Understanding troop trees in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is essential for building a capable army. Each faction in the game has its own unique troop line-up, offering different strengths, specialities, and late-game units. Whether you’re leading a band of hardened infantry or a cavalry-focused warband, knowing how units evolve can be the difference between victory and defeat.
How Troop Trees Work
Troop trees represent the upgrade path of a recruit. As your soldiers gain experience through combat or training, they can be promoted to more advanced units using denars. The tree usually starts with a basic recruit and branches into specialist roles like archers, cavalry, or elite infantry.
Each upgrade tier generally increases in power, equipment quality, and upkeep cost. Higher-tier units are significantly stronger but take longer to train and maintain.
Basic Unit Progression
Most troops follow a similar pattern:
- Tier 1: Recruit (lowest training, minimal equipment)
- Tier 2–3: Regular infantry or ranged
- Tier 4–5: Veteran or specialised unit (e.g. heavy infantry, elite archers)
- Tier 6: Top-tier elite (only a few trees reach this stage)
Some trees split into multiple paths, allowing you to develop your force toward specific battlefield roles.
Factions and Their Troop Trees
Each faction has a distinct military culture that influences their troop trees. Here’s a structured breakdown of the core troop types per faction:
Vlandia
- Known for: Heavy cavalry and crossbowmen
- Highlights:
- Vlandian Banner Knight: One of the most powerful cavalry units in the game.
- Vlandian Sharpshooter: Armoured crossbowman with strong range and defence.
Sturgia
- Known for: Shielded infantry and berserker-style units
- Highlights:
- Sturgian Druzhinnik Champion: Cavalry with solid armour and melee skill.
- Sturgian Heavy Axeman: High-damage two-handed weapon specialist.
Empire (Northern, Southern, Western)
- Known for: Balanced forces with strong legion-style infantry
- Highlights:
- Imperial Legionary: Shielded tank infantry with throwing weapons.
- Imperial Cataphract: Extremely well-armoured cavalry unit.
Battania
- Known for: Forest warfare, strong archers, and two-handed infantry
- Highlights:
- Battanian Fian Champion: Arguably the best archer in the game.
- Battanian Oathsworn: Hard-hitting infantry with good versatility.
Aserai
- Known for: Light cavalry and desert warfare units
- Highlights:
- Aserai Mameluke Palace Guard: Heavy infantry with elite gear.
- Aserai Mameluke Heavy Cavalry: Balanced speed and armour.
Khuzait
- Known for: Horse archers and steppe-based light cavalry
- Highlights:
- Khuzait Khan’s Guard: Dominant horse archer with heavy armour.
- Khuzait Heavy Lancer: Effective cavalry charge unit.
Special Troops
Apart from the standard troop trees, the game also includes:
- Noble Troops: Recruited from lords’ villages or through noble lines. These include elite units like the Imperial Elite Cataphract or Battanian Fian Champion.
- Mercenary and Bandit Units: These include Sea Raiders, Looters, or mercenary swordsmen, some of which are worth training for early-game advantage.
- Minor Faction Troops: Units like the Brotherhood of the Woods or Eleftheroi offer unique troops if recruited via prisoners or special quests.
Recruitment Tips
- Start by recruiting from villages aligned with the faction whose units you want to train.
- Villages owned by lords with higher prosperity and loyalty tend to offer better recruits.
- If you control a fief, you can improve the quality of available troops by building training grounds or improving loyalty.
Training and Upkeep
- Troops gain experience in battle and through companions with the Trainer perk.
- Use the Drill Sergeant perk to increase training speed in towns.
- Keep an eye on wages as higher-tier troops can significantly drain your coffers.
Best Troops by Role (Comparative Snapshot)
| Role | Recommended Unit | Faction |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy Infantry | Imperial Legionary | Empire |
| Ranged Infantry | Battanian Fian Champion | Battania |
| Shock Troops | Sturgian Ulfhednar | Sturgia |
| Cavalry | Vlandian Banner Knight | Vlandia |
| Horse Archer | Khuzait Khan’s Guard | Khuzait |
| Skirmisher | Imperial Menavliaton | Empire |
The Seven Swords takeaway
Troop trees in Bannerlord reward familiarity and long-term planning. Knowing when and where to invest in certain units can give your army a sharp tactical edge. From disciplined imperial legions to nimble horse archers of the Khuzait steppes, each path offers a different way to fight and dominate. Understanding these branches allows you to forge a warband that reflects your strategy and style.
