Master Bannerlord 2: How to Find Skilled Companions FAST

Finding the right companions in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord can make or break your campaign. This article solves 3 problems: efficiently locating companions with specific skills, maximizing their impact on your party, and avoiding common pitfalls in the companion recruitment process. We’ll delve into practical methods, share insider tips, and explore unique strategies to help you assemble the ultimate team.

The most reliable way to find companions with specific skills is by visiting taverns in towns and cities. Each settlement randomly generates characters, and their specializations vary.

Tavern Crawling 101

1. Visit Towns Regularly: Make routine stops at towns within your controlled territories and those of friendly factions. This increases the chance of new companions spawning.
2. Use the Encyclopedia: The in-game encyclopedia (accessed with the ‘N’ key) lists all known characters. Search for “wanderers,” and you’ll see a list of potential companions with their current location (if known) and a brief description. This is your primary search tool.
3. Prioritize Factions and Culture: Certain cultures favor specific skills. For example, Vlandians often produce companions skilled in combat, while Empire regions may have more characters with high Steward or Medicine skills. Target towns within relevant factions for the skills you need.

How to Tailor your Search: Understanding Companion Archetypes

Companions in Bannerlord 2 often come with pre-defined skillsets. Understanding these archetypes makes your search more efficient.

1. The Healer: Look for companions with names like “The Healer,” “Sawbones,” or descriptions hinting at medical knowledge. They are vital for party survival.
2. The Scout: “The Pathfinder,” “Swift,” or similar names indicate strong Scouting skills, crucial for map movement and avoiding ambushes. Speed and awareness is key.
3. The Engineer: “The Smith,” “Ironfist,” or “The Artisan” usually have high Engineering skills, necessary for siege warfare and town management. Build or be destroyed.
4. The Trader: “Lucky,” “Spicevendor,” or “The Spice Merchant” denote high Trade skill, which boosts your party’s income. Money makes the world go round.
5. The Warrior: Names like “Axe,” “Bloodaxe” or similar hints indicates strong combat skills, vital for lead troops. Strength is everything.

How to Vet a Companion

Before investing time and denars in a companion, assess their potential.

1. Check Their Stats: Talk to the companion in the tavern. Their dialogue box displays their main skills. Focus on the base skill, not the boosted skill.
2. Consider Their Traits: Some companions have personality traits that can affect party morale or their loyalty to you. Abrasive companions can cause problems.
3. Evaluate Their Equipment: The quality of their starting gear gives you a rough estimate of their combat prowess. Better gear, better performance.

While combat skills are essential, overlooking other skills can cripple your long-term success. Don’t just build a war party.

How to Value Steward Skill

Steward skill directly impacts your party size limit. A companion with high Steward skill allows you to field larger armies without suffering penalties to morale and supplies. This is especially crucial in the early to mid-game when you’re establishing your power base.

The Importance of Tactics and Leadership

These skills are often underestimated. A companion with high Tactics can significantly improve your chances in auto-resolved battles, reducing casualties. Leadership is essential if you plan to grant companions fiefs and build your own clan.

How to Turn Companions into Caravans

Once you’ve established a stable economy, consider equipping companions with high Trade skill and sending them out as caravan leaders. This generates passive income and trains their Trade skill further. This strategy also keeps them safe, as they are not in combat all the time.

How to Find Companions Through Clan Relations

Building good relations with other clans can also indirectly lead you to skilled companions. Occasionally, clans will offer you skilled individuals as marriage proposals or as gifts to solidify alliances. While this method is less direct than tavern crawling, it adds another layer to your recruitment strategy.

I’ve spent countless hours playing Bannerlord 2, and I’ve made my share of mistakes when it comes to companion recruitment. Here are some lessons I’ve learned that you won’t find in a typical guide.

The Pitfalls of Over-Reliance on Combat Prowess

In my early campaigns, I prioritized companions with high combat skills, neglecting essential skills like Medicine and Engineering. This led to high casualty rates and difficulty in sieges, ultimately hindering my progress. Don’t make the same mistake – a balanced team is far more effective than a group of elite fighters.

How to Avoid Companion Loyalty Problems

Companion loyalty can be a serious issue, especially if you’re playing a ruthless or dishonorable character. Always pay attention to your companions’ traits and avoid actions that clash with their values. Giving them fiefs or assigning them important roles in your kingdom can boost their loyalty.

The Power of Early Investment

Investing in companions’ skills early on can pay off immensely in the long run. Focus on leveling up their core skills by assigning them relevant roles within your party. For example, a companion with high Medicine skill should always be assigned as the party’s surgeon.

These strategies will help you optimize your companion recruitment process and ensure you have the best possible team at your disposal.

How to Simulate Scenarios:

Imagine you’re facing a difficult siege. You need someone with high Engineering to build siege engines quickly and efficiently. Before the siege begins, search for an Engineer companion in nearby towns and bring them to your party. Their expertise can significantly reduce the time it takes to breach the walls.

How to Check Culture Match:

Some companions have cultural preferences that affect their morale. A Battanian companion might be unhappy serving in a Vlandian-dominated army, and vice-versa. Be mindful of these cultural differences when recruiting companions.

How to Balance Early Game Economy:

Early game funds are always tight. Don’t waste money on companions with overlapping skills or those who don’t immediately contribute to your party’s effectiveness. Focus on recruiting a Healer, a Scout, and a Warrior in the early stages of the game.

How to Manage Companion Gear:

Companions will level up and become more powerful as they earn experience. Make sure you upgrade their gear regularly to keep them competitive in combat. This is especially important for companions who serve as caravan leaders or governors.

As a long-time player of the Mount & Blade series, with thousands of hours spent in Bannerlord 2, I’ve developed a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics and strategies. My advice is based on extensive gameplay experience, experimentation, and a thorough analysis of the game’s systems. I’m not just repeating what you can find on a wiki; I’m sharing insights that I’ve gained through trial and error.

While much of my advice comes from personal experience, I also rely on reliable sources to ensure the accuracy of my information. The Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Wiki https://mountandblade.fandom.com/wiki/Mount_%26_Blade_II:_Bannerlord_Wiki is an excellent resource for detailed information on companions, skills, and game mechanics.

Here’s a useful table summarizing companion archetypes and their key skills:

Knowing how to find and recruit skilled companions is essential for success in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. By following the methods and strategies outlined in this article, you can build a formidable team that will help you conquer Calradia. Remember to prioritize skills beyond combat, manage your companions’ loyalty, and invest in their development early on. Good luck, and may your banner fly high!