Top 10 Best Troops In Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
Choosing the right troops in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord can completely change how your campaign plays out, especially after the War Sails expansion added naval combat, boarding battles, and stronger infantry-focused warfare.
Some units dominate open-field combat, while others completely destroy enemies during sieges or close-quarter ship battles. The best troops are the ones that consistently perform well across multiple situations, survive longer, and remain effective throughout an entire campaign.
This list ranks the best troops in Bannerlord and War Sails based on:
Overall combat effectiveness
Versatility
Survivability
Siege and naval performance
Auto resolve strength
Long-term campaign value
10. Sturgian Heavy Spearman
The Sturgian Heavy Spearman is one of the most underrated infantry units in the game. While they are not flashy, they perform extremely well in defensive battles and close-quarter combat.
They are especially effective against:
Cavalry charges
Boarding battles
Shield wall fights
Defensive formations
Their heavy shields and strong armor allow them to survive much longer than most infantry units, especially during the brutal melee combat introduced with War Sails.
If you prefer defensive armies or infantry-heavy compositions, these troops are incredibly reliable.
9. Aserai Master Archer
The Aserai Master Archer is one of the most versatile ranged units in Bannerlord. They combine strong ranged accuracy with surprisingly decent melee capabilities.
They perform well in:
Open-field battles
Defensive sieges
Desert warfare
Mixed army compositions
While they are not as devastating as Battanian Fian Champions, they are easier to recruit and maintain in larger armies, making them more practical during long campaigns.
Their flexibility makes them one of the safest ranged troop choices in the game.
8. Imperial Legionary
The Imperial Legionary remains one of the best all-around infantry units in Bannerlord.
These troops are heavily armored, extremely durable, and consistently effective in almost every battle type.
Their biggest strengths include:
Strong shield walls
Excellent survivability
Great siege performance
Reliable auto resolve value
Legionaries work well in nearly every army composition. You can place them on the front line in almost any battle, and they will usually perform well.
They may not specialize in one particular role, but their consistency makes them one of the strongest infantry units overall.
7. Sturgian Druzhinnik Champion
The Sturgian Druzhinnik Champion became significantly stronger after the War Sails update due to how effective armored troops are during naval combat and boarding actions.
They combine:
Heavy armor
Strong melee weapons
Mounted combat
High survivability
Unlike many cavalry units, Druzhinnik Champions remain extremely dangerous even after being dismounted.
That versatility makes them one of the best hybrid units in the game.
6. Vlandian Sharpshooter
Crossbows became much more valuable after War Sails, especially during sieges and ship battles where enemies fight in tighter formations.
The Vlandian Sharpshooter delivers extremely high damage and performs especially well against armored enemies.
Their biggest advantages are:
High armor penetration
Excellent defensive potential
Strong siege performance
Better survivability than most ranged troops
They fire slower than traditional archers, but their damage output can be devastating during prolonged fights.
5. Imperial Elite Cataphract
The Imperial Elite Cataphract is still one of the strongest heavy cavalry units in Bannerlord.
These troops are essentially armored tanks on horseback.
They excel at:
Crushing infantry formations
Breaking enemy lines
Open-field battles
Auto resolve combat
Their armor makes them extremely difficult to kill, and once they build momentum during a cavalry charge, they can wipe out weaker armies very quickly.
Cataphracts remain one of the safest late-game cavalry investments.
4. Vlandian Banner Knight
Vlandian Banner Knights are arguably the strongest pure cavalry unit in the game right now.
Since Vlandia already has one of the best cavalry-focused rosters in Bannerlord, Banner Knights naturally become one of the most dominant units available.
They feature:
Massive charge damage
Excellent armor
Strong melee weapons
High mobility
Because cavalry performs so well in auto resolve, Banner Knights become even more valuable during long wars and kingdom management campaigns.
If you enjoy aggressive cavalry gameplay, these units are among the best choices possible.
3. Khuzait Khan’s Guard
The Khuzait Khan’s Guard continues to be one of the most overpowered units in Bannerlord.
They are essentially elite horse archers combined with deadly melee cavalry.
Their mobility alone makes them terrifying.
They dominate:
Open-field battles
Hit-and-run tactics
Large map engagements
Chasing routing enemies
When used correctly, Khan’s Guard can carry entire battles almost by themselves.
Their biggest weakness is close-quarter combat during sieges and naval boarding fights, where mobility becomes less important.
2. Battanian Fian Champion
The Battanian Fian Champion is still considered by many players to be the strongest ranged unit in Bannerlord.
Their bows are incredibly powerful, and unlike most archers, they are also extremely dangerous in melee combat.
Fian Champions are famous for:
Ridiculous ranged damage
Incredible accuracy
Strong melee weapons
Siege dominance
A properly protected group of Fian Champions can destroy entire enemy armies before they even reach your infantry line.
The only real downside is that they are expensive and more difficult to replace compared to many other troops.
1. Nord Huscarls
The Nord Huscarls introduced with War Sails immediately became one of the strongest infantry units in the game.
They are absolutely terrifying during:
Boarding battles
Sieges
Shield wall pushes
Defensive fights
Their heavy armor, strong shields, powerful axes, and overall survivability make them dominant in almost every close-quarter engagement.
Because War Sails heavily increased the importance of infantry and naval combat, Huscarls became even more valuable overall.
Unlike many elite units that only specialize in one situation, Nord Huscarls remain effective in almost every type of battle.
That versatility is what makes them the best troop in Bannerlord right now.
Honorable Mentions
Some other units that are still extremely powerful include:
Aserai Vanguard Faris
Khuzait Heavy Horse Archer
Sturgian Heroic Line Breaker
Imperial Menavliaton
Vlandian Sergeant
Depending on your army composition and playstyle, some of these troops can easily compete with units inside the top 10.
