renown.

Kingdom Policies: Enacting Laws for a Larger Army

If you are part of a kingdom (either your own or as a vassal), you can use influence to propose and support policies that increase party size.

• Royal Guard: Increases the party size of clan leaders.
• Serfdom: While it has downsides, it provides a small increase to party size.

Carefully consider the long-term effects of each policy before supporting it.

While the above methods are well-documented, I’ve found that certain strategies offer unique advantages that aren’t always immediately obvious.

The Power of Companions

While companions don’t directly increase your main party size, they allow you to have multiple smaller parties on the map. This is invaluable for:

• Scouting: Send companions ahead to scout enemy movements and identify lucrative targets.
• Raiding: Have companions raid enemy villages to disrupt their economy and draw out enemy forces.
• Recruiting: A companion party can patrol an area to recruit soldiers passively, without slowing down your main party.

Don’t underestimate the strategic value of well-equipped and skilled companions.

Balancing Quantity and Quality

While a larger party size allows you to field more troops, remember that quality is just as important as quantity. A smaller, well-trained force can often defeat a larger, poorly equipped army.

Invest in upgrading your troops and providing them with good equipment. Focus on quality over quantity, especially in the early game. This also improves party cohesion, which improves morale.

The Hidden Cost of a Large Army

Maintaining a large army can be incredibly expensive. Wages, food, and equipment costs can quickly drain your treasury.

Ensure you have a reliable source of income to support your growing warband. This could involve trading, owning workshops, or raiding enemy territories. Going to war while cash poor is a recipe for disaster.

Overcoming the Early Game Hurdles

The early game is often the most challenging in terms of party size. You’re limited by your low clan tier and lack of resources. Here’s how to overcome these hurdles:

• Focus on quick renown gains: Participate in tournaments, hunt bandits, and complete simple quests.
• Recruit cheap troops: Start with cheaper troops like militia and gradually upgrade them as you gain resources.
• Avoid unnecessary battles: Don’t engage in fights you can’t win. Focus on building your strength and reputation.

Patience and smart decision-making are crucial in the early game.

I’ve spent hundreds of hours playing Bannerlord 2, experimenting with different strategies, and analyzing the game’s mechanics. My advice is based on a combination of in-game experience and thorough research.

The information presented here aligns with the core mechanics of Bannerlord 2 as documented by Taleworlds Entertainment and discussed within the Bannerlord community. While specific values and mechanics may be subject to change with updates, the fundamental principles remain consistent.

For further information on specific game mechanics, refer to the Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Wiki: https://mountandblade.fandom.com/wiki/Mount_%26_Blade_II:_Bannerlord