Infantry Line Tactics
November 21, 2025
Shield walls, spear bracing, and anti-cavalry play.
Infantry Line Tactics: Holding the Anvil
In Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, infantry are the anvil upon which you hammer your enemies. A well-managed infantry line can hold off forces twice its size, while a poorly managed one will be ridden down in seconds. This guide explores the core tactics of infantry warfare.
The Shield Wall
The Shield Wall (F3 + F2) is the bread and butter of infantry survival.
When to use: Whenever you are under arrow fire or receiving a cavalry charge.
Mechanics: Troops close ranks and raise shields. This drastically increases arrow block chance and creates a dense mass that is hard for horses to push through.
Drawback: Movement speed is reduced, and attacking is harder. Do not stay in Shield Wall if you are engaging other infantry in melee; switch to Line or Charge to let your troops swing their weapons freely.
Spear Bracing
Introduced in later patches, Spear Bracing is a game-changer against heavy cavalry.
How it works: Units with longer pikes (like Vlandian Pikemen or Imperial Menavliatons) will automatically crouch and brace their weapon if they are stationary and facing a charging horse.
Result: Any horse running into a braced spear takes massive damage, often dying instantly and throwing the rider.
Tip: Combine a thin line of Shield troops in front to soak arrows, with a line of Pikemen just behind them to brace against the charge.
Shock Troops
Shock Troops are infantry with two-handed weapons and high damage (e.g., Sturgian Line Breakers, Imperial Menavliatons, Aserai Mameluke Palace Guards). They have no shields, making them vulnerable to arrows.
Flanking Maneuver
Never put shock troops in your main shield line; they will die to arrows. Instead:
Group them separately (e.g., Group 5).
Position them behind your Shield Wall.
Once the enemy infantry crashes into your shields, Charge your shock troops into the enemy's flank. They will blend the enemy like a smoothie.
Mixed Tactics
The most effective infantry commanders use a mix of units.
The "Roman" Style: 60% Legionaries (Shields) + 40% Elite Menavliatons (Shock).
The Sturgian Wall: 70% Heavy Axemen + 30% Heroic Line Breakers.
Unit Comparison
Imperial Legionary: Best pure tank. Highest armor.
Sturgian Heavy Axeman: Good tank, better damage than Legionary.
Aserai Veteran Infantry: Fast, good skirmishers with javelins.
Battanian Wildling: Excellent skirmishers, decent melee.
Mastering the rhythm of "Shield Wall to absorb, Line to engage, Charge to finish" is the key to infantry dominance.