Combat Training Drills: From Novice to Champion

In Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, your character's skills matter, but your personal skill as a player matters more. You can have 300 One-Handed skill, but if you can't block, you will die.

The Training Field

Every campaign starts near the Training Field. Do not skip it. It offers distinct courses:

• Melee Trainer: Offers sparring matches. Novice trainers are slow, while Veteran trainers will punish your mistakes.

• Riding Course: A track to practice horse maneuvering and lance accuracy.

• Archery Range: Static and moving targets to test your aim.

Towns also host arenas, but the dedicated Training Field is best for focused drills.

Arena Practice

Every major town has an Arena. You can speak to the Arena Master to "Practice Fight".

• Benefits: You earn small amounts of gold (ideal for early game food) and, more importantly, combat XP.

• No Risk: You heal fully after a practice fight. It is the safest way to level up your One-Handed or Athletics skills early on.

• Weapons: You are given random weapons. This forces you to learn everything from daggers to two-handed axes.

Arena melees are chaotic. Use them to practice situational awareness.

Weapon Specific Drills

Archery

Find a tree or post. Circle strafe around it while keeping your crosshair fixed on a single point. This teaches you to compensate for your own movement.

Melee Defense (The 30-Second Drill)

Enter a practice fight or find a looter. Do not attack. Your goal is to block every incoming attack for 30 seconds. Once you can do this consistently, start weaving in attacks.

Mounted Accuracy

Go to the Riding Course. Try to hit every target with a lance without slowing down your horse. Speed is key for damage.

Perk Synergies

While player skill is king, perks help.

• Athletics: Look for perks that increase movement speed. Speed allows you to dictate the range of the fight.

• Weapon Perks: Focus on handling (swing speed) over damage in the early game. A faster swing interrupts the enemy.

For a full breakdown, see our Skills & Perks Overview.

Gear Progression

Don't rush to buy the most expensive sword.

1. Practice Weapons: Used in arenas, they deal blunt damage.

2. Mid-Tier: Balanced weapons (Tier 3-4) offer good speed.

3. End-Game: Crafted weapons (Smithing) or Noble gear.

Check out the Arena & Tournament Guide to put your training to the test and win high-tier prizes.

Travel the world to find different tournaments. Empire towns often favor sword/shield, while Battanian towns feature two-handed axes.