Building an unstoppable army in Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord requires more than collecting random recruits from villages. Every culture in Calradia features distinct upgrade paths that shape how your forces behave under fire, how much they cost to maintain, and whether they dominate open fields or crumble during sieges. If you recruit blindly, you end up wasting valuable denars on a disorganised mob that breaks at the first cavalry charge. Understanding how faction troop trees operate allows you to forge a cohesive force tailored directly to your preferred tactical style.
Troop progression in Bannerlord follows a structured path. Basic recruits start at Tier 1 and branch out into infantry, ranged, or cavalry roles as they accumulate combat experience. Standard units typically top out at Tier 5, while elite noble lines stretch to Tier 6. Upgrading soldiers requires both experience points and gold, with mounted paths demanding an additional horse item in your inventory. Mastering these upgrade choices transforms your campaign from a constant struggle for survival into an efficient military expansion.
Empire Troop Tree Analysis
The Empire offers the most reliable and balanced standard troop tree in Calradia. Imperial forces excel at forming resilient frontlines and maintaining steady defensive geometry during prolonged engagements.
Imperial Legionaries serve as the bedrock of standard infantry formations. They wear heavy body armour, carry large scutum shields that withstand intense missile fire, and wield short swords paired with throwing pilum. They hold ground stubbornly against aggressive charges.
For shock value, the Imperial Elite Menavliaton provides exceptional polearm coverage. These troops tear through enemy cavalry and shield walls alike, though they require careful positioning due to lighter secondary protection.
The crown jewel of the Empire is the Imperial Elite Cataphract, reached through the noble line starting with the Imperial Vigla Recruit. These heavy cavalry units wear complete plate barding and heavy mail, making them exceptionally difficult to rout. While their lances cannot be couched manually in the same way player weapons are, their sheer mass makes them devastating in a frontal charge.
Vlandian Troop Tree Analysis
Vlandia mirrors feudal European warfare, focusing on devastating shock cavalry, heavy footmen, and lethal ranged crossbow units. If you want to smash enemy lines with sheer momentum, Vlandia is the definitive choice.
Vlandian Sharpshooters represent the peak of non-noble ranged warfare. Unlike bowmen, crossbows penetrate heavy armour with ease, making Vlandian ranged squads exceptionally dangerous during siege defenses and counter-battery fire. They also carry decent melee sidearms, allowing them to defend themselves if enemy infantry closes the gap.
On the cavalry side, the Vlandian Banner Knight stands among the most powerful shock units in the game. Their couched lance damage is unmatched, often eliminating targets on impact. Pair these knights with Vlandian Pikemen to hold the center, and you create a textbook medieval army capable of dictating the terms of engagement on open plains.
Battanian Troop Tree Analysis
Battania draws inspiration from ancient Celtic and Brythonic tribes, prioritizing raw speed, lethal ranged firepower, and aggressive two-handed shock infantry over heavy metal armour.
The Battanian Fian Champion is widely considered the single strongest unit in Bannerlord. Sourced from the Battanian Highborn Youth noble line, Fians combine an incredible bow skill with high movement speed and lethal two-handed swords. They fire at a blistering rate and can easily transition into deadly melee combat once enemy lines fracture.
Battanian infantry rely heavily on wildlings and skirmishers who throw bundles of javelins before closing in with axes and falxes. While their armour rating is generally lower than Imperial or Sturgian equivalents, their superior athletics allow them to maneuver rapidly through difficult terrain like forests and hills.
Sturgian Troop Tree Analysis
Sturgia specializes in brutal, high-damage infantry combat inspired by early medieval Rus and Viking factions. Their philosophy revolves around aggressive shield walls, heavy throwing axes, and overwhelming close-quarters offense.
Sturgian Heavy Axemen and Heroic Line Breakers excel in tight terrain, choke points, and siege assaults. Axes make short work of enemy shields, and their high melee stats allow them to grind down opposing infantry through sheer attrition.
Sturgia struggles significantly with ranged superiority and lacks elite native horse archers, making open-field battles against Khuzait or Battanian armies punishing if you march straight into them without cover. However, when fighting in forests, villages, or castle breaches, Sturgian infantry dominates.
Khuzait Troop Tree Analysis
The Khuzait Khanate dominates the steppes through mobility, constant pressure, and an overwhelming reliance on mounted archery. If you enjoy kiting slower enemy armies and bleeding them dry from a distance, the Khuzait tree is unmatched.
Khuzait Heavy Horse Archers harass enemy formations continuously, firing arrows while remaining out of reach of standard infantry. At the pinnacle sits the Khuzait Khan's Guard, a noble unit equipped with glaives and exceptional bows. They function as lethal horse archers at a distance and devastating shock cavalry in close melee.
The main drawback of the Khuzait roster is their foot infantry, which lags behind other factions in armor quality and offensive punch. You must rely on your mobility and outmaneuver opposing forces rather than locking into static defensive grinds.
Aserai Troop Tree Analysis
The Aserai offer the most flexible and well-rounded roster in the game, reflecting the desert tribes and urban centers of the southern region. They lack extreme specialisation, but they also lack glaring weaknesses.
Aserai Master Archers provide reliable fire support, while the Aserai Faris and Vanguard Faris lines offer fast, flexible cavalry equipped with javelins and good armor protection. Their infantry units, including the Mamluke Palace Guard, handle mixed terrain effectively. This versatility makes the Aserai a safe choice for players who enjoy adapting their army composition to face multiple different cultural neighbors across a long campaign.
Converting Bandits into Elite Regulars
Many players ignore bandits found in hideouts or captured on the map, viewing them merely as a source of cheap loot. However, unlocking the Disciplinarian perk in the Leadership skill tree completely alters this dynamic.
Once active, this perk lets you upgrade captured bandits into standard regular troop lines. For example, Sea Raiders upgrade directly into fierce Sturgian infantry, while Forest Bandits convert into Battanian tactical units. This mechanic provides a steady stream of high-tier troops without requiring you to travel back to friendly villages every time your frontline takes casualties.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check troop trees directly inside the game?
Press the 'N' key on your keyboard to open the encyclopedia, select the 'Units' tab, and click on any faction to view their complete upgrade paths. Alternatively, you can right-click any unit currently in your party menu to pull up their specific tree instantly.
Why do some of my troops fail to upgrade?
Upgrading units requires both sufficient experience points and enough gold. If you are trying to promote a foot soldier into a mounted cavalry unit, your party inventory must also contain an available horse of the appropriate type.
Which faction has the best overall cavalry?
Vlandia fields the best shock cavalry with the Banner Knight, while the Empire's Elite Cataphracts offer superior defensive staying power and survivability during prolonged melee brawls.
Are mercenary troops worth adding to my party?
Mercenaries like the Hired Blade or Elite Crossbow are generally strong and flexible, but they cost significantly more daily upkeep denar than standard cultural troops of equivalent tiers. Use them to plug immediate gaps after heavy losses rather than building an entire permanent army around them.
