Armor vs. Damage Types

In Bannerlord, a 100 damage sword swing and a 60 damage mace hit are not created equal. The type of damage you deal determines how effectively it penetrates enemy armor. Understanding this rock-paper-scissors dynamic is key to defeating heavily armored opponents.

The Three Damage Types

1. Cut (Swords, Axes, Glaives)

• Pros: Highest base damage numbers. Capable of cleaving multiple unarmored enemies (if the weapon allows).

• Cons: Suffers the highest penalty against armor. A heavy lamellar vest can absorb almost all damage from a weak cutting stroke.

• Best Target: Looters, Archers, Light Infantry.

2. Pierce (Spears, Arrows, Thrusting Swords)

• Pros: Good armor penetration. Thrusting attacks often have high speed bonuses.

• Cons: Harder to aim (hitbox is a point, not an arc).

• Best Target: Mail-armored troops, Cavalry (using pikes).

3. Blunt (Maces, Hammers, Clubs)

• Pros: Bypasses a significant amount of armor. Can knock enemies down. Non-lethal (great for capturing prisoners).

• Cons: Lower base damage and shorter reach.

• Best Target: Heavy Infantry, Cataphracts, Lords.

The Math of Mitigation

Without getting bogged down in formulas, think of armor as having a "flat reduction" and a "percentage reduction."

• Against Cut: Armor applies a high flat reduction. If you hit for 50 cut damage and they have 40 armor, you might only deal 5-10 damage.

• Against Blunt: The flat reduction is much lower. That same 40 armor might only stop 10-15 of your blunt damage, letting 35+ go through.

This is why a mace is the king of anti-armor warfare.

Weapon Recommendations by Target

Vs. The Empire (Cataphracts & Legionaries)

• Weapon: Two-Handed Mace or Morningstar.

• Why: They have high armor values. Cutting weapons will glance off unless you have massive speed bonuses.

Vs. Battania (Fians & Falxmen)

• Weapon: Sword and Shield.

• Why: They have high damage but lower armor. You need a shield to survive their arrows, and a fast cutting sword to slash through their lighter gear.

Vs. Looters & Bandits

• Weapon: Two-Handed Axe.

• Why: They have no armor. You can cleave through two or three of them in a single swing.

Ranged Combat

The same rules apply to arrows.

• Bodkin Arrows: Deal Pierce damage. Use these against armored armies.

• Broadhead Arrows: Deal Cut damage. Use these against unarmored hordes (higher base damage).

• Crossbows: Inherently have high armor penetration, making them dangerous to even the best-armored knights.

See Ranged Combat & Archery for more details.

Summary

If you are struggling to kill an enemy lord in a tournament or battle, check your damage type. If you are hitting a steel plate with a cutting sword, you are essentially fighting with a pool noodle. Switch to a mace or a piercing thrust, and watch them fall.