Companions in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord are more than just fillers for your party. They act as governors, scouts, party leaders, and elite fighters. Choosing the right ones can significantly impact your campaign’s efficiency, battlefield dominance, and economic management. This article ranks the most powerful companions based on their initial stats, traits, and long-term utility.
What Makes a Companion Strong?
In Bannerlord, a strong companion usually excels in one or more of the following:
- Combat Prowess: High skills in one-handed, two-handed, or polearms, plus strong riding and athletics.
- Tactical Utility: Skills like tactics, leadership, and scouting, which allow them to lead parties or serve effectively in roles.
- Civil Administration: Trade, steward, engineering, and medicine are crucial for managing fiefs or caravans.
Best Combat-Focused Companions
1. The Spicevendor
- Focus: Two-Handed, Athletics, Riding
- Why they’re strong: Extremely high combat skills make this companion deadly in close-quarters. Ideal as a personal bodyguard or party leader.
- Culture: Aserai
2. The Bloodaxe
- Focus: Two-Handed, Athletics
- Notable for: Pure frontline power. Can cut through enemy lines with ease.
- Culture: Sturgian
3. The She-Wolf
- Focus: One-Handed, Athletics
- Strengths: Compact, mobile, and lethal. Also has decent tactics.
- Culture: Empire
4. The Falcon
- Focus: Polearm, Riding, Athletics
- Use case: Excellent as heavy cavalry or a flanker. Strong in mounted combat.
- Culture: Vlandian
Best Governors and Civil Companions
1. The Swift
- Focus: Steward, Trade, Leadership
- Why pick them: Ideal governor or caravan leader. High trade and stewardship allow for excellent passive income.
- Culture: Empire
2. The Surgeon
- Focus: Medicine
- Essential role: Drastically reduces wounded soldier deaths and improves party recovery speed.
- Culture: Khuzait
3. The Spicevendor (again)
- Versatility: Surprisingly strong steward skills in addition to combat. Can be dual-purposed if not leading troops.
4. The Engineer
- Focus: Engineering, Intelligence
- Best for: Sieges. Increases siege weapon build speed and effectiveness.
- Culture: Varies by spawn
Best for Leading Parties
1. The Golden
- Focus: Tactics, Leadership, Riding
- Strengths: Naturally fits as a captain or independent party leader. Capable tactician and competent on horseback.
- Culture: Vlandian
2. The Silent
- Focus: Scouting, Athletics
- Best used as: A party scout. High Scouting improves map visibility and reduces ambush risks.
- Culture: Battanian
3. The Lucky
- Focus: Roguery, Leadership, Tactics
- Ideal for: Raiding or hit-and-run tactics. Can also run profitable bandit-style parties.
- Culture: Varies
Honourable Mentions
- The Engineer: Lacks combat power but irreplaceable in long siege campaigns.
- The Robber: High Roguery and decent combat, useful if playing a criminal-heavy campaign.
- The Wanderer: Good early-game companion with high Athletics and One-Handed skills.
Companion Spawn and Recruitment Tips
- Companion names are randomised per campaign, but their titles (e.g. “the Bloodaxe”) are fixed.
- Use the Encyclopaedia (N key) to search for specific companion titles and track their location.
- Visit major cities and taverns regularly. Some powerful companions only appear after several in-game weeks.
- Limit companion count based on your Clan Tier. Upgrade your clan to increase capacity.
The Seven Swords takeaway
The best companion depends on your campaign goals. For war-heavy playthroughs, prioritise combat monsters like the Bloodaxe or Falcon. If you’re building a trade empire or managing a kingdom, the Swift and the Surgeon provide immense value. Look beyond raw stats and think about long-term utility across the map, especially once you’re juggling multiple fiefs and warfronts.
Carefully selected companions can change the pace and power of your campaign. Ignore them, and you’re missing out on one of Bannerlord‘s richest systems.
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