When starting out in Bannerlord, what are the first steps you should take? We’ve outlined a few key actions to follow, such as recruiting soldiers and upgrading your clan.
After creating your hero and finishing the tutorial in Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord, you’ll have access to the entire map of Calradia. The vast, open world can be overwhelming, and you may not know where to begin. That’s where our guide comes in, providing advice on what you should do first in the game.
If you haven’t created a character yet, be sure to check out the guide section dedicated to character creation and skills.
- Recruit your first soldiers
- Make some money
- Upgrade your clan to the next level
- Join a faction
Recruit Your First Soldiers
You can recruit soldiers in towns and villages.
Your initial objective should be to recruit basic soldiers. At first, you can have about 20 warriors in your group – the starting amount of gold is sufficient to recruit them. Go to nearby towns and villages, where you can recruit soldiers after selecting the “Recruit troops” button. Don’t forget to purchase food – your army needs to eat every day. If there’s no food, you’ll face significant desertions.
Managing and recruiting your army is one of the most critical aspects of Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord. The guide covers several sections that address this:
- Party management
- How to increase party size?
- How to recruit soldiers?
Make Some Money
Participating in tournaments is one way to earn money.
If you have a small army, you can already start earning money. There are numerous ways to make money, but initially, it’s best to focus on hunting bandits. This approach has the advantage of allowing you to earn money and gain experience for both yourself and your soldiers. Fighting in the arena and participating in tournaments can also yield some gold. Arenas are available in any city and at any time – the more opponents you defeat, the more money you’ll earn. Tournaments are organized periodically in random cities – winning earns you a valuable prize (such as a high-quality sword, armor, or horse) and plenty of gold if you bet on yourself prior to the tournament. Don’t forget to complete missions as well. Successfully finishing missions provides a significant amount of gold and improves your relationship with the client.
If you’re interested in learning more about making money, check out the section entitled “How to Earn Money?”.
Take Your Clan to the Next Level
To upgrade your clan, complete the “Rebuild Your Clan” mission.
When starting out in Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord, it’s important to focus on leveling up your clan. It’s not a difficult task and requires 2,000 gold pieces, 20 soldiers, one companion, and 50 reputation points. You can find companions in taverns and gain reputation points by winning battles against bandits. Once you reach the first clan level, you’ll be able to recruit more soldiers and join a faction as a mercenary. Keep track of your progress in the mission log under “Rebuild Your Clan.”
If you’re having trouble recruiting a companion or gaining reputation, check out the guides on Companions and How to Gain Reputation?
Join a Faction
Become a mercenary for a faction by speaking to a lord.
Once you reach the first clan level, you can join a faction in Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord. It’s recommended to join the strongest faction in Calradia, which you can determine by zooming out and checking which kingdom is the largest.
To join a faction, find a lord of that faction and express your desire to serve as a mercenary. As a mercenary, you’ll receive a daily salary and will have enemies in common with the faction. You can participate in wars, fight lords, raid caravans, and even join faction armies to raid villages and besiege enemy castles.
FAQ
1. What should I do first when starting Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord?
When starting Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord, it is recommended to create your character and choose your starting stats. This will determine your initial strengths and weaknesses. Next, you should familiarize yourself with the game’s mechanics by completing the tutorial. This will teach you the basics of combat, movement, and strategy. Once you have completed the tutorial, it is a good idea to start building your army and acquiring equipment. You can recruit troops from nearby villages or towns, and purchase equipment from merchants. It is also important to establish good relations with nearby lords and factions to gain allies and support.
2. How important is it to have a balanced army?
In Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord, having a balanced army is crucial for success. You will need a mix of infantry, archers, and cavalry to be able to handle different types of enemies and situations. Infantry units are strong and can take a lot of damage, while archers can attack from a distance and whittle down enemies. Cavalry units are fast and can quickly flank enemies, but are vulnerable to arrows. It is important to experiment with different army compositions to find what works best for your playstyle.
3. How do I gain reputation with factions?
To gain reputation with factions in Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord, you can perform quests for them, help them in battles, and trade with their merchants. You can also improve relations by speaking with faction leaders and completing tasks for them. It is important to note that some factions may have conflicting interests, so be careful not to antagonize one faction while trying to gain favor with another.
4. What is the best way to earn money early in the game?
One of the best ways to earn money early in Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord is to participate in tournaments. These events can be found in towns and offer large sums of money for the winner. Another way to earn money is to trade goods between towns. Look for towns with low prices on certain items and sell them in towns where those items are in high demand. You can also loot defeated enemies and sell their equipment for profit.
5. How do I capture enemy lords?
To capture an enemy lord in Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord, you must defeat their army in battle and then engage in a conversation with them. During the conversation, you can choose to either release them or capture them. If you choose to capture them, you must have a prison in one of your settlements to keep them. Once they are in your custody, you can use them as bargaining chips in negotiations with their faction or ransom them for a large sum of money.
James, a young and enthusiastic gamer. With a passion for gaming, he personally plays and experiences the games he writes about, providing authentic and insightful content to fellow gamers.