Leveling the throwing skill in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord can be a tedious process, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. A high throwing skill unlocks powerful perks and allows you to decimate enemies with javelins, axes, and throwing knives before they even reach your lines. This article provides practical methods and insights into efficiently leveling your throwing skill, drawn from my own experiences and observations within the game.
The most effective way to increase your throwing skill is through consistent use in combat. While passive skill gains exist, they are minimal compared to actively throwing weapons. The key is to find scenarios that maximize your throwing opportunities while minimizing risk.
Tournaments and Practice Fights
- Tournaments: Participate in tournaments, especially those that feature throwing weapons. These provide a safe environment to practice and level up your skill without risking the lives of your troops or suffering permanent injuries.
- Practice Fights in Towns: Look for practice fights in towns and cities. These skirmishes offer a low-stakes way to hone your skills against a variety of opponents.
Sieges are Ideal Scenario
- Defending Walls: Sieges, particularly when defending, offer plentiful opportunities to level throwing. Position yourself on the walls and rain down projectiles on the approaching enemy.
- Attacking Sieges: When attacking, prioritize using throwing weapons to clear archers and other ranged units from the walls before your troops advance. This not only levels your throwing skill but also reduces casualties among your forces.
Hunting Bandits and Looters
- Targeting Weaker Foes: While engaging large armies is tempting, focusing on smaller groups of bandits and looters allows you to secure more kills with your throwing weapons.
- Using Terrain to Your Advantage: Use terrain features such as hills and forests to create distance between you and your enemies, giving you more time to throw before they close in.
Beyond simply throwing more, several less obvious tactics can significantly boost your throwing skill gains. These are born from observation and experimentation within the game.
The Power of Headshots
While it may seem obvious, actively aiming for headshots provides a significant experience bonus compared to body shots. It may take some practice to master the projectile trajectory, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Headshots not only deal more damage but also grant a considerable XP multiplier for your throwing skill.
Strategic Weapon Selection
The type of throwing weapon you use also affects your skill progression. While javelins offer range and armor penetration, they are often slower to throw and less accurate at close range. Axes and throwing knives, on the other hand, are faster and more accurate, but have shorter range. Experiment to find the weapons that suit your playstyle and the combat situation. I personally found throwing axes to be an excellent balance of speed, damage, and accuracy, especially in chaotic melee engagements.
The “Hit and Run” Tactic on Horseback
- Maintain Distance: If you prefer fighting on horseback, practice the “hit and run” tactic. Ride circles around your enemies, throwing projectiles as you pass. This requires good horsemanship skills and accuracy, but it can be incredibly effective for leveling your throwing skill while minimizing risk.
- Use Fast Horses: A fast horse is essential for this tactic. Choose a horse with high speed and maneuverability to outrun and outmaneuver your opponents.
Utilizing Companion Builds
Don’t neglect the throwing skill of your companions. Equip them with throwing weapons and let them contribute in battles. Their skill gains will also benefit your party’s overall effectiveness. Companions with high athletics and riding skills can become deadly mounted skirmishers when equipped with throwing weapons.
These are observations I’ve made from many hours playing and optimizing throwing builds.
Early Game Focus
- Invest Early: Invest attribute points into Control and focus points into Throwing early in the game. This will give you a head start and make leveling the skill much easier.
- Seek Out Throwing Trainers: Look for trainers who can teach you throwing skills. While these training sessions are limited, they provide a valuable boost early on.
Mid to Late Game Optimization
- Perk Synergies: As you level up your throwing skill, carefully choose perks that synergize with your playstyle. Perks that increase throwing speed, accuracy, or damage can significantly enhance your effectiveness.
- Gear Matters: Invest in high-quality throwing weapons and armor. Better weapons deal more damage, while better armor allows you to survive longer in close-quarters combat.
Learn from Mistakes
Don’t be afraid to experiment and make mistakes. Pay attention to what works and what doesn’t, and adjust your tactics accordingly. The more you practice and observe, the better you will become at throwing. Sometimes, the most valuable lessons are learned from failed attempts.
Understanding the nuances of how throwing impacts gameplay is key to optimizing your skill gains.
Tactical Advantages
A high throwing skill provides significant tactical advantages in battles and sieges. You can eliminate enemy archers and other ranged units before they can inflict casualties on your troops, weakening their lines and creating opportunities for your infantry and cavalry to exploit.
Economic Benefits
Investing in throwing can also have economic benefits. By efficiently clearing bandit hideouts and caravans, you can secure valuable loot and increase your income. This can free up resources that you can invest in your army or other ventures.
Roleplaying Opportunities
Finally, a high throwing skill can open up new roleplaying opportunities. You can specialize in a throwing-focused character build, such as a mounted skirmisher or a siege specialist, and immerse yourself in the world of Bannerlord.
Here’s a table summarizing the best methods for leveling your throwing skill:
| Method | Description | Difficulty | Risk | XP Gain | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tournaments | Participate in tournaments that feature throwing weapons. | Easy | Low | Moderate | Safe and consistent source of XP. |
| Practice Fights | Engage in practice fights in towns and cities. | Easy | Low | Low | Good for early-game practice. |
| Defending Sieges | Defend castles and towns from sieges, raining projectiles on attackers. | Moderate | Moderate | High | Excellent for XP, but requires you to own or be part of a faction that is at war. |
| Attacking Sieges | Attack castles and towns, using throwing weapons to clear archers on the walls. | Moderate | Moderate | High | More risky than defending, but can be very rewarding. |
| Hunting Bandits | Hunt down smaller groups of bandits and looters. | Easy | Low | Moderate | Good for early to mid-game. |
| Hit and Run (Mounted) | Ride around enemies on horseback, throwing projectiles as you pass. | Hard | Moderate | High | Requires good horsemanship skills and accuracy. |
| Headshots | Aim for headshots during battles and sieges. | Moderate | Moderate | Very High | Requires good aim and positioning, but greatly increases throwing skill. |
Leveling the throwing skill in Bannerlord 2 requires a combination of consistent practice, smart tactics, and a willingness to experiment. By prioritizing practical application, utilizing unique approaches, and learning from your mistakes, you can transform your character into a deadly projectile expert. This article solves 3 problems: efficient leveling strategies, unique tactical approaches, and an understanding of the gameplay impact.
Expertise & References
As a long-time player of the Mount & Blade series and an avid experimenter with different character builds, I’ve spent countless hours honing my skills in Bannerlord 2. The strategies outlined in this article are based on my personal experiences and observations within the game. For more general information about Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, you can consult the official website https://www.taleworlds.com/en/games/mountandblade2 or the Mount & Blade Wiki https://mountandblade.fandom.com/wiki/Mount_%26_Blade_Wiki.