Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is brilliant because it throws you into a giant medieval sandbox and basically says, “Good luck, try not to get captured by looters with farming tools.”
Your first few hours matter. A smart start can turn you from a wandering nobody with a rusty sword into a feared clan leader with castles, elite soldiers and enough gold to casually fund your questionable political decisions.
Bannerlord rewards momentum. The stronger your foundation, the easier every later stage becomes.
Pick A Culture That Supports Your Playstyle
Your culture choice gives permanent bonuses, so think beyond aesthetics. Yes, looking cool matters, but a slightly better beard will not save you when 600 angry cavalry arrive.
| Culture | Best For | Early Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Vlandia | Cavalry and conquest | Faster troop experience from battles |
| Empire | Balanced campaigns | Better settlement projects |
| Battania | Archery and forests | Faster movement through forests |
| Sturgia | Infantry warfare | Strong defensive armies |
| Khuzait | Horse archery | Superior campaign map mobility |
| Aserai | Trading and economy | Cheaper caravans and trade bonuses |
For beginners, Vlandia, Empire and Khuzait are some of the easiest starts because their strengths remain useful throughout the campaign.
Focus Your Character Build Early
Bannerlord gives you freedom, but spreading points everywhere creates a character who is average at everything.
Strong beginner skills:
Steward
One of the best long-term skills in the game.
Benefits:
- Larger party size
- Better army management
- Easier expansion
Keep varied food in your inventory to level it naturally.
Riding
Movement is everything.
A faster character means:
- Better combat survival
- Stronger cavalry builds
- More battlefield control
Leadership
Essential once you move from mercenary fights into kingdom warfare.
Trade
Not mandatory, but powerful if you enjoy making money before making enemies.
Your First Goal: Survive And Build Cash
Forget conquering castles immediately. The early game is about becoming stable.
Start by:
- Fighting looters
- Completing village quests
- Winning tournaments
- Trading simple goods
- Selling captured equipment
Tournaments are especially valuable. You improve combat skills, gain reputation and can win expensive rewards.
Nothing feels better than entering poor and leaving with a prize horse worth thousands of denars.
Build A Small But Strong Army
New players often recruit too many troops too quickly. A large weak army drains money and still loses fights.
Early target:
- 20 to 40 quality soldiers
- Upgrade carefully
- Avoid unnecessary wages
A balanced early force:
| Unit Type | Percentage |
| Infantry | 40% |
| Archers | 40% |
| Cavalry | 20% |
Archers are extremely effective early because most bandits have poor armour.
Best Early Troops To Recruit
Some recruits become absolute monsters after upgrades.
Strong choices:
Imperial Recruits
Upgrade into:
- Imperial Legionaries
- Imperial Elite Cataphracts
Reliable and available almost everywhere.
Battanian Highborn Youth
Upgrade into:
- Battanian Fian Champions
One of the strongest ranged units in Bannerlord.
Vlandian Recruits
Upgrade into:
- Vlandian Banner Knights
Heavy cavalry that can decide battles.
Khuzait Noble’s Sons
Upgrade into:
- Khuzait Khan’s Guard
Fast, deadly and slightly annoying when you are the person chasing them.
Get Companions Early
Companions are not just extra fighters. They fill weaknesses in your clan.
Look for specialists:
| Role | Useful Skills |
| Surgeon | Medicine |
| Scout | Scouting |
| Quartermaster | Steward |
| Governor | Engineering, Charm |
A good surgeon saves hundreds of troops over a long campaign.
Check taverns regularly because companion availability changes.
Become A Mercenary Before Joining A Kingdom
Do not swear loyalty too quickly.
Being a mercenary lets you:
- Earn money from battles
- Build relationships
- Test different factions
- Leave without major consequences
Pick a kingdom already at war, hunt smaller enemy groups and sell loot.
War is basically Bannerlord’s questionable economic engine.
Make Money Before Buying Castles
A kingdom without money collapses fast.
Reliable income sources:
Workshops
Good options:
- Breweries in grain-rich regions
- Smithies where iron is common
- Wine presses near grape production
Workshop profits vary depending on the economy, so location matters.
Caravans
Expensive early, but useful once you have spare cash and companions.
Smithing
Smithing can become extremely profitable, although some players avoid it because it can feel too powerful.
Crafting valuable weapons can fund entire armies.
Learn Battles Instead Of Auto Resolving
Auto resolve is tempting. It is also great at magically killing your favourite elite soldiers against five random bandits.
Manual battles teach:
- Positioning
- Terrain usage
- Formations
- Cavalry timing
Basic tactics:
- Put archers on hills
- Keep infantry protecting them
- Use cavalry for flanking
- Do not chase every enemy yourself
Hero moments are fun, but getting surrounded by peasants with pitchforks is a classic Bannerlord experience.
Raise Clan Tier Quickly
Clan tier unlocks almost everything important.
Increase it through:
- Winning battles
- Fighting stronger enemies
- Completing quests
- Joining wars
Higher clan tiers unlock:
- Bigger parties
- More companions
- Kingdom options
- Better political influence
Your clan rank matters more than your personal equipment.
Do Not Start A Kingdom Too Early
Creating your own kingdom sounds amazing.
Reality usually looks like:
Day one: “I am the new ruler of Calradia.”
Day two: Three kingdoms declare war.
Day three: You are hiding in a village wondering where your army went.
Before independence, aim for:
- 500,000+ denars
- Multiple strong parties
- High clan tier
- Good relations with nobles
- Several elite armies
Preparation wins campaigns.
Early Game Mistakes To Avoid
Common beginner traps:
- Recruiting too many troops
- Ignoring wages
- Fighting impossible battles
- Joining weak kingdoms blindly
- Forgetting food variety
- Selling every useful horse
- Ignoring companions
- Starting wars too soon
Bannerlord rarely ends because of one huge mistake. It is usually twenty tiny bad decisions wearing you down.
Best Early Game Path Summary
A smooth campaign route:
| Stage | Goal |
| First days | Fight looters, trade, tournaments |
| Clan Tier 1 | Build a reliable party |
| Clan Tier 2 | Become a mercenary |
| Mid game | Gain wealth and companions |
| Later | Become a vassal or create a kingdom |
Takeaway
Starting strong in Bannerlord is about patience. The game tempts you into acting like a legendary warlord immediately, but even the greatest conquerors need money, soldiers and someone competent enough to stop everyone starving.
Build slowly, pick smart fights and create a clan that can survive without relying on lucky victories.
Calradia belongs to whoever prepares properly before the chaos begins.
