Army Cohesion and Influence Use

Army management is the endgame of Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Once you become a vassal or a king, leading a single party isn't enough to take major towns or defend your realm. You need an Army. But armies run on two things: Cohesion and Influence.

Run out of either, and your grand campaign will dissolve into a scattering of confused lords.

The Army Management screen is where you monitor Cohesion (top right bar) and add more Influence to keep the army together.

Understanding Army Cohesion

Cohesion represents how willing the other lords are to follow you. It is a bar that ranges from 0 to 100.

• Starting Cohesion: When you form an army, it starts at 100.

• Daily Decay: Every day, cohesion drops. The larger the army, the faster it drops.

• Disbanding: If cohesion hits 0, the army automatically disbands. Lords will go their separate ways, usually leaving you alone deep in enemy territory.

Factors Affecting Decay

• Army Size: An army of 1,000 men decays much faster than an army of 300.

• Morale & Food: Starving armies lose cohesion rapidly.

• Policies: Certain kingdom policies can reduce cohesion decay.

Influence Costs & Refreshing

You pay for cohesion with Influence. This is the primary resource for army management.

To boost cohesion:

1. Open the Army Management screen (bottom right flags icon).

2. Click the +10 Cohesion button at the top right.

3. This costs Influence. The cost increases the more times you click it in a short period.

Pro Tip: Don't spam the button to keep it at 100. Let it drop to around 40-50, then boost it back up. This is generally more efficient than trying to keep it topped off.

Calling lords to your army also costs Influence, depending on:

• Relation: Friends cost less to call.

• Distance: Lords far away cost more.

• Clan Tier: Powerful clans cost more.

Note: Lords from your own clan cost 0 Influence to call and 0 Influence to boost cohesion for (if the army is only your clan). This is why Clan Management is vital—your family is your cheapest army.

Ideal Army Compositions

Not all armies are created equal. Bringing the wrong lords can slow you down or weaken your battle line.

A highly mobile cavalry army is perfect for chasing down raiders or relieving sieges quickly.

The Siege Army

• Goal: Taking towns.

• Composition: 60% Infantry (Legionaries/Sturgians), 30% Archers (Fians/Sharpshooters), 10% Cavalry.

• Why: You need bodies to push siege towers and hold walls. Cavalry is useless on ladders.

• See Also: Sieges and Castle Warfare.

The Chaser Army

• Goal: Catching fast enemy parties or raiding.

• Composition: High Cavalry/Horse Archer count (Khuzait/Vlandian lords).

• Speed: Ensure you aren't dragging slow infantry parties. Check Party Speed Mechanics.

The Defensive Screen

• Goal: Patrolling borders.

• Composition: Mix of available lords. Quantity over quality to deter attacks.

March Plans & Supply Tips

An army marches on its stomach. In Bannerlord, this is literal.

1. Carry Extra Food: Lords often join with barely any food. You are the caterer. Buy hundreds of Grain and Fish before forming the army. If your lords starve, they leave.

   • Read more: Food, Morale & Wages Management.

2. Plan Your Route: Don't form an army at one end of the map to siege a town at the other. The cohesion cost of the travel time alone will drain your Influence. Gather lords near the target.

3. Disband Before Peace: If you know peace is coming, disband the army. If peace is declared while you are in an army, you might be stuck paying influence for no reason, or worse, stuck deep in enemy lands when they suddenly become neutral (or hostile again).

Coordinate your march to arrive with full food stocks and high cohesion before starting a siege.

By mastering cohesion and influence, you turn a mob of nobles into a conqueror's weapon. Manage your resources, keep them fed, and Calradia will fall.