Execution and Death
November 21, 2025
Understanding the permadeath systems.
Execution and Death
In Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, your character is not immortal. If you have the "Birth and Death" module enabled in the campaign settings, you must prepare for the inevitable end of your journey—and the beginning of your heir's.
Campaign Settings
Before you even start, check your Difficulty settings.
Birth and Death: Must be ticked for children to grow and characters to die of old age.
Hero Death in Combat:
Disable: Heroes never die, only get wounded (unless executed by script).
Reduce to 50%:: Lower chance of death.
Realistic: High risk. A javelin to the face can end your campaign instantly if you have no heir.
Leading from the front is glorious, but "Realistic" damage settings make every charge a gamble with your life.
Causes of Death
1. Old Age
Once a character passes the age of 47, there is a daily percentage chance they will fall ill and die. This chance increases significantly as they age.
The Notification: You will receive a notification that a character "has died of natural causes."
Medicine: A high Medicine Skill (specifically the "Cheat Death" perk) can prolong a life, but not indefinitely.
2. Battle Death
In battle, if a hero takes lethal damage, there is a dice roll to determine if they are Wounded or Killed.
Armor Matters: Better armor reduces the raw damage, but if the final blow is massive (e.g., a couched lance), the death chance spikes.
Companions: Your Companions & Family are also subject to these rules.
Years pass quickly on the campaign map. Ensure you have an heir before your character turns 50.
3. Execution
If you or a clan member are captured by a Lord with the Cruel trait or -100 relation, they may decide to execute you. This is rare for the player but can happen.
To execute others yourself, see Executions & Diplomacy.
Succession: The Heir System
When your main character dies, the game does not end—provided you have an adult clan member to take their place.
Choosing an Heir
A menu will appear allowing you to select your new player character from:
Children: Must be over 18.
Spouse: If they are in your clan.
Siblings: Or other clan members.
What You Keep vs. Lose
Keep: All money, fiefs, stash items, and clan relations (mostly).
Lose: Your personal skills and attributes. Your heir starts with their own stats, so it is vital to train them early.
See Marriage, Heirs, and Dynasty for raising good heirs.
The throne remains, even if the sitter changes. Build a dynasty that outlasts you.
Game Over
If your character dies and you have no suitable heir (no adult family members in your clan), the lineage ends, and your campaign is over.