Combat and Battle Tactics

November 21, 2025

Core combat systems and on-field tactics for different troop types.

Combat & Battle Tactics: Commanding the Field

In Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, you are both a soldier and a general. While your personal skill with a blade matters, your ability to command hundreds of troops determines the outcome of wars. This guide covers the essential tactics to defeat larger armies through superior strategy.

The Commander's View

You can issue orders at any time, but the best commanders assess the battlefield before the lines clash.

  • Hold Fire (F4): Save ammo for when the enemy is close.

  • Delegation (F6): Let your AI captains take over. Useful if you are dead or overwhelmed, but they are predictable.

Formations Breakdown

Formation is not just for looks; it changes unit stats and behavior.

  • Shield Wall (F3 -> F2): Tights ranks, raises shields. +Armor vs missiles, -Speed. Essential for advancing under fire.

  • Loose (F3 -> F3): Spreads troops out. Essential for Archers to maximize their firing lines.

  • Circle (F3 -> F4): Defensive ring. Good for archers protecting themselves from cavalry.

  • Square (F3 -> F5): The anti-cavalry block. Stops charges dead in their tracks.

Advanced Tactics

Commanding Your Army

Mastering the F-keys is muscle memory you must build.

  • F1 (Movement): Move to position, Follow Me, Charge, Advance (keeps formation), Fall Back.

  • F2 (Facing): Face Enemy, Face Direction. Crucial to prevent your shield wall from exposing their backs.

Tip: "Advance" (F1 -> F4) is often better than "Charge" (F1 -> F3) for infantry, as they will maintain their shield wall while closing the distance.

Battle Tactics Guide

Terrain and Positioning

Never fight on fair ground.

  • High Ground: Archers shoot further and deal more damage. Infantry charge faster downhill.

  • Forests: Slows down cavalry and blocks arrows. Fight Battanians here at your peril.

  • Rivers/Bridges: Natural choke points. Force the enemy to blob up while your archers rain death.

Combat Tips

Counter Tactics

Bannerlord follows a soft Rock-Paper-Scissors logic:

  1. Cavalry destroys Archers and loose Infantry.

  2. Spears/Pikes destroy Cavalry.

  3. Heavy Infantry destroys Spears.

  4. Archers destroy Infantry (if unprotected) and Horse Archers (if they have range).

Morale Shock

Troops don't fight to the death; they run when Morale breaks.

  • Rear Charge: Hitting an enemy line from behind causes massive morale loss.

  • Killing the General: If you snipe the enemy lord early, their army loses cohesion.

  • Fire Arrows: Night battles with fire arrows debuff enemy morale.

For controls on how to execute these moves personally, see Combat Basics & Controls.