Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlordsees players take to the field with hundreds of individual troops at one time. These combatants range from peasant recruits equipped with colorful robes and their father’s pitchfork to elite heavily armored shock troops that can ravage the battlefield.
But, with every culture inMount & Blade 2: Bannerlordhavingvarious high-tier optionsto cut down the enemy in melee, pepper them with arrows, or knock them down with a thunderous charge, whichtroops do it the best? Look no further - here’s our ranking of the most effective units on the battlefield, by their role.
Updated on July 15, 2025, by Joshua Leeds:Almost all of the units on this list are final options in long upgrade paths. This article has been updated to include the upgrade path to let you know which units you need to recruit and level up to eventually get the units on this list. We’ve also included the culture of each unit so that you know which towns and cities will be ideal for recruiting any unit in the upgrade path leading to the best final units.
25Vlandian Pikeman
The Vlandians are known for their anti-cavalry units, and the Pikeman is a great option to counter them. While they don’t have the same flexibility as other options later on this list, Pikeman excels specifically at devastating cavalry charges, and their one-handed sword is great for cleaning up any riders whose horses were killed.
Overall they have okay armor, but won’t last long against ranged units as they lack a shield. Vlandian Pikeman are great defensive units when you face your enemy in open fields, though that will usually be a situation you want to avoid.
24Imperial Palatine Guard
While crossbows are usually the way to go, Imperial Palatine Guards are great opens for bow-using ranged units. These units have a short bow that makes them excel in quicker reloads and firing at enemies at a medium to close range.
These units are great for defending fiefs, and the majority of them in your army should be used as such. While they do have an okay one-handed sword as a backup, these units should always stay behind anything with a shield.
23Aserai Vanguard Faris
The Aserai Vanguard Faris are some of the best units in the Aserai faction, being heavily armored riders that excelwhile mountedor on foot. Despite the small appearance, the shield they carry can take an incredible beating, along with their armor.
These units also come with multiple javelins a piece, and it’s best to kite enemies a bit to weaken them before charging in with their spears. Should a rider get knocked down, their sword and shield combat can be just as deadly against most infantry.
22Sturgia Heavy Axeman
The Strugiansare known for their powerful infantry, and Axeman is the more affordable backbone of their army. They carry the staple large shield that makes them ideal against charging up to ranged units in the field or those guarding a fief.
They wear medium armor that doesn’t slow them down but still protects well against anything that gets through their shield. They also carry multiple throwing weapons that help give them a further edge against same-tier infantry of other factions.
21Aserai Mameluke Heavy Cavalry
The Aserai don’t have many mounted archers, but the Aserai Mameluke Heavy Cavalry is the upgraded version of the only ones they do have. Their short bows are ideal for strafing, and their light armor keeps the horses moving quickly.
While still on the lighter side, the armor of these units has better ratings than the Aserai Mameluke Cavalry. While they do have a backup one-handed sword, it’s just about never recommended to send them into battle to use it, mounted or on foot.
20Battanian Veteran Falxman
The Battanian Veteran Falxman is an ideal anti-cavalry unit that is a good bit more affordable than other options on this list. While they have a decent Polearm and skill to use it properly, they also start each battle with throwing axes, a staple in many Battanian troops.
While they only get two throwing axes, these are great openers should they have to fight other infantry, while also giving a ranged option in case they are dealing with mounted archers.
19Ghulam
There isn’t a lot of choice in fielding camel cavalry inBannerlord, but the Ghulam is by far the best option, even matching the performance of some tier 4 and 5 horse riders. Unlike theirJawwal Bedouin cousins, Ghulam units have decent armor and can usually take a couple of hits before going down.
Their weakness is their offensive stats – with only 110 Polearm skill and 90 One-Handed skill, and some pretty average weaponry, their killing power is rather lackluster compared to other tier 4 mounted units. Still, they make for a rather unique and fresh addition to the player’s army.
18Sturgian Heavy Spearman
If you are looking for a solid anti-cavalry unit, the Sturgian Heavy Spearman is one of the better choices. Theywield a steel spear, which can be braced to deal devastating damage to incoming charges. Unlike other polearm infantry, they also carry a shield, which is a blessing when going up against archers and infantry in close-quarters combat.
While they may not be the most effective anti-cavalry troop in the game, these footmen will get the job done and are particularly effective when fighting the powerful horse archers of the Khuzait.
17Sturgian Druzhinik Champion
Strugian Druzhinik Champions dominate in mounted combat despite Strugians not being known for their powerful cavalry. These units are fairly expensive and rare to come by but are heavy cavalry units whose armor, shield, and polearm will make quick work of an enemy’s mounted units.
They also have a one-handed sword which can help deal with infantry they charge into, and keep them viable in combat should the horse fall before the rider. These units have a hefty shield and armor, already making them hard to take down before adding the speed of a horse.
16Imperial Bucellarii
The main benefit of the Imperial Bucellarii is that they are a decent horse archer unit that isn’t Khuzait. They actually have 10 more Bow skill at 140 than their Khuzait counterpart, but lose 10 Riding to their nomad cousin and are far less armored. They also suffer from a reduced arrow count and slightly reduced damage.
Regardless, if players want to field horse archers from a different culture, or if they are at war with the Khuzaits and can’t recruit new troops, these riders are an ideal replacement.
