Top 10 Best Troops In Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

After spending more hours in Bannerlord than I'd like to admit, I've noticed that no matter which faction I start with, I eventually end up chasing the same elite troops. Some units simply perform so well that they can completely change the outcome of a battle, while others consistently prove their value throughout an entire campaign.

Of course, every player will have their own favorites. Some troops shine in sieges, others dominate field battles, and a few become incredibly powerful when used alongside the right army composition. Still, certain units have impressed me time and time again, whether I was recruiting them myself or desperately trying to stop them on the battlefield.

10. Sturgian Heavy Spearman

Heavy Spearmen probably won't top many players' lists, but I think they're often underrated. Whenever I need infantry that can hold a position without folding under pressure, these troops tend to perform remarkably well.

What I like most about them is their reliability. They're not designed to rack up huge kill counts, but they provide a solid defensive backbone for any army. Their shields and armor allow them to absorb punishment while the rest of your force does the damage.

With the addition of naval combat and more close-quarter fighting through War Sails, I've found myself appreciating sturdy infantry like Heavy Spearmen more than I did in earlier versions of the game.

9. Aserai Master Archer

The Aserai roster doesn't always get as much attention as some of the other factions, but their Master Archers have consistently impressed me.

They're accurate, dependable, and capable of thinning enemy ranks long before melee begins. What separates them from many lower-tier ranged units is their consistency. Battle after battle, they deliver exactly what you'd expect from an elite archer.

Whenever I run an Aserai campaign, these troops usually become the core of my ranged line because they perform well in almost every situation.

8. Imperial Legionary

There are more specialized infantry units in Bannerlord, but very few are as dependable as the Imperial Legionary.

Every time I recruit Legionaries, I know exactly what I'm getting. Strong armor, excellent shields, good weapons, and enough survivability to remain effective throughout long engagements. They're rarely the stars of the battle report, but they're often the reason your army wins in the first place.

If somebody asked me for a troop that could perform well in almost any campaign, Legionaries would be among the first recommendations I'd make.

7. Sturgian Druzhinnik Champion

For a long time, I didn't fully appreciate how good Druzhinnik Champions really are.

Most discussions about cavalry tend to focus on Banner Knights or Khan's Guard, which means these Sturgian nobles often fly under the radar. Once I started using them properly, though, I quickly understood why so many experienced players rate them highly.

Their biggest strength is versatility. They're excellent cavalry, but unlike many mounted units, they remain dangerous after being forced off their horses. That flexibility becomes especially valuable during sieges, defensive battles, and the boarding actions introduced with War Sails.

6. Vlandian Sharpshooter

I've always enjoyed using crossbow units, and Vlandian Sharpshooters are easily my favorite in Bannerlord.

What they lack in rate of fire, they make up for with powerful, accurate shots. Against heavily armored opponents, they can be incredibly effective, especially when defending walls or supporting infantry formations.

The longer I've played Bannerlord, the more I've come to appreciate troops that can consistently perform their role without needing perfect conditions. Sharpshooters fit that description perfectly.

5. Imperial Elite Cataphract

Whenever I see a large group of Elite Cataphracts approaching, I know things are about to get serious.

These are some of the toughest cavalry units in the game, combining heavy armor, strong horses, and impressive staying power. Even after the initial charge, they remain effective for much longer than many other cavalry units.

What impresses me most is how dependable they are. Some cavalry relies heavily on perfect timing, but Cataphracts tend to deliver results regardless of the exact circumstances of the battle.

4. Vlandian Banner Knight

Few things in Bannerlord are as satisfying as watching Banner Knights slam into an exposed enemy flank.

They're fast, heavily armored, and capable of creating chaos almost instantly. A well-timed charge from Banner Knights can completely shift the momentum of a battle, especially against infantry caught in the open.

Every Vlandian campaign I've played eventually turns into a quest to recruit more of these troops because they consistently prove just how effective elite cavalry can be.

3. Khuzait Khan's Guard

At this point, Khan's Guard hardly needs an introduction.

Anyone who has fought against them already knows how dangerous they can be. They combine mobility, ranged firepower, and surprisingly strong melee performance in a way that very few units can match.

What makes them so powerful is their flexibility. They can harass enemies from range, reposition whenever necessary, chase down retreating troops, and still perform exceptionally well once the battle becomes a melee.

Whenever I build a Khuzait army, these are the troops I prioritize above almost everything else.

2. Battanian Fian Champion

If there is a single troop that has earned its reputation over years of Bannerlord campaigns, it's the Fian Champion.

Their longbows are devastating, their accuracy is exceptional, and they can remove enormous numbers of enemy troops before those enemies ever reach your lines. What surprises many players, though, is that Fians are far from helpless in melee. Unlike many ranged units, they can defend themselves remarkably well when the fighting gets close.

I've lost count of how many difficult battles became manageable simply because I had enough Fian Champions positioned correctly.

1. Nord Huscarls

The arrival of the Nords brought several fantastic troops to Bannerlord, but Huscarls immediately stood out to me.

The first few times I used them in sieges and boarding battles, it became obvious that they were something special. They're heavily armored, extremely durable, and perfectly suited to the brutal close-range combat that War Sails introduced.

What ultimately puts them at the top of this list is how consistently they perform. Whether they're defending walls, pushing through gates, holding shield formations, or fighting aboard ships, Huscarls always seem to deliver. They don't rely on ideal circumstances and they don't need a specific battle type to shine.

For me, that's what separates a great troop from the best troop in the game. Plenty of units excel in certain situations, but Huscarls seem capable of excelling in almost all of them.

Final Thoughts

One of the things I enjoy most about Bannerlord is that there isn't a single correct way to build an army. Different factions reward different strategies, and almost every troop can be effective when used properly.

That said, these are the units that have consistently impressed me across multiple campaigns. Whether I was fighting alongside them or facing them across the battlefield, they're the troops that always seemed to have the biggest impact when the fighting started.